Not quite as famous as nearby Midtown, Lenox Hill is one of Manhattan’s most beautiful and affluent neighborhoods. There is no shortage of sights, whether it’s the high-end shops that line Madison Avenue or the prominent apartment buildings built in the 1910s and 1920s. The boundaries of this Upper East Side neighborhood are often debated but generally are considered to be between East 77th Street on the north and East 59th Street on the south, and Central Park on the west and the East River on the east. This Upper East Side neighborhood also includes Hunter College and Lenox Hill Hospital. The Lenox Hill Post Office and the neighborhood’s service-oriented retail shops are east of Lexington Avenue.
The Vibe
Like much of New York City, Lenox Hill’s vibe can change from block to block. Fifth Avenue, which runs parallel to Central Park, is lined with historic landmarks and impressive buildings such as the stately Edward S. Harkness House. One block east is Madison Avenue, famous for boutiques and luxury brands. One block further puts you on Park Avenue where Lenox Hill Hospital is located. Off the major avenues, Lenox Hill is less hustle and bustle, with brownstone-lined residential streets that are clean, quiet and peaceful. Families walk to the area schools, nearby Central Park Zoo or to the dry cleaners, casual restaurants and grocery stores.
The historic Park Avenue Armory regularly features avant-garde visual and performing arts. (EQRoy, Shutterstock)
Landmarks
Central Park, a masterpiece of landscape architecture, is Lenox Hill’s backyard. There are plenty of places to picnic, go for a run or walk the dog. The kids can visit the zoo, ride the carousel or blow off steam at the Heckscher Playground, the park’s oldest and largest, or its East 72nd Street Playground.
The Frick Madison (Madison Avenue and 75th Street) is the temporary home of the Frick Collection and its Old Master paintings and European fine and decorative arts. The reopening of the Frick’s renovated historic buildings on East 70th Street is planned for late 2024.
The mammoth Gothic Revival Park Avenue Armory, completed in 1880, covers an entire city block between 66th and 67th streets. It is now a major venue and showcase for unconventional works in the performing and visual arts.
The Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden is a tucked-away treasure on East 61st Street. The museum, one of the last 18th-century buildings in Manhattan, was built in 1799 as a carriage house.
One of the more bustling streets in the area, Park Avenue is the site for many iconic New York buildings. (Elegran)
Shopping
Bloomingdale’s flagship department store, at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, anchors the Lenox Hill neighborhood. The upscale retailer carries a wide range of luxury and designer clothing and home goods.
Madison Avenue is prime territory for luxury fashions at Givenchy, Lanvin, Prada and more. The eccentric French Renaissance revival mansion, built in the 1890s at Madison and 72nd Street, is a Ralph Lauren men’s flagship store.
Shop for everyday essentials at one of the small storefront markets or chain groceries that dot Lenox Hill. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are nearby. For a splurge, consider Citarella (Third Avenue and East 75th Street), a gourmet market with a full-service butcher, fresh sushi and custom cakes.
Dining
Get your burger fix at casual Jackson Hole, on East 64th Street, or at JG Melon, on Third Avenue and East 74th Street, with a highly regarded jukebox and outdoor seating.
For an elegant breakfast or afternoon pick-me-up, head to Sant Ambroeus on Madison Avenue. The pastry showcase and cappuccino bar are a visual and gustatory treat.
Michelin-starred Daniel, on East 65th Street and Park Avenue, is the place to celebrate your latest mega-deal. Forbes in 2019 named the elegant restaurant the best in the United States.
Third, Second and First avenues have easy-going spots for Mexican, Asian, and Italian food.
View from the balcony of 200 E 69th Street in central Lenox Hill. (Elegran)
Need to know
Walk your kids to P.S. 267, East Side Elementary, on East 63rd Street, or P.S. 183, Robert L. Stevenson, on East 66th Street. Lenox Hill has one middle school, J.H.S. 167, Robert F. Wagner on East 76th Street. The neighborhood also has many faith-based and private schools.
The 4, 5 and 6 subway lines run under Lexington Avenue and stop at 59th Street. The 6 also stops at 68th and 77th streets. The Q line stops at 63rd and 77th streets. These are the Upper East Side’s only subways and can be crowded. Numerous bus routes also crisscross Lenox Hill.
