If there’s one thing I make sure I do every fall, it’s to take time to stroll the Upper East Side (and the West Village!) to soak in all the holiday décor. So many townhome owners go all out decorating for fall/Halloween and it’s so fun to visit the same homes year after year to see the new designs. I’ve lived in the Upper East Side a total of 10 years now so I absolutely consider it my ‘hood and I highly recommend taking a stroll through it!
If you’re looking for a fun activity for a fall day in NYC, here’s how I would spend a day in the Upper East Side:
Start by grabbing a coffee or fall beverage at one of the amazing local coffee shops we have: Poppi, Frame, Inès, Ella’s, Sant Ambroeus (they also have locations in the Loews Regency Hotel and 66th/3rd) or Daniel’s Coffee. Of course there is Ralph’s, but sometimes I feel like it’s a little too overhyped and can be obnoxiously busy.
Once you’re caffeinated or have a warm beverage for your walk, start the hunt for decorated townhomes. There are a bunch in the 60’s between Park and Fifth Avenues, some in the 70’s anywhere between 5th and Third Avenues (that’s a lot of ground to cover but there’s a ton nestled in that area!), and a handful in the 80’s – some between 5th and Park Avenues and others between Lexington and Third Avenues.
If you don’t want to have to hunt too hard, check out my downloadable guide that has a list of all the addresses that decorate for fall/Halloween and/or the Holidays, along with a link to a custom Google Map that has everything plotted for you.
You’re likely to work up an appetite while you’re out and about and here are some restaurants I suggest for a bite to eat:
- Hutch & Waldo – they have the best breakfast burritos! *Also a good option for coffee
- Uva – they have a great weekend brunch, it’s Italian and the space is very cozy/it feels very rustic
- The Penrose – it’s been around for a while, but when they first opened I equated the vibes to a restaurant you’d find in the West Village
- Via Quadronno – also an Italian spot, they have great sandwiches
- Up Thai – my favorite Thai place in the city
- Maya – this is a great Mexican restaurant and they have an amazing brunch special on weekends
And that’s my ideal fall day in the Upper East Side! This year (2023) I spread out my exploring over two weekends (weekend of 10/7 and weekend of 10/14) and made incorporated Poppi, Hutch & Waldo AND Uva into my outings. I will say the decorations were much better the weekend of the 14th so if you’re reading this in the future, the first weekend in October might be too early for the prime décor.
Cheers and Happy Hunting!
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