Guidebook for New York
Essentials
C-Town Supermarkets
560 W 125th StOpen daily till 10PM
Duane Reade
2864 Broadwayopen till 10PM daily
large supermarket with walk-in cold storage section, kosher products, home-made cheeses and deli meats, imported and local good.
217 locals recommend
Fairway Market 125th Street
2328 12th Avelarge supermarket with walk-in cold storage section, kosher products, home-made cheeses and deli meats, imported and local good.
3200 Broadway
3200 BroadwayChase Bank
open 8-6 M-F, 10-3 Saturday
580 W 125th St
580 West 125th StreetBank of America -ATM only
United States Postal Service
4558 Broadwayopen 7-7 M-F
7-4 on Saturday
FedEx Office Ship Center
207 W 125th Stopen till 9pm weekdays, 6pm weekends
301 W 125th St
301 Doctor Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardCapital One Bank
open 9-6 M-F, 10-2 Saturday
35 W 125th St
35 West 125th StreetWells Fargo ATM
New York City Police Department - 32nd Precinct
250 W 135th StNYPD
FDNY Engine 37/Ladder 40
415 W 125th StFire Department
1310 Amsterdam Ave
1310 Amsterdam AvenueCitibank.
9-5 Monday and Friday
9-4 T, W, TH
10-2 Sat
ATM 24 hrs
Food Scene
Kuro Kuma
121 La Salle Stcheap and easy
famous ramen place, always packed, affordable and delicious
137 locals recommend
Jin Ramen West Harlem
3183 Broadwayfamous ramen place, always packed, affordable and delicious
Pisticci
125 La Salle Stfresh pasta, neighborhood setting, affordable, live jazz
Island Burgers & Shakes
huge burgers and live jazz
Sushi Sushi
1504 Amsterdam Aveaffordable, fresh and inventive sushi place, no frills but good food
El Porton
3151 Broadwaykitchen is open till 2AM! good food and margaritas, great prices
cheap caribbean/latin american food that you can order from the counter to-go, or sit down. great lunch specials.
El Nuevo Tina
511 West 125th Streetcheap caribbean/latin american food that you can order from the counter to-go, or sit down. great lunch specials.
Chapati House
3153 Broadwayit's like Chipotle but with Indian food
affordable and quiet with old-world coffee house ambience. couches and wifi, relaxed service.
34 locals recommend
Max Caffè
1262 Amsterdam Aveaffordable and quiet with old-world coffee house ambience. couches and wifi, relaxed service.
Choose your fish from their market and they cook it right there. No tables, but you can eat at the counter. Always packed. Cheap too!
El Puerto Seafood
511 W 125th StChoose your fish from their market and they cook it right there. No tables, but you can eat at the counter. Always packed. Cheap too!
Amy Ruth's
113 W 116th Stchicken and waffles, anyone?
Sylvia's Restaurant
328 Malcolm X Blvdgreat soul food
soul food restaurant opened in 2005 and run and operated by Melba herself.
138 locals recommend
Melba's
300 W 114th Stsoul food restaurant opened in 2005 and run and operated by Melba herself.
Levain Bakery - Harlem
2167 Frederick Douglass BlvdFamous for their cookies- lines out the door!
Cafe that also sells crafts by local artisans with an underground performance space. Often has live music.
197 locals recommend
Silvana
300 W 116th StCafe that also sells crafts by local artisans with an underground performance space. Often has live music.
Oasis Jimma Juice Bar
3163 Broadwayfresh juices, shakes, salads.
Toast Uptown
3157 Broadwayamerican restaurant, good local beer selection, open late.
italian food, a little on the pricey side, but very good and authentic-tasting.
31 locals recommend
Bettolona
3143 Broadwayitalian food, a little on the pricey side, but very good and authentic-tasting.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
700 W 125th StFamous New York Barbecue joint. Definitely worth the wait.
Massawa
1239 Amsterdam AveEast African (Ethiopian and Eritrean) food!
Nikko
1280 Amsterdam Avejapanese hibachi. Also serves sushi.
Serafina Harlem
1260 Amsterdam AveNYC chain restaurant. Italian food. A little pricey but good and light fare.
Kitchenette
BIG servings. American food. Great for big breakfasts!
AMAZING and CHEAP Harlem-style fried chicken! Cash only. food is also halal, if that is important to you.
Lincoln Fried Chicken
576 W 125th StAMAZING and CHEAP Harlem-style fried chicken! Cash only. food is also halal, if that is important to you.
Sightseeing
National monument, free entry. Beautiful architecture and setting.
144 locals recommend
General Grant National Memorial
Riverside DriveNational monument, free entry. Beautiful architecture and setting.
Built during the Great Depression, funded by the Rockefellers.
67 locals recommend
The Riverside Cathedral
490 Riverside DrBuilt during the Great Depression, funded by the Rockefellers.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
414 W 141st StAlexander Hamilton's House
Parks & Nature
Cherry Blossom park. Trees donated by Japanese Government. Beautiful when in bloom!
22 locals recommend
Sakura Park
500 Riverside DrCherry Blossom park. Trees donated by Japanese Government. Beautiful when in bloom!
Long park path by the river, runs up the entire west side of Manhattan
502 locals recommend
Riverside Park
Long park path by the river, runs up the entire west side of Manhattan
neighborhood park that locals frequent on the weekends for barbecues and get-togethers.
105 locals recommend
Morningside Park
Morningside Driveneighborhood park that locals frequent on the weekends for barbecues and get-togethers.
28-acre park with tons of facilities like pools, playgrounds, sports fields, a skating rink & more.
269 locals recommend
Riverbank/State Park
28-acre park with tons of facilities like pools, playgrounds, sports fields, a skating rink & more.
Arts & Culture
From Apollo Theater website: "Since opening its doors in 1914 and introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo has played a major role in the emergence of jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, and soul — all quintessentially American music genres. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo stage. Today, the Apollo is a respected not-for-profit, which presents concerts, performing arts, education and community outreach programs."
893 locals recommend
Apollo Theater
253 W 125th StFrom Apollo Theater website: "Since opening its doors in 1914 and introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo has played a major role in the emergence of jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, and soul — all quintessentially American music genres. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo stage. Today, the Apollo is a respected not-for-profit, which presents concerts, performing arts, education and community outreach programs."
Free entry. From NYPL website: "George Bruce was an enterprising Scotsman who sailed to the United States before he was 15. Eventually settling in New York, he became a well-known typefounder and inventor of printing machinery.
In 1877, Bruce's daughter, Catherine, contributed $50,000 for a library building and books in memory of her father. Completed in 1888, the original George Bruce Library was located on 42nd Street. When the building was sold in 1915, the proceeds were used to build the present-day, handsome, brick and sandstone, Carrere and Hastings-designed building on 125th Street, opened on June 2, 1915."
New York Public Library, George Bruce Branch
518 W 125th StFree entry. From NYPL website: "George Bruce was an enterprising Scotsman who sailed to the United States before he was 15. Eventually settling in New York, he became a well-known typefounder and inventor of printing machinery.
In 1877, Bruce's daughter, Catherine, contributed $50,000 for a library building and books in memory of her father. Completed in 1888, the original George Bruce Library was located on 42nd Street. When the building was sold in 1915, the proceeds were used to build the present-day, handsome, brick and sandstone, Carrere and Hastings-designed building on 125th Street, opened on June 2, 1915."
Features paintings, photos & more by artists of African descent as well as programs & workshops.
CLOSED Monday-Wednesday. Open Thurs and Fri 12-9, Saturday and Sunday 12-6.
239 locals recommend
The Studio Museum in Harlem
144 West 125th StreetFeatures paintings, photos & more by artists of African descent as well as programs & workshops.
CLOSED Monday-Wednesday. Open Thurs and Fri 12-9, Saturday and Sunday 12-6.
Established performance venue showcasing African American plays & events, plus drama education.
14 locals recommend
National Black Theatre Inc
2031 5th AveEstablished performance venue showcasing African American plays & events, plus drama education.
Drinks & Nightlife
Harlem Tavern
2153 Frederick Douglass Blvdoutdoor bar with food and lively harlem vibe
Harlem's longest running jazz club (1942)! 2 drink minimum, no cover. great ambience and talent!
They've hosted many of the greats, including Sara Vaughan, Eartha Kitt, and Duke Ellington.
Currently owned and operated by Mona Lopez and Al Howard (google them) who are there almost every night and great to talk to!
39 locals recommend
Showmans Jazz Club
375 W 125th StHarlem's longest running jazz club (1942)! 2 drink minimum, no cover. great ambience and talent!
They've hosted many of the greats, including Sara Vaughan, Eartha Kitt, and Duke Ellington.
Currently owned and operated by Mona Lopez and Al Howard (google them) who are there almost every night and great to talk to!
Speakeasy vibe, under Red Rooster restaurant, as Harlem as it gets!
117 locals recommend
Ginny's Supper Club
310 Malcolm X BlvdSpeakeasy vibe, under Red Rooster restaurant, as Harlem as it gets!
COTTON CLUB PARADE, every Monday night, doors open at 8 pm for dinner (A’la carte menu). The band, a 13 piece swing & jazz band (cotton club Allstars) hit at 8:30 pm. They play three 50 minutes sets with 20 minutes off from 8:30 pm until 12 midnight. Price $25.00 music charge.
35 locals recommend
Cotton Club
COTTON CLUB PARADE, every Monday night, doors open at 8 pm for dinner (A’la carte menu). The band, a 13 piece swing & jazz band (cotton club Allstars) hit at 8:30 pm. They play three 50 minutes sets with 20 minutes off from 8:30 pm until 12 midnight. Price $25.00 music charge.
German-style beer garden. Great ambience and beer selection!
27 locals recommend
Bierstrasse Harlem Beer Garden
701 W 133rd StGerman-style beer garden. Great ambience and beer selection!
Rum Hall featuring a Caribbean menu, huge rum selection and rum-based cocktails, DJ dance nights.
13 locals recommend
Solomon & Kuff
2331 12th AveRum Hall featuring a Caribbean menu, huge rum selection and rum-based cocktails, DJ dance nights.
BTH
712 W 125th Stcocktails and locals. hiphop/rap scene.
Shopping
521 W 125th St
521 West 125th Street99 Cent store
long stretch of stores and street stalls, including the Gap and Banana Republic outlets. Street stalls sell soaps, incense, music.
125th Street Business Improvement District
360 W 125th Stlong stretch of stores and street stalls, including the Gap and Banana Republic outlets. Street stalls sell soaps, incense, music.
Botanica Floresteria Santa Ana
545 W 125th StTraditional botanica with santeria supplies and potions.