SOHO
SoHo, standing for South of Houston, is right in the middle of quintessential downtown, but it has had an interesting past. There’s so much history that has passed through Soho throughout the years. It has the largest concentration of cast iron architecture in the world and is home to several beautiful lofts. At one point in the mid 19th century, it was filled with luxury and theaters, and plenty of brothels on the side streets. Once these establishments started moving uptown, factories began moving in. However, the manufacturers eventually left as well. By the 1950s, Soho was desolate, often being referred to as “Hell’s Hundred Acres.” Artists saw the neighborhood as an opportunity and began to move in in the 1960s, giving Soho life again. From there, everyone followed. Today, the neighborhood is vibrant and still one of my favorite areas in the city. It is the epitome of downtown cool, encompassing restaurants, shopping, art galleries, and history. These streets are usually packed, the energy there is contagious, and it’s not only a destination for New Yorkers, but tourists alike.
SHOPPING
ROMAN AND WILLIAMS GUILD - 53 Howard: High end home decor store
STANCE - 510 Broadway: Cool socks in all different shapes and sizes
BRANDY MELVILLE - 499 Broadway: Teen girl's go-to for reasonably priced fashion forward clothes
OPENING CEREMONY - 35 Howard St: Trendsetting concept store
BLOOMINGDALE'S - 504 Broadway: Higher end department store that throws occasional in-store events
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND - 351 West Broadway: High end vintage shop
THE HAT SHOP - 120 Thompson St: Specialty shop with all kinds of hats for men and women
ARTISTS & FLEAS - 568 Broadway: Collection of booths selling a range of goods
LF - 149 Spring St: Soft, trendy fashion at a higher price point
CHANEL - 139 Spring St: It’s hard to go wrong with a classic
CLUB MONACO - 536 Broadway: Chain comprised of stylish, professional clothes
ANNA SUI - 484 Broome St: The only Anna Sui boutique located in the United States
TOMORROWLAND - 476 Broadway: First New York store from the Japanese brand
UNIQLO - 546 Broadway: Japanese chain clothing store
URBAN OUTFITTERS - 628 Broadway: Modern, hipster apparel and other doodads
PRADA - 575 Broadway: Flagship store of the luxury brand
THE APARTMENT BY THE LINE - 76 Greene St: Beautiful boutique on the 3rd floor, selling home decor and other goods
TOPSHOP - 478 Broadway: Almost impossible to not find something at this British fashion retailer
INTERMIX - 98 Prince St: Pricey fashion boutique now owned by the Gap, offering a great selection of designer apparel
MANGO - 561 Broadway: Fashion forward, reasonably priced clothing
LANDMARKS
THE E. V. HAUGHWOUT BUILDING - 488 Broadway: Mary Todd Lincoln bought fine china from the store that was previously here; first building with Otis passenger elevator
THE LOST ST. NICHOLAS HOTEL - Broadway btwn Spring & Broome: Luxury hotel that opened in 1853
CAST IRON DISTRICT: Largest concentration of cast iron architecture in the world
THE “KING” OF GREENE ST - 72 Greene St: Cast iron facade building designed by well known architect, Isaac Duckworth
THE “QUEEN” OF GREENE ST - 28 Greene St: Designed by Isaac Duckworth
THE LITTLE SINGER BUILDING - 561 Broadway: Unique L shaped building, designed by Ernest Flagg, that ends on 88 Prince St
FLOATING SUBWAY MAP - Greene St btwn Prince & Spring: Artistic subway map on the sidewalk in front of 110 Greene St
NIGHTLIFE
A60 @ THE SIXTY SOHO HOTEL - 60 Thompson St: Cozy rooftop bar with 360 degree views
GOSPEL - 281 Lafayette St: Exclusive, new(ish) nightlife venue with a good looking crowd
KENN'S BROOME BAR - 363 West Broadway: Basic bar with a surprisingly good food menu
GILLIGAN'S @ THE SOHO GRAND HOTEL - 310 West Broadway: Seasonal outdoor bar that is open in warmer weather
JIMMY @ THE JAMES HOTEL - 15 Thompson St: Rooftop hotel bar that has a small, seasonal pool
BAR D'EAU @ THE DOMINICK - 246 Spring St: Seasonal rooftop terrace with a poolside bar
FANELLI'S - 94 Prince St: Historical Soho pub that has been operating since 1922
PEGU CLUB - 77 West Houston: Cocktail lounge inspired by the true art of cocktail culture
THE EAR INN - 326 Spring St: Unpretentious bar and restaurant housed in a historic, landmarked building, which is sometimes referred to as the James Brown House
TOAD HALL - 57 Grand St: Chill neighborhood bar with no frills and a pool table
CULINARY
LA MERCERIE - 53 Howard St: Adorable French eatery with a small menu
AQUAGRILL - 210 Spring St: Seafood based restaurant with a great seafood tower
THE WOO - 206 Spring St: Multi-level Korean restaurant on the higher end side
BLUE RIBBON - 97 Sullivan: Fine dining open late
RAOUL'S - 180 Prince St: Classic French restaurant in Soho with a lively atmosphere
BISTRO LEO @ SIXTY SOHO HOTEL - 60 Thompson St: New(ish) French restaurant
CAFE ALTRO PARADISO - 234 Spring St: Authentic Italian restaurant with higher end dishes by Matter House hospitality group
TROQUET - 155 Grand St: Newer French bistro style eatery on the corner of Grand and Lafayette
SAN CARLO - 90 Thompson St: Italian restaurant that focuses on specific regional dishes
BALTHAZAR - 80 Spring St: Classic Soho bistro open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
PICCOLA CUCINA - 184 Prince St: Delicious Italian restaurant with three locations
THE DUTCH - 131 Sullivan: American cuisine with a great ambience during all seasons
PERA SOHO - 54 Thompson St: Mediterranean eatery to have drinks and tapa style bites
CIPRIANI - 376 West Broadway: Euro style restaurant with an upscale crowd and several locations
CHEF'S COUNTER CLUB - 62 Spring St: Self described as a fast-fine restaurant
LADUREE - 398 West Broadway: French bakery with an interior that transports you to an Alice in Wonderland scene
GROUND SUPPORT - 399 West Broadway: Coffee shop serving light bites and discounted sandwiches after 6 or 7pm
IL MULINO PRIME - 331 West Broadway: Steak is the name of the game at this Il Mulino extension
VIN ET FLEUR - 69 Thompson St: Great outpost for wine and light bites
DOS CAMINOS - 475 West Broadway: Chain Mexican restaurant with cozy outdoor space
BLACK TAP - 529 Broome St: Burger spot that has gotten a lot of hype off their over the top milkshakes
LE COUCOU - 138 Lafayette St: Upscale French restaurant in 11 Howard
GALLI - 45 Mercer St: Small, cozy space serving Italian fare
PARM - 248 Mulberry St: Diner type ambiance with Italian-Americanized staples
LA ESQUINA - 114 Kenmare: Cool corner restaurant with a lounge downstairs
FELIX - 340 West Broadway: Hip spot for brunch
NOMO KITCHEN - 9 Crosby St: Glasshouse garden decor steals the spotlight at this hotel restaurant
JACK'S WIFE FREDA - 224 Lafayette: Popular spot that’s great for brunch
DELICATESSEN -54 Prince St: Higher end diner type of eatery (and the sister restaurant of Cafeteria)
MAC BAR - 54 Prince: Next door to Delicatessen, with an emphasis on the mac & cheese
LOVELY DAY - 196 Elizabeth St: Trendy Thai restaurant that seems to draw a fashionable crowd
UNCLE BOON'S - 7 Spring St: Thai restaurant with a unique menu
CAFE SELECT - 212 Lafayette: Cafe with a cool vibe and a back room that opens in the evenings
BOQUERIA - 171 Spring St: Tapas style restaurant that mimics Barcelona
SOUK & SANDWICH - 117 6th Ave: Delicious Lebanese takeout
12 CHAIRS - 56 MacDougal St: Casual Mediterranean cafe with a lively scene
EVENTS
CHEF'S CLUB - 275 Mulberry St: Culinary experiences from various great chefs around the world
SOB'S - 204 Varick St: Live music venue, also known as Sounds of Brazil, that has special events and performances
ENTERTAINMENT
THE DRAWING CENTER - 35 Wooster St: Museum, and non profit exhibition space, that explores the medium of drawing
ELIZABETH STREET GARDEN - Elizabeth St btwn Prince & Spring: Sculpture garden that will most likely be demolished for affordable senior housing
THE LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM OF GAY AND LESBIAN ART - 26 Wooster St: Exhibitions that highlight the LGBTQ experience
NEW YORK CITY FIRE MUSEUM - 278 Spring St: Museum dedicated to the history and techniques of firefighting
CANAL ST MARKET - 265 Canal St: Market with various vendors