Morningside Heights

You won’t find a more diverse neighborhood in Manhattan than Morningside Heights. Some people consider it part of the Upper West Side while others think of it as part of Harlem, but it is really its own special place. Its northern and southern boundaries are 125th Street and West 110th Street; it... Read more  You won’t find a more diverse neighborhood in Manhattan than Morningside Heights. Some people consider it part of the Upper West Side while others think of it as part of Harlem, but it is really its own special place. Its northern and southern boundaries are 125th Street and West 110th Street; its eastern and western boundaries are Morningside Drive and Riverside Drive.

One of the most interesting things about Morningside Heights is that it is both an extremely settled and highly transient neighborhood. The area is filled with educational institutions including Columbia, Manhattan School of Music, and the Bank Street College of Education, among others, and many people refer to this neighborhood as New York City’s ‘college town.’ The vibe is decidedly student-y with lots of restaurants, clothing stores, bars, and other businesses catering to their needs. Since each new school year brings a new group of young men and women to the area, and in August and September residents should be prepared to help lost students find subway stations, bus roots, and to figure out uptown from downtown.

Beyond the changing student population, Morningside Heights is also filled with long-time residents, many of them families. And although much of the housing in the area is owned by Columbia, there are a variety of living options available, including rent-stabilized apartments in older buildings and luxurious co-ops and condos in new high rises. The white collar residents who live here are academics who are employed at area schools, Broadway hopefuls and professionals, classic musicians, and corporate executives. There are also blue-collar families who have called this area home for generations.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Riverside Church are community gathering places, offering a wide range of secular events along with religious services. After services and events, many audience members stroll in Riverside Park running along the Hudson. But in-the-know residents read to Morningside Park, a magnificently landscaped area that runs from 110th Street to 123rd Street from Morningside Drive to Manhattan Avenue.

Living in Morningside Heights is affordable, but not cheap. Still, this is a neighborhood that is easy to call home because of the numerous supermarkets, dry cleaners, shoe stores, specialty markets, restaurants, and other things it has to offer.  Less

Morningside Heights is a best kept secret for those who live uptown. Near Columbia University, it offers lots of apartments of various types which are rather spacious, but at a more affordable rate than downtown because of its proximity to Harlem. While the university and neighborhood is rather c... Read more  Morningside Heights is a best kept secret for those who live uptown. Near Columbia University, it offers lots of apartments of various types which are rather spacious, but at a more affordable rate than downtown because of its proximity to Harlem. While the university and neighborhood is rather close to Harlem you wouldn't know it. Central Park is not far away and on the other side is Riverside Park (a glorious strip of a park with mature trees that runs all the way down to 79th street or thereabouts).

Morningside residents have a pick of a number of eclectic restaurants, cafes and bars that cater to the students from the university. Poetry readings and such may abound. The Cathedral of St John the Divine is a local church which any tourist should visit as it's massive and gorgeous. One should be careful about walking at night just because it's the city. You need to be careful wherever you are.

Apartments are a great buy here if you can afford them. Doormen buildings are preferred as they usually have elevators. Walkups will not only require toting yourself up stairs but usually won't have AC either. This is a lovely area. Be sure to walk the campus of Columbia University. It is not to be missed!  Less