Lower East Side

Historically a neighborhood of immigrants and crowded tenements, the Lower East Side (LES) is today one of Manhattan’s trendiest sections. It not only boasts chic boutiques, edgy contemporary art galleries, and a thriving restaurant scene, it also has some of the best nightlife in the city. A quiet neighborhood this is not, and residents appreciate its youthful energy and the sheer variety of live music venues, burlesque shows, dive bars, and comedy acts.

Housing in LES consists mostly of pre-war walk-ups and a few modern high-rises. And while gentrification has caused home values to soar (far outstripping their pace in other Manhattan neighborhoods during the same period), LES is still more affordable than many other fashionable areas of the city. With so much change, efforts are now underway to ensure that new development is in keeping with existing structures, preserving LES’s unique character.