7.6 out of 10

West 72 St, Upper West Side

Ranked 3rd best street in Upper West Side
40.7763645005111 -73.9762999992531
Great for
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Eating Out
  • Public Transport
  • Childcare
  • Clean & Green
Not great for
  • Cost of Living
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists

Reviews

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

"John Lennnon Boulevard"

W72nd Street which extends from Central Park West to Riverside Drive has always been a rather well known street in New York for it hosts one of the most famous co-ops in New York City, the Dakota. The Dakota which is located on the corner of Central Park West and 72nd Street is a huge fortress like building which is an architectural marvel what with its balconies, balustrades and other trimmings.This magnificent edifice which was home to John and Yoko Lennon has also hosted other famous New Yorkers like Leonard Bernstein, the composer and conductor, Lauren Bacall, the actress, Judy Garland, the singer, William Inge, the playwright, Jo Mielziner, the stage designer and Rex Reed, the columnist. Aside from Dakota, the street also hosts several other impressive buildings(high rise) like the beaux arts Chatsworth building at Riverside drive and the Corner a glass and tower edifice which now houses the Upper West Side location of NYC’s a favorite food store, Trader Joe’s.
W72nd Street also hosts many restaurants and commercial establishments like the Upper West side outpost of my favorite cupcake store the Buttercup Bake Shop, Seven’s Turkish Grill, the shoe heaven of Tip Top Shoes( where I once dropped $70 on a pair of flip flops) and Dallas BBQ Upper West Side.
This street which is one of the traverse roads of Central Park is served by the M72 Cross town bus and also hosts a rather elegant subway station that receives the #1,2 and 3 trains.
The Verdi Square is yet another landmark of West 72nd Street, this small patch of green which is located on West 72nd Street at the junction of Broadway and 72nd Street is equipped with a few benches that beckon you to take a break and rest while you soak in the buzzing atmosphere of New York City as it rushes around you.
Pros
  • Fabulous architecture
  • Good eating houses and shopping
  • Trader Joe's
Cons
  • Busy and bustling
  • Primarily residential
  • Huge crowds most of the time
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • Trendy & Stylish
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Great family area"

With its heavy fin de siecle buildings, inexpensive mom and pop (and sister and third-cousin) ethnic restaurants, and wealth of heady intellectual destinations like the Museum of Natural History and the Planetarium, the Upper West Side is an ideal location for families seeking a neighborhood that blends safety and charm with the thrill that makes living in New York City worthwhile. Located near the Museum of Natural History, this street is bookended by two of the city's most scenic parks - the bucolic Riverside Drive and the livelier Central Park - and boasts proximity to a number of lively restaurants, including the Brazilian Calle Ocho. It's less scenic than some of its neighbors, being a main thoroughfare for traffic, but this makes the street all the more convenient, with a regular bus route and easy access to subway lines. Perfect for families with children seeking to avoid the fuss and snobbery of the UWS's rival-neighbor across the park.
Pros
  • Lovely 19th-century architecture
  • Proximity to Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center, etc
  • Sandwiched between two of the city's nicest parks
Cons
  • A major traffic junction
  • Not much nightlife
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Amsterdam and Broadway Join Together"

Alice's Tea Cup on 73rd is a must see when you move into this neighborhood. They have a great selection of desserts and teas and trinkets. The restaurant even serves delicious food - rare for a tea shop. You get the best of all of Uptown with Amsterdam and Broadway coming together. There are many shops that sell just about anything you can think of - there's never a shortage of what you need. The schools in this area are also high caliber for public schools. There is the Beacon Theater close by for seeing a show. And finally, Central Park West is not too far away if you want to go for a walk.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
5/5
2yrs+

"Eat on a budget on the Upper West Side"

If you are sightseeing on Central Park West and get hungry, take a turn on West 72nd St. Central Park West is mostly residential and the other avenues offer dining but at a higher price. If you are looking for fast Chinese food, Mexican, a Subway restaurant, they are all on this buzzing street. Along with delis, health food stores, and small markets, this is the place to go for a quick bite.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5
2yrs+

"location of The Dakota"

Traffic is heavier because this road has a Central Park entrance, so I don’t know if I’d want to live here – but visitors to the Upper West side will probably want to swing by to see the Dakota, scene of several famous movies and also the sidewalk where John Lennon was murdered. Across the street inside Central Park is the Strawberry Fields memorial to Lennon.
3/5 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 3/5
  • 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+

"Residential, pretty boring for youths, tourists"

This is a pretty residential street, though if you are visiting and staying here there are a lot of tourist attractions close by (like Central Park). If you’re a resident, you can stop in at the World Yoga Center and make sure that you can not only compete with your skinny rich elderly neighbors, but with Madonna as well.
4/5
2yrs+

"A great hub with all the stores and restaurants you could want"

Because 72nd Street is such a big cross-street, it has a lot of shops and restaurants, while there are hardly any standalone apartment buildings - you'll find these mainly between Columbus and Central Park West and between West End Ave and Riverside Drive. In between, you’ll find everything from Tasti D Lite frozen yogurt (my favorite), to Lime Leaf (a wonderfully chic Thai restaurant that’s surprisingly inexpensive), to Urban Outfitters, to small hardware stores and nail salons. The traffic is busy and loud (after all, it’s a two way street and it goes through Central Park AND out to the Henry Hudson Parkway), but because all the apartments are high above the street due to the storefronts underneath, it’s not really a problem for those who live there. 72nd street is also an express stop for the 1/2/3 and the A/C subways, so it’s an easy task to get anywhere else you might like to go in New York.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
5/5
2yrs+

"Cute apartments and great dining!"

I stayed in a hostel in this area and I just loved waking up each morning. Strolling along 72nd St and having chocolate chip pancakes in the diners made me want to live here! It's so close to Riverside Drive so you can stroll to the water or stroll in the other direction and hang out in Central Park.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
5/5
2yrs+

"Manhattan's Cross Street"

Just step outside the subway station at W. 72nd street and Broadway and you’ll understand why area is just the tip of the heart of the city. IF you are facing north, directly to your left you will find the quite famous, quite inexpensive, and quite delicious “Grey’s Papaya” hot dog store. The original one to pop up in New York City, this is one of the few places where you can get 2 hot dogs for less than $2, and a nice Mango smoothie to go along.

Directly in front of you, Broadway and Amsterdam ave snake out towards the upper reaches of Manhattan, and are the gateway to some of the borough’s swankiest and most comfortable neighborhoods. The square which surrounds the Broadway and W. 72nd st intersection boasts any services from Mattress stores to Chinese restaurants, to Lens Crafters. This is the area to go to if you have several important, but random errands to run.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
3/5
2yrs+

"West 72nd Street"

Close to riverside drive, this street has little to offer in the way of dining (there’s a Burritoville), and little to offer in the way of shopping (there’s a shoe store), but I think it’s in a wonderful location. I also like the let off into the Riverside area. Sandwiched by two parks, the real estate in the Upper West Side is prized, especially when summer temperatures begin to rise and New Yorkers search for shade. I think this is a beautiful street, great for young couples, and also a tribute to New York City architecture at its finest.

(1,2,3, trains, W. 72nd street)
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

Best Streets in Upper West Side

1

West 98 St

4/5
"Close to major streets, but nothing special. "
40.7962585124096 -73.9715397412998
2

West 89 St

4/5
"Parks and peace "
40.7878215086766 -73.9693449872096
3

West 72 St

4/5
"Eat on a budget on the Upper West Side "
40.7763645005111 -73.9762999992531
4

West 85 St

4/5
"Get away from the crowd"
40.7847225003039 -73.970097499556
5

West End Ave

3.5/5
"Pricey but worth it. "
40.8026395002913 -73.9678480011539
6

West 74 St

3.5/5
"Discover something new"
40.7776490003279 -73.9752724995149
7

Riverside Dr

3.5/5
"Gorgeous, underrated slice of NYC"
40.7928016066132 -73.9770265051021
8

West 70 St

3.5/5
"Charm, charm and more charm"
40.7755075086588 -73.9783289872355
9

West 86 St

3.5/5
"Well,there is not a big rush...Restaurants are great...buildings are nice..."
40.7853750001582 -73.9695274997681
10

West 110 St

3/5
"West 110th is an up and coming street in NYC"
40.8044265019571 -73.9673744973842

Best Neighborhoods to Live In

Best Cities to Live In

Tell everyone what you love about your neighborhood!

Leave a Review

Have a question?

How are schools? Is the area safe? What about public transit options?" Why not ask our community of locals!

Ask Now

Selling or Renting Your Home?

Maximize the selling price of your home by sharing what you love about your suburb to increase its appeal...

Leave a Review

Corporate Relocation Manager?

Enable your employees to share local knowledge in a private, trusted environment with those relocating... while building community.

Learn More