6.0 out of 10

Grand St, Lower East Side

Ranked 15th best street in Lower East Side
40.715371560225 -73.9847897802356
Great for
  • Public Transport
  • Cost of Living
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Safe & Sound
  • Eating Out
Not great for
  • Parking
  • Resale or Rental Value
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Hipsters

Reviews

3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 1/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"Good for students but smelly in a lot of places"

I would, technically, consider Grand as the partition from the Lower East Side into Chinatown and Grand is much more Chinatown than LES. The block of Grand between Eldridge and Allen is entirely comprised of Chinese restaurants and stores so you know you're entering a completely different neighborhood than hipstertown. There's even a Chinese bakery on this block that sells baked goods . . . and fried chicken. Seems a little suspect to me but people seem to enjoy it.
The corner of Grand and Allen has a building that used to be the biggest department store in the city. Apparently, Grand street used to be the place to be for women's fashion at the end of the 19th century. The building next door (70) was where Billy the Kid was born. The other corner of Grand (at Orchard) was also a fancy department store and is still a department store --- though the name is now Jodamo Hi-Fashion and I can't imagine that it's fancy. It's hard to imagine this block as ever having been a big money block.
The block between Eldridge and Ludlow is entirely old apartments with Chinese store fronts. I don't cook (or wear nylons) so I don't have a reason to really hang out around here. And, I think it smells around here. It's just not appetizing grocery shopping for my tastes.
The block after Essex has the best bialy joint in the city: Kossar's Bialy. And, it's next to a bakery and a deli, so this block kind of smells like heaven once you get away from the fish smell of the previous blocks. If you lived at Essex, you would basically be fat because all you can smell are different stores of bread 24 hours a day. Though if you live on this block, you'll also live a block away from a ton of public housing because that's all that's after Clinton.
I would never live as far down as Grand. It's dirty and I don't like the buildings. Plus, it's crowded and smelly and there are no bars in Chinatown for the most part. But, the student set doesn't seem to mind living down here. The rent's much cheaper and it's pretty close to public transportation.
Pros
  • more quiet than typical of LES
Cons
  • Stinky in a lot of places
  • far from the main LES nightlife scene
  • grungy
  • Too many people at times
Recommended for
  • Hipsters
  • Students
4/5
2yrs+

"Interesting neighborhood boundary"

Straddling a wealth of downtown neighborhoods and enclaves - including SoHo, Chinatown, the Lower East Side, and Little Italy - Grand Street serves as a border of sorts, connecting these disparate Manhattan neighborhoods on a single city block. Such a connection immediately ups Grand Street's culinary credentials - from Italian trattorias to Chinese dim sum places, Grand Street has it all (check out the food at New American standby O'Neals Grand Street, which suffers only slightly from having been placed on the Sex and the City tour.) The architecture is a mix of old new - 240 Grand is known for its gorgeous baroque look, and has been home to several models and celebrities over the years. There's also a wealth of locations of historic interest, from the Italian-American Museum near Mulberry Street to historic century-old Ferrara's pastry shop to the 1894 Bowery Savings Back designed by infamous Stanford White. This neighborhood is alive with New York's history, a history that dates back significantly further than the pre-war and Deco architecture that dominates much of uptown and midtown. While the area isn't exactly "homey," it certainly is exciting, and with its diversity, architectural, ethnic, culinary, or otherwise, it's sure to be a treat for any New Yorker looking for a vibrant place to live.
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"School Grounds and other Buildings"

One section of Clinton St. nearly Grand houses is a school. In fact, the only thing on this block is a school and parking lots. But if you go down toward E. Broadway, you get closer to a large department store and some small stores along with small industrial buildings.

This place is a mixture of good and bad. The place is semi-busy during the day, but when the kids get out of school, it becomes a mad house, so to speak.
Pros
  • Plenty of stores
  • School nearby
Cons
  • Too many kids around during summer
  • Too many people at times
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
2/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Not for hipsters"

Gentrification hasn't quite sunk its cruel little fang into Suffollk Street yet, so the street has retained a good bit of the atmosphere of the Lower East Side before the hipsters took over. It is grungy and crumbly, and still mainly residential, with a middle and high school nearby, and signs of many Hispanic, and a good smattering of Chinese residents all along the street. Hipsters live here too, of course, and there are some eccentric new little shops around, but the main bar and restaurant scene of the Lower East Side is farther west. Just as well: with the rest of the area being snatched away from its more modest Hispanic resident base by skyrocketing rents and yuppie demand for gourmet coffee and tofu, maybe the eastern fringes of the Lower East Side will hold out a bit longer in the onslaught. The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center, a once-ornate church building which has long been on a track to dramatic decomposition into a huge, gothic ruin, has been re-invented in recent years into its current incarnation as a cultural seedbed. The center holds performances and supports artist residencies, with an emphasis on Latino cultural projects. Below Delancey, Suffolk Street shows signs of depressing poverty and I wouldn't recommend it at night.
Pros
  • more quiet than typical of LES
Cons
  • grungy
  • far from the main LES nightlife scene
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
5/5
2yrs+

"An aptly titled street"

Anyone street cornering onto Broadway is going to have to fight for its fair share of recognition but the Soho flea market helps Grand Street be remembered. No matter what you want, and even if you just want to browse and interact with the locals, anything can be found here. If you want to capture the look of New York from Blondie to The Strokes then a beaten up leather jacket from Grand Street will have you looking authentic in no time at all.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Lots of Coffee"

Grand Street offers a bit of relief from the uber-trendiness of the Lower East Side as seen above Delancey. It hosts some coffee shops and the standard hipster shops. On Grand Street you can virtually watch as the neighborhood morphs into a trendier imitation of itself. It’s a cool place to hang out, though – or to just take a stroll and do some people watching.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
2/5
2yrs+

"What a journey"

If a journey and a half home is your idea of a great commute than by all means cal Suffolk Street home, but overall it's your average residential street with a spinkling of small businesses to keep residents happy and there is nothing that really jumps out and attracts attention. What does attract attention is the journey it takes to get to Suffolk Street. Marred by the curse of the East side subways are few and far between making it difficult to get where you want to go or get home from where you've been.
4/5
2yrs+

"Vibrant and unique"

Big buildings with great food and amazing little gems is pretty much Grand Street. Large and open it offers a really bright and vibrant feel. There are Bakeries along the road that are more than worth a visit and a dip into the old pocket. Overall grand street embodies a unique vibrant attitude that only New York can pull off.
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Boring, good for quiet residents"

Suffolk Street is pretty much empty of the activity apparent in the rest of the neighborhood. It features the general landscape you'd expect from the neighborhood, and it's a great quiet residential street in an otherwise bar/restaurant-rich area. Don't expect it to be too quiet, though. Drunken hipsters have been known to wander down any street in the neighborhood at 3am, while not using their indoor voices.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
2/5
2yrs+

"Cute, but Far"

If you are fan of the subway, the closest stop to this street for you is the Delancey st stop along to VF line. Other than that, you're pretty much guaranteed twice the walk. Suffolk street is right at the cusp of where the East Village meets the Lower East Side. This is a nice area to walk around in if you've never been here, or if you have a specific purpose, such as going to see some type of independent show at an artsy theater. The street is lined with low, brownstone buildings and there is a smattering of delis and fast food places. The mos exciting dining location might be "SOY", a small hole in the wall place that boasts some pretty good Spanish food. It is far away from any supermarkets, I think the closest one might be the Whole Foods on E. Houston st. If you don't live here, or don't have any real reason to go here, just stay west.
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Same old Suffolk"

One word does come to mind, which is bland. I don't think I would want to live here though..

The Village: what a sweet location! Lots of trees, walking and calm. Like something from a 1920s film on New York City Life, score by a jazz saxophone in a minor key. this street is mainly residential and houses people from all walks of life. Suffolk St is close to the following metro stations: 6 at Spring Street, F, J, M, Z at Essex St- Delancey St, and the J, M, Z at Bowery. It is also accessible to many buses. Foot traffic is moderate, and it is a good neighborhood for all people!
1/5
2yrs+

"Wouldn't wanna live here."

A slightly nicer street than other nearby ones, Suffolk Street still consists of the same dull brown buildings, most of which seem like they’re not being used. A fairly rough part of the city, sadly every city has to have these types of areas. It didn’t strike me as a place I wanted to stick around in.
4/5
2yrs+

"Lives up to its name, in some ways."

Well I was certainly impressed, driving along here when I visited New York. It’s completely different to anything I’ve seen in England, a wide, straight road right through the middle of New York with lots of high rise buildings around. Tons of character as well. One thing that struck me was how pointlessly wide it seemed to be – but then it wasn’t rush hour at the time.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"Grand Street is a NYC Classic for Coffee and Walks!"

I love Manhattan's Grand Street on the Lower East Side, on the edge of Little Italy. Not only does it have my favorite coffee shop in the world, it's a classic of New York Life, as it's been featured in so many movies and TV shows that it feels familiar every time you walk down the road. It's a terrific place to visit for a stroll to one of the great cafes, and with the subway station at Grand and Sixth, you can get to or from anywhere in minutes.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

Best Streets in Lower East Side

1

Allen St

4.5/5
"Main drag between neighborhoods"
40.7176326544406 -73.9913173372372
2

East 1st St

4/5
"Awesome and Entertaining"
40.7227673383724 -73.9872343367454
3

Canal St

3.5/5
"Good nightlfe in the heart of L.E.S"
40.7146156779545 -73.9909545443577
4

Ludlow St

3.5/5
"You'll never be bored"
40.7152320003588 -73.9908455024279
5

Norfolk St

3.5/5
"Great place to live"
40.7190781174943 -73.9870170729171
6

Division St

3.5/5
"Orchard Street.....rocking place!!!"
40.714042379524 -73.9965952067198
7

Delancey St

3.5/5
"Ludlow for nightlife"
40.7173227545271 -73.983649710926
8

Henry St

3.5/5
"Nice residential area "
40.7128477877172 -73.9965220845705
9

Columbia St

3/5
"Columbia Street is Ok"
40.7172662462831 -73.9801400203834
10

Forsyth St

3/5
"For the younger set"
40.7143486858765 -73.9941813895633

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