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Upper West Side

New York

Leafy residential streets between Central Park and the Hudson, with the Natural History Museum and quick subways to Midtown.

Best for Families · Upscale

Transport
4/5
Sights
4/5
Value
3/5
Quiet
5/5
Food
4/5

Typical mid-range hotel ~$270/night · 15 min to Times Square

See hotels in Upper West Side

Upper West Side on the map

Why stay here

  • Central Park and Riverside Park on your doorstep
  • Quiet, residential streets
  • Natural History Museum and Lincoln Center

Who should stay here

  • Families
  • Travellers who want calm evenings
  • Longer stays

Not ideal if…

  • You want nightlife
  • You want to be downtown
  • You want trendy hotels

What it's like

The Upper West Side is family New York: brownstones, delis, playgrounds, Riverside Park on one side and Central Park on the other. The American Museum of Natural History and Lincoln Center are here.

It's one of the quietest parts of Manhattan at night. The 1, 2 and 3 trains reach Times Square in about 15 minutes.

Best streets and sub-areas

  • Around 72nd Street

    Good transport and the most hotels.

  • Columbus Avenue

    Cafés and shops near the museum.

  • Riverside Drive

    Quiet streets by the Hudson.

Getting around

Nearest stations
72 St and 79 St (1, 2, 3) and 81 St–Museum of Natural History (B, C).
To Times Square
About 15 minutes
From JFK
About 70 minutes: AirTrain to Jamaica, then the E train and the 1 train.

Nearby attractions

  • American Museum of Natural History

    Dinosaurs and the blue whale.

  • Central Park

    Strawberry Fields, the lake and Bethesda Fountain.

  • Lincoln Center

    Opera, ballet and the New York Philharmonic.

Where to eat and drink

  • Zabar's

    Legendary deli and food shop on Broadway.

  • Levain Bakery

    Huge cookies; the original is on West 74th.

  • Barney Greengrass

    Old-school smoked fish and bagels since 1908.

Where to stay in Upper West Side

A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.

Best value

Arthouse Hotel New York City

Why we like it: Stylish rooms by the 79th Street subway.

Typical mid-range rate in Upper West Side: ~$270/night

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Best value

Hotel Beacon

Why we like it: Big rooms with kitchenettes, good for families.

Typical mid-range rate in Upper West Side: ~$270/night

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Luxury pick

Mandarin Oriental, New York

Why we like it: High-floor rooms over Columbus Circle and the park.

Typical luxury rate in Upper West Side: ~$500/night

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Hotels in Upper West SideMid-range from ~$270/night

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