Suppose we told you about a neighborhood with some of the city’s best nightlife, along with outstanding restaurants and shops. Well, welcome to the Lower East Side! This neighborhood offers some of the best live music venues in New York City, including Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom, Pianos, and Rockwood Music Hall. When talking about the arts, the LES has been gaining traction among some of the brightest young contemporary artists today. This growing art hub assures a well-spent afternoon at some of the most exciting and innovative galleries in the city. Moreover, a wide range of shopping opportunities and famous restaurants are around every corner. Check out the great discounts along Orchard Street, or any of the high-end boutiques in the area. Virtually any kind of cuisine you might be in the mood for, from fine Italian dining to your favorite comfort food, is here at your fingertips. The choice is yours!

When you think of the rich history embedded in New York City, there is no denying the narrative behind the Lower East Side. The LES was once home to two great estates and a smattering of working-class artisans, later to become a famous refuge for immigrants from faraway lands such as Ireland, Germany, and China. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, the neighborhood went on to become a sanctuary to radical politicians, performers such as Al Jolson and the Gershwin Brothers, as well as poets and writers from the Beat era. By the 1970s, punk rockers and artists settled in this area until gentrification caught up with the market by the early 2000s. Now, the Lower East Side is considered to be one of the hippest, trendiest places to live in the entire city. Now that’s authenticity!