Harlem Garden Home Neighborhood Guidebook
Food scene
A casual cafe with funky decor, serving breakfast, burgers, pasta, salads, desserts.
-189 Lenox Avenue at 120th Street
163 locals recommend
Il Cafe Latte 1
189 Malcolm X BlvdA casual cafe with funky decor, serving breakfast, burgers, pasta, salads, desserts.
-189 Lenox Avenue at 120th Street
Pastries, homemade pastas, pizza, panini.
-196 Lenox Avenue at 120th Street
86 locals recommend
SETTEPANI
196 Malcolm X BlvdPastries, homemade pastas, pizza, panini.
-196 Lenox Avenue at 120th Street
Great Spanish & Italian cuisine
-2211 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 119th Street
169 locals recommend
VINATERÍA
2211 Frederick Douglass BlvdGreat Spanish & Italian cuisine
-2211 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 119th Street
Creative interpretations of classic American as well as traditional Latin and South Asian dishes
-187 Lenox Avenue at 120th Street
19 locals recommend
Archer & Goat
187 Malcolm X BlvdCreative interpretations of classic American as well as traditional Latin and South Asian dishes
-187 Lenox Avenue at 120th Street
Authentic, delicious brick oven pizzas (including gluten-free pizza)
-227 Lenox Avenue at 121st Street
63 locals recommend
Sottocasa Pizzeria
227 Malcolm X BlvdAuthentic, delicious brick oven pizzas (including gluten-free pizza)
-227 Lenox Avenue at 121st Street
World-famous soul food restaurant
-238 Lenox Avenue at 126th Street
405 locals recommend
Sylvia's Restaurant
328 Malcolm X BlvdWorld-famous soul food restaurant
-238 Lenox Avenue at 126th Street
Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s famous spot serving Southern-accented American comfort food.
-310 Lenox Avenue at 126th Street
1044 locals recommend
Red Rooster
310 Lenox AveChef Marcus Samuelsson’s famous spot serving Southern-accented American comfort food.
-310 Lenox Avenue at 126th Street
Casual, retro-style diner serving burgers, shakes, and fries
-100 West 124th Street at Lenox Avenue
212 locals recommend
Harlem Shake
100 W 124th StCasual, retro-style diner serving burgers, shakes, and fries
-100 West 124th Street at Lenox Avenue
Barawine Harlem
200 Malcolm X BlvdWine bar with French cuisine
-200 Lenox Avenue at 120th Street
Offers homemade ice cream in rotating, seasonal flavors from peach cobbler to single-estate Madagascar dark chocolate.
-184 Lenox Avenue at 119th Street
40 locals recommend
Sugar Hill Creamery
184 Malcolm X BlvdOffers homemade ice cream in rotating, seasonal flavors from peach cobbler to single-estate Madagascar dark chocolate.
-184 Lenox Avenue at 119th Street
Elegant and friendly Italian restaurant.
-2168 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 117th Street
253 locals recommend
Lido Harlem Restaurant
2168 Frederick Douglass BlvdElegant and friendly Italian restaurant.
-2168 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 117th Street
Whimsical neighborhood coffee place with snacks and treats.
-2194 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 118th Street
147 locals recommend
Double Dutch Espresso
2194 Frederick Douglass BlvdWhimsical neighborhood coffee place with snacks and treats.
-2194 Frederick Douglass Blvd at 118th Street
Independent coffee shop that also serves arepas!
-1965 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd at 118th Street
67 locals recommend
The Monkey Cup
1730 Amsterdam AveIndependent coffee shop that also serves arepas!
-1965 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd at 118th Street
Great Ethiopian food.
-268 West 135th Street between Frederick Douglass Boulevard and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard
36 locals recommend
Abyssinia
268 W 135th StGreat Ethiopian food.
-268 West 135th Street between Frederick Douglass Boulevard and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard
Local place serving French cuisine.
-2269 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard at 133rd Street
99 locals recommend
Yatenga
2269 Adam Clayton Powell Jr BlvdLocal place serving French cuisine.
-2269 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard at 133rd Street
Great chicken tikka masala—just around the corner.
-239 Lenox Avenue at 122nd Street
6 locals recommend
Indian Summer Harlem
239 Malcolm X BlvdGreat chicken tikka masala—just around the corner.
-239 Lenox Avenue at 122nd Street
West African food and amazing French pastries.
-2200 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 119th Street
85 locals recommend
Les Ambassades
2200 Frederick Douglass BlvdWest African food and amazing French pastries.
-2200 Frederick Douglass Boulevard at 119th Street
Starbucks
301 W 145th St-125th Street & Lenox Avenue
Shopping-food, wine, supplies
Locally owned wine store with tastings, events, and delivery.
- 2067 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard at 123rd Street
9 locals recommend
Harlem Wine Gallery
2067 Adam Clayton Powell Jr BlvdLocally owned wine store with tastings, events, and delivery.
- 2067 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard at 123rd Street
Excellent grocery and prepared food shopping, just 3 blocks away. - 100 West 125th Street at Lenox Avenue
541 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
100 W 125th StExcellent grocery and prepared food shopping, just 3 blocks away. - 100 West 125th Street at Lenox Avenue
Neighborhood, family-owned bagels place with freshly made real NYC-style bagels.
-235 West 116th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Frederick Douglass Boulevard
28 locals recommend
BO's Bagels
235 W 116th StNeighborhood, family-owned bagels place with freshly made real NYC-style bagels.
-235 West 116th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Frederick Douglass Boulevard
Many say this is the best rugelach in all of NYC. These homemade, fresh cookies have been baked on the premises by Alvin Lee Smalls for over 50 years.
-283 West 118th Street at Frederick Douglass Boulevard
35 locals recommend
Lee Lee's Baked Goods
283 W 118th StMany say this is the best rugelach in all of NYC. These homemade, fresh cookies have been baked on the premises by Alvin Lee Smalls for over 50 years.
-283 West 118th Street at Frederick Douglass Boulevard
A large neighborhood supermarket for basic needs. - 136 Lenox Avenue at 117th Street
162 locals recommend
Fine Fare Supermakets
4211 BroadwayA large neighborhood supermarket for basic needs. - 136 Lenox Avenue at 117th Street
Nearby drugstore, pharmacy, and convenience store.
-115 West 125th Street at Lenox Avenue
-130 Lenox Avenue at 116th Street
416 locals recommend
CVS
115 W 125th StNearby drugstore, pharmacy, and convenience store.
-115 West 125th Street at Lenox Avenue
-130 Lenox Avenue at 116th Street
Fresh local produce, baked goods, etc. Open Saturdays, 9:00AM - 2:00PM, year-round.
-In Morningside Park at Manhattan Avenue and 110th Street
Down to Earth Farmers Market
237-331 Manhattan AvenueFresh local produce, baked goods, etc. Open Saturdays, 9:00AM - 2:00PM, year-round.
-In Morningside Park at Manhattan Avenue and 110th Street
Recreation
Free admission during the summer months–check the NYC Parks website for schedule & regulations.
Bring your own combination lock.
-Marcus Garvey Park, 122nd Street and Fifth Avenue
154 locals recommend
Marcus Garvey Park
Mount Morris Park WestFree admission during the summer months–check the NYC Parks website for schedule & regulations.
Bring your own combination lock.
-Marcus Garvey Park, 122nd Street and Fifth Avenue
Temporarily closed-reopens in 2024. Ice skating in the northern end of Central Park, just a 15-minute walk away.
-In Central Park, just south of 110th Street & Lenox Avenue
32 locals recommend
Lasker Rink
110 Lenox AveTemporarily closed-reopens in 2024. Ice skating in the northern end of Central Park, just a 15-minute walk away.
-In Central Park, just south of 110th Street & Lenox Avenue
The most beautiful part of Central Park, just a 15-minute walk away. Take a stroll, feed the geese, listen to some live outdoor music. You can even go fishing there!
-Central Park, just south of 110th Street
86 locals recommend
Harlem Meer
199 Central Park NThe most beautiful part of Central Park, just a 15-minute walk away. Take a stroll, feed the geese, listen to some live outdoor music. You can even go fishing there!
-Central Park, just south of 110th Street
Sightseeing
The leading museum for art by artists of African descent.
-144 West 125th Street, between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard
239 locals recommend
The Studio Museum in Harlem
144 West 125th StreetThe leading museum for art by artists of African descent.
-144 West 125th Street, between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard
Historic university with a beautiful campus, just a 20-minute walk away.
-114th Street to 120th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue
539 locals recommend
Columbia University
116th and BroadwayHistoric university with a beautiful campus, just a 20-minute walk away.
-114th Street to 120th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue
A restored historic street in the neighborhood. Homes with front porches and little front yards--very unusual in Manhattan!
-130th Street between Lenox Avenue and 5th Avenue
9 locals recommend
Astor Row Houses
A restored historic street in the neighborhood. Homes with front porches and little front yards--very unusual in Manhattan!
-130th Street between Lenox Avenue and 5th Avenue
World-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.
-515 Lenox Avenue at 135th Street
186 locals recommend
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X BlvdWorld-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.
-515 Lenox Avenue at 135th Street
“Jazz is a living, evolving organism expressed through connections with real people. Our vision is to make jazz accessible to everyone on the planet. We are a living, evolving museum for the people, center for jazz and a place in Harlem where visitors gather to enjoy history and music, and where artists come to play, rehearse, create or drop-in, even when no one else is there, just to be in the space that so many others have passed through.”
-58 West 129th Street at Lenox Avenue
100 locals recommend
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem
58 W 129th St“Jazz is a living, evolving organism expressed through connections with real people. Our vision is to make jazz accessible to everyone on the planet. We are a living, evolving museum for the people, center for jazz and a place in Harlem where visitors gather to enjoy history and music, and where artists come to play, rehearse, create or drop-in, even when no one else is there, just to be in the space that so many others have passed through.”
-58 West 129th Street at Lenox Avenue
The largest Cathedral in the world. Open for tours, concerts, events, sightseeing, and worship. Stop by the garden and see the peacocks, Harry, Jim, and Phil (yes, live peacocks in NYC!).
-1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 110th Street
378 locals recommend
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam AveThe largest Cathedral in the world. Open for tours, concerts, events, sightseeing, and worship. Stop by the garden and see the peacocks, Harry, Jim, and Phil (yes, live peacocks in NYC!).
-1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 110th Street
Nightlife
Great local bar with live music.
Historical Harlem theater, featuring headline performers, talks, events, and the famous "Amateur Night" that helped launch the careers of such "unknowns" as James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and a 17-year-old Ella Fitzgerald.
-253 West 125th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Frederick Douglass Boulevard
893 locals recommend
Apollo Theater
253 W 125th StHistorical Harlem theater, featuring headline performers, talks, events, and the famous "Amateur Night" that helped launch the careers of such "unknowns" as James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and a 17-year-old Ella Fitzgerald.
-253 West 125th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Frederick Douglass Boulevard
Independent live music venue.
-2271 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard at 134th Street
227 locals recommend
Shrine
2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr BlvdIndependent live music venue.
-2271 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard at 134th Street
Food and live music too!
-206 West 118th Street at Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard
138 locals recommend
Minton's Playhouse
206 W 118th StFood and live music too!
-206 West 118th Street at Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard
Cafe & bar offering Middle Eastern eats such as shawarma & falafel, plus live music downstairs.
-300 West 116th Street at Frederick Douglass Boulevard
197 locals recommend
Silvana
300 W 116th StCafe & bar offering Middle Eastern eats such as shawarma & falafel, plus live music downstairs.
-300 West 116th Street at Frederick Douglass Boulevard
Traveler advice
Getting around
Subway stops: 2/3 at 125th & Lenox Ave and 116th & Lenox Ave
The express subway (2/3 lines) stops here.
Getting around
Fifth Avenue bus at 121st Street
The M1 bus, which stops right at Marcus Garvey Park, is a great way to get to the Met and the other museums of the Upper East Side.
Getting around
Lenox Avenue = Malcom X Boulevard
Please note that these two street names are used interchangeably.
Customs and culture
Neighborhood traditions
You are staying in Central Harlem, which is a special and vibrant neighborhood. You're unlikely to hear any sounds of NYC traffic on our block, and on warm summer nights, neighbors will gather on Harlem's famous "stoops" (front steps) to share stories, refreshment, and music. During holidays, these same stoops are festively decorated--the neighborhood turns into a children's "trick or treat" block party on Halloween night!