Manhattan Valley

Manhattan Valley is one of those small New York neighborhoods that can hardly be considered a full neighborhood.

For residents, Manhattan Valley might be a pretty nice place to snag an affordable apartment in a pretty nice area. The neighborhood lies along Central Park West and is right near Columbia University. It is pretty far up north but not as far as Harlem or Inwood. There are pretty good restaurants that have pretty cheap meals, especially in the student frequented areas. There is decent shopping, supermarkets (even a Whole Foods), and the area is right next to Central Park and all that it has to offer.

Tourists are unlikely to see anything of interest here, save for one of the top rated universities in the country and the northwestern side of Central Park. The area is close to Morningside Heights, probably an area you do not want to be in, and Harlem which has a rich history and excellent food.

Overall, this is a good place to find an apartment with a modest enough place in an area that is not as far away from all of the action as the affordable apartments in areas farther north. It may be a bit on the rough side but a bargain and has a lot to offer if you are just willing to dig.

I’m mostly puzzled by people who think of Manhattan Valley as an “up and coming” neighborhood. Really, it’s pretty much all the way up. If you were to stroll through the neighborhood, it would be hard to imagine that twenty-five years ago the entire area was dusted with tainted crack and dented by the heals of transsexual prostitutes.

It’s nice now. While not quite up to the level of the rest of the Upper West Side, there is little in this neighborhood to distinguish it from its neighbor. There is, perhaps, a bit more wear on the buildings and a slightly less well off population than a few blocks south, but Manhattan Valley is a pretty nice place.

The gentrification has gone so far as to include a new shopping center with a Michael’s Crafts and a Whole Foods that caters to the affluent crowds from Columbia and the denizens of the Upper West Side. Much of the beautiful architecture (like the old Cancer Hospital) remain intact. It’s proximity to the lovely Central Park guarantee expensive housing along Central Park West and give all residents easy access to greenery.

Manhattan Valley is becoming more and more expensive to live in but right now is a nice alternative to living in the Upper West side without losing out on many of the benefits.

Manhattan Valley is small neighborhood which is located immediately north of the Upper West Side. The boundaries of Manhattan Valley extend from 96th street in the south to 110th Street in the north. The neighborhood occupies the area that lies between Central Park West and Broadway and is populated by both condo and co-op buildings as well as brownstones and townhouses. Since the area is located quite close to Columbia University it is favored by students and faculty alike.
Manhattan Valley which started out as a working class neighborhood is now slowly being ‘gentrified’ for the neighborhood now has its own outlet of the upscale Whole Foods Market at Columbus Avenue between 97th and 100th Streets. The neighborhood in fact is quite self sufficient as it has quite a wide array of diverse bars and restaurants that are mostly concentrated along Broadway and Amsterdam Avenues. Some of the popular eateries located within the neighborhood include Mama Mexico, Angan, Thai Market, Voza and , Regional along with dive bars and live music venues like Ding Dong Lounge, the Village Pour house and the Underground Lounge.
The neighborhood is quite well served by New York City’s public transport as it hosts the # 1, 2,3 A, C, B and D trains along with the M96, M116, M104, M11, M10 and M7 MTA buses.