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New York (city)/Lower East Side

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North America : United States of America : Mid-Atlantic : Metro New York : New York : Lower East Side

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The Lower East Side of Manhattan is bounded by Houston Street, Lafayette Street, Canal Street, and the FDR Drive, and the neighborhood's center is Orchard Street. (Much of the western part of this area, roughly west of the Bowery, east of Lafayette St., and north of Broome St., used to be considered part of Little Italy and is increasingly being called NoLIta, for "North of Little Italy.") Once a Jewish wholesale enclave, this street is a true multicultural blend, with trendy boutiques, French cafés, and velvet-roped nightspots sprinkled among dry-goods discounters, Spanish bodegas, and mom-and-pop shops selling everything from T-shirts to designer fashions to menorahs.

It was here that the New York garment industry began. The area has been known as one of New York's favorite bargain beats, where serious shoppers find fantastic bargains (especially along Orchard Street on a Sunday afternoon), but this is increasingly becoming a thing of the past as rents skyrocket and cutting-edge new designers and boutiques formerly seen in SoHo flock to the area. But in its mix of old and new, bohemian and upscale, you can find trendy bars and music venues, a venerable old no-nonsense place that just might serve up the best pastrami sandwich in the world, a restaurant called WD-50 which serves up new-style "molecular gastronomy," Gus's Pickles out of a barrel, and great bialys. South of Delancey Street, much of this neighborhood is now part of Chinatown.

The East Village was also traditionally considered part of the Lower East Side, but that neighborhood has its own WikiTravel page.

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Lower East Side Tenement Museum, 90 Orchard St, [1], (212) 431-0233. Tu-F 11am-6pm, Sa-Su 10:45am-6pm, M (visitor center only; no tours) 11am-5:30pm. Advance tickets recommended as tours sell out quickly. $13.

Lower East Side Visitor Center, 261 Broome Street, (212) 226-90101 (866) 224-0206, [2]. M-Su 10am-4pm.

Lower East Side Cell Phone Tour. Download and print a map of the tour from your computer. Walk through the numbered sites along the route. At various points, dial a phone number, enter the stop number and listen to a New York City native tell you a bit about what you're seeing. Visit the sites in any order. The LES tour is currently free-of-charge. [3]

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Katz's Deli 205 E. Houston St., corner of Ludlow [4]. A classic NYC delicatessen. The famous fake orgasm scene in "When Harry Met Sally" was shot here. Have what she was having: A pastrami sandwich. If you're a pastrami lover, you will long remember your trip to this establishment. Don't lose your ticket, and don't forget to tip the counterman at least $1 per sandwich.

Congee Village Great Hong Kong-style food at 100 Allen St. just south of Delancey, (212) 941-1818. Very popular banquet spot for Chinese people. Call for reservations if you have a large party or are going for dinner on a weekend. Congee Village also has a newer sister restaurant, Congee Bowery, at 207 Bowery (just south of Rivington St.), (212) 766-2828, which serves the same food and may be less crowded at peak hours.

WD-50 50 Clinton St. between Rivington and Stanton, (212) 477-2900 [5]. Considered by most connoisseurs the foremost location for "molecular gastronomy" - otherwise known as "avant garde cuisine" - in New York. To get some sense of their menu, click on "eat" on their website. Appetizers $14-17, mains $24-34, desserts $11; 9-course tasting menu for $115 plus optional $65 wine pairing, 3-course dessert tasting menu $25, 5-course dessert tasting menu $35. Reservations are necessary.