Not For Tourists Guide to New York City - Not For Tourists (2016)
Map 2. TriBeCa
Neighborhood Overview
Map 2
Thinking of moving to TriBeCa? Well, then, congratulations—you've clearly made your first $10 million! And, if you already live there…well, you're not reading a guidebook anyway…but maybe your assistant is. As for the rest of us, we'll just have to be content with walking around the neighborhood and choosing which fabulous converted loft building we'd live in when WE make our first $10 million. Such is life in one of New York's prime neighborhoods—minutes away from downtown, the West Village, SoHo, and Chinatown, decent subway access, a few minutes' walk to either the Battery Park City promenade or Hudson River Park, excellent restaurants, a few killer bars—if you can afford it, of course.
But even if you can't, there's no question that walking around is our favorite pastime in the Triangle Below Canal Street (Canal Street being the north side of the triangle, Broadway being the east side of the triangle, and the West Side Highway being the west side of the triangle). On your walk, you'll pass one of the city's oldest parks (Washington Market Park), some ancient row houses (the Harrison Street Row Houses) and our favorite TriBeCa landmark, the Ghostbusters Firehouse (you'll know it when you see it, trust us). A great starting point for seeing TriBeCa is its nexus, lovely little Duane Park. It's a quaint little triangle surrounded on all sides by gorgeous factory buildings converted into lofts you'd give an arm and a leg to live in.
As for the buildings themselves, there are a several worth noting, including Henry J. Hardenbergh's Textile Building, Carrère and Hastings' Powell Building, which now houses Nobu, Ralph Walker's massive New York Telephone Company Building, the rounded front of the American Thread Building, the Venetian mash-up of No. 8 Thomas Street, cast-iron gem the Cary Building, and, the "pièce de résistance," Stephen Decatur Smith's Fleming Smith Warehouse on Washington Street.
Although most of the new construction (especially along Broadway) fits into the boring/puerile category, one new building to check out is Enrique Norten's postmodern One York Street; his insertion of a glass tower in the middle of two 19th-century buildings is pretty cool. New York Law School's new building at 185 West Broadway shines brightly at night as its law students burn the candle at both ends. Meanwhile, Herzog & de Meuron's 56 Leonard project set records for residential sales.
Unfortunately, we just don't get to TriBeCa as much at night any more, as two of its most interesting cultural hotspots—the Knitting Factory and Roulette—have long since moved to Brooklyn. However, one of the coolest long-running sound and light installations in the world is here, at 275 Church Street, just steps from the swanky TriBeCa Grand Hotel. La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela's Dream House is a special place to chill out and get in touch with your inner being in the midst of all this residential poshness.
Nightlife is quieter here than in other neighborhoods, but upscale drinks can be found at TriBeCa Grand and Bubble Lounge and Nancy Whiskey and Puffy's are classic dives. Old school hangout Walker's is a New York classic and should not be missed; otherwise, check out the Flea Theatre's calendar or wait for the TriBeCa Film Festival.
TriBeCa
Map 2
Landmarks
✵ 56 Leonard ✵
56 Leonard St [Church St]
Knee-buckling 60-story glass Jenga palace.
✵ American Thread Building ✵
260 W Broadway [Beach St]
Check out cool rounded front; watch out for tunnel traffic.
✵ Cary Building ✵
105 Chambers St [Church St]
Cast-iron goodness on Chambers. We like it.
✵ Dream House ✵
275 Church St [White St]
212-925-8270
Cool sound + light installation by La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela. Closed during summer.
✵ Duane Park ✵
Duane St & Hudson St
One of the nicest spots in all of New York.
✵ Fleming Smith Warehouse ✵
451 Washington St [Watts St]
TriBeCa’s most sublimely beautiful structure. Believe it.
✵ Ghostbusters Firehouse ✵
14 N Moore St [Varick St]
Are you the gatekeeper?
✵ Harrison Street Row Houses ✵
Harrison St & Greenwich St
Nice collection of preserved Federalist architecture.
✵ New York Law School ✵
185 W Broadway [Leonard St]
212-431-2100
New York Law’s new main building burns brightly on cold TriBeCa nights.
✵ New York Telephone Company Building ✵
140 West St [Vestry St]
Massive Art Deco gem still looms over now-fashionable TriBeCa.
✵ No. 8 Thomas Street ✵
8 Thomas St [Broadway]
Bizarre Venetian townhouse in the middle of downtown. Really.
✵ One York Street ✵
1 York St [Canal St]
Enrique Norten’s postmodern offering is pretty damned good.
✵ Powell Building ✵
105 Hudson St [Franklin St]
Carrere & Hastings gem w/ Nobu on the ground floor.
✵ Textile Building ✵
66 Leonard St [Church St]
Henry J. Hardenbergh goodness in TriBeCa.
✵ Washington Market Park ✵
310 Greenwich St [Chambers St]
One of the city’s oldest marketplaces.
Coffee
✵ Bikini Bar ✵
148 Duane St [W Broadway]
212-571-6737
Surf’s always up at this beachy coffee shop.
✵ Kaffe 1668 ✵
275 Greenwich St [Murray St]
212-693-3750
Excellent coffee in a really cool space.
✵ La Colombe Torrefaction ✵
319 Church St [Lipsenard St]
212-343-1515
New York’s first outpost of top-notch Philly roasters.
✵ Le Pain Quotidien ✵
81 W Broadway [Warren St]
646-652-8186
Excellent coffee and pastries. Thanks Belgium.
✵ Square Diner ✵
33 Leonard St [W Broadway]
212-925-7188
Old-school diner coffee.
Farmers Markets
✵ Tribeca Greenmarket ✵
Greenwich St b/n Chambers & Duane
Wed 8 am-3 pm Apr-Dec; Sat 8 am-3 pm Year Round
Nightlife is quieter here than in other neighborhoods, but upscale drinks can be found at TriBeCa Grand and Bubble Lounge and Nancy Whiskey and Puffy's are classic dives. Old school hangout Walker's is a New York classic and should not be missed; otherwise, check out the Flea Theatre's calendar or wait for the TriBeCa Film Festival.
Nightlife
✵ Anotheroom ✵
249 W Broadway [N Moore St]
212-226-1418
Cosy, cute, and narrow.
✵ B Flat ✵
277 Church St [White St]
212-219-2970
Stylish Japanese basement cocktail den.
✵ The Bennett ✵
134 West Broadway [Duane St]
Artisanal cocktails and comfort food-inspired eats.
✵ Brandy Library ✵
25 N Moore St [W Broadway]
212-226-5545
Refined but cozy with lots of free tasting events.
✵ Broome Street Bar ✵
363 W Broadway [Broome St]
212-784-6650
Real low-key for this part of town.
✵ Church Bar ✵
2 6th Ave [Church St]
212-519-6600
Luxurious space with pricey drinks and occasional live music.
✵ Church Publick ✵
82 Reade St [Church St]
212-267-3000
Good beer selection and cocktails + fun grub.
✵ Distilled ✵
211 West Broadway [Franklin St]
212-601-9514
Good cocktails and grub in pleasant communal setting.
✵ Lucky Strike ✵
59 Grand St [W Broadway]
212-941-0772
Hipsters, locals, ex-smoky. Recommended.
✵ Macao ✵
311 Church St [Walker St]
212-431-8642
Expensive but exquisite cocktails inspired by 1930s Chinese opium dens.
✵ Nancy Whiskey Pub ✵
1 Lispenard St [W Broadway]
212-226-9943
Good dive. As if there were any other kind.
✵ Puffy’s Tavern ✵
81 Hudson St [Harrison St]
212-227-3912
Suits, old timers, and hipsters. Top TriBeCa watering hole.
✵ Racines ✵
94 Chambers St [Church St]
212-227-3400
French wine bar and food, one of our TriBeCa favorites.
✵ Smith & Mills ✵
71 N Moore St [Greenwich St]
212-226-2515
Upscale cool cocktails. Limited seating.
✵ Soho Grand Hotel ✵
310 W Broadway [Canal St]
212-965-3000
Swank sophistication.
✵ Terroir ✵
24 Harrison St [Greenwich St]
212-625-9463
Happening wine bar with funky list and tasty eats.
✵ Toad Hall ✵
57 Grand St [W Broadway]
212-431-8145
Laid back vibe with SoHo locals.
✵ Tribeca Grand Hotel ✵
2 6th Ave [White St]
212-519-6600
Posh drinks in an uber-cool space; service is another matter.
✵ Tribeca Tavern & Café ✵
247 W Broadway [Beach St]
212-941-7671
Good enough for us.
✵ Walker’s ✵
16 N Moore St [W Broadway]
212-941-0142
Where old and new Tribeca neighbors mix.
✵ Ward III ✵
111 Reade St [W Broadway]
212-240-9194
Fantastic cocktail den. Awesome drinks, no attitude.
✵ Warren 77 ✵
77 Warren St [Greenwich St]
212-227-8994
Do you believe in miracles? A classy sports bar in NYC.
Restaurants
✵ ‘wichcraft ✵
397 Greenwich St [Beach St]
212-780-0577 ✵ $$
Sandwiches, soups, and sweets from one of those TV chefs.
✵ Acappella ✵
1 Hudson St [Chambers St]
212-240-0163 ✵ $$$$
Sopranos-worthy Northern Italian cuisine.
✵ Almond Tribeca ✵
186 Franklin St [Greenwich St]
212-431-0606 ✵ $$$$
French-y madness, with lobster sausage and a raw bar.
✵ American Cut ✵
363 Greenwich St [Franklin St]
212-226-4736 ✵ $$$$$
Forgione + steak = a perfect pairing.
✵ Bar Cyrk ✵
88 Thomas St [West Broadway]
212-321-2975 ✵ $$$
Off-the-beaten-path perfect cocktails and stunning pizza.
✵ Benares ✵
45 Murray St [Church St]
212-766-4900 ✵ $$$
Decent Indian option, very good naan.
✵ Bouley ✵
163 Duane St [W Broadway]
212-964-2525 ✵ $$$$$
Absolute top NYC dining. Love the apples in the foyer.
✵ Bubby’s ✵ 120 Hudson St [N Moore St]
212-219-0666 ✵ $$
Great atmosphere — good home-style eats and homemade pies.
✵ Cafe Clementine ✵
227 West Broadway [White St]
212-965-0909 ✵ $$
Fresh, satisfying soups, salads, and sandwiches in a tiny space.
✵ China Blue ✵
135 Watts St [Washington St]
212-431-0111 ✵ $$$$
Shanghai cuisine on the higher end. Give it a shot.
✵ Church Lounge ✵
2 Ave of the Americas [White St]
212-519-6600 ✵ $$$
Sunday buffet brunch is great.
✵ Church Publick ✵
82 Reade St [Church St]
212-267-3000 ✵ $$$
Tater tots and duck quesadillas. And craft beer. We’re there.
✵ City Hall ✵
131 Duane St [Church St]
212-227-7777 ✵ $$$$$
Bright, expensive, lots of suits, but still cool.
✵ Cupping Room Café ✵
359 W Broadway [Broome St]
212-925-2898 ✵ $$$
Keeps the mimosas flowing at brunch.
✵ Da Mikele ✵
275 Church St [White St]
212-925-8800 ✵ $$$
Solid Italian w/ good pies.
✵ Distilled ✵
211 West Broadway [Franklin St]
212-601-9514 ✵ $$$$
Creative comfort cuisine in post-modern public house.
✵ Dylan Prime ✵
62 Laight St [Greenwich St]
212-334-4783 ✵ $$$$$
Excellent steakhouse, great location, TriBeCa prices.
✵ Edward’s ✵ 136 W Broadway [Duane St]
212-233-6436 ✵ $$
Middle-of-the-road, kid’s menu, mostly locals, sometimes great.
✵ Estancia 460 ✵
460 Greenwich St [Watts St]
212-431-5093 ✵ $$
Louche Argentines and brilliant french toast. Formerly Sosa Borella.
✵ Félix ✵
340 W Broadway [Grand St]
212-431-0021 ✵ $$$
Buzzing Brazilian with French overtones, see and be seen.
✵ Gotan ✵
130 Franklin St [Varick St]
212-431-5200 ✵ $$
Serious sandwiches, serious espresso, settle in for some mood lighting.
✵ Grandaisy Bakery ✵
250 W Broadway [Beach St]
212-334-9435 ✵
Breads and pizzas by the one and only.
✵ The Greek ✵
458 Greenwich St [Desbrosses St]
646-476-3941 ✵ $$$$
Bang-on Greek miles from Astoria.
✵ Il Giglio ✵
81 Warren St [Greenwich St]
212-571-5555 ✵ $$$$$
Stellar Italian. Trust us.
If you've got cash, Tribeca's got you covered. Nobu has top-shelf sushi, Odeon has the cool factor, Landmarc has killer steaks, Il Giglio has white-tablecloth-Italian, and Bouley is a top NYC dining experience. Otherwise, we go for the far-above-average pub grub at Walker's or cabbie favorite Pakistan Tea House.
✵ Jungsik ✵
2 Harrison St [Hudson St]
212-219-0900 ✵ $$$$
White tablecloth multi-star Korean.
✵ Khe-Yo ✵
157 Duane St [West Broadway]
212-587-1089 ✵ $$$
Laotian goodness w/ pork curry noodles, and bang-bang sauce.
✵ Kori ✵
253 Church St [Leonard St]
212-334-0908 ✵ $$$
Korean. Hip space. It’s TriBeCa.
✵ Landmarc ✵ 179 W Broadway [Leonard St]
212-343-3883 ✵ $$$$$
Modern, posh, great steaks and wines; and, of course, pricey.
✵ Little Park ✵
85 West Broadway [Chambers St]
212-220-4110 ✵ $$$
Nicely appointed farm-to-table from Andrew Carmellini.
✵ Locanda Verde ✵
377 Greenwich St [N Moore St]
212-925-3797 ✵ $$$$
Top-shelf Italian in ever-hip TriBeCa.
✵ Lucky Strike ✵
59 Grand St [W Broadway]
212-941-0772 ✵ $$
Good bar in front, reliable food in back.
✵ Lupe’s East LA Kitchen ✵
110 Ave of the Americas [Watts St]
212-966-1326 ✵ $
Tex-Mex. Quaint. Eat here.
✵ Marc Forgione ✵
134 Reade St [Hudson St]
212-941-9401 ✵ $$$$$
Top-end TriBeCa perfection. Go. If you can.
✵ Nobu ✵
105 Hudson St [Franklin St]
212-219-0500 ✵ $$$$$
Designer Japanese. When we have 100 titles, we’ll go here.
✵ Nobu Next Door ✵
105 Hudson St [Franklin St]
212-334-4445 ✵ $$$$$
Nobu’s cheaper neighbor.
✵ The Odeon ✵
145 W Broadway [Thomas St]
212-233-0507 ✵ $$$$
We can’t agree about this one, so go and make your own decision.
✵ Pakistan Tea House ✵
176 Church St [Reade St]
212-240-9800 ✵ $
The real deal. Where cabbies eat. The naan is perfect.
✵ Racines ✵ 94 Chambers St [Church St]
212-227-3400 ✵ $$$$
French wine bar and food, one of our TriBeCa favorites.
✵ Roc ✵
190 Duane St [Greenwich St]
212-625-3333 ✵ $$$
Lovely Italian, good for weekend brunch.
✵ Salaam Bombay ✵
317 Greenwich St [Duane St]
212-226-9400 ✵ $$
Indian; excellent lunch buffet.
✵ Saluggi’s ✵
325 Church St [Lispenard St]
212-226-7900 ✵ $$
Brussels sprout, bacon, caramelized onion pie: get it.
✵ Sophie’s Cuban ✵
96 Chambers St [Church St]
212-608-9900 ✵ $$
Great cheap Cuban/Caribbean.
✵ Square Diner ✵
33 Leonard St [W Broadway]
212-925-7188 ✵ $
Classic neighborhood diner.
✵ Tabla ✵
361 Greenwich St [Harrison St]
212-334-4043 ✵ $$$$
Because tapas is good for you. Flamenco shows, too.
✵ Thalassa ✵
179 Franklin St [Hudson St]
212-941-7661 ✵ $$$
Greek. But it’s cheaper and better in Astoria.
✵ Tribeca Grill ✵
375 Greenwich St [Franklin St]
212-941-3900 ✵ $$$$$
Are you looking at me?
✵ Tribeca Tavern & Café ✵
247 W Broadway [Beach St]
212-941-7671 ✵
Great brew selection…and is that “November Rain” I hear?
✵ Viet Café ✵ 345 Greenwich St [Jay St]
212-431-5888 ✵ $$$
Glossy out of a magazine.
✵ Walker’s ✵
16 N Moore St [W Broadway]
212-941-0142 ✵ $$
Surprisingly good food for a pub!
✵ Zutto ✵
77 Hudson St [Harrison St]
212-233-3287 ✵ $$$
Neighborhood Japanese.
Shopping
✵ Amish Market ✵
53 Park Pl [W Broadway]
212-608-3863
Lots prepared foods. Do they deliver by horse and buggy?
✵ Babesta Cribz ✵
56 Warren St [W Broadway]
646-290-5508
Stuff for hipster babies and their parents.
✵ Balloon Saloon ✵
133 W Broadway [Duane St]
212-227-3838
We love the name.
✵ Boffi Soho ✵
31 Greene St [Grand St]
212-431-8282
High-end kitchen and bath design.
✵ Danny’s Cycles ✵
75 Varick St [Watts St]
212-334-8000
Bike messenger mecca; formerly Canal Street Bicycles.
✵ Duane Park Patisserie ✵
179 Duane St [Staple St]
212-274-8447
Yummy!
✵ Gotham Bikes ✵
112 West Broadway [Duane St]
212-732-2453
Super helpful staff, good stuff.
✵ Grandaisy Bakery ✵
250 W Broadway [Beach St]
212-334-9435
Breads and pizzas by the one and only.
✵ Issey Miyake ✵
119 Hudson St [N Moore St]
212-226-0100
Flagship store of this designer.
✵ Korin ✵
57 Warren St [W Broadway]
212-587-7021
Supplier to Japanese chefs and restaurants.
✵ Let There Be Neon ✵
38 White St [Church St]
212-226-4883
Neon gallery and store.
✵ MarieBelle’s Fine Treats & Chocolates ✵
484 Broome St [Wooster St]
212-925-6999
Top NYC chocolatier. Killer hot chocolate.
✵ The Mysterious Bookshop ✵
58 Warren St [W Broadway]
212-587-1011
Specialty—mystery books.
Hit up Grandaisy Bakery and Duane Park Patisserie for baked goods and MarieBelle for chocolate. We like Selima Optique for cool specs, Steven Alan for trendy threads, Korin for cutlery, and Tent & Trails for plotting NYC escapes.
✵ New York Nautical ✵
158 Duane St [Thomas St]
212-962-4522
Armchair sailing.
✵ Oliver Peoples ✵
366 W Broadway [Watts St]
212-925-5400
Look as good as you see, and vice-versa.
✵ Selima Optique ✵
59 Wooster St [Broome St]
212-343-9490
Funky eyewear for the vintage inclined.
✵ Shoofly ✵
42 Hudson St [Thomas St]
212-406-3270
Dressing your child for social success.
✵ SoHo Art Materials ✵
7 Wooster St [Crosby St]
212-431-3938
A painter’s candy store.
✵ Steven Alan ✵
103 Franklin St [Church St]
212-343-0692
Trendy designer clothing and accessories. One-of-a-kind stuff.
✵ Tent & Trails ✵
21 Park Pl [Church St]
212-227-1761
Top outfitter for gearheads.
✵ Tribeca Wine Merchants ✵
40 Hudson St [Duane St]
212-393-1400
High quality for a high rollers neighborhood.
✵ Urban Archaeology ✵
143 Franklin St [W Broadway]
212-431-4646
Retro fixtures.
✵ We Are Nuts About Nuts ✵
166 Church St [Chambers St]
212-227-4695
They’re nuts. We’re nuts. We’re all nuts.
✵ What Goes Around Comes Around ✵
351 W Broadway [Broome St]
212-343-1225
LARGE, excellent collection of men’s, women’s, and children’s vintage.
✵ Whole Foods ✵
270 Greenwich St [Murray St]
212-349-6555
Tribeca natural market outpost means strollers and celebrities.
✵ Zucker’s Bagels and Smoked Fish ✵
146 Chambers St [W Broadway]
212-608-5844
Damn good, fresh, hand-rolled bagels and hearty schmears.