Inexpensive, sprawling and full of hidden gems, the Lower East Side is my favorite neighborhood to peruse these days in New York City.
Yes, the Lower East Side is home to the largest Chinatown in the US, but what I learned after moving here LES is really a beautiful cacophony of cultures, from Malaysian to Tibetan.
Gentrification is a real thing… And with that context, LES is also increasingly home to hip new places, like edgy boutiques and bustling bars.
I feel grateful that I can travel and experience different cultures just by taking the train down to the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Plus, there’s simply nowhere else in Manhattan I know that can get your belly full for just $5.
Here’s my honest guide about the best things to do on the Lower East Side!
A little history about the Lower East Side
Many immigrants who arrived in NYC moved to the Lower East Side, as you’ll learn from its rich immigrant history.
In the 1840s, a lot of LES was actually known as Little Germany. Following the Germans came the Italians, who formed Little Italy, as well as Eastern European Jews and many other European groups.
By the 1920s, Jewish immigrants were one of the predominant ethnic groups on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Post World War II, LES became NYC’s first racially integrated neighborhood with the arrival of African Americans and Puerto Ricans.
In the 70s and 80s, many Cantonese speakers from Hong Kong and Guangdong came to LES and formed Chinatown.
In this guide, I loosely talk about LES as inclusive of Chinatown, Little Italy and parts of Nolita and Bowery.
Hats off to my homie, Karlly!
My friend Karlly has great taste and showed me many of the treasures here.
She also lives in NYC and is a model and YouTuber!
Best Shopping on the Lower East Side
1. Yu & Me Books
Yu & Me is the first female Asian-American owned bookstore in NYC. They champion immigrant voices and those don’t often themselves repped in “mainstream” American media.
I love seeing this. There’s tougher things in life, but it was hard facing racism for the first time as a Korean high school kid in Massachusetts. Places like this give me hope!
Yu & Me is not only a bookstore, but it’s also a cafe and bar.
Pro tip (thanks for saving my butt, Karlly!): if you’re in a pinch, there’s a bathroom by the reading nook downstairs.
Address: 44 Mulberry St. New York, NY 10013
2. Bluestockings Cooperative Bookstore
Bluestockings really felt like a thriving, living community when I stepped in.
It’s a bookstore and a cafe, but it also felt like a warm, safe space for all kinds of people. The patrons of the bookstore would strike up convos with each other (and of course I’d try to eavesdrop).
Bluestockings had an incredible selection of queer books, as well as those about racial and gender theory.
It’s these kind of amazing bookstores that make New York, New York.
Address: 116 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002
3. Two Bridge Mall
I feel a little bit mixed recommending this mall, because while I love that there’s incredible small businesses and designers here, I do feel like it’s part of the ongoing gentrification of Chinatown.
With that disclosure, the vintage mall on the second floor of Two Bridge Mall is definitely a hidden gem.
You’ll pass by an outdoor fruit and vegetable market before entering Two Bridge Mall, which is — as the name suggests — below two bridges.
The first floor is an unassuming mall with small businesses. Take the stairs up to the second floor, and you’ll be stunned by the array of vintage shops and independent boutiques.
Below are some of my favorites!
Address: 75 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002
Edgar Mosa
I’m a sucker for silver chains and jewelry. If you’re like me, you’ll love the intricate handmade silver jewelry by Edgar Mosa.
I spotted a silver chain necklace made of small, round hoops going for $380.
Address: 75 East Broadway, Unit 213, New York, NY 10002
James Veloria
As soon as you make it upstairs, the maximalist, color-screaming James Veloria store is gonna draw you right inside. There’s metallic tinsel all along the walls; the place is a gigantic party. There’s a heart-shaped entrance, filled by the thick, pink curtains behind it.
The pieces are pretty and include designer vintage, with brands like Comme Des Garçons.
I’ve got to say though, the prices are on the higher side and many of the items aren’t really suited for everyday wear, so I haven’t purchased anything from them yet!
Address: 75 E Broadway, Unit 225, New York, NY 10002
NSFW
While it’s fun finding treasures at a vintage shop, I loved that NSFW’s pieces are interesting but practical items that I know I could easily wear.
The prices were also pretty reasonable. I spotted lots of cute dresses in the $70-100 range!
Address: 75 East Broadway, Unit 221, New York, NY 10002
LAAMS
LAAMS screams cool. So much so that it’s a little over the top. But nonetheless, I do love browsing the store.
Enter and you’ll walk into a high-ceiling loft, with art books and menswear dotting the first floor, and graffiti-like, colorful art donning the walls.
The second floor has records, and the third floor has women’s vintage pieces. It’s a three-story store with great music and cool vibes, but the clothing selection is okay — a little pricey and impractical for my taste.
Address: 74 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002
Coming Soon
I’m into Japandi and Scandinavian simplistic interior design, but I totally get it if that type of minimalist style is boring to ya.
If you’re ready to add some color and personality to your home, Coming Soon has colorful, blocky and trendy homeware pieces and gifts, like semi-transparent, gigantic vases made from flexible plastic, checkered robes and eye-pleasing cutlery.
Address: 53 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
Best Food & Drinks on the Lower East Side
Best Restaurants on the Lower East Side
4. House of Joy
It’s places like House of Joy that make me love New York City so much.
Sure, I’m a sucker for the typical trendy stuff. But community fixtures like House of Joy, where you’ll see huge family gatherings in a banquet setting where couples have gotten married before, remind me of the generations of Americans who immigrated here for a better life.
House of Joy is the place for an authentic Chinatown experience. Before new management took over in 2020 due to tough times in business, House of Joy was called Delight 28 and served as a banquet space for all kinds of gatherings and celebrations since 1989.
This place continues to be awesome for big group gatherings, like birthday dinners. You won’t be rushed, and you’ll leave with a happy tummy, too.
The dim sum is OK, but the other dishes are amazing.
Try the Diced Chicken with Cashew Nut ($20.95) and the Jumbo Shrimp with Garlic Sauce ($28.95).
Address: 28 Pell Street, New York, NY, 10013
5. Spicy Village
With fast service, delicious food and affordable prices, Spicy Village is the perfect place to try food from Henan (a province in Central China) with a friend or two.
The Spice Scallion Sauce Pork Dumplings ($10.25) were INCREDIBLE. The sauce is amazing. Make sure you have the dumplings together with the soup!
I’d order those dumplings with the hand-pulled Spicy Lamb Hui Mei ($11.75).
Address: 68 Forsyth St B, New York, NY 10002
6. H K Wonton Garden
I worked in Hong Kong for two years. During this time, I frequented cha chaan tengs, Cantonese “tea restaurants” where you can enjoy British fusion dishes like macaroni soup and pineapple buns with a milk tea or iced lemon tea. They typically serve breakfast and lunch set menus that are a banger deal.
While H K Wonton Garden serves more distinctly lunch and dinner staples, it still reminded me a ton of those mom-and-pop corner shops that gave Hong Kong so much of its distinct and rich character – where the young and the older generations would come together every morning for tasty comfort food.
The Pork & Chives Dumplings ($7.75) are a must-have!
Address: 79 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013
7. Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
$3 for the Wheat Noodles with Peanut Butter Sauce and $4.50 for 10 Pork and Chive Dumplings. Talk about value, in a city where dinner can very easily exceed $60 per person!
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou has got you covered if you’re roaming about LES ready for a cheap meal. The food is good; it’s not particularly memorable, but the prices are just what you need sometimes.
The lines can get long, but they move fast, and there’s enough seating with quick turnover.
If I went back again, I’d probably just order the dumplings, because they fill you up more than the peanut noodles. In addition to Pork & Chives, there’s Pork & Cabbage, Chicken & Chive, Chicken & Mushroom and Vegetable Dumplings.
Hot tip: Douse the dumplings in the chili oil found strung along the tables. It’s not very spicy but will make dumplings a lot tastier.
Address: 295 Grand Street, New York, NY 10002
8. Cafe Himalaya
I had never tried Tibetan food until stepping into this restaurant. Cafe Himalaya has simple decor, with wooden tables (that reminded me of my college dining hall!) and paintings of the Himalayas.
I loved trying the Bocha Tibetan Tea ($2), which smelled buttery and tasted salty, almost like a creamy broth.
The Chasha Shamdey ($14) was my favorite dish. It’s a chicken curry that’s packed with flavor, but it’s not so heavy or oily.
The pan-fried egg noodles in the Tsel Gayathuk Takpa ($13) were so satisfyingly crunchy.
The Sha Momo ($12) beef dumplings were full of beef and come with a spicy sauce.
I appreciate the clean flavors at Cafe Himalaya. Somehow, the dishes are very flavorful but mild. They’re not too spicy or too heavy, striking a delicate balance that’s less common in today’s exceedingly stimulating seasoning.
Address: 78 E 1st St, New York, NY 10009
9. Thai Diner
I spent two months in Thailand for an internship. What I remember most is the papaya salad from the stall in front of my apartment.
I never really gravitated toward veggies at that point of my life, but the musical punch of the different flavors and textures that came together in that salad, unassumingly housed in a plastic baggie, was one of the best dishes I’ve ever had.
The many flavors of Thai Diner’s dishes brought me back to that summer.
The TikTok viral Thai Diner Egg Sandwich ($14) is worth the hype. The multiple layers of roti create a superb chewiness. The Sai Oura herbal sausage explodes with delightful flavor, balanced with the comforting, buttery scrambled egg.
The Thai Disco Fries ($13) are like chili cheese fries, except you’re dunking deliciously crisped fries into Massaman curry. The toasted peanuts were a delight.
I love the indoor seating. It’s gorgeous and golden inside, with warm jute-like textures covering the walls and the ceiling. The plants add a vibrant touch to the restaurant. Thai Diner is a great place for a date or to catch up with friends.
Address: 186 Mott St, New York, NY 10012
10. Katz’s Delicatessen
Katz’s Deli is well worth the hype. The pastrami is juicy, tender and ever so smoky – easily the best I’ve had!!! It goes so well with the tangy sauerkraut, the flavorful mustard and fresh rye bread.
Yes, the sandwiches are $30, but the portions are enormous and you could totally share one sandwich between two people (unless you’re like me and need to eat the whole thing).
The cutters are super friendly and they make Katz’s an experience. So does the decor, with wooden chairs and photos of famous past visitors donning the walls.
The lines are long but move pretty fast. You won’t regret checking out this authentic, quintessential NYC Jewish deli, which has been operating since 1888!
Address: 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
Best Snacks on the Lower East Side
11. Double Crispy Bakery
OMG I LOVE this bakery 🥹 I really do.
Dare I say – maybe I didn’t go to enough bakeries while working in Hong Kong, but I swear, this is my favorite Cantonese bakery.
Everything I’ve had is just so tasty, with just the right amount of softness and moisture.
The Walnut Cookie ($2.50) is toasted on the outside, but fresh on the inside. It crumbles beautifully inside your mouth and is very nutty. It’s easily the best walnut cookie I’ve had (Asian notice of caution: beware, it’s sweet 🙈).
Now I get why they’re called Double Crispy Bakery! They were not kidding around!
The Bird’s Nest cake is also so addicting. It’s not actually bird’s nest (which is a Chinese delicacy), but it’s a mellowy sweet, dark brown cake that’s super bouncy in your mouth.
Address: 230 Grand St, New York, NY 10013
12. Sun Hing Lung
Boy, do I miss the street food stalls I grew up with in Korea. There’s tons of food trucks in NYC, but the food stalls I went to served smaller (and cheaper!) portions of food that even my kiddie allowance could afford.
Sun Hing Lung brought back those memories. I loved the Pork Rice Rolls ($2.50), which came sloppy and hot. I doused them in the peanut sauce (in the yellow squeeze bottle) and the sweet soy sauce (in the red squeezy).
And wow, I remember how the Curry Fish Ball split freshly open in my mouth, instead of being drenched to the core with sauce. These fish balls were super savory and fishy in the best way possible.
Address: 58 Henry St, New York, NY 10002
13. Mei Lai Wah
The Pineapple Bun with Roast Pork ($2.55) at Mei Lai Wah is viral for a reason! They’re super crispy on the outside – the pineapple chunk layer crumbles and flakes like crazy, fresh out of the oven.
There’s also a soft, gooey layer around the pork stuffing that gives in like the tender insides of a cinnamon roll.
It’s both a dessert and a snack (and I’m sure if you have 2 or more, a meal!).
Expect long lines, but they go by fast. Make sure to order using the kiosks; oftentimes the people in the long lines have already paid.
Address: 62 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013
14. Petee’s Pie Co.
Yum, yum, yum. Petee’s has beautiful pies that are just as tasty. The slices are pretty small and light and make for an easy afternoon pick-me-up with a friend or lover.
The Key Lime Meringue ($7.25) was very flavorful, and the cream on top was super tasty. The crust was surprisingly very salty, but I liked it. I savored the coconut crust that formed the rim of the pie.
Address: 61 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002
15. The Chai Spot
The way I reminisce cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong, it seems my friend Ishaan holds fond memories of the chai spots in India. Hence, our visit to The Chai Spot.
I’ve never been to somewhere like The Chai Spot. There’s a bunch of floor mats and comfy cushions on elevated platforms in a mirrored room that forms the main hangout area.
I saw people cozying up alone, watching movies with their significant others, or even lying around.
The Chai Spot is a wonderful and different type of place to come with a group of friends and catch up, that’s not a coffee shop or involves alcohol.
The drinks are really good. The Buttered Chai, or Kashmiri ($10) and Traditional Cardamom ($6.50) tea are amazing. I loved the Cinnamon Oat Chai option ($8.50), perfect for all you other lactose intolerant folks out there 🥲
Address: 156 Mott St, New York, NY 10013
Best Activities on the Lower East Side
16. Cherish the lovely corner that is Elizabeth Street Garden
It’s astonishing how the vibes can shift just like that in NYC.
Step into Elizabeth Street Garden and you’ll see just what I mean. It’s a lovely, magical little hidden gem.
There’s tons of seating, but it can be hard to come by. It’s an ideal location to sit and chat, or read and journal for hours on end.
The garden may soon be turned into affordable housing… So better visit sooner than later!
Address: Elizabeth St, Between Prince St & Spring St, New York, NY 10012
17. Play handball at Sara D. Roosevelt Park
I know NYC is known as a concrete jungle, but one of the things I love most about the city is how pretty much anywhere you live, you probably live a walking distance from some kind of green space.
On top of the greenery, there’s a lot of public sports facilities, like basketball and tennis courts. But did you know that of all the sports, handball courts are the most common in NYC? There’s a whopping 2,000+ handball courts in the city – a game that Irish immigrants made popular after bringing it to NYC in the 19th century.
There’s benches behind the handball courts at Sara D. Roosevelt Park, where I’ve killed time munching on the tasty snacks that I acquired nearby.
18. People watch at Columbus Park
There’s Atlantic City… and then, there’s Columbus Park. Come to this popular spot to people watch folks in the Chinatown community wager with passion.
This park is named after Christopher Columbus and opened in 1897.
19. Rock out at an indie concert at the intimate Bowery Ballroom
Any spot is a good spot in this 575-person venue, where the drinks are strong and the sound is booming. It’s easy to get a good view of the stage from anywhere and that energy translates into fantastic vibes in the crowd.
Bowery Ballroom is an independent music venue that’s been lit up by both up-and-coming artists, as well as stars like Frank Ocean and Justin Bieber.
Tickets are pretty affordable, typically at the $20-30 range.
Address: 6 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002
20. Appreciate the living history at the Tenement Museum
Tenement housing came about with the rapid expansion of the NYC population in the mid-19th century. You’d have families of 10 living in ~300 square foot apartments, which would typically consist of a windowless bedroom, a front room with windows and a kitchen.
The Tenement-House Acts of 1867 formalized tenements and their building standards, which included guidelines that there had to be at least 1 toilet per 20 people.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum offers different tours about 11 real families who lived in the two actual tenement buildings that make up the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.
It’s very touching reliving the history of the families who lived in 97 and 103 Orchard Street.
The guided tours are of course as diverse as the tenants were. You can learn about the Moores, a young black family who lived 97 Orchard Street in 1869. Then there’s the Baldizzis, Italian immigrants who lived there during the Great Depression, and the Epsteins, who found refuge in the US in 1947 after surviving the Holocaust.
Address: 103 Orchard Street New York, NY 10002
Best Things To Do on the Lower East Side
LES is full of trendy eateries, coffee shops and live music venues. In this guide, we went over the best places to go for an incredible self-guided tour of the Lower East Side.
Here’s a summary of the best things to do on the Lower East Side!
- Best Shopping on the Lower East Side
- Best Restaurants on the Lower East Side
- Best Snacks on the Lower East Side
- Best Activities on the Lower East Side
Hope this guide gave you fresh new ideas on what to do in this great place. Thanks for checking out my LES guide!
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