Lower East Side guide: The best of the neighborhood
The Lower East Side is prime shopping and dining territory, but which places stand out? Here’s our guide to the best restaurants, bars, shops and things to do.
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Freemans
Once a notoriously overcrowded and unsanitary slum, the Lower East Side is now one of Manhattan’s most fashionable neighborhoods. Most of the bargain-clothing stores and pickle vendors have given way to indie boutiques and sceney eateries, though there are a few cherished survivors of the former Jewish stronghold, including venerable smoked-fish purveyors Russ & Daughters and pastrami legend Katz’s Delicatessen. The Tenement Museum keeps the neighborhood’s history alive in a series of restored apartments visited via themed guided tours, but most of the area’s cultural draws are contemporary: The arrival of the New Museum on the Bowery several years ago drew numerous art galleries to the LES.
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Best restaurants on the Lower East Side: Where to eat now
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Best brunch places on the Lower East Side: The weekend starts here
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Cheap eats on the Lower East Side: Best nosh on a budget
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Best bars on the Lower East Side: The essential drinking spots
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Best shops on the Lower East Side for fashion, vintage and more
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Best nightlife on the Lower East Side: Hot clubs and music venues
