Upper West Side/Lincoln Square

Welcome to the Upper West Side / Lincoln Square

An inviting, artistic neighborhood within the vibrant Upper West Side

Long the heart of class and culture, the Upper West Side is home to a bustling and vibrant corner of New York City that often feels like a small town. Lincoln Square, with its brownstone-lined streets, playgrounds, and pocket parks, feels inviting and cozy, while at the same time maintaining its connection to the city around it. Between West 59th and West 72nd streets, the Hudson River, and Central Park, this area was formerly known as San Juan Hill. When the Lincoln Center cultural complex was built, the area underwent a revitalization, attracting residents seeking a home in an area with a commercial and retail presence, but the feel of a close-knit community. You’ll enjoy its abundant green space and proximity to Central Park and may gravitate to fashionable shops, world-class restaurants, and dynamic cultural and educational institutions.

There’s real estate here for all tastes, with historic townhouses on the side streets, historic co-op buildings, and splashy condo high-rises. Great schools and cultural amenities add to the neighborhood’s appeal and price tag, although buildings just a touch farther north can be more affordable.

What to Love

Close to Central Park and Hudson River
Easy access to public transportation and bike-share service
World-class cultural institutions
Upscale shopping
Sought-after real estate

Local Lifestyle

New York City’s most culturally aware, creative, and intellectual types are drawn to Lincoln Square for its wonderful public spaces, vibrant green places, museums, its namesake performing arts center, fabulous restaurants, luxury shopping, and more — all with an intimate and inviting feel. Friends meet at the fountain at Columbus Circle while co-workers grab lunch on Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza. Let the kids loose at Dante Park or Richard Tucker Park. Whether people-watching, enjoying a free summer concert or bumping elbows with neighbors at the Greenmarket held twice a week, Lincoln Square residents have a lot to love.

Dining, Shopping & Entertainment

Lincoln Square’s central location at the southern end of the Upper West Side, as well as its easy access to mass transit, make it a breeze to explore the city’s dining and nightlife options. Yet many will want to stay right here, where the entertainment veers more toward casual bars and restaurants, places where the bartender knows your name or you can sit at your favorite table.

Book lovers can spend hours at Shakespeare & Co., an iconic Manhattan bookstore next to the Hunger College campus with a great cafe, author events, and every book you could want either in the stacks, or available online. For ample selection in fashion, home decor, wellness, and technology, The Shops at Columbus Circle can’t be beaten. With live entertainment at Jazz at Lincoln Center, delectable restaurants, and more, this is where Lincoln Square comes for fashion, food, and fun.

Just across from Lincoln Center, PJ Clarke’s woos foodies with its raw bar, famous Clarke burgers, corned-beef reuben sandwiches, soups, and salads. The sea-salt fries have been famous since 1884, so be sure to order a plate or two. In the mood for chocolate babka? Stop by Breads Bakery, a quintessential New York bakery in the heart of Union Square.

Experience two levels of glitz and glamour at the Sugar Factory, where plush leather banquettes, celebrity photos, and outrageous desserts have attracted the likes of Kylie Jenner, Drake, and Eva Longoria. Indulge in sweet and savory crepes, burgers, or pizza, or sip a signature, alcohol-infused, smoking candy goblet cocktail.

Boulud Sud showcases Chef Daniel Boulud’s Mediterranean culinary creativity with fresh vegetables, seafood, citrus, grains, and herbs representing the Cote d’Azur, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel, and beyond. The wine list features vintages from France, Italy, Greece, Spain, and more. Synonymous with great food, great cocktails, and great hospitality, The Smith is the epitome of hospitality in Lincoln Square. From the BLT+E sandwich for breakfast to the raw bar for lunch to butternut squash schnitzel for dinner, this is where to bring friends and family for comfort food and conversation. If you’re in Lincoln Center, stop by the revitalized Atlantic Grill, where a more intimate dining experience now awaits, as well as a refreshed design and updated menu that centers around the best bounty of the oceans.

Things to Do

Whether you’re seeking greenery or glamour, the Lincoln Square neighborhood provides it. Between Central Park and Riverside Park, there are lush lawns to spare. From Columbus Circle to Broadway, there’s riveting retail for blocks. Cultural institutions are the clear star of the community, with Julliard, the New York City Ballet, and The New York Philharmonic Orchestra among the varied offerings.

Inside Central Park, you can visit the Shakespeare Garden by the Delacorte Theater, the venue for Shakespeare in the Park productions. Or, entertain the kids during a day in the park with a stop at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, offering innovative performances based on children’s classics.

Or, sit back at Hearst Plaza on the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts campus, near David Geffen Hall, the Metropolitan Opera House, and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Lawn, and feel the pulse of the neighborhood beat around you. At year’s end, don’t miss the annual Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square celebration, the city’s largest holiday festival.