Spend your day in one of NYC's trendiest neighborhoods!

NEW YORK CITY—The Lower East Side is easily the most unique, dynamic part of NYC. The area itself has a rich and diverse history in large part due to the immigration throughout the years. Irish, Italian, Polish, Ukrainian, German, African American, Chinese, Jewish, Puerto Rican and Dominican immigrants formed vibrant communities in this neighborhood that are still felt today. In the 20th century, it was known for anarchism, radical politics, and organized crime, however these days it is one of the city’s most desirable and trendy neighborhoods.

Although it is now quite gentrified, everything from the stores to the coffee shops, bars and bodegas, still carry that same eclectic energy, flavor, and special edge. The neighborhood now draws in millions of tourists and young, trendy locals seeking that perfect juxtaposition of old and new architecture, buzzy restaurants and bars, and specialty boutique shops. With an endless list of things to see and do, the Lower East Side is the perfect New York neighborhood to explore and truly feel like the locals.

Let’s all agree on two things: all great things begin with coffee and coffee to New Yorkers is oxygen to others. One of my personal favorites is Café Grumpy, especially if you’re on the go and need your daily dose. Despite the cheeky New-York-attitude name, you most definitely will be the opposite of grumpy once you taste their coffee. And as all great, bougie coffee shops offer, they also have all those necessities from gluten free, dairy-free, vegan, oat milk, coconut-everything, oxygen-infused-organic-ethically sourced-artisanal everything coffee. But really, all jokes aside, their coffee is strong and bold, their staff friendly and personable, and their bagels are carb-a-licious. Now if you’d like to be one of ‘those people’ that camps at a coffee house for hours, typing on your laptop, working on your startup, or swiping on Tinder, then I recommend the Ludlow Coffee Supply. This coffee shop offers great coffee and other soft beverages as well as a great assortment of fresh pastries and a very cozy seating area. And don’t ask if they have WiFi—it’s 2018—everyone has WiFi. Except the MTA, but let’s save that topic for another day.

Now that you have your coffee, let’s discuss breakfast. If you purchased a gluten-free-carb-free-taste-free scone at one of the above-mentioned places, then you can skip to the next section. Freeman’s was one of the best hidden gem’s the city has to offer until influencers told everyone about it, but trust us, it’s still special. I realize all conventional wisdom tells us never to go down hidden alleys, get in cars with strangers (hello, Uber) or take candy from strangers (still waiting for this startup, Silicon Valley!) but trust us—this alley is worth the walk. Street art fills the walls as you walk through the entrance of this cute, rustic restaurant. Abundant plants and French-blue doors make this the perfect spot for Instagram and for lunch. The service is top-notch and the food is amazing! Another great option is Jack’s Wife Freda. This is a neighborhood and tourist favorite, and so worth the hype! Israeli inspired food perfectly displayed on modern large menus also makes for the perfect flatlay, because did you really have brunch if you didn’t photograph it?

Now that you’re fed and caffeinated, you can take in some of the best shopping in the city. If you head to 101 Delancey Street, you’ll find Claudia Gold’s store, Claw & Co, also known as Claw Money. The owner sells her own collection and other designers, all with a touch of art behind each piece. In this shop, you’ll find high fashion pieces amongst rare vintage finds. For more unique products, you can head to Tictail Market (90 Orchard Street) for a cool selection of hand-picked products from clothing, jewelry, art, and more from makers around the world. If you don’t have a budget or timeline, then you must also visit Edith Machinist for more vintage finds and Maryam Nassir Zadeh for a curated selection of designer clothes that are rare to find.

After all the shopping, we recommend some culture and the LES is the place to get. Not only is there art murals in many of the streets, but some major art galleries are easily accessible and worth the visit. Some of the must-sees are the Con Artist Collective, Rachel Uffner Gallery, Sperone Westwater, and Bitforms Gallery. And if you’re not into art, just tilt your head, nod, and say ‘this speaks to me’. If art galleries aren’t your cup of tea, then definitely visit the Tenement Museum, which focuses on urban immigration history. It was built on the personal experiences of immigrants who settled in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, back when it was actually affordable. While there, you can also book a tour of local tenements (now known as studio apartments) and walking tours to see how the neighborhood has changed.

Is it lunchtime yet? At 100 Stanton Street, you’ll find El Rey Coffee Bar & Luncheonette, one of my favorite lunch spots! El Rey has all our healthy (read: trendy) favorites like kale salad, avocado toast, and grain bowls, but put their own unique twist on everything! A personal favorite is the Avocado Pita (a different take on avocado toast) and Diablo Chicken Bowl.

For dinner, the options are endless in this part of town! Wildair is a charming, casual wine bar, serving an American menu with some surprisingly exciting dishes such as the Hake fish with chanterelle mushrooms. The menu here is constantly changing, however the food is consistently good. If you’d like something more traditional, then definitely visit Speedy Romeo, a popular Italian restaurant offering wood-fired pizza and classics like burgers and steaks.

For happy hour or a nightcap, the challenge will be deciding where to go. For the classic speakeasy offering expertly mixed cocktails, Attaboy is a must. Located at 134 Eldridge Street, you might easily miss it as it’s tucked behind a nondescript door with a ‘tailor’ sign. Ring the bell and wait for the bouncer to decide if you look cool enough to enter. Oh, and unless you’re Oprah or Obama, there are no reservations here. If you’d like to skip the awkwardness and possible rejection of the cool places, then head over to a casually-cool and friendly bar, Hill & Dale, an old-timey gastropub with a great ambiance and non-pretentious crowd. They have great cocktails, amazing food, and friendly service. Pro tip: try the amazing Truffle Mac & Cheese! You’ll thank us later.