By West Side Rag
On Sunday, West Side Rag had a table on the Columbus Avenue Open Street.
We asked people passing by one simple question.
“What’s your favorite spot on the Upper West Side?”
The Rag received more than 100 responses in total, with many establishments or places earning multiple mentions. The answers undoubtedly skewed to the southern portion of the Upper West Side, which was to be expected given the stretch of Open Streets went from West 68th to 77th streets.
We understand this is not by any means a perfect set of data, but we wanted to share our findings from the field.
People submitted neighborhood restaurants, stores, park areas, arts and culture hubs, and more.
“I’ll write Riverside Park but I won’t say my favorite bench,” one woman told the Rag. “It doesn’t need that kind of attention.”
One five-year-old Upper West Sider decided “the airport” was her answer.
Here is the comprehensive list of favorite Upper West Side spots.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops
- Amelie: 566 Amsterdam Avenue
- Amsterdam Ale House: 340 Amsterdam Avenue
- Angaar: 283 Columbus Avenue Avenue
- Barney Greengrass: 541 Amsterdam Avenue
- Black Press (4 submissions): 274 Columbus Avenue
- Blondie’s: 212 West 79th Street
- Broad Nosh: 2350 Broadway
- Cafe Luxembourg: 200 West 70th Street
- Celeste: 502 Amsterdam Avenue
- Covacha: 368 Columbus Avenue
- Ella Social: 249 Columbus Avenue
- Elea: 217 West 85th Street
- El Fish Marisqueria: 155 Amsterdam Avenue
- Emack & Bolio’s: 389 Columbus Avenue
- Fairway Cafe: 2131 Broadway
- Friedman’s: 50 West 72nd Street
- Harvest Kitchen (2 submissions): 269 Columbus Avenue
- Hoptimist: 422 Amsterdam Avenue
- Hi-Life Bar & Grill: 477 Amsterdam Avenue
- Jacob’s Pickles: 680 Columbus Avenue
- Joe’s Steam Rice Rolls: 422 Amsterdam Avenue
- La Pecora Bianca: 359 Columbus Avenue
- Mast Market: 353 Columbus Avenue
- Mermaid Inn: 335 Columbus Avenue
- Modern Bread and Bagel (2 submissions): 472 Columbus Avenue
- Muffins Cafe: 222 Columbus Avenue
- Parla: 320 Columbus Avenue
- Salumeria Rossi: 283 Amsterdam Avenue
- Sempre Oggi (2 submissions): 164 West 75th Street
- The Smith: 1900 Broadway
- Solid State (2 submissions): 104 West 71st Street
- Sote (4 submissions): 329 Amsterdam Avenue
- Sweet Green: No location specified
- Tap (2 submissions): 267 Columbus Avenue
- Tiki Chick (2 submissions): 517 Amsterdam Avenue
- Utopia Diner: 267 Amsterdam Avenue
- Westland Roe: 174 West 72nd Street
Businesses
- Amsterdam Wine Co.: 271 Amsterdam Avenue
- Aura: 239 West 72nd Street
- DOROT: 171 West 85th Street
- Greenstones: 454 Columbus Avenue
- Milport Dairy: 2583 Broadway
- QQ Nails: No location specified
- SLT 89th Street: 610 Columbus Avenue
- The Sunshinery: 551 Columbus Avenue
- Yellow Submarine Kids Salon: 512 Columbus Avenue
Outdoor Spaces
- Central Park
- Columbus Avenue Open Street (3 submissions): 68th to 77th streets on Columbus Avenue
- Flowers in Riverside Park: All of the flowers
- Fountain at Lincoln Center: Broadway and West 64th Street
- Joan of Arc Park: Riverside Drive between West 91st and 95th streets
- Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center: 10 Lincoln Center Plaza
- Pier I in Riverside (4 submissions): West 70th Street in Riverside South
- Safari Playground in Central Park: Near West 91st Street
- Tecumseh Playground: Amsterdam Avenue and West 78th Street
- Strauss Park: West End Avenue and West 107th Street
- Strawberry Fields in Central Park
- Riverside Park (3 submissions)
- West 77th Street Farmer’s Market: West 77th Street and Columbus Avenue
Arts & Culture
- AMC Lincoln Square and AMC 84th Street
- American Museum of Natural History (2 submissions): 200 Central Park West
- The New York Historical: 170 Central Park West
Then we decided to separate out a special collection of favorite Upper West Side submissions from kids that we received on Sunday.
Kids Picks
- Coffee Shop (2 submissions)
- Ice Cream Store
- Levain Bakery
- Nuts Factory
- Park (2 submissions)
- Paris
- P.S. 87
- My Home
- My Mom
- Starbugs (Starbucks)
- The Airport
- Trains
The three Upper West Side spots that had the most submissions? The coffee shops Black Press and Sote, along with Pier I in Riverside Park, all received four mentions.
Let us know in the comment section what spots were missed.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by and said hello to us on Sunday. It was great meeting readers, and we’re looking to do it again in the not-so-distant future.
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I think perhaps your location meant that fewer people voted for the more northern spots in the neighborhood. Which means that my favorite French spot is not mentioned even though it’s packed every night.
Which place is that?
Likely LeMonde (112ish) and Cafe de Soleil (104) both on Broadway and both good
No mention of Epices Bakery on 70th Street?
Open Streets seems to do zero for businesses and shops not directly on that stretch of Columbus.
Yes! They’ve stood the test of time.
Open Streets one block from Central Park is at best a make work project. Money would be better spent beautifying Columbus Avenue making it greener.
West Side Community Garden, between 89th and 90th, between Columbus and Amsterdam
Especially during the tulips season in April and May!
The Metro Diner. Always packed, reasonably priced and good food.
It’s a go-to neighborhood spot!
I prefer Manhattan diner on 95th Street.
Bella Luna. Columbus and West 88th Street. Good food, good vibes.
Viand! How was this missed!
Viand on 74th street has the best chicken matzoball soup.
Zabar’s, Breads Bakery, and Silver Moon!
Orwashers had pistacho dubai chocolate croissant for a few months but they stopped making them!
Thanks for being out on another beautiful Open Streets Sunday, it was fun to stop by and say hi!
There are so many great local spots that people shared, the only one I am at a loss for is Sweet Green?!
Beautiful? Hot and miserable!🙁
No, it neither hot nor miserable, and if you felt that way you could have just gone home.
The question is not what I could and should have done.
The issue is the inconvenience Open streets create with little or no benefits to the majority at the expense of a small group.
Nonsense, the weather was great, was especially pleasant in the shade where the WSR team was set up. I can’t speak for you but I certainly wasn’t miserable, Open Streets, are always a fun time!
Your dedication to TransAlt is unwavering but no, Open Streets is complete nonsense right now.
No affiliation with TA, I just enjoy spending time in the neighborhood without car noise and exhaust. You should come try it one of these Sundays
Why would you rather spend time on the street than go to either of the parks?
Pomadoro Rossa on Columbus.
Seems like Pomodoro Rosso has recently changed ownership.
Oh no. How recently? My husband and I love that place, but we haven’t been there in a couple of months. Have you noticed a change in quality?
When I called for delivery a few weeks ago, they hung up on me. When I called yesterday, they didn’t answer the phone number that continues to be listed on the Pomodoro Rosso website. (We previously phoned for delivery for years.)
I did. Definitely not the same.
Starbugs. That makes my day!
Me, too. That was the best response!
And possibly the most accurate.
Wellness pharmacy w 72nd st
What? How was El Mitote missed? Iconic. “Somos UWS.”
Our favorite is Bella Luna on Columbus and 88th St … great for dinner and brunch is delish
The Sugar Bar (W. 72nd St)
Our treasured Trader Joe’s, temporarily closed for renovation, on 72nd and Broadway should absolutely have a shout out.
I go to Trader Joe’s in Harlem on 125th Street..Many trains and buses nearby. There is a Lidl on 117th street near Frederick Dougls blvd. Great prices and products!
I like the park around the Museum of Natural History.
Love “my Mom”!
Swagat, Amsterdam near 80th.
Five Napkin Burger, 84th and Broadway.
Fantastic house-made veggie burger (it’s unique) and excellent frozen margaritas: Watermelon in summer and pomegranate in winter.
The kind where the straw stands up!
Thanks for this note because I’d never have known (after so many times in the past eating w friends where my only choice was a sad frozen veggie burger)
Zabar’s! I can’t spell brunch without it.
Freshly ground coffee for my espresso machine 1/2 pound per visit so they’re fresh all the time!
My favorite spot is Supernice Pizza! Amsterdam and 109th St.
Without BOSINO, CAFE DU SOLIL, TELIO & YASOUVLAKI this list means nothing! 🩷
Murray’s Sturgeon Shop! Best hand sliced smoked fish!
Saravanaa Bhavan!
The New York Lawn Bowling Club green on West 69th Street in Central Park. 100 years old this year, folks from all over the world stop by to watch, chat and often roll a few bowls. The green overlooks the Sheep Meadow and sits adjacent to the Croquet Club. An oasis. Peace.
In the category of “better restaurants,” Cafe Luxembourg is my choice. I’m also looking forward to trying Cafe du Soleil and Sempre Oggi.
Owls Tail.
I don’t get the constant support for Barney Greengrass. Expensive, crowded and no room at the table. What am I missing?
The LEO!
Maison Pickle
LINCOLN CENTER!
How did Strawberry Fields make the list??? It’s a crowded tourist trap that was once a lovely, quiet spot to read and relax. A homage to John Lennon turned into a place of bad music, selfies, loud groups, etc. Central Park has many gorgeous places but this is the least among them. Oh well, to each their own.
Mani Market!! 94th/Col. One of the last Mom n Pop grocery stores, been there well over 35 yrs.
Bistro Cassis
Santa Fe
It is Manny’s now. But I agree that bistro Cassis was a much better name
The Cassis on W58th and 7th Ave? It’s Brasserie Casiss these days with the BEST chicken salad ever.
The People’s Garden on 111th and Amsterdam.
Three farmers’ markets (two on Broadway across from Lincoln Center on Thursday and Saturday mornings) and the larger one at 77th and Columbus on Sunday morning. I cannot believe no one mentioned the 30-plus-year flea market at IS 77 on Sundays. The NY Historical (Society!), the American Folk Art Museum, and the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) at Columbus Circle. I love the Time Warner Center or whatever it is called now (Deutsche Bank Center, I think) even thought it can be expensive. I regularly eat at Fiorello’s, which is an old standby. I really miss the Lincoln Center Crafts Fairs twice per year, and really, really miss the old Bazaar once per year at the Library for the Performing Arts. I ran the film section for years, but that stopped happening in the early 1990s. For those who don’t know or can’t remember, the Library divested itself of everything it no longer needed: duplicates or objects going all the way back to the 19th century. There is only so much space and money for preservation, and many times the Library would be willed stuff it didn’t need or want. Those were the days!!
It’s outside the UWS but Pisticci is the best italian restaurant!
What about Old John’s? A neighborhood staple. Also, Shalel!
Surprised there’s no love for Manny’s on this list. I always got the impression that the neighborhood loved that place.
I don’t see some of my favorite spots.
For just walking, 78th Street between Broadway and Columbus is my single favorite street. And what’s not to love. From the fabulous, underrated building at 215 West, to the only (?) Tudor-style building on the UWS at 210 West, to the Guastavino townhouses – and all the other amazing townhouses, in many colors, on both sides of the street – between Amsterdam and Columbus, it is a truly glorious block.
And where is the Hungarian Pastry Shop, or V&T Italian Restaurant, or the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, for God’s sake (pun intended)? Or, indeed, any number of places in the burgeoning neighborhood b/w 96th and 116th Streets?
Sadly, this is an incomplete list, at best, and seems to be weighed almost entirely below 96th Street.
1. The Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.
2. You don’t have to be religious to enjoy the Sunday evening Bach Vesper service at Holy Trinity Church, 65th & CPW. Great way to wind down a weekend.
3. The reasonably-priced concert series at St. Ignatius of Antioch on West 87th St. Especially good for fans of Renaissance music.
4. And I second the motion for the Viand, 85th & Columbus. Their Fiesta Salad is amazing.
Let’s hear it for “Starbugs.” Kids know all the best spots.
No one mentioned the Hungarian Pastry Shop?!
Rounding out my top five are:
Moon Kee
City Diner
Mimi’s Pizza
NYPL Performing Arts Branch at Lincoln Center
Again, we residents above 96th Streets are ignored.
Can you list the cross streets and what kind of business?
Mamma’s too! pizza voted the best slice on Broadway between 105th and 106th Street.
Hashi japanese supermarket on Broadway and 107th Street has wonderful, freshly made sushi and sashimi..50% off after 8pm! Great matcha soft serve ice cream!
Zabars belongs on lists of favorite spots!
Absolutely love the kid ones, and “My Mom” made me tear up because that was my favorite place for sure through my very itinerant childhood
Thank you for the person who added (Society!) after New York Historical. Dumbest name change of all time.!
Peacefood
Effys Cafe
Zelma’s 101st & B’way is by far, the friendliest, kindest, and most welcoming coffee shop on the upper west side!
Love their little outside tables for watching the world go by.
Willet’s Corner, at 80th and Amsterdam, is terrific! It opened in November 2025 and quickly became our favorite.