9 Most Beautiful Neighborhoods to Live in New York City

There is a reason people want to live in New York City.

Despite the crowds, high rent, and broken subways, the city’s beauty, whether it’s obvious or tucked away, keeps everyone coming back.

A lot of things make New York beautiful.

It’s the architecture, from pre-war tenements to lush mansions. It’s the tree-lined side streets to the tree-lined Avenues.

There’s Brooklyn with its blocks of multi-colored row houses, beautiful parks, cozy streets, and amazing skyline views.

The Bronx has picturesque neighborhoods, the Botanical Gardens, and who can forget Yankee’s Stadium?

Queens has the Flushing Meadows Corona Park, home of the annual US Open tennis championship, beautiful public parks, hip bars and restaurants, and some amazing museums.

Staten Island boasts a plethora of stately old Victorians, huge parks, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, and some fantastic modern architecture featured in its public buildings.

And we have Manhattan with Central Park, The Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, and its classic museums - it’s known worldwide as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

These 9 neighborhoods represent what makes each borough beautiful in its own uniquely New York way.

West Village, Manhattan

Tree-lined cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, tucked away coffee shops, and even Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment - West Village is as classic New York as you can get.

Nestled between Lower Manhattan and Midtown, West Village is packed with beautiful and historic homes and shops.

There are enough restaurants, shops, and bars packed into the neighborhood that there’s almost no reason to leave. ,

Take a stroll down W 11th St to see the uniquely charming Palazzo Chupi, or go shopping for a day on the busy but cozy Bleeker St.

There is limited housing space, though, which means the price to live here is high. Most of the homes in the neighborhood are mid-rise apartments, walk-ups, and 19th-century row houses.

Fieldston, Bronx

Fieldston is the hidden gem most New Yorkers have never heard of.

The name of neighboring Riverdale is better known, but if you haven't lived in the borough, you probably know very little about these neighbors.

Fieldston is a much more exclusive enclave and is considered a Riverdale subsection.

A large portion of Fieldston is a privately owned and landmarked historic district of New York City.

The Fieldston Historic District has a private homeowners association to which homeowners pay dues for the maintenance of the trees and streets.

The neighborhood is known for large to mansion-level single-family homes predominantly built in historic styles popular in the 1920s (when this planned neighborhood was first established), such as Tudor Revival, Mediterranean-Revival, Medieval and Gothic Revival, and Colonial Revival, to name a few.

The ambiance has been described as a rustic New England suburb, the likes of which you won't experience anywhere else in the city.

Park Slope, Brooklyn

If strollers and brownstones are your thing, you can’t miss Park Slope in Brooklyn.

It’s a residential gem that’s home to the famous (or maybe infamous?) Park Slope Food Coop, rows and rows of gorgeous brownstones, and great sites like the Old Stone House of Brooklyn.

It’s right next to the always-active Prospect Park, full of winding trails and a fantastic zoo.

Take a walk down Garfield Place, a beautifully serene street showing off the amazing architecture the neighborhood offers.

Though far from the cheapest neighborhood in Brooklyn, Park Slope offers some respite from the sky-high rents seen in other neighborhoods in this list.

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn

Known for its designation as NYC’s first historic district and its slogan of “America’s original suburb,” Brooklyn Height’s reputation as a beautiful slice of Brooklyn is well-known.

Find your way off the idyllic commercial strip on Montague St and the bustling Boerum Pl and you’ll discover quiet pictures of New York past.

Grace Ct Alley is a tiny representation of the beautifully preserved architecture and historic feel that Brooklyn Heights has to offer.

Situated between the East River and Cadman Plaza Park, you can find beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline just a short walk from the Brooklyn War Memorial and other famous monuments.

Despite it’s proximity to Downtown Brooklyn and the Interstate 278, Brooklyn Heights remains a quiet and localized neighborhood that feels frozen in time.

All of the neighborhood’s history and quiet will cost you, though. It consistently ranks as one of the most expensive Brooklyn neighborhoods to live in.

SoHo, Manhattan

SoHo, "SOuth of HOuston" is one of Manhattan’s trendiest neighborhoods, is full of exceptionally high-end clothing stores and hip dining.

It’s also home to some amazing examples of pre-war architecture and spectacular lofts and art galleries.

Leave behind the quiet of the previous neighborhoods, as SOHO is as busy as it gets.

Its plethora of shopping destinations brings in many tourists, but that doesn’t stop the area from having a distinct feel.

It’s located just west of Little Italy and south of Greenwich Village, but it maintains its own unique architecture, flow, and distinct community.

The housing options here are exceptionally pricey. You will mostly find luxury co-ops or expensive lofts.

You end up paying for the convenience of living in Lower Manhattan, the luxury of having cobblestone sidestreets and gorgeous brick architecture, and the exciting vibe of a world-renowned creative destination.

Forest Hills, Queens

Known for its distinct Tudor architecture and amazing views of the Manhattan skyline, Forest Hills is a secluded and quiet neighborhood that captures a beautiful nostalgic feel for New York City.

Adding to that nostalgic feeling is the historic Forest Hills Station and Forest Hills Stadium, an outdoor concert venue where the Beatles played over 50 years ago.

Forest Hills truly lives up to its name. Built on gently rolling hills, the streets are tree-lined and rustic, giving it a distinctly different feel from the rest of NYC.

The housing mostly consists of beautiful Tudor-style single-family homes, but apartments are available closer to the commercial center on Austin St.

It’s also our first neighborhood on the list with a median monthly rent under $3,000, which tells you how expensive Brooklyn and Manhattan can be.

Rent is significantly cheaper compared to Brooklyn and Manhattan, but it is on the higher end for Queens.

Mott Haven, Bronx

Mott Haven stands out from the other neighborhoods on this list.

It has a reputation as barren and dangerous, but things are changing in this grittily beautiful South Bronx neighborhood.

The Bertine Block (E 136th between Willis and Brown) is a designated historic district renowned for its impressive brickwork and architecture.

It’s a perfect example of 19th-century NYC, outside of the typical examples in Manhattan.

Aside from the amazing architecture, the area offers some greenery in St. Mary’s Park and a lively bar and restaurant scene.

It’s surrounded by water with the Harlem River to the west and the Bronx Kill waterway to the south. Manhattan is just a short subway ride to the south.

The residential options are mostly tenement buildings, but there are also low-rise options, plus some surprising examples of Gothic and Queen Anne-style architecture.

Rent stays low, though it is rising.

You can get to Midtown on the 6 in 30 minutes, so commuting from the neighborhood is easy.

Silver Lake, Staten Island

Just a short ferry ride from Manhattan, Staten Island is a breath of fresh air from the busy hustle of the other boroughs.

And tucked away in the middle of the Island is Silver Lake, a lush green and vibrant neighborhood with a beautiful lake, gently rolling hills, a gorgeous park, and even a golf course.

It features quiet, dead-end streets that offer privacy and space, two words most New Yorkers never hear when looking for a new place to live.

Most of the residences in the area are large homes that back into the park, with a few apartment buildings along Victory Blvd.

The inventory stays low in this sleepy neighborhood, so it moves quickly when anything comes on the market.

Carnegie Hill, Manhattan

Carnegie Hill is named after Andrew Carnegie after he built his mansion on 5th Ave and 91st Street in 1901.

If the name Carnegie makes you think of old money, then you’re on the right track.

This neighborhood is known for its luxury. It borders Central Park and offers a classic NYC look and feels with a modern twist.

Carnegie Hill is home to famous museums like the Guggenheim, gorgeous pre-war townhomes, the prestigious Hunter College Elementary school (which features a fabulous castle-like facade). It features calm energy in the middle of Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

The residential market comprises mansions, townhomes, and stately apartment buildings - and features a low turnover rate.

The elite schools in the area, the abundance of local cafes and fine dining, and having Central Park as your backyard keep people in the area and make it hard to find a place to live within its boundaries.

Honorable Mentions

Putting together this list was difficult because every neighborhood in New York City shines in its own way.

The city is full of beautiful tree-lined side streets, bustling thoroughfares, gorgeous pre-war architecture, and breathtaking views.

The eight neighborhoods above aren’t the only beautiful neighborhoods in the five boroughs, so we have to mention some of our other favorites.

Bedford-Stuyvesant features an array of dog parks, beautiful brownstones, Queen Annes, and Renaissance Revival. Plus its the home to Spike Lee’s love letter to Brooklyn, Do the Right Thing.

DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) has the most iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge, gorgeous historic brick buildings, and a bustling atmosphere.

Harlem features gorgeous churches and the world-famous Apollo Theater, while the Financial District, famous for its towering skyscrapers, also contains a historic district worthy of a visit in its own right.

You'll also be stunned by the Historic District in Fieldston, Bronx, adjacent to Van Cortlandt Park. The neighborhood features winding roads, historic houses and mansions, and a vibe that more closely resembles rustic New England suburbs rather than a bustling city.

The rustic beauty of Sunnyside Gardens (a subsection of Sunnyside, Queens), can't be overstated. The streets feature cathedral-like trees and charming red brick houses.

With the absolutely stunning 45th Ave, a shady street covered with trees and lined with stunning brownstones, Long Island City is also worth a mention.

Plus, it has an unrivaled view of the Manhattan skyline.