Welcome to Downtown Manhattan
Exciting area with some of NYC’s most iconic landmarks
Downtown Manhattan is the vibrant area at the southern end of Manhattan Island that includes the Financial District and many of New York City’s most famous neighborhoods. Also known as Lower Manhattan, neighborhoods considered part of this area include lower Chelsea, East Village, Gramercy, Greenwich Village, the Flatiron District, Little Italy, the Meatpacking District, Nolita, Peter Cooper Village-Stuyvesant Town, Union Square, and West Village. Real estate within Downtown Manhattan is an enticing mix of old and new. Many of the city’s most sought-after residential high-rises are located in this area, from the 1920s Art Deco 100 Barclay Street in Flatiron to stunning modern towers such as the 2010 New York by Gehry in the Financial District, 2013 One Madison in Flatiron, and 2018 11 Murray Street in TriBeCa. Other housing options include gorgeous historic townhouses in West Village and Greenwich Village as well as brownstones and walk-ups throughout Lower Manhattan.
What to Love
- Diverse dining scene
- Iconic neighborhoods
- World-famous landmarks
- Nightlife and concert venues
People & Lifestyle
Lower Manhattan is the heart of NYC, home to some of the city’s most iconic districts and neighborhoods. This buzzing area of Manhattan encompasses Wall Street and the defining counterculture of the Village. From upscale restaurants to trendsetting nightlife spots, Downtown Manhattan is as exciting as New York City gets.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
This diverse area of NYC has a huge variety of places to shop, drink, and dine, from luxurious Michelin-starred restaurants to casual pizzerias.Eleven Madison Park in the Flatiron District has previously been named the best restaurant in the world, earning three Michelin stars for its masterful multi-course tasting menu. At the casual end of the dining spectrum, Flatiron favorites include the 1920s Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop for delicious tuna melts and corned beef and pastrami Reuben combos, as well as the original Shake Shack.
TriBeCa’s dining scene includes celebrity hangouts, like the classic 1980s diner-style Odeon and Robert DeNiro’s Tribeca Grill. Nolita has many authentic Italian eateries, including the United States’ oldest pizzeria at Lombardi’s. Emilio’s Ballato is a cozy, old-fashioned Italian spot on Nolita’s boundary with SoHo. Famous diners have included David Bowie and Billy Joel, Rihanna and Naomi Campbell, Justin Bieber, and Barack Obama and his daughter Malia.
MacDougall Street runs through Greenwich Village and SoHo and has long been one of the most culturally significant addresses in NYC, with Beat writers and 1960s music legends hanging out at its bars and cafes.Café Wha? has nightly live music on a stage that has seen performances from Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and Bruce Springsteen, while the nearby Comedy Cellar frequently hosts surprise performances from the likes of Dave Chapelle, Aziz Ansari, and Jon Stewart. A few blocks south of Wall Street, The Dead Rabbit has been called the best bar in the world for its chic, contemporary take on a classic Irish pub.
Things to Do
At Manhattan’s southern tip, Battery Park is a 25-acre greenspace with trails, gardens, woodlands, an urban farm, a carousel, and fountains. The Battery offers great views and boat trips across the Harbor to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Other parks are dotted throughout the many neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan, from the former site of the world’s most famous arena at Madison Square Park to Greenwich Village’s lively playground of Washington Square Park. Downtown Manhattan also contains some of NYC’s premier live performance venues, including Webster Hall and Irving Plaza. Other world-famous sites in Lower Manhattan include the New York Stock Exchange and the 9/11 Memorial Plaza and Museum.
Schools
Public schools in the area are part of the New York City Public School District. There are also several excellent public schools, including:
- Léman Manhattan Preparatory School, Private (Coeducational, College Preparatory), K-12
- Columbia University, Higher Education