New York Guide
Union Square, Gramercy Park, and the Flatiron District
Sandwiched between the bohemian chic of the East Village and the opulence of midtown, the knot of close-knit neighborhoods east of Fifth Avenue might seem rather bland in comparison. Yet while it sees far less tourists, this part of town is equally dynamic, with a spate of new construction projects, some of the city's best restaurants and stores, and several of New York's most historically significant buildings and landmarks. Chief among the latter is Union Square between 14th and 17th streets, a bustling open space that breaks up Broadway's pell-mell dash north.
To the northeast is the posh neighborhood of Gramercy Park, with its private clubs and members-only park. Straddling Broadway northwest of Union Square and running up to 23rd Street, the Flatiron District was once the center of Manhattan's fine shopping and still retains a certain elegance and energy, while foodies should make the pilgrimage to revitalized Madison Square Park to sample the celebrated burgers at Shake Shack. It is here, as you head north in the blocks between Third, Park, and Fifth avenues, that midtown Manhattan's skyscrapers begin to rise from downtown's generally low-lying buildings.