Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Lower East Side

    4.4 (30 reviews)

    Lower East Side Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Lower East Side

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Map LES
    Barcamatic M.

    A fantastic place to visit. Tons of food options. Great entertainment for all ages! Easy to get to by subway

    09/18/17
    Marianne W.

    The most beautiful exciting, alarming, disgusting and every other name you want to call this part of the city. I love it. I try to visit but it is not easy. I overeat. I take a 100 photos. I used to walk down and home. Ten miles round trip. I would wander all day. Now I mainly visit once a year when I go to Little Italy for the Feast. As you can see by my photos today there is a lot going on here. I love the graffiti. I love the colors. You can take a trip to the Twilight Zone. The old buildings are very cool. There's not much else to tell except the food is wonderful, bakeries, ice cream, coffee spots and every ethnic spin you want to dance to! I highly recommend and I will return as soon as possible! Bring lots of cash. Some places don't take credit cards.

    Green Lantern
    Mercedes C.

    I remember, back in the 80's when the LES was chic, funky, cool - whatever you wanna call it. Sure back in the day, LES had tons of grime, but it was cool to hang out- and it still is. With a different twist. Fast forward a different wave and Santacon was in full force. Every corner, I walked, there were a bunch of Santas. One thing's for sure: I intentionally walked on the street and dare not walk on the sidewalk and didn't want them puking all over me. . Other than the inebriated Santas, the LES, is full of people. The LES- to me has become a too chi-chi and millennials have moved in. I get it, as with everything, things shift, neighborhoods change. I get that. Sometimes for the better or the worse. The LES is congested. And The LES I was used to- is no longer. It used to be my other playground back in the day. To me, is all about nostalgia, and it's lost. But don't get me wrong, the endless additions of dining is excellent in the LES.

    Lin C.

    I've grown up on the Lower East Side for as long as I can remember. The wide variety of restaurants/shops available is probably what makes me love this neighborhood more than others. Aside from countless of restaurants (old and new), the Lower East Side has an amazing breathtaking view of the Two Bridges. Probably one of the few neighborhoods I feel extremely comfortable in, even at night! Over the past years, the neighborhood has definitely gathered more attention and residents, but the Lower East Side will always be where I call home.

    Amazing Street Art
    Lisa F.

    I've only been lower east side a couple few times ...I love the edge, street art graffiti, abundance of cool stores, restaurants and bars that have so much incredible character... So much to see and so much to explore. It's really changed since the first times 5 ish years ago... The first time I was here several years ago, I was relatively new to the city and felt uncomfortable with how deserted everything seemed. I didn't think I would return unless I had a posse of armed men twice my size with me. Which is why I hadn't come back. But I had so many interesting places bookmarked that yelpers raved about, so we came back recently to explore and I loved it - all the places we visited exceeded my expectations... However as a woman I personally would know where you're going on an empty ... wouldn't wander and get lost when it's not a busy night ... I was just feeling a love for all the graffiti and edge, cool vibe and even a fenced in kind of eerie fenced in area of fascination... (What is that egg? What IS that thing? Why is there a chalkboard?) that ended up being a children's garden -- taking everything in not caring we were a little lost ... and then noticed no one was around for a few blocks (it was Super Bowl Sunday night which may have been a factor) but then 2 men in a fight / shouting at each other down the block and moving in on each other ... Me: "Oh, there it is..." Time to get unlost. I know that can happen anywhere but... So, not being familiar ... I cannot wait to go back and explore again but I also would not feel comfortable wandering around later/ at night or getting lost... As any part of the city know where you're going and stay where there are people... I'm a petite woman and also a mom so my after dark bravery and risk taking level is low. (As an aside - the children's garden - such a fantastic idea and space that really needs some LES area volunteer TLC to help clean it up and make it a safe, creative outlet/ garden for children.)

    Ludlow Street at night during a snowstorm.
    Vivienne G.

    One of NYC's oldest neighborhoods and home to original tenements from the 19th and 20th centuries, it's a wonderful place to explore. It's been my home for the last five years. The neighborhood went through several transformations over the last few decades. For many years it was a diverse immigrant enclave. It was gentrified and hipsterfied in the early 2000s and that wave of hipsters are long gone. It's now primarily a party neighborhood since it has the most amount of bars in a small radius. It still retains a visual and emotional connection to its past though which makes it a great place to learn about (honor the history of a place you hang out in people.).

    Yo!!! It's Luis!!!

    See all

    5 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fox E.
    4535
    16891
    49976

    7 years ago

    Helpful 15
    Thanks 0
    Love this 19
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marianne W.
    5000
    4836
    96144

    9 years ago

    Helpful 56
    Thanks 0
    Love this 57
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tina C.
    2045
    4771
    13173

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brie F.
    1107
    1022
    8953

    11 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Royce L.
    715
    1736
    9261

    11 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah P.
    654
    1058
    1452

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jordan W.
    1567
    1418
    6082

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lin C.
    682
    85
    296

    11 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa F.
    806
    617
    1987

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andy C.
    1236
    692
    1324

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenn T.
    448
    156
    184

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dominik D.
    320
    5948
    11113

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Oliver M.
    12
    105
    0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Clarice H.
    614
    47
    26

    14 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Megan L.
    15
    52
    141

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Lower East Side

    Review Highlights - Lower East Side

    is my 4th place in terms of food but I mean you can't REALLY expect to beat Chinatown, Flushing, and just Queens in general.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Local Flavor 3,911 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Freeman Alley - Love this alley to a passion

    Freeman Alley

    4.5(8 reviews)
    1.0 kmLower East Side

    I will admit that New York City has some really amazing hole-in-the-wall places that are worth…read morechecking out. But at what cost? Well, I will say that this experience that I had on my most recent trip was absolutely 100% FREE and worth every minute! And for anyone that truly appreciates some breathtaking artwork & graffiti, I definitely encourage you to visit "Freeman Alley". Located in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City, this alley is situated directly off of Rivington St and tucked in between Bowery/Chrystie St's. I ended up coming here during the night of Monday 10/13/2025 at around 10:30pm. Getting here is fairly simple as you can arrive by taxi, subway, rideshare, bike, or on foot. However, finding this alley can be a bit tricky. But once you're here, you will be blown away with the amount of amazing art in all directions. During my visit, I saw murals of past and present fictional and real characters that included Mr. Monopoly, Aaliyah, Count von Count, Ozzy Osbourne, and many more. There are also stickers that represent local businesses, organizations, and other various ways to advertise. From an artists perspective, this place is really unique but some might find some of the wording a little bit offensive. However, I enjoyed strolling through this alley as it represents much of what New York City is all about. My rating, a perfect five stars.

    This is a free tourist attraction or not so hidden local gem. Its a long alley way hidden between…read moreresidential and business buildings. Great art, graffiti and stickers to look at. Great photo ops. Theres a restaurant at the end which ive heard is great. Max time spent here can be 30 mins. Kid friendly.

    Photos
    Freeman Alley - Amazing artwork in every direction

    Amazing artwork in every direction

    Freeman Alley - Aaliyah mural

    Aaliyah mural

    Freeman Alley - Absolutely love this artwork

    See all

    Absolutely love this artwork

    Chinatown - Going to decorate Chinese New Year. Need daughters help getting out of the box! Ugh, Goal Hump 01/28/2026

    Chinatown

    4.2(144 reviews)
    1.0 kmChinatown

    Happy Year of the Fire Horse 2026!!…read more Neil Diamond's song, "Coming to America", is playing in my head as I write this review. The year was 1970. I had just turned 2 when we came to the U.S. from Hong Kong on one of the coldest February days. My mom always tells the story of how we landed at JFK with 2 feet of snow up to her knees. My beloved grandfather had settled in America 4 decades earlier before we arrived. Living in the outskirts of Chinatown has helped me not lose sight of where I came from. NYC's Chinatown spans roughly 50 blocks compare to SF's 30 square blocks. The city is one of the most expensive places to live in, but Chinatown offers tons of cheap eats. One can get an authentic delicious meal for under $10. I definitely miss some of the OG places when I was a kid like the old movie theaters and the bahn mi place ($2.50 a sandwich) under the subway tracks on East Broadway but it is cool to see new trendy places popping up. Here is my list of must visits: - Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (Asian-inspired flavors) - Hop Kee Restaurant (Authentic Cantonese food) - Joe's Shanghai (best dumplings) - Mei Lai Wah (best bbq roast pork & pineapple buns) - Peking Duck House (OG) - Spongies Cafe (my new favorite spot) - Xi'an Famous Foods - Wah Fung No. 1 (fresh roast pork and duck meats over rice) - Wo Hop (Authentic Hong Kong Cuisine) And the list goes on... I have visited many Chinatowns around the world, I might be a bit bias but I think we have one of the best one hands down. Come on down and see the best CNY Lion Dances (they train rigorously throughout the year) performed by the New York Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club aka Hung Ching. My BIL has been a part of this club for decades. It was founded in 1956, making it 70 years old this year.

    Excellent shopping and delicious Chinese cuisine can be had in Chinatown. Nice souvenirs can be had…read morefor much more affordable price. Located right next to Soho, Chinatown is an excellent place to come if visiting New York. There's another Chinatown in Brooklyn which I heard is even cheaper than this which I find to be kind of ridiculous. Five stars and two thumbs up.

    Photos
    Chinatown - 2.25.2024

    2.25.2024

    Chinatown - 2.25.2024

    2.25.2024

    Chinatown - 7.29.2023

    See all

    7.29.2023

    Nostalgia Train

    Nostalgia Train

    5.0(8 reviews)
    1.2 kmLower East Side

    Can still take them on Sundays this December. Schedules and route on the NY Transit museum website…read more Regular train fare. When we first happened to see the holiday train a few years back, we got on one car, the oldest car which was cool already, but we didn't get to see the other subway cars. This past Sunday, we decided to take the F train from Queens to meet the Holiday Nostalgia train on the F platform at 2nd Ave-Houston St (first stop from downtown). Got there before 2pm. and the train was parked. This was good bec we were able to walk from the last subway car, through a few cars, until we had to stop bec got crowded. The subway cars have different designs so nice to check a few out. Some people were dressed up - some in military attire and in trench coats in the car we were in; didn't know until later that they were there to perform an old military song "Over There". Other passengers as well, and were ok to be photographed. We only took it the Rockefeller area which was our destination for that day but at least we had an interesting ride.

    The vintage trains on the nostalgia train routes were in use from 1932-1977. These trains usually…read morerun in December along the ACDEFM routes. Always check online for the schedule as it changes yearly. Simply search "Nostalgia Train NYC" and find a website with the schedule for that year. People go all out and dress during the era that the trains were in use, complete with luggage and accessories such as cameras. It's a wonderful experience and costs the same as the normal subway fare. The train's are decorated for the holidays and stop for extended lengths of time on the first and last stops which are perfect for photo ops. It's important to note that all of the ads on the train are from that era as well, a blast from the past! This is a unique holiday NYC experience perfect for people of all ages!

    Photos
    Nostalgia Train
    Nostalgia Train
    Nostalgia Train

    See all

    Lower East Side - localflavor - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...