East 105 St, East Harlem

East 105th Street is a mixture of two worlds. Just north of the elegant tree-lined streets that make up Carnegie Hill, one of New York City's smartest (and swankest) family neighborhoods, East 105th Street hasn't quite been subsumed into either Spanish Harlem or Harlem proper. The vibe is very much dominated by nearby Mount Sinai, whose myriad doctors, nurses, attendants, and patients all make up the bulk of the area's dining and nightlife scene even as its long-term residents are largely composed of middle-class locals, many of whom represent the southernmost reaches of Spanish Harlem (the El Barrio Museum, a paean to American Hispanic culture, is on this street). Dining here is largely Hispanic-inspired as well - try nearby La Fonda Boricua and El Caribeno, as well as the El Paso Tacqueria, for burritos and tacos far more authentic fare than you'll find elsewhere in the city. Nightlife is limited, although there's a steady supply of happy-hour venues for exhausted doctors; try Milk Lounge for one such outing. Much cheaper than the rest of the UES, while still conveniently located (a subway at 103rd street for the 6-train).