9.5 out of 10

Rivington St, Bowery

Ranked 1st best street in Bowery
40.7210091511854 -73.9914432786248
Great for
  • Eating Out
  • Nightlife
  • Resale or Rental Value
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Internet Access
Not great for
  • Parking
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Hipsters
  • Families with kids
  • Students

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"The heart of the Bowery"

Grimy and grungy, the Bowery has still managed to maintain some of its gutter-cache over the years. While gentrification (not to mention a bunch of lamp stores) have lifted the place from its derelict roots, the Bowery nevertheless has a distinctively authentic feel. The authenticity is, of course, studied: the Bowery is far less "downmarket" than the South Bronx, but when compared to the skyrocketing rents and cutesy brunch bars that have afflicted East and West Village alike, the gradual cleaning-up of the Bowery seems less severe. Rivington Street in particular has a storied history: it was the site of the first settlement house in New York, the University Settlement House (which now provides community support services), and today is home to a number of bars, restaurants, and clubs. Popular dining-out options here include Schiller's Restaurant, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, and musician Moby's recent vegan venture. But bars and galleries are more de rigeur here than fine dining: check out CV for music and dancing, or hit up the artsy scene at performance/community centre ABC No Rio.
Pros
  • Music
  • Restaurants
  • Has the ambience of old world New York
Cons
  • More expensive than it was
  • Crowded all the time
  • Dirty
Recommended for
  • Singles
  • Hipsters
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 4/5
  • Parks & Recreation 1/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 2/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
2yrs+

"Freemans"

Freeman Alley is a tiny alley off of Rivington in the Lower East Side. It is a very dark and somehow always wet looking alley with basically nothing to it. If you brave the dark, however, and go all the way to the end, the is a lovely little restaurant called Freemans. The restaurant is not much of a secret anymore. And, the chef went and started Vinegar Hill House, so the food isn't as good (not that the food ever really was). But, man, is this still a cool restaurant. It's old looking and warm and the food is hearty. The drinks are amazing and the staff is hipper than hip. When I first moved to New York, a friend of mine and I would go here every Sunday and hang out all night with the bartenders -- whom became our friends -- drinking hot toddies and eating ridiculously gluttonous artichoke dip. We would spend hours in this place that was warm and cozy while it was blizzarding outside.
Even though the restaurant seems to have completely changed, I still always get a warm fuzzy whenever I happen to be in the LES and walk past Freeman Alley. The place is, of course, still always packed. So, I highly recommend that everyone at least have 5 o'clock drinks there on a winter's day. Man, I love this alley.
Pros
  • Freemans
Cons
  • Little scary and dark
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 2/5
  • Safe & Sound 2/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 1/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 1/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
2yrs+

"Not just for hipsters"

I'm not a huge fan of LES because the hipsters drive me bonkers. But, I do enjoy Rivington because there's a little bit of everything on this street.
Freeman is nearly at the beginning of Rivington. It's a dark little alley with a very popular restaurant at the end of it, called Freemans. I used to go to Freemans once a week and I adored the place and everyone who worked there. It's changed a lot. The chef is gone the whole staff is different and way too hipstery. But, it is a great place on a stormy night. And, the decor is pretty cool. Directly across the street is a hotel alternative that's quite reasonable for New York and not super sketchy, I've heard.
There's a park at Chrystie that is atrocious. I don't get what they were trying to do with this park. The only thing that's cool about it is that a part of it used to be an African American burial ground and now it's a playground which I find really creepy.
Rivington House at Forsythe and Rivington is the largest AIDS facility in the country. Teany is at orchard and it's owned by Moby. He mixes all the music and it's pretty cool in there. 'inoteca is a great restaurant at Ludlow. It's always jamming and the food is great. Pass it on brunch though. Spitzers is directly across the street and that place is pretty cool too, only it's a totally different vibe. Verlaine is at Ludlow and they are a bit pricey for this neighborhood but they have a pretty good happy hour and a ton of martinis if you're into that sort of thing. Welcome to the Johnson's is at Essex and this place is a hoot. It is one the diviest bars I've ever been to and I love it. All of my friends love it too. It's pretty awesome if you're into serious dives. Schillers is at Norfolk. It is a perpetually packed weirdly hipster enclave considering it's owned by Keith McNally. The food's decent but you go for the fun.
There are a ton of shops on this street, too. They're all interspersed between the bars and restaurants. It's a pretty happening street that can be a nightmare on weekends. Oh, and at the end of the street is the former site of public bathing because no one used to have their own bathtubs. Gross but cool.
Pros
  • Bar scene
  • Restaurants
  • Music
Cons
  • Crowded all the time
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Right this minute still fantastic"

Rivington Street has been changing from the gritty music scene days of the Lower East Side, to a distinctly upscale neighborhood, and the change is happening literally one building at a time. Posh new renovations are now visible next door to decrepit older haunts with crumbling facades. Schiller's Liquor Bar actually has a doorman, even on bitter cold December nights. Teany's a very tiny eatery, with an excellent “neighborhood prix fixe.” Even on a school night, you'll see Spitzer's Corner bar absolutely packed with humanity, and a big crowd waiting outside of the shiny, shiny new Thor, so the legendary nightlife here is all that it's been talked up to be. I like Fat Baby for the indie music concerts that go on downstairs, but wouldn't bother with the bar on the main floor. There's just enough of a clash between what this street used to be, and what it's becoming, to make it interesting and give it a real charge. There's a lot to dislike about a neighborhood like the Lower East Side being eaten up whole by gentrification. Let's just say that for right now, for this week, I still love this street, but who knows how I'll hate it in a week more.
Pros
  • mix of old and new
  • Bar scene
  • Music
Cons
  • Crowded all the time
  • Dirty
  • Rising rents are pushing out the original tennants of the street
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Hipsters
  • Students
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Affordable Tailoring Services on Rivington Street"

Rivington Street which lies within the Lower East Side can be counted as one of my regular haunts in New York City. The reason why I tend to visit it regularly as it is the only street in the city that hosts affordable tailoring shops which can carry out a variety of alterations for a fraction of the price that you would normally pay at your neighborhood dry cleaner elsewhere in the city. My establishment of choice is Felix Tailor which is housed in a tiny hole in the wall at 97 Rivington Street but I have also tried the Express Tailor shop located on 92, Rivington Street.
Most of the tailor shops that are located here are manned by immigrants from Latin America who have provided these valuable services for decades though now they are being forced to increase their extremely affordable prices as their rents have gone up exponentially. All these Rivington Street tailors offer to fix your garments while you wait. Luckily the street also hosts several excellent bars and cafes like Inoteca, Teany, Spitzer's Corner and the modern glass tower of the Hotel on Rivington along with the fascinating candy store, the Economy Candy Corporation all of which offer ample entertainment and dining opportunities for you as you await your alterations.
Pros
  • Has the ambience of old world New York
  • The Economy Candy store, one of the best retro candy stores in NYC
  • Bar scene
  • Music
  • Restaurants
Cons
  • Rising rents are pushing out the original tennants of the street
  • Dirty
  • Crowded all the time
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
4/5
2yrs+

"A surprise in the Lower East Side"

Rivington St is the new upcoming street in the Lower East Side. Once a lower-class worker neighborhood, the Lower East Side is today a trendy place where to go at night. Rivington Street is becoming the geographical reference point for eating out in the area. My favorite spot is Loreley, a German restaurant/Bier garden close to The Bowery.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
5/5
2yrs+

"Nightlife and Architecture combined"

Rivington Street has such an amazing vibe to it that no one should miss it. The architecture is something to be marveled at and The Hotel On Rivington is a true architectural amazement. The street has a very rich nightlife with lounges, cafes and restaurants servicing patrons well into the morning hours. It's an unbelievable atmosphere. If noise is no problem than living on the street is a great idea but if you enjoy quiet after a long day it might not be the right place.
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 5/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Mix of hipsters and exhibitionists"

The most interesting thing by far on Rivington is not the awesome vintage stores or the sex shop Babeland, but The Hotel On Rivington (THOR). Said hotel is made entirely of glass – patrons having cigarettes at the bar behind the enormous glass building can look up and see residents of the hotel showering in their rooms. No, really. It may sound a bit smutty, but the hotel is actually gorgeous (and seems strange among the historic tenement buildings).

Another great find on Rivington is Sugar Sweet Sunshine. Someone finally thought of making a cafe that features just cupcakes (and assorted coffees, of course), and they are really really unbelievable. If you are in the mood for a cupcake, definitely get one here (and NOT Cake Shop - though it's a great place to hang out).
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"Rivington Street... things to do"

This street is bustling and would be a good place to settle down here in the city. I enjoyed my time here, and might want to become a Rivington regular!! Go to Thor lounge for some drinks and to hang with friends. Inoteca is one of the coolest Italian restaurants I've been to in quite some time and it was authentic, which was a change from the chains I'm used to. You can also try Schiller's Bar or Tiny Giant's Sandwich shop!

Rivington Street is also a wonderful place to begin your journey into the Village. It is close to the following metros: C,E at Spring Street and the 1 at Canal. It is also accessible by many buses. Foot traffic is fairly heavy and I would recommend the street to just about anyone!
4/5
2yrs+

"Lively inner city"

Rivington street is located in Manhattan district of New York city. It is a quite a happening place booming with activity. It is famous for its restaurants and pubs. Nightlife is up to the average. The food hubs here offer you a wide range of delicacies you can choose from to satisfy for bellies. The University settlement House on Rivington Street is a landmark site .Vehicular traffic runs west on this street.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
3/5
2yrs+

"Better as a food street"

It is located in Manhattan and is gaining name as a food hub with numerous restaurants opening on this cross street. You have a wider range of food to choose to put your hunger to rest. The University settlement House is notorious establishment here. Vehicular traffic runs west on this street. I still remember the aroma that senses your nose as you pass across the street. You just can resist the food and snacky dishes served here.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
5/5
2yrs+

"In Search of the Historic Orchard Street Bargin District"

The Lower East Side of Manhattan has always been know as a place to find a bargain. However the location of an actual bargain distric has been difficult. On or around the intersection of Orchard and Rivington is what I will call the historic Orchard Street Bargain District. I didn't come up with this name but it is on a sign hung around 40 feet above the aformentioned intersection. Regardless of what its called this area has a wide variety of discount stores, outlets, impromptu fleas markets, etc. In addition, value oriented food and drink can be purchased in the same area. Area is a bit dicey after dark but ok during the day. I feel this area is a tad bit to gritty for children.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Retirees
4/5
2yrs+

"An undiscovered area"

This street is a pretty happening place in the late evening.. Schiller’s liquor bar churns out great meals (sister restaurant of Baltazar) and offers some great cocktails.. There are also plenty of other decent bars in the street and down the road. It’s not the cleanest area, nor the safest, but it does have a nice vibe to it. Not sure what the rents are like but this could be a place I’ll be moving to next…
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles

Best Streets in Bowery

1

Rivington St

4.5/5
"Not just for hipsters"
40.7210091511854 -73.9914432786248
2

Bowery

4/5
"Short but interesting"
40.7221200088007 -73.9933455409329
3

Stanton St

4/5
"The best vegan food in New York"
40.7221039876559 -73.9906586602306
4

Chrystie St

4/5
"Nightlife for everyone. "
40.7198902943837 -73.9929367600318
5

Broome St

4/5
"Quiet residential street"
40.7188511869894 -73.9926221577026
6

Eldridge St

3.5/5
"Lots of action/places to spend money"
40.7191775088856 -73.9914418041589
7

East 4Th St

3.5/5
"Very East Village Street"
40.7265658056618 -73.9903150909636

Unranked Streets in Bowery

2 Ave

3.5/5
"A mix of dirt and money"
40.7248029354508 -73.9904346214384

Cooper Sq

3.5/5
"Cool to look at but you can't really live here"
40.7273245000338 -73.9914560003242
"What a fantastic New York block."
40.7242692606463 -73.9908077428345

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