rickyrade

A great location to get a feel for what I think is ‘younger Manhattan’ full of students and 20-30 somethings looking for a bargain and the markets on the weekend at Union Square or popping into the Coffee Shop for lunch. There’s also Virgin Megastore and diesel next to the square and a great discount liquor store selling genuinely good wines down the road, Trader Joe’s.

A student haven full of cheap restaurants and decent student bars. Avoid ‘Off the Wagon’ like the plague.. There’s a great feel here most nights of the week as NYU is just around the corner. Decent comedy nights downstairs from Olive Garden (can’t rememember the place, I think it’s Comedy Village). A favourite of mine is ‘Hummus’ for either a decent and healthy take away meal or a tight sit down restaurant. Across the road is also a killer Ethiopian restaurant that serves up mountains of food.

Full of boutique shops and a vast array of decent restaurants, this street is a great Saturday afternoon or evening stroll. Critics think that this street can be a bit dead in the evening but when you’re stuck amongst some of the best shops and one of the best sushi restaurants in Manhattan, there shouldn’t be any complaints. My friends often comes back from here on a Saturday afternoon carrying 4-5 shopping bags so they obviously won’t complain either…

A long standing rivalry exists between Lombardi’s pizza house (Manhattan) and Grimaldi’s in Brooklyn. Personally I think Lombardi’s edges in front because there is usually a shorter line! Both are great and live up to their reputation but this area is also famous for one of the best views of Manhattan. Walk down 50 yards from Grimaldi’s and you get the sort of panoramic views that cameramen always seem to find but you can’t.. Looking back across the Hudson to Manhattan you get a great look at downtown, the Brooklyn bridge and the established grand old lady of the town, the Empire State Building.. It’s also a great spot to take your first date.. Sure to impress.

One of my favourite bars in Manhattan. It’s a reliable local that always has a decent crowd.. There’s plenty of activity on the weekends and a relaxed drinking culture during the week. Throw in barmaids who belt out a few musical numbers throughout the night and you’re onto a winner here.. The piano is also a major attraction and occasionally a local might just jump on the piano and surprise all the other patrons… It’s also a moderately priced and a decent area… Worst case you don’t like this bar, go find 50 others in the area and take your pick…

An aussie spot for those from Australia wanting to feel at home. There are 2 places opposite each other that serve up good aussie grub – one is “Eight Mile Creek” which is a pub serving authentic Aussie beer and meat pies… They also show all of the international sports that matter, ie aussie rules football, rugby and cricket… Across the street is Ruby’s a great Aussie café serving up delights such as the Bondi burger (highly rated) and brilliant illy coffee…

A nice spot if you love living near the park. This is definitely the biggest benefit of living here. It’s also a pretty pricey area – most 2 bedroom apartments here can go for $4000 a month, and a heck of a lot more if you want a view of the park… The B and D lines are right there so you can be downtown in 10 mins if you like. A good spot for those looking to move out of downtown or midtown..

One of literally hundreds of parks in Manhattan, this is an absolute beauty to chill out during rush hour.. There’s a great bar to pick up a cold drink in summer and although I find it absurd that they close off the grass (no standing area) for the majority of the day, when the grass area is open it’s a great spot to unwind.. They often have concerts and fashion shows here too.

Aside from Central Park, you’re bound to see more activity here than anywhere else in the city… Great jazz on the weekends and a variety of buskers all earning a buck knocking out one tune after the other. There are big plans to develop this area and move the fountain in line with the beautiful arch – it’s a controversial development but I do think the park is in need of a refurb. It’s currently closed and fenced off. It’s looking pretty run down in areas and the toilets are very sub-par.. But don’t let that detract from this wonderful square. Come down on a Saturday morning and do some people watching for awhile and give a few dollars to the buskers.

This is a good little street nestled in amongst West 4th and 6th avenue. We often come down here to pick up some decent wine or have brunch at the Cornelia Street Café.. It’s a great place with a fantastic brunch deal. You’re also close to possibly the most romantic restaurant in all the town - One if by Land, two if by Sea… take someone special here and bring your $$$. Cornelia st also backs onto Bleecker St. This area has some of the best fresh meats in town and Amy’s bakery churns out some quality croissants.. You can also walk 2 mins up the street and have lunch at John’s pizza house – up there with the best in the city!

Another classic in the West Village, this street (around the area of Barrow st) offers up some of the best architecture in Manhattan.. Beautiful apartment blocks, leafy and green and restaurants tucked away on most corners.. Close to 7th Avenue and the metro too. Living here comes at a hefty price though, you pay through the nose for a decent studio here but it’s worth it – Bedford st offers you a semi private sanctuary in this manic city..

This street is a pretty happening place in the late evening.. Schiller’s liquor bar churns out great meals (sister restaurant of Baltazar) and offers some great cocktails.. There are also plenty of other decent bars in the street and down the road. It’s not the cleanest area, nor the safest, but it does have a nice vibe to it. Not sure what the rents are like but this could be a place I’ll be moving to next…

A brilliant street positioned in a wonderful location, this tree lined street is for me, one of the premier areas to live in Manhattan. Close to the Metro (14th St) and with restaurants and shops lining 5th and 6th avenue, this is a great spot. It’s also close to Union Square and Washington Square Park.

I've done this walk 5 times now (usually with visitors from overseas)... You get the metro to Brooklyn, have lunch at Grimaldi's (rivalling Lombardi's as the best pizza joint in NYC) and then walk over Brooklyn Bridge.. The views are priceless and you'll also get some pretty impressive photos..

It's an amazing bridge opened back in the 1800's (which makes it even more impressive) and the volume of traffic it carries is astounding.

I particularly like the view of the concrete jungle that is Midtown, which then slinks off downtown to low level apartment blocks and then roars back to Lower Manhattan where the stockbrokers count their pennies...

If you've got someone in town who wants to get a feel for just how immense this city is, take them here. And the best bit is you burn off the pizza on the walk back over the bridge...!

I've got friends who live in an apartment here. It's a nice spot, helped by the fact that they've got a top floor apartment with views of Empire State! Convenient for transport (the metro is around the corner) and also plenty of nice restaurants around the area. Plus you've got the added benefit of being 5 mins from the Meatpacking district.

Overall, great spot if you can afford it!

Right, so if you've been lazing in the sun at Washington Square Park and you're keen for a drink, but don't wanna hang out with the Uni kids at MacDougall St?? Come down Thompson St. It's a great street with cool bars, great food and plenty of funky places to pick up a Manhattan bargain (do they exist?)... You're also close to the park, Soho, and a 10 min walk to the East Village - all in all, your in a pretty good position to walk and explore most of downtown Manhattan... Take a look, you won't fall in love with this street to begin with, but it will grow on you.. trust me!

We live just around the corner from West 4th, but we spend many lazy afternoons walking down there for coffee or brunch. It's probably one of the most beautiful streets in Manhattan. It's also surprisingly quiet considering how close you are to 7th Avenue. But that's why it's the village, because it genuinely feels like your in a village surrounded by some of the best restaurants in Manhattan.. Many people don't even know this type of area exists in NYC, so come down take a look - but don't stay - we like it just the way it is... BTW, if you need extra encouragement to come down, Gisele Bundchen (Brazilian supermodel) eats at our favourite Brunch restaurant most weekends, 'Extra Virgin'.... go for the French toast...

I tell you what, if you are looking for the perfect street to live in Manhattan, this is it..

The actual street is positioned right amongst some of the hottest bars, restaurants and shops in Manhattan. And the best thing is this street is tucked away so that it's not that noisy. Plus it's 1 min walk to the subway.

I wouldn't want to live anywhere else in Manhattan.

Drawbacks? It's pretty pricey.

Enjoy Manhattan here, you will love it.