Riverdale, The Bronx

The neighborhood of Riverdale which is located at the northernmost tip of the Bronx is a community which has a suburban feel though it is located within close proximity to Manhattan. The boundaries of Riverdale are largely defined by the city of Yonkers which lies to its north, the Harlem River which flows on its southern border and the Hudson River which frames it to the west and the expansive Van Cortlandt Park which forms its eastern border. (Riverdale extends roughly from W240 Street to W262 Street). This largely middle class neighborhood has within its folds three elite New York private schools, Horace Mann, Riverdale Country and Fieldston though also located within Riverdale is the renowned NYC public school, the Bronx High School of Science.
The main shopping districts in Riverdale are located along Mosholu, Riverdale and Johnson Avenues which are dominated by small mom and pop stores, Irish bars, and Italian and Japanese restaurants like Beccofino, Palace of Japan, and Salvatore’s of Soho. Though other popular eateries located here include dinner spots like the Riverdale Steak House and the Riverdale City Grill.
Riverdale is also known for its green lung for the neighborhood has within it the gorgeous Wave Hill public gardens which are located on 252nd Street and provide stunning vistas of the Hudson River and the Palisades. These historic gardens offer flower and aquatic gardens as well as a woodland trail as their main attractions. The eastern front of Riverdale is occupied by the large Van Cortlandt Park which offers organized sports and horseback riding as well as hiking trails and an oak forest. The Riverdale Park is smaller piece of heaven in the neighborhood which overlooks the Hudson River and is located on 254th Street. Riverdale is connected to Manhattan via the Metro-North Hudson Line and the No. 1 train that travels along Broadway and terminates at the 242nd Street Van Cortlandt Park Station

Riverdale, surprisingly is a very nice neighborhood. It is very easily accessible to Manhattan, and is within a drive of Westchester, New Jersey and Long Island. It is a nice middle to upper class neighborhood with great schools. I have lived there and worked there for over five years now. There are many great places to eat including Ihop on Broadway, Jake’s Steak House on Broadway, and Malacon on Broadway also. These three places to eat are wonderful and I have frequented their very frequently. The number one train runs through the town, but once you get used to it, you barely hear it. This train can take you all the way down to Yankee Stadium and South Ferry. Overall, it is a great place to live.

Generally the further away from Manhattan you move in the Bronx, the nicer the neighborhoods become. Riverdale is not an exception, and it is actually an exceptional place in terms of New York City neighborhoods because it is stocked with open spaces (but not the forbidding empty lot sort of empty space). The residents here have a certain pride about their rollicking neighborhood, and often fight against development. The neighborhood is situated on the Hudson River, making it a prime spot for future businesses. There are a lot of houses here that only the rich could afford, however, so if you are on a middle class type of budget you may find your best option to be in another borough completely.

Riverdale is a rather upper middle class neighborhood in the Bronx. I went to school in Riverdale and its an easy area to access from Manhattan. Fieldston just to the east is the nicest part of the area. Its close to several major highways like the Henry Hudson Parkway, I-87 and Broadway. Several major private schools like Horace Mann, Ethical Culture, and Riverdale Country are all located in the area as well as Manhattan College. The best place to shop is at the Riverdale Shopping Center and there are a couple of good Thai and Italian restaurants, but for most shopping and dining you will have to go into Manhattan.