Guidebook for New York

Lilian
Guidebook for New York

Food Scene

Celebrity Chef and Harlem resident Marcus Samuelsson's restaurant. Nightclub downstairs. Gospel brunch on Sundays. Reservations recommended.
1044 locals recommend
Red Rooster
310 Lenox Ave
1044 locals recommend
Celebrity Chef and Harlem resident Marcus Samuelsson's restaurant. Nightclub downstairs. Gospel brunch on Sundays. Reservations recommended.
Modern soul food. Delicious, casual and right around the corner.
98 locals recommend
BLVD Bistro NY
2149 Frederick Douglass Blvd
98 locals recommend
Modern soul food. Delicious, casual and right around the corner.
Good burgers and shakes. Family friendly.
212 locals recommend
Harlem Shake
100 W 124th St
212 locals recommend
Good burgers and shakes. Family friendly.
Friendly and classic. Satisfying Italian food.
86 locals recommend
SETTEPANI
196 Malcolm X Blvd
86 locals recommend
Friendly and classic. Satisfying Italian food.
Great brunch spot; casual. The Acapulco breakfast is my favorite.
163 locals recommend
Il Cafe Latte 1
189 Malcolm X Blvd
163 locals recommend
Great brunch spot; casual. The Acapulco breakfast is my favorite.
A good wood-fired pizza option.
17 locals recommend
Harlem Pizza
100 W 125th St
17 locals recommend
A good wood-fired pizza option.
The best cookies in NYC, at 800 calories a wallop.
197 locals recommend
Levain Bakery - Harlem
2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd
197 locals recommend
The best cookies in NYC, at 800 calories a wallop.
Delicious Middle Eastern food. Unique gift shop. Beware the hot sauce -- it really is.
197 locals recommend
Silvana
300 W 116th St
197 locals recommend
Delicious Middle Eastern food. Unique gift shop. Beware the hot sauce -- it really is.
Good wood-fired pizza; Italian food.
105 locals recommend
Babbalucci
331 Malcolm X Blvd
105 locals recommend
Good wood-fired pizza; Italian food.
Marcus Samuelsson's second Harlem restaurant. Nice roasted whole chicken.
86 locals recommend
Streetbird Rotisserie
2149 Frederick Douglass Boulevard
86 locals recommend
Marcus Samuelsson's second Harlem restaurant. Nice roasted whole chicken.
Where the Queen of soul food reigns.
405 locals recommend
Sylvia's Restaurant
328 Malcolm X Blvd
405 locals recommend
Where the Queen of soul food reigns.
Healthy Indian-inspired food and drink; fascinating decor. Service can be slow.
40 locals recommend
Chaiwali
West 124th Street
40 locals recommend
Healthy Indian-inspired food and drink; fascinating decor. Service can be slow.
The best affordable sushi place in the neighborhood.
32 locals recommend
Yuzu
350 Lenox Ave
32 locals recommend
The best affordable sushi place in the neighborhood.
High-end sushi for purists. No wasabi or California rolls here. You will need a reservation to sit at the counter.
18 locals recommend
Sushi Inoue
381A Malcolm X Blvd
18 locals recommend
High-end sushi for purists. No wasabi or California rolls here. You will need a reservation to sit at the counter.
Our go-to pizza place. Delicious wood-fired pizza and Italian restaurant in a Brownstone garden level space. Casual and family-friendly.
63 locals recommend
Sottocasa Pizzeria
227 Malcolm X Blvd
63 locals recommend
Our go-to pizza place. Delicious wood-fired pizza and Italian restaurant in a Brownstone garden level space. Casual and family-friendly.
Warm and elegant atmosphere. Mid-Century Modern Decor. Delicious food reflective of Harlem culture.
23 locals recommend
Renaissance Harlem
2245 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
23 locals recommend
Warm and elegant atmosphere. Mid-Century Modern Decor. Delicious food reflective of Harlem culture.
Create an Asian or Latino taco bowl. Gluten-free and vegetarian options.
Harlem Taco & Bowl Company
2288 Frederick Douglass Blvd
Create an Asian or Latino taco bowl. Gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Drinks & Nightlife

I haven't been there but it always looks busy.
166 locals recommend
Barawine Harlem
200 Malcolm X Blvd
166 locals recommend
I haven't been there but it always looks busy.
Located in Red Rooster restaurant, downstairs. Different type of live music every night. Cover fee.
117 locals recommend
Ginny's Supper Club
310 Malcolm X Blvd
117 locals recommend
Located in Red Rooster restaurant, downstairs. Different type of live music every night. Cover fee.
Claims to be the oldest dive bar in NYC (and it looks like it, just so you know). Live jazz jams every night with no cover.
106 locals recommend
Paris Blues
2021 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
106 locals recommend
Claims to be the oldest dive bar in NYC (and it looks like it, just so you know). Live jazz jams every night with no cover.
Discover the next star at Amateur Night!
893 locals recommend
Apollo Theater
253 W 125th St
893 locals recommend
Discover the next star at Amateur Night!

Sightseeing

A lesser-known but lovely garden with fountains and a lily pond.
159 locals recommend
Conservatory Garden
1233 5th Ave
159 locals recommend
A lesser-known but lovely garden with fountains and a lily pond.
The fourth largest Christian church in the world. You may get to see a white peacock roaming the gardens.
378 locals recommend
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Ave
378 locals recommend
The fourth largest Christian church in the world. You may get to see a white peacock roaming the gardens.
A smaller, more intimate service at the oldest church in Harlem. Sunday worship service at 11 am. Call 212-534-5856 to confirm. Between Lexington and 3rd Aves.
Elmendorf Reformed Church
171 E 121st St
A smaller, more intimate service at the oldest church in Harlem. Sunday worship service at 11 am. Call 212-534-5856 to confirm. Between Lexington and 3rd Aves.
A large congregation and choir popular with tourists. Services are Sundays at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 am. Call 212-864-5976 to confirm. Cross street is W. 116 St.
35 locals recommend
First Corinthian Baptist Church
1912 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
35 locals recommend
A large congregation and choir popular with tourists. Services are Sundays at 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 am. Call 212-864-5976 to confirm. Cross street is W. 116 St.
A large congregation with services at 8:30 and 11 am on Sundays; 6:45 pm on Wednesdays. Call 212-860-1510 to confirm. Located on 120th St. between 5th and Madison Aves.
15 locals recommend
Bethel Gospel Assembly
2-26 E 120th St
15 locals recommend
A large congregation with services at 8:30 and 11 am on Sundays; 6:45 pm on Wednesdays. Call 212-860-1510 to confirm. Located on 120th St. between 5th and Madison Aves.

Entertainment & Activities

A skating rink in winter and swimming pool in summer. It may not have Wollman Rink's views, but the prices are much nicer. Enter Central Park from Lenox/Malcolm X or ACP and you'll see it ahead.
32 locals recommend
Lasker Rink
110 Lenox Ave
32 locals recommend
A skating rink in winter and swimming pool in summer. It may not have Wollman Rink's views, but the prices are much nicer. Enter Central Park from Lenox/Malcolm X or ACP and you'll see it ahead.
Much easier to get to than the Bronx Zoo. The penguins and polar bears are must-sees. Take the M2 from Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.
394 locals recommend
Central Park Zoo
East 64th Street
394 locals recommend
Much easier to get to than the Bronx Zoo. The penguins and polar bears are must-sees. Take the M2 from Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.
Sandwiched between Times Square and Grand Central, Bryant Park is one of my favorite city parks. In winter there is an open air ice skating rink with the best music and a pop-up shopping village for gifts and snacks. Summer features movie nights on the lawn and a children's carousel. Check bryantpark.org for the schedule. The New York City main public library is open year-round.
688 locals recommend
Bryant Park
688 locals recommend
Sandwiched between Times Square and Grand Central, Bryant Park is one of my favorite city parks. In winter there is an open air ice skating rink with the best music and a pop-up shopping village for gifts and snacks. Summer features movie nights on the lawn and a children's carousel. Check bryantpark.org for the schedule. The New York City main public library is open year-round.

Essentials

This drug store has basic groceries like milk, juice, and yogurt. It also has personal supplies and a pharmacy.
416 locals recommend
CVS
115 W 125th St
416 locals recommend
This drug store has basic groceries like milk, juice, and yogurt. It also has personal supplies and a pharmacy.
Right around the corner; known for a great selection of healthy and trendy foods. Features an extensive salad bar, Indian, Louisiana Bayou, and soup bars (rotating menu); breakfast bar from 7 to 10 am.
541 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
100 W 125th St
541 locals recommend
Right around the corner; known for a great selection of healthy and trendy foods. Features an extensive salad bar, Indian, Louisiana Bayou, and soup bars (rotating menu); breakfast bar from 7 to 10 am.
You can drop-off and pick-up.
19 locals recommend
Miss Bubble Laundromat
1492 5th Ave
19 locals recommend
You can drop-off and pick-up.

Everything Else

Lowest rates but CASH ONLY. Entrance is on W. 126 St. (one-way going west). 212-531-3418
Propark America
1090 Amsterdam Ave
Lowest rates but CASH ONLY. Entrance is on W. 126 St. (one-way going west). 212-531-3418

Arts & Culture

The main campus on W. 116 St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Aves. is a nice place for a stroll. Columbia's Miller Theater is a great place to see a show when you don't have the energy for another trip to Midtown. millertheatre.com
539 locals recommend
Columbia University
116th and Broadway
539 locals recommend
The main campus on W. 116 St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Aves. is a nice place for a stroll. Columbia's Miller Theater is a great place to see a show when you don't have the energy for another trip to Midtown. millertheatre.com
One of my favorite museums in the city. More manageable in size and wonderful exhibits about New York City history and culture.
271 locals recommend
Museum of the City of New York
1220 5th Ave
271 locals recommend
One of my favorite museums in the city. More manageable in size and wonderful exhibits about New York City history and culture.
Shows are all family friendly -- our favorite for kids and adults alike. Consistently excellent programming. The lobby has pre-show activities and lockers.
New Victory Theater
209 W 42nd St
Shows are all family friendly -- our favorite for kids and adults alike. Consistently excellent programming. The lobby has pre-show activities and lockers.