NEW YORKER ON THE GO
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SOHO

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

  • PAUL’S CASABLANCA - 305 Spring St: Busy lounge with good music and dancing

  • 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