Bowery
4
About
A century ago the Bowery's music halls, theaters and upscale joints drew folks from all over the city, but these days it's a bit of a skid row... though parts of the area seem on the upswing again.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Downtown Manhattan (Downtown)
How to get there
- Prince St • 4 min walk
- Spring St • 4 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
9,116 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,555 within 6 miles
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
45 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
22
Average
10
Poor
1
Terrible
0
belltownvisitor
Seattle, WA46 contributions
Jul 2020
Lots of shops and restaurants. Super close to Little Italy and SOHO. You can spend days exploring al the different shops, exploring the parks and historic sites, and trying all the different restaurants. It was a lot of fun to just walk around and window shop and explore.
Written August 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
The Sushi Guy 🍣
Long Island, NY14,403 contributions
Feb 2019 • Solo
A mecca for great discounts. There is a great number of restaurant supply businesses here. It used to be very sweet here about 20 years ago. It is somewhat cleaned up but needs a ways to go. My grandmother always talked about how seedy it was in the 1940s. Definitely an experience.
Written February 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Prantap K
Chennai (Madras), India113 contributions
Aug 2014
We landed here by a random mistake. But then as they say, some mistakes should always be made for your own good. We walked across the street for considerable distance at both ends just to absorb the experience of Bowery. Did i say that it was worth every step.
Written June 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
The Sushi Guy 🍣
Long Island, NY14,403 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
This used to be a very seedy place back in the day. At one time, I could not even count how many restaurant supply stores resided here. This main thoroughfare of Chinatown is very eclectic, each block has a different vibe of its own. Definitely cleaned up from the way it was years ago.
Written November 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Oliver S
New York City, NY11,306 contributions
Oct 2014 • Solo
Ah, the Bowery in its “glory” days! Seedy, scandalous, dirty, exciting place. To get a feeling of those times, see “She done him Wrong” (1933) with Mae West and a very young Cary Grant. It’s a street in lower Manhattan stretching from Chatham Square to Cooper Square. The name comes from the old Dutch word “bowerij” meaning “farm”: the land was mostly owned by the Dutch Governor of New York, Peter Stuyvesant. As the City grew, the old Indian path expanded and became large street populated with oyster bars, taverns and minstrel show theaters. After the Civil War it gradually deteriorated and lost to Broadway its place as entertainment center. In the beginning of the Twentieth Century it was infamous: even the ladies of joy gravitated to other neighborhoods. Very little of those days is left, but the Mission from the movie is still there, still doing its mission. The Bowery Savings bank building is there in all its majestic glory, still doing its mission.
The eyesore at 190 Bowery, at the corner of Bowery and Spring Street in New York City, was originally constructed to be the third home of Germania Bank in 1898. The building has changed hands a few times since then, and has been the home and studio of photographer Jay Maisel since 1966. If it looks like this from the outside (see photo), I’d hate to find myself inside.
The monumental building on the corner of Bowery & Canal Street is the former Citizens Saving Bank — portal to Manhattan, gateway to Chinatown and impregnable fortress of thrift. It now houses the Chinatown branch of HSBC.
The area is of great historical interest to history/NYC buffs, but few tourists would enjoy it, in my opinion. Recent attempts to gentrify it resulted in some modern cafes, but the place is still not enjoyable and I would recommend against visiting even if your Tourist Guide tells you to go…Especially towards it end (where the Mission is)
The eyesore at 190 Bowery, at the corner of Bowery and Spring Street in New York City, was originally constructed to be the third home of Germania Bank in 1898. The building has changed hands a few times since then, and has been the home and studio of photographer Jay Maisel since 1966. If it looks like this from the outside (see photo), I’d hate to find myself inside.
The monumental building on the corner of Bowery & Canal Street is the former Citizens Saving Bank — portal to Manhattan, gateway to Chinatown and impregnable fortress of thrift. It now houses the Chinatown branch of HSBC.
The area is of great historical interest to history/NYC buffs, but few tourists would enjoy it, in my opinion. Recent attempts to gentrify it resulted in some modern cafes, but the place is still not enjoyable and I would recommend against visiting even if your Tourist Guide tells you to go…Especially towards it end (where the Mission is)
Written October 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Vincent T
Westkapelle, The Netherlands65 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
For fans of rock music: visit Joey Ramone place (near Bleecker St.) The spot itself is nothing spectacular but Joey is an icon for rockmusic.
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JP J
White Plains208 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
One will never forget the Bowery. It's part of New York's past and is part of it's future. It's an era of time that needs to be visited. Yes it is changing but the sense of how it once was is very evident. Again be careful, but visit the Bowery.
Written July 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JDB
Scottsdale, AZ5,230 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
Great little area here. Safe to walk around. Surprising little finds here and there. They have really cleaned up this neighborhood, and it will continue to get better and better.
Written May 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SoMuchAloha
Oahu, HI533 contributions
Nov 2017 • Solo
Back in the day, The Bowery was very run down and full of homeless shelters and sketchy people. It's since been gentrified. A good starting point would be The Bowery Hotel which is always good for celebrity sighting.
Gemma the restaurant has tasty food and it's fun to people watch.
Bowery also has many art galleries, brightly colored street art from Famous artists and the New Museum. At the opposite end of Bowery just south of Canal Street, you should also check out the rooftop of the new Hotel, 50 Bowery. One of the best views of the city.
Gemma the restaurant has tasty food and it's fun to people watch.
Bowery also has many art galleries, brightly colored street art from Famous artists and the New Museum. At the opposite end of Bowery just south of Canal Street, you should also check out the rooftop of the new Hotel, 50 Bowery. One of the best views of the city.
Written March 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rehsinup19
Kent, WA1,986 contributions
Nov 2016 • Solo
I enjoyed my visit to the Bowery. There are several interesting buildings and there is quite an interesting history in this neighborhood. There are several interesting shops and nice restaurants to explore as well.
Written February 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Bowery (New York City) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Bowery
- Hotels near Bowery:
- (0.09 mi) The Mercer Hotel
- (0.16 mi) SIXTY SoHo
- (0.22 mi) Crosby Street Hotel
- (0.12 mi) incredible light, 26' ceilings & great outdoor space
- (0.26 mi) The Dominick Hotel
- Restaurants near Bowery:
- (0.03 mi) Olive's
- (0.10 mi) San Carlo Osteria Piemonte
- (0.10 mi) Boqueria Soho
- (0.09 mi) Sadelle's
- (0.06 mi) Chobani Soho
- Attractions near Bowery:
- (0.01 mi) Terra Verde
- (0.01 mi) Atsuro Tayama
- (0.02 mi) LXR & CO.
- (0.03 mi) Doob
- (0.03 mi) Harriet Love