Guidebook for New York
Shopping
good non-chain hardware/garden store. ask Noel - he's the one with the knowledge! tell em Mr No-Bag send you.
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Mushtari Hardware
31 W 125th Stgood non-chain hardware/garden store. ask Noel - he's the one with the knowledge! tell em Mr No-Bag send you.
closest late-night liquor store - a throwback to the ghetto days, bullet-proof glass and all. nevertheless not a bad place to get a decent bottle when everyone else is closed. reasonably priced.
7 abantu bendawo batusa
Uptown Wine Pantry Inc
63 E 125th Stclosest late-night liquor store - a throwback to the ghetto days, bullet-proof glass and all. nevertheless not a bad place to get a decent bottle when everyone else is closed. reasonably priced.
Freeland Liquors, Inc.
170 Lenox AveCheapest and best stocked liquor and wine store nearby
Essentials
Finally it's open! A giant whole foods right around the corner. Enough said!
541 abantu bendawo batusa
Whole Foods Market
100 W 125th StFinally it's open! A giant whole foods right around the corner. Enough said!
Everything Else
nice park. public pool that's free. morning and evening lap swim for adults. playgrounds for toddlers and kids.
154 abantu bendawo batusa
Marcus Garvey Park
Mount Morris Park Westnice park. public pool that's free. morning and evening lap swim for adults. playgrounds for toddlers and kids.
Food Scene
fun retro-diner, great for kids. good shakes, decent burgers, outdoor seating.
212 abantu bendawo batusa
Harlem Shake
100 W 124th Stfun retro-diner, great for kids. good shakes, decent burgers, outdoor seating.
most touristy soul-food restaurant in new york. in spite of that it's not bad and a good value if you order the right thing. I like the salmon cakes with 2 side orders. a historic piece of harlem!
405 abantu bendawo batusa
Sylvia's Restaurant
328 Malcolm X Blvdmost touristy soul-food restaurant in new york. in spite of that it's not bad and a good value if you order the right thing. I like the salmon cakes with 2 side orders. a historic piece of harlem!
super trendy restaurant/bar. extremely overrated in my opinion, expensive. But, if you must try the place with the biggest buzz, this is it.
1044 abantu bendawo batusa
Red Rooster
310 Lenox Avesuper trendy restaurant/bar. extremely overrated in my opinion, expensive. But, if you must try the place with the biggest buzz, this is it.
decent quick stop-in sit-down place for pub food. service can be sketchy though. good people watching, upscale sports-bar atmosphere. inexpensive.
345 abantu bendawo batusa
The Corner Social
321 Malcolm X Blvddecent quick stop-in sit-down place for pub food. service can be sketchy though. good people watching, upscale sports-bar atmosphere. inexpensive.
Tasty African/French food very close by, good pastries, decent coffee, gorgeous staff. turns clubby at night - music is too loud for dining or conversation but good people watching. mid-priced. mediocre brunch. If you want better, cheaper and more authentic West African food, go to 116th street.
65 abantu bendawo batusa
Lenox Saphire Harlem
341 Lenox AveTasty African/French food very close by, good pastries, decent coffee, gorgeous staff. turns clubby at night - music is too loud for dining or conversation but good people watching. mid-priced. mediocre brunch. If you want better, cheaper and more authentic West African food, go to 116th street.
This is the best bar scene and restaurant in the neighborhood. fantastic thin-crust wood fired pizza and other italian food, right at the corner! great ambiance, friendly staff, reasonably priced. tell them I sent you!
105 abantu bendawo batusa
Babbalucci
331 Malcolm X BlvdThis is the best bar scene and restaurant in the neighborhood. fantastic thin-crust wood fired pizza and other italian food, right at the corner! great ambiance, friendly staff, reasonably priced. tell them I sent you!
Yuzu
350 Lenox AveGreat sushi. Expensive - Go for lunch when they run specials!
This is the best cafe in the neighborhood. Excellent coffee and espresso, house made crepes and pastries, sandwiches, salads, etc.
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Harlem Blues Cafe
2144 5th AveThis is the best cafe in the neighborhood. Excellent coffee and espresso, house made crepes and pastries, sandwiches, salads, etc.
Good high-end coffee very close by, and it's in the hardware store/plant nursery, which is fun.
9TAILS COFFEE SHOP
34 W 126th StGood high-end coffee very close by, and it's in the hardware store/plant nursery, which is fun.
Best Indian food in the neighborhood, and maybe one of the best in Manhattan.
6 abantu bendawo batusa
Indian Summer Harlem
239 Malcolm X BlvdBest Indian food in the neighborhood, and maybe one of the best in Manhattan.
Probably the best, smoothest cappuccino in the neighborhood, and excellent pastries, as well as some West African specialty drinks and snacks. Nice vibe inside, and great staff. Don't be scared off by the look from the outside. It looks funky but it's not.
Ginjan Cafe
85 East 125th StreetProbably the best, smoothest cappuccino in the neighborhood, and excellent pastries, as well as some West African specialty drinks and snacks. Nice vibe inside, and great staff. Don't be scared off by the look from the outside. It looks funky but it's not.
Great little spot - for the most authentic and delicious fresh pasta, sandwiches, real Italian coffee and pastries. very reasonably priced as well.
Pastitalia
264 Lenox AvenueGreat little spot - for the most authentic and delicious fresh pasta, sandwiches, real Italian coffee and pastries. very reasonably priced as well.
Arts & Culture
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem
58 W 129th StThe Studio Museum in Harlem
144 West 125th StreetDrinks & Nightlife
Go to the website and see what's playing - everything from DJ's to jazz to gospel. They have a really good Sunday gospel brunch too.
117 abantu bendawo batusa
Ginny's Supper Club
310 Malcolm X Blvd Go to the website and see what's playing - everything from DJ's to jazz to gospel. They have a really good Sunday gospel brunch too.
Paris Blues
2021 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd Drinks are expensive and light but music is great.
Smoke Jazz & Supper Club
2751 Broadway
Blue Smoke
255 Vesey St Great Jazz and blues. Great ribs.
Neighborhoods
At the northern tip of Manhattan island, there are 2 really nice parks right next to each other - Fort Tryon, and Inwood Hill. On a nice day they're beautiful to walk around. It's like being out in the country. There's a great museum in Ft. Tryon park called The Cloisters, and a row of good restaurants on Dyckman street right between the 2 parks. Also one of the best coffee shops in town - Kuro Kirin.
The A train to Dyckman street is the best way to get up there.
Dyckman Street
Dyckman StreetAt the northern tip of Manhattan island, there are 2 really nice parks right next to each other - Fort Tryon, and Inwood Hill. On a nice day they're beautiful to walk around. It's like being out in the country. There's a great museum in Ft. Tryon park called The Cloisters, and a row of good restaurants on Dyckman street right between the 2 parks. Also one of the best coffee shops in town - Kuro Kirin.
The A train to Dyckman street is the best way to get up there.