Upper East Side Club Quarters

Manhattan's elegant and sedate Upper East Side is a stark contrast to the hubbub below its southern border on 58th Street. Traditionally inhabited by NYC's most elite citizens, the Upper East Side offers visitors a unique glimpse into New York City's high-flying culture. Whether you enjoy museums, architecture, upscale shopping or just lolling around in Central Park, the Upper East Side is a welcome respite from the busy day-to-day that surrounds it.

What to do

Museum Mile

The world-renowned museums lining 5th Avenue between 82nd and 105th Streets showcase some of New York's finest collections of art and culture. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum are two of the most famous museums in the Manhattan areaOpens in a new window. Try to get to these museums early on weekday mornings to avoid the lines. Less well-known but equally interesting spots are the El Museo Del Barrio, which focuses on Latino culture, and the Jewish Museum, detailing Jewish settler's culture, art and heritage in New York.

Shopping

The Upper East Side has been known for some of the world's best shopping since the 1800s, but the scene got even better when Barneys moved its flagship store to the neighborhood in 1993. When you're finished indulging your senses in this palace of fashion, move on to Macy's huge HQ at Herald Square or check out some of the neighborhood's exclusive boutiques.

Central Park

Central Park is one of the top urban parks in the whole of the US and was named in 2014Opens in a new window as the third most visited tourist attraction in the world. Whether your pleasure is ice skating, swimming or rock climbing, it's all here, but the ultimate Central Park experience has got to be the zoo. The Central Park Zoo pioneered housing animals in recreations of their natural environments, and visitors can hop from exhibits of penguins and polar bears on a glacier to birds and monkeys in a rain forest. There's also a petting zoo visitors could spend hours in, letting the kids have an interactive experience with dozens of different animals.

Where to eat

The Upper East Side can seem like a dining desert, but it just keeps its culinary treasures hidden. Unlike the rest of New York, the Upper East Side isn't known for its street food or its corner take-out shops, but it does shine in a couple of particular areas:

Sushi

If you're in the mood for authentic, high-quality sushi, then this is your neighborhood. First Avenue, especially around 78th Street, is home to a multitude of wonderful sushi restaurants. The focus here is on traditional preparation, fresh flavors and the best fish this side of Tsukiji Fish Market.

Sweets

When locals in the Upper East Side crave something sweet, they head to Yorkville Street. This street boasts two colonies of dessert shops: one about halfway up Central Park and the other at the top of the park. If you need a treat after a long day in New York, stroll over to Yorkville Street and take your pick of ice cream, candy, cookies, pastries and just about any other sweet treats you can imagine.

Where to stay

Upper East Side hotels are generally high-quality. The neighborhood appeals to those that want to stay in a quieter area than Midtown, and the amenities offered at many Upper East Side hotels reflect the preferences of their guests. Many hotels offer free wireless Internet, in-room dining, gym facilities, museum discounts and, as you might expect, rooms at the upper end of the scale can come in at upwards of $500. Shop around however, and you can land a more agreeable price under $150. The Upper East Side is excellent for cycling, and a lot of hotels either offer bikes for rent or refer you to a local bike-rental shop.