My Favorite Streets Of New York (Nope, Not Broadway)

Look, even as a local New Yorker, I don’t hate Broadway or anything.

Sure, the bit in Times Square is packed with so many tourists you feel like if you fell you’d be stomped to death, and having topless women with American flags painted on their boobs follow me around screaming “Photo?!” is kind of annoying.

But as the street runs for 33 miles through Manhattan, The Bronx and beyond, there are enjoyable sections and attractions.

That being said, there are certain streets of New York that I love exploring on a regular basis, both for their ambiance and offerings.

These are those streets of NY.

In my opinion, I’d add walking each of these to any NYC itinerary.

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Best Streets Of New York

1. Troutman Street (Bushwick)

I can’t believe it’s been over two years since I started living in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

For many, the main draw to the neighborhood is the experimental art scene and appreciation of creativity that is so vibrant.

In fact, one of the top things to do in Bushwick is visiting the Bushwick Collective—an outdoor street art gallery down Troutman Street near Maria Hernandez Park (in between Wycoff and St. Nicholas).

Walking the colorful blocks you become completely immersed in thought-provoking works, pop culture references, and movement-pushing pictures. It’s also very Instagrammable and top spot for photographers.

If you’re in NYC in late May/early June, you can attend the annual Bushwick Collective Block Party. Here you can meet the street artists and watch them work while also enjoying great food and music.

Tip: This area has a lot of great local shops, restaurants, and bars. Right on Troutman, head to Kings County Brewers Collective (brewery), Sea Wolf (seafood restaurant), and Lovejoys (cocktail bar).

My personal favorite is one street over on Starr Street: Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos, a tortilla factory that has been operating since 1998. They operation includes a BYOB restaurant serving tasty tacos, tostadas, and quesadillas—and you can buy a pack of their tortillas to go!

🎨 Click here to book a Bushwick street art tour – or opt for a private tour option!

2. Stone Street (Lower Manhattan)

Many of my tour guests are astounded to realize that Manhattan didn’t always extend to five boroughs, or even the entire island of Manhattan, but was once condensed into what we know today as Lower Manhattan.

Wall Street was actually a wall used to defend the city, Broad Street was a canal, and City Hall was the edge of the city.

Additionally, Stone Street in Lower Manhattan was the first paved street in the city, and a historic landmark because of this.

It was also once known as Brewer’s Row due to the abundance of breweries residing there.

This boozy history has continued into today, as wandering the cobblestone alley you can create a DIY bar crawl via venues in historic buildings, like

• London & Martin Co. offers British flair in a 17th-century building and serves one of my favorite boozy brunches.
• Ulysses Folk House was the first pub to open on Stone Street in 2003, and today serves up a wide variety of beers and tasty comfort food fare.
• Brandy’s is a fun spot to sip fancy cocktails in an upscale dive bar setting with great music—plus a happy hour menu that includes food deals!

🎉 Explore Stone Street and Lower Manhattan on a top-rated tour:
–Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial & Lower Manhattan Walking Tour NYC
–Hamilton Live! Lower Manhattan Walking Tour
–Gangs and River Pirates of New York Walking Tour

3. Bleeker Street (West Village)

I will admit Faicco’s arancini (rice balls coated in bread crumbs) has a lot to do with this—although that’s certainly not all.

If you’re a foodie or are looking for food-related NYC souvenirs, Bleeker Street—one of only two streets to run from the West to East Village—is a must-explore.

Forget Little Italy, which has honestly been so absorbed by Chinatown barely exists anymore; on Bleeker Street and its surroundings, you’ll find loads of authentic Italian culture.

For example, the above-mentioned Faicco’s was opened in 1896 by Edward Faicco, who moved here from Sorrento, while Bleeker Street Pizza serves Tuscan-style thin-crust using a recipe from the owner’s grandmother’s homeland.

Other delicious West Village hot spots on Bleeker Street:

• Blind Tiger Ale House, beer nerds welcome!
• Murray’s Cheese Bar, a stinky heaven of specialty and rare cheeses from around the world.
• Old Tbilisi Garden, a delicious restaurant serving Georgian food (as in former Soviet republic, not the state)

Follow Bleeker to reach Father Demo Square, which is surrounded by sweet tooth sanctuaries like Molly’s Cupcakes — where you can make your own cupcakes, sit on swings, and play board games.

Another nearby highlight:

The beautiful Our Lady of Pompeii Church, which looks like it belongs in Italy. This makes sense as it was created for Italian immigrants in the 1850s.

🎉 Explore the West Village on a top-rated tour:
–The Original West Village Food & Culture Tour Since 1999
–Rock and Roll History and Culture Walking Tour
–Hidden Histories of the West Village

4. Ludlow Street (Lower East Side)

Outside of Brooklyn, my favorite neighborhood to hang out in is the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

Here you’ve got the fun-to-walk Williamsburg Bridge as well as loads of choices for counter-culture cafes, comedy clubs, bars and lounges, and historic restaurants — like Katz’s Deli open since 1888 and Kossar’s Bialy’s open since the 1930s.

My favorite reason to visit this NYC neighborhood though is the live music offerings. If you’re exploring on a budget, many shows are also free or cheap.

Stroll down Ludlow and you’ll encounter Pianos, a fun dive bar with multiple live music rooms.

Within walking distance, other fun venues include Arelene’s Grocery, Bowery Ballroom, Moscow 57, Close Up, Sour Mouse, and many more!

🎉 Explore Ludlow Street & the Lower East Side on a top-rated tour:
–NYC Lower East Side Walking and Food Tour
–Tenement History and Immigrant Life in the Lower East Side
–History & Food in Chinatown, Little Italy & the Lower East Side

5. 10th Avenue (Chelsea)

Chelsea is known for its hundreds of art galleries, making for an easy day of creative venue hopping.

While 10th Avenue itself isn’t where you’ll find the main gallery clusters, the streets right off of it like 24th-26th are chock full (map here).

What’s also great about 10th Avenue is the High Line, an elevated park full of public art, eateries, views, and events created from an abandoned railway, runs along and above it between 12th and 34th Streets.

The park is an attraction in itself, filled with public art, eateries, and lush gardens, but it also acts as a scenic connector between some of the city’s best activities. On the south end, you can hop off to explore Chelsea Market or catch a contemporary exhibit at the Whitney Museum.

To the north, the park leads you straight into the modern landscape of Hudson Yards, home to the Vessel and the The Edge Observation Deck—both of which offer great views over New York City.

🎉 Explore 10th Avenue & Chelsea on a top-rated tour:
–Semi-Private Meatpacking District, Chelsea Market & High Line Walking Tour
–Chelsea Contemporary Art Tour with NYC Professional Art Critic
–Foods of NY Tours Chelsea Market Food Tour & High Line Park

What streets of New York are your favorite? 

p.s. Click here for more NYC travel tips!

p.p.s. Don’t forget to check out my NYC Photo Journeys website to book a unique private experience that is part tour, part photo shoot. You can also see examples from past photo tours on Instagram here.