No one’s quite sure how Hell’s Kitchen got its name, but it’s unquestionably linked to its rough-and-tumble past, when gangs and organized crime flourished here. In recent years, however, Hell’s Kitchen has managed to emerge as a very livable neighborhood without losing its grit. Residents—many of whom are artists or other creatives in search of affordable living near the theaters further east—prize its authenticity and unpretentiousness.

Housing here is typically of the mid-rise walk-up variety (protected by zoning), and the streets are dotted with independently owned small businesses. While not as trendy as Tribeca or quirky as the East Village, Hell’s Kitchen has its share of hip bars and ethnic restaurants lining 8th and 9th Avenues and West 46th Street, which is known as “Restaurant Row.” Easy access to the Lincoln Tunnel and Port Authority also means that it’s a convenient place to live for anyone who often travels out of town.