40 Reasons the Upper West Side is NYC's Ultimate Family-Friendly Neighborhood

Tucked between Central Park and Riverside Park, it’s hard to beat the family-friendly awesomeness that is the Upper West Side. The neighborhood boasts tree-lined streets with wide sidewalks, easily-accessible subway lines, more playgrounds than you can count, plus endless cafes, museums, kid-centric hot spots, and many of the best schools in the city. Though the Upper West Side spans over 40 blocks, it has a small community vibe that makes it particularly attractive to families with young children.

To add to the appeal, richly-appointed new boutique-style residences, like our sponsor 222w80, offer a long list of larger building amenities that are perfect for families. With a state-of-the-art fitness center and yoga studio grownups will love, a children’s playspace and arcade-like game room for the younger crowd, and an on-site bowling alley and virtual reality game room the whole crew can enjoy, you’ll think you’ve gone to apartment heaven.

Read on to find out why the Upper West Side has long been—and continues to be—one of the most sought-out neighborhoods by families in New York City.

The Best Things to Do On the Upper West Side

With so many kid-approved activities on the UWS, where do we even begin? How about with museums, museums, and more museums? The American Museum of Natural History, the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, and of course, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan are all on the Upper West Side, so the best of culture, history, art, and play are all within reach.

The Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History.

Then there are the theaters—Lincoln Center Kids, Symphony Space, and the always kid-friendly Vital Theatre Company—to keep you and your little ones entertained throughout the year. If you’re looking for enrichment classes for your children, the options are endless. Check out NY Kids Club, Kidville, Elliott’s Classes, Columbus Gym, and the JCC Manhattan. For some STEM-inspired learning, RoboFun puts the “fun” in coding and robot building (as if robot building needs to be made more fun?).

When the weather is nice, there are outdoor adventures to please everyone in the family. In Central Park, don’t miss Tarr-Coyne Playground and Heckscher Playground, the largest of their kind in the park. Riverside Park offers destination playgrounds of its own, including Hippo Playground and Dinosaur Playground. The Upper West Side also boasts outdoor concerts, street fairs, farmers markets, community gardens, nature hikes, and public pools. For music fans young and old, Strawberry Fields is a favorite oasis where you can relax and take in some tunes.

Al Fresco dining at the Boat Basin Cafe.

Best Family-Friendly Eats On the Upper West Side

If it’s good enough to eat, then it’s on the Upper West Side. This starts with aptly named Good Enough To Eat, a West 80s mainstay and the perfect place for your hungry family to chow down. There are also local UWS favorites like Shake Shack, Patsy’s Pizzeria, Magnolia Bakery (can you say "cupcakes?"), and the beloved Alice’s Tea Cup, where your littles can have fancy tea, treats, and brunch. For al fresco family dining, visit the Boat Basin Café on the Hudson River. And for a retro 70s/80s-themed setting, Big Daddy’s offers a huge kid-friendly menu with tater tots for all, big and small.

Upper West Side Needs and Reads

Every family needs easy access to stores—​grocery and otherwise. Fortunately, the Upper West Side is home to not just one, but two Trader Joe’s. There is also a Whole Foods, two Westside Markets, and old-school neighborhood institutions Zabar’s and Fairway. Unique kids’ stores like Albee Baby, West Side Kids, Harry’s Shoes, and Tip Top Shoes cover clothes, toys, furniture, and more. Meanwhile, kiddos love to bury their noses in books at Bank Street Bookstore and Book Culture. There are also top-rated public schools including PS 199, PS 87, and PS 9, as well as some of the most prestigious private schools in the country. Impressive, right?

Imagine spending your days in this bright and beautiful living space!

The Best In Life and Lifestyle

If you’re already head-over-heels for this much-loved neighborhood, imagine having your own spacious, modern, and seriously luxurious spot to call home at 222w80. The building's newly-built rental residences feature oversized windows, stunning wide-plank white oak floors, in-home washers and dryers, Viking stainless steel ranges, and Miele appliances. And if the bowling alley doesn't already have you dreaming about fun family nights, there are plenty more amenities where that came from -- a four-season rooftop lounge, a half basketball court, a 24-hour attended lobby, resident parking, a virtual reality game room, and a real-time interactive app that connects you with all building services. Simply stated, life is sure to be frenzy-free and fun here.

If you’re ready to bask in the best of the Upper West Side at 222w80, you can take a look at all current available units or fill out a simple application. You can also schedule a tour any time or visit the website for more information.

Magnificent views from the Rooftop Lounge at 222w80.

Photos courtesy of 222w80