The Upper West Side lies between Central Park and the Hudson River between West 59th Street and 100th or 125th Street, depending on whom you ask. The Upper West Side is a neighborhood of historic brownstones and shops that is considered a bastion for the liberal and creative class. But don’t expect starving artists:  the Upper West Side is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in Manhattan.  

The Upper West Side is home to some of Manhattan’s most-loved cultural institutions, including the American Museum of Natural History, the Lincoln Center, the New York City Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera House, and the New York Philharmonic. Check out a piece of history by gazing at the Dakota at 72nd Street, John Lennon’s former residence and site of his death, and the Strawberry Fields memorial across the street. ABC has its headquarters in the Upper West Side, as does Time Warner. Columbia University, Barnard College, and the Julliard School of Music all call the Upper West Side home.

If you’re looking for eats, head to Amsterdam Avenue between 67th and 96th for bodegas, cafes, and bars or to Columbus Avenue for some ritzier fare. And of course there is what arguably is New York’s most famous restaurant, Tavern on the Green.