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Emerging from the NQRW train at 14th Street, Union Square presents a smorgasbord for the senses. The smell of patchouli sold by street vendors, the stoic silence of people playing chess, the “good luck” and “bad luck” spots drawn in chalk on the sidewalk to navigate. This slice of Manhattan where midtown turns into downtown has been an important area to New Yorkers for decades—and these days, it’s one of the most exciting neighborhoods in the city.
Not only is it an area bucking dismal national trends (businesses are actually opening and flourishing here), it’s also a place where an urban farm sprouts on the concrete every week. It’s where esteemed chefs shop for produce alongside us mere mortals and where renowned authors come to launch their books. It's where Time Out Market decided to launch its second New York outpost. This is Union Square, and here’s why we think this buzzy, bustling neighborhood is worth exploring.
RECOMMENDED: The ultimate guide to Union Square
It’s bustling
This neighborhood’s coolness factor isn’t just our opinion. Instead, more than 75,000 residents and 60,000 students who call the area home would agree. As for work, monthly worker visits to Union Square reached a post-pandemic high of 444,000 in October 2024, according to a new report from the Union Square Partnership. That’s even higher than in January 2020 before the pandemic began, and you can feel the renewed energy the second you step out of the subway station.
It’s got the best and biggest
The Union Square Greenmarket has been a fixture in NYC since 1976. What started as just a few vendors has grown into a sprawling market offering produce, honey, wine, cheese, meats, jams, flowers and sweet treats. It’s so beloved that Food & Wine just ranked the greenmarket as No. 1 on their list of must-visit farmers’ markets.
Another type of market—in this case, the Union Square holiday market—also has a long history in NYC. In fact, it’s the oldest holiday market in the city—and a study by Yelp calls it the best in America. The European-style market is so popular that it typically draws two million visitors each holiday season to shop from more than 100 unique vendors.
And any day of the year, you can visit this last massive offering: The biggest bookstore in Manhattan. The iconic Union Square Barnes & Noble is home to four floors of books, including a large children’s section, a magazine stand and a coffee shop. Plus, it’s known for its author talks and events.
Business is booming
It's undeniable that some things have changed around NYC since the pandemic. Maybe your favorite boutique closed or your bodega reduced its hours. And you’ve likely heard the doom-and-gloom about commercial vacancy rates and retail challenges. But Union Square is bucking those trends. The district’s ground-floor occupancy reached 88.5% as of this summer, and its office availability is one of the lowest of Manhattan (a 10.9% vacancy rate compared to 17.2% for the borough), per the 2025 Union Square Commercial Market Report.
Plus, 53 businesses opened in the past 12 months (that’s 10 more than the prior year), many of them restaurants and bars. What’s more 26 new businesses are coming soon, including Time Out Market Union Square, Uniqlo, Ulta Beauty, Reformation and Nakara. That means even more places to add to your NYC food bucket list.
These new businesses are adding to the long list of already-beloved local shops (like Fishs Eddy, The Strand and Forbidden Planet) and restaurants (including Cafe Zaffri, Mission Ceviche and Union Square Cafe).
There’s well-connected transit
It’s easy to get to Union Square from just about anywhere in the city thanks to its well-connected bus and subway options. We’re not alone in thinking that. The 14th Street-Union Square subway station is experiencing an average increase of 7,000 daily riders ending at the station, according to the Union Square Partnership.
As the fourth busiest subway station in New York City (22.9 million riders in 2024), the 14th Street-Union Square subway station is now serving 12% more daily riders (65,000) on average than the previous year, the partnership’s report stated.
There’s room for visitors
Even if you’re not among the thousands who live in the area, there’s a place for you to stay in Union Square. Hotel room inventory increased by 15% with the opening of The Twenty Two and the W New York - Union Square’s renovation. The newly reopened W Hotel has returned after a two-year, $100 million glow-up, reclaiming its role as the brand’s global flagship and showing off its signature brand of cheeky luxury.