Upper West Side NYC: Relaxed and Intellectual

New York's Upper West Side is one of the best places to live in the city. It's a real neighborhood -- convenient to the commercial centers of Manhattan, but not a part of them. Affluent, but never stuffy like the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side is the perfect place to live if you want great neighbors, charming restaurants, easy access to two great parks, and some of the best food shopping in the city. With Columbia University at the north end of the neighborhood and Lincoln Center on the south, the Upper West Side is a magnet for intellectuals and creative types. It has a reputation for being a liberal bastion. It's where Seinfeld -- both the television character and the real actor -- lived. If you liked the TV show, you'll probably love the neighborhood. You don't have to be single or neurotic, like Jerry, to live there -- though if you are, that's fine too. On the east and west sides of the neighborhood are two amazing parks:

Central Park and Riverside Park in Upper West Side NYC

If you live in the Upper West Side, you will be no more than a few blocks away from both Central Park on the east and Riverside Park on the west. Central Park needs no introduction. It totally deserves its reputation as one of the world's greatest parks. It's only gotten better in recent years, as a public-private partnership has spruced up the park and polished it till it glows. Riverside Park is a long narrow park running along the Hudson River. There are walkways on two levels, so you can choose to view the Hudson from above or walk along at river level. The walking paths connect with a network of other parks, many new, that hug the Manhattan shoreline, so you could take as long or as short a walk as you want. Riverside Park has beautiful mature trees. It's a great place to walk a dog or a baby, to have a chat with a walking buddy or to go by yourself to contemplate the river and gaze out at New Jersey on the opposite shore. It's world-class but also a true neighborhood park, with plenty of benches, playgrounds, sports fields, and community gardens. The great thing about living in the Upper West Side is that these two parks are so close that if you want, you could visit one of them every day. That gives you an intimate, front-row seat to the way nature changes in NYC throughout the seasons. You will get to know the budding flowers in the spring, the happy throngs of people in the summer, the spectacular red and orange fall foliage, and the breathtaking views in Central Park after a snowfall, when the world looks like a holiday card.

Upper West Side NYC Famous Food Stores

The Upper West Side is home to some of the best food shopping in the city. Zabar's is a deli that's an institution. It's been around since the 1930s and is still going strong. A favorite weekend ritual for Upper West Siders is to walk down to Zabar's for some bagels, cream cheese, lox, whitefish, pickles, coffee, and whatever else strikes their fancy when they gaze at the huge deli counter. Imagine you have a bag full of Zabar's delicious goodies, then stop at a newsstand on the way back for a copy of the huge Sunday New York Times (unless you already had it delivered to your door), then take everything back home to have a leisurely brunch, maybe at the table or maybe in bed, eating your amazing food while chipping away at the Sunday crossword puzzle. Weekend mornings don't get any better than that. For everyday food shopping, Upper West Side residents are fortunate to have the Fairway Market, which draws people from all over the city, who come for its huge variety of both staples and delicacies -- all at surprisingly low prices. Another neighborhood gem is Citarella, which is famous for the quality of its seafood. As if that's not enough, the neighborhood also has a Trader Joe's and a Whole Foods Market, as well as many smaller mom-and-pop stores which make grabbing something for dinner on your way home from work convenient and hassle free.

Upper West Side NYC Museums

After your Sunday brunch, you might want to take a stroll over to some of the best museums in the world. Do you have an urge to see a dinosaur? No problem. The Upper West Side is home to the American Museum of Natural History. Or you could walk across the park to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, and the countless smaller museums that you will have the time to discover and explore when you live nearby.

Convenience

Getting to Midtown is a quick subway ride from the Upper West Side on the 1, 2, or 3 lines on Broadway or the A, B, C, or D lines on Central Park West. There are also plenty of buses and taxis if you'd rather travel above ground. No matter what your schedule, the neighborhood will accommodate you. There are 24-hour groceries and drug stores, so no matter when you need something, you can find it.

Great Neighborhood for Both Families and Singles

Families love the Upper West Side for its great schools, safe streets, neighborhood atmosphere, and cultural institutions. Singles love it for its charm, friendliness, and variety of things to do. No matter what the composition of your household, you will feel welcome here.

Choice of Homes in Upper West Side NYC

The Upper West Side has a variety of home types to choose from. There are pre-war buildings with prized high ceilings, gorgeous brownstones, and gleaming new luxury towers. Whatever size or type of home you are looking for, you can find it here.