One Day Itinerary: Lower East Side

A relaxed adventure through classic sights, hidden gems, and amazing views without exhausting yourself

Suggested Lower East Side Hotels:

The Ludlow Hotel, 180 Ludlow St
Hotel on Rivington, 107 Rivington St
Sixty Hotels: 190 Allen Street
Hotel Indigo:171 Ludlow

8AM: Breakfast in the Lower East Side ( 1 hour)
Wake up in the Lower East Side, one of Manhattan’s coolest neighborhoods. It’s less expensive than Midtown and full of character and great food.
Breakfast options:

Sonny Boy Brunch: 65 Rivington
Good Thanks Cafe: 131 Orchard
Russ & Daughters Café, 127 Orchard St – classic New York bagels and smoked salmon
Clinton St. Baking Company, 4 Clinton St – famous blueberry pancakes
Transportation: Everything is within 5–10 minutes on foot from most LES hotels

9:30 AM: Walk the Brooklyn Bridge (1 hour)

Take the pedestrian path across the Brooklyn Bridge to enjoy the skyline. Go early to avoid crowds.
Transportation: Take a 10-minute Uber or taxi to Park Row and Centre St, or subway F train from Delancey St/Essex St to York St (1 stop)

10:30 AM: Explore DUMBO Brooklyn ( 2 Hours)
Wander the cobblestone streets of DUMBO, browse boutiques and galleries, visit Brooklyn Bridge Park, and take the famous Manhattan Bridge photo at Washington Street and Water Street. Most attractions are walkable within 10–15 minutes. But shopping and going into galleries might take longer!

12:30 ish PM – Lunch Options: DUMBO or South Street Seaport 1 hour
Option 1 – Stay in DUMBO and eat at

Time Out Market New York, 55 Water St (Clinton Street Baking Company- Breakfast, Jacobs Pickle
Cecconi’s (romantic)
Celestine

Option 2 – Take the NYC Ferry from DUMBO/Fulton Ferry Terminal to Wall Street/Pier 11 (10 minutes) and walk 5 minutes to eat at: (Note – the ferry doesn’t run every minute so expect to eat lunch around 1:30)

Industry Kitchen,
The Fulton or walk over to the
South Street Seaport for many more selections

2:30 PM: Explore Wall Street
Walk about 10 minutes to Wall Street. Must-sees include the Charging Bull and Fearless Girl statues, New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall, and the cobblestone streets of Stone Street. All locations are within a 10-minute walking radius

3:30 PM:9/11 Memorial & Museum: 180 Greenwich St
Walk south on Greenwich Street (10 minutes from Wall Street) to the 9/11 Memorial
Spend 30 minutes at the outdoor pools or 1.5–2 hours inside the museum

5:00 PM – Staten Island Ferry Ride (Optional- IMPORTANT- NY is on Daylight savings time and gets dark by 5PM up until February – so this might not be the best idea in the winter.)
Walk 10 minutes to the Whitehall Ferry Terminal. The ferry is free, runs every 30 minutes, and lasts 25 minutes each way. Enjoy views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan. You can stay on for the round trip or get off in Staten Island for a meal near the terminal (River Dock Cafe) – not amazing food, but great views!

6:30 PM – Return to Manhattan & Head Back to Your Hotel
Take the ferry back, then grab an Uber or taxi (about 20 minutes) or take the R train from Whitehall St–South Ferry to Canal St, then walk 10 minutes to your hotel

7:30 PM – Dinner in the Lower East Side
Options include Dirt Candy – creative vegetarian fine dining, Kiki’s – rustic Greek, Sauce – casual Italian, Beauty & Essex – trendy spot hidden behind a pawn shop. For more recommendations, click here

9:30 PM – Nightlife
Walk along Orchard Street or Rivington Street, check out bars, shops, and dessert spots like Morgenstern’s Ice Cream or Supermoon Bakehouse

Creperie: 135 Ludlow
Gooey on the Inside
The Slipper Room (167 Orchard St) — A long‑running variety theatre featuring burlesque, drag, vaudeville and performance art.
Pianos (158 Ludlow St) — Two stage live‑music venue showcasing local and national acts; lively and authentic LES experience.
Arlene’s Grocery (95 Stanton St) — A bar/music venue in a converted storefront, hosting rock bands and live gigs.
Funny Bar (133 Essex St) — Intimate jazz/piano bar; solo piano Tuesday–Sunday, band on Fri/Sat nights.