Welcome to the Lower East Side
A Historic Enclave that Never Sleeps
As its name suggests, the Lower East Side is located along the east river in the southeastern section of Manhattan, just next to Little Italy, Chinatown, and the Financial District. You may have seen glimpses of this iconic neighborhood’s robust history in movies like Once Upon a Time in America and Gangs of New York. Now, the Lower East Side is known for its dusk-till-dawn nightlife, vibrant art community, and top-notch food scene. You might even think of the Lower East Side as a microcosm of the city itself, with its old-meets new mix of pre-war and modern homes, lively essence, and, of course, its countless culinary establishments that have persisted through the decades.
The earliest European settlement in the area dates to the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam in the seventeenth century, when the Lower East Side was largely farmland owned by the De Lancy family. In 1833, some of the first tenements, an architectural staple of the Lower East Side, were established in the southern part of the neighborhood near Corlear’s Hook. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, these tenements would rapidly grow in number as massive waves of immigrants settled in Lower Manhattan. Most of these immigrants settled in the Lower East Side. While the neighborhood has undoubtedly changed, its rich multicultural history lends the modern neighborhood a rich sense of character and some of the best food in the city. If you’re interested in learning more about the lives of immigrants in the tenements at the turn of the last century, the Tenement Museum offers an immersive experience during which you can explore the rooms of families who lived in the museum building from experts on the subject.
The Lower East Side has a dense, urban feel, and features a mix of pre-war and modern residential buildings. The neighborhood is also home to a mix of young artists and professionals, as well as longtime residents who have watched the neighborhood evolve over the decades. People from all over New York City flock to the Lower East Side for its lively nightlife and countless low-key music venues, such as the famous Rockwood Music Hall, and Arlene's Grocery.
The iconic culinary establishments on the Lower East Side are truly endless. Perhaps the most famous of them all, Katz’s Delicatessen has been serving its pastrami on rye sandwich since 1888. Essex Market, which has recently been relocated to a modern shopping center, has been serving the Lower East Side community for over 100 years. If you stop by on the weekends, you may even catch a free Blues concert. Still hungry? Grab a bagel with lox and cream cheese at Russ and Daughters, established in 1904 by Polish-Jewish immigrants, or grab a Knish at the famous Yonah Schimmel’s Knish. In addition to its outstanding culinary scene, people come from all over the city to visit the Lower East Side’s vintage stores and galleries. While there, check out Pilgrim New York, an upscale vintage store, or Zarin Fabrics, a store which boasts three large floors of upholstery fabric.
Interested in learning more about the Lower East Side? Check out Randy's Video Below!