I love a good neighborhood wander, don’t you? I don’t have to buy anything, just give me a good peruse, window shop, and people-watch spot. I also just love seeing how different the vibes are in a city, from neighborhood to neighborhood. The Upper West Side feels different than The West Village feels different than Chinatown, and yet, they are all on the same island. 

After living in New York City for only four years, I packed all the neighborhood explorations into my time, while I could. Everyone goes to NYC and sees Times Square, Chinatown, midtown, and even out to see the Statue of Liberty, but few venture out past the hotspots. Which, understandably so, you’re often on limited time and if you only have the ability to explore so much, you’re going to want to visit the main attractions. 

The below four neighborhoods are some of my favorite in the city. You’ll get a feel for a more residential pace with good eats and lots of parks in the Upper West Side. Explore a cute Brooklyn neighborhood filled with local shops in Cobble Hill. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge from DUMBO to Manhattan. Shop all the artsy vibes and thrift shops before grabbing a stunning sunset at Domino Park in Williamsburg. I mean, yesssss!

So, if you’re looking for a taste of New York City outside of the go-to tourist spots, give these neighborhoods a try. 

Upper West Side

My beloved neighborhood. If you’re looking for all the best in eats, parks, drinks, shops, and more, check out my recommendations. I lived here for four years, so I’m a little biased when I say that the Upper West Side is the best neighborhood in Manhattan, possibly all of NYC. As a forever homebody, I love the blend of cozy family vibes with a solid foodie scene, parks, and nearness to water (aka the Hudson River). 

Whether you’re looking for a perfect place for a run (Riverside Park), an old school diner for a quick bite to eat or some homemade ice cream (Old John’s Diner), a cute artsy shop filled with designs and knick-knacks (Runaway Poppy), a solid pain au chocolat (Délice Macarons), or a rainy day used book store (Westsider Rare & Used Books Inc), the Upper West Side has you covered. Not to mention it’s access to Central Park and all of the museums both on the Upper West Side and Upper East Side.

Cobble Hill

Honestly, if I were to leave the Upper West Side, I’d probably live in Cobble Hill (or Brooklyn Heights). It’s just cute man. There are so many local shops to wander about, florists, bakeries, and Italian grocers, but my absolute favorite, do-not-miss-out-on is the Brooklyn Farmacy. I just love a nostalgic diner feel plus, the fact that it’s an all-sweet menu? Sign me up! 

I’ve explored this neighborhood in the rain and shine and it never disappoints.

DUMBO + Brooklyn Heights

If you’re looking to get some steps in, you can walk the blocks between Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights, before venturing down to DUMBO and crossing the bridge, on foot of course, to Manhattan. That’s a lot though, even for me and I love a good walkaround. 

I prefer the walk back into Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge, versus away, I just think the view is slightly cooler, but you do you. With that, you can take the 2 right into Brooklyn Heights to kick off your tour. First and foremost, I just love some of the street names in Brooklyn Heights. Pineapple? Orange? Cranberry? Speaking of Pineapple, one of my favorite little coffee shops is right off it called Vineapple. 

Once you get to DUMBO there is so much to do. You can walk over to the carousel for a cool picture of the city alongside the lacquered horses (maybe even take a spin?). Head to the Time Out market for loads of food stalls and different shops (bonus points, there are public restrooms here if you need them). Grab a pizza, sit near the waterfront, and enjoy the day. If you’re looking for a great “NYC” shot, head over to Washington St and Water St for that classic shot with the Manhattan Bridge as your backdrop. Then head up to the Brooklyn Bridge to walk into Manhattan.

Williamsburg

It’s that hip and cool place… or that’s what the cool kids say. I do enjoy a wander around Williamsburg - though it’s a bit of a pain to get to from the city with the main subway connection being only one line, the L. You could also take the NYC ferry from the east side of Manhattan for a cool viewpoint of the city. 

There are tons of cool shops, thrift stores (I love 10ft Single), restaurants, and just places to peruse. If sitting on a park bench is more of your vibe, head over to Domino Park where you can do a lot of people-watching and catch a fantastic sunset. Also, stop by Bon Bon and grab a bag of Swedish candy. The chocolate-covered coconut clusters might have trumped the sour candy (which is a rare feat let me tell you).

Well there ya have it folks, these are just a few neighborhoods to catch when visiting NYC that aren’t just midtown. Touring these spots will offer you a more residential perspective of the city that you won’t get if you just stay within the touristy hot spots. By no means do they cover all that the city has to offer, but just a few favorites from my end.

Have fun!

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