Tucked between Canal Street, Broadway and the Hudson River, ‘TriBeCa’ (short for ‘Triangle Below Canal Street’) was once a warehouse district. Today, this polished pocket of Lower Manhattan feels a bit like an exclusive club — consider this guide your all-access guest-pass.
Tribeca is one of the most desirable neighbourhoods for living and cosplaying as a local while on holiday. Its cobblestone streets are lined with old, industrial, brick buildings that now house sun-lit lofts and designer stores. It’s a destination where discreet luxury rules: famous faces take refuge from the limelight, families call quiet, corner-unit apartments home and clued-in travellers swap chaos for calm here. It’s a burgeoning wellness hub full of medispas and fitness studios, too; and visitors can explore the Hudson River Greenway and scenic waterside parks. All this makes it the ideal base for a more relaxed city break without the pomp and flash.
Where to have breakfast
Square Diner
A Tribeca institution since 1990, Bubby’s has been slinging homestyle American eats for nearly 35 years. The fluffy flapjacks with blueberry compote and the eggs Benedict always hit the spot. On weekends, it’s best to book in advance. If you end up going at the last minute and have to wait for a table, go for a stroll up Hudson Street. Another top-notch way to start the day is with avocado toast and a flat white at Aussie café, Two Hands, on Church Street.
Craving casual comfort food? Square Diner makes a mean mushroom omelette with well-seasoned potatoes. Don’t sleep on the homemade corned-beef hash.
Where to get coffee (or tea)
Gotan serves great coffee. Its Instagrammable latte art doesn’t hurt either. The Franklin Street café also does all-day breakfast and boasts one of the best Mediterranean-chicken sandwiches in the city. Rigor Hill Market went viral on TikTok for its hot-chocolate, overflowing with marshmallows — which many call the best cocoa in the Big Apple. For an afternoon pick-me-up, order the affogato.
What to do
56 Leonard Street
One of the joys of walking around Tribeca is seeing the convergence of old and new (while enjoying the quietude). Architecture buffs can do a self-guided walking tour to see cast-iron façades and converted warehouses, plus contemporary structures such as 56 Leonard Street (aka the ‘Jenga building’).
For modern art, head to 52 Walker, a David Zwirner gallery with works curated by director Ebony L. Haynes. Continue the creativity-spurring outing with visits to nearby galleries Canada and CHART.
Unlike many of the city’s grid-locked neighbourhoods, Tribeca provides instant access to fresh air and greenery. The 550-acre Hudson River Park (which stretches from Battery Park to 59th Street) offers prime, riverfront real estate, including a multi-use, waterfront path for walking, running, biking and blading, plus grassy lawns and benches where you can take a beat. If you’re travelling with kids, Pier 25 Playground and Pier 26 Science Playground are two of the best imagination-spurring play areas in the whole of the city.
Held on Saturdays on Greenwich Street (between Chambers and Duane), the Tribeca Greenmarket brings together a handful of vendors selling farm-fresh produce, sustainably raised meat, wild-caught seafood, artisan cheeses, homemade baked goods and fresh flowers.
Try to catch the Tribeca Film Festival, that rolls into town for two weeks in early June, bringing with it famous faces and lines for screenings and Q&As. Pro tip: pre-book tickets to avoid the lengthy queues.
Where to shop
Elyse Walker has an online shop and storefronts in upmarket US locales, such as Calabasas, Newport Beach and Southampton. Its Tribeca store on North Moore Street is full of designer wares by brands such as Khaite, Loewe and Miu Miu. 180 the Store Tribeca, housed in a restored, former dairy factory on Duane Street, is a light-filled, two-floor retail space stocked with a curated selection of sartorial favourites: Comme des Garçons Black, Dries Van Noten, Sofie D’Hoore and more.
Bibliophiles know that often the best memento from a trip (well, besides the photos) is a rare book. Opened in 1979 by Otto Penzler, The Mysterious Bookshop, the oldest mystery specialist bookstore in America, overflows from floor-to-ceiling with new and pre-loved page-turners. Bonus: it’s down the block from the Warren Street Hotel.
Where to eat
Locanda Verde
Chef Andrew Carmellini’s Locanda Verde is beloved for its seasonally driven Italian fare. Say, his fall offering of pumpkin ravioli with sage and amaretti, alongside fire-roasted garlic chicken and pappardelle with lamb bolognese, ricotta and mint. Few, save Tribeca regulars and repeat guests, know it’s possible to order the full menu in the fire-warmed lounge at The Greenwich Hotel, where you’ll see a low-key, well-dressed crowd sipping wine, twirling chitarra nero pasta and catching up with friends.
The Odeon is a classic, New York City eatery with a neon sign that glows from its West Broadway perch. Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat frequently patronised the buzzy, French-tinged brasserie back in the 1980s. It remains a hot ticket all these years later. Tuck into one of its burgundy banquettes and dive into a plate of moules frites. For a lively ambience and great roast chicken, make a booking at Frenchette, a charm-filled bistro on West Broadway.
For a special occasion, Forgione, the flagship restaurant from Chef Marc Forgione, never misses. The chilli lobster with Texas toast may have put this place on the map (it’s still a must-order), but sampling its seasonal specials, too. Oh, and the fan-favourite — famously hard-to-score — ‘Forge burger’ is available on Sunday and Monday, in the bar room only. A memorable meal is guaranteed at Musaafer, a Michelin-starred, fine-dining Indian restaurant that’s as lauded for its butter-chicken experience (with the dish served three ways) as its lavish design, inspired by the Taj Mahal.
Where to drink
Saaqi, the walk-in, speakeasy concept from the team behind Musaafer — which sits pretty beneath the restaurant’s opulent dining room — takes patrons on a spirit-led journey across India. Signature cocktails are infused with transportive ingredients, like Banganapalli mango, cardamom and nannari root.
Oenophiles and more casual sippers will both appreciate the selection of wines — from New Zealand sauvignon blanc to more complex pours — and the knowledgeable sommeliers at Terroir. For Tribeca residents, it’s a neighbourhood staple; for everyone else, it’s somewhere to seek out.
In the mood for happy-hour or a nightcap? Galerie Bar, which — it’s worth noting — sits just three minutes on foot from The Odeon is a cosy spot for stiff drinks with not one, but two fireplaces. Order a martini with a side of fries and hang out by the hearth for a while.
Beefbar New York, the Tribeca outpost of the glamorous steakhouse, with locations from Monte Carlo to St Barts, is a place for carnivorous, cabernet-fuelled meals. But those lucky enough to claim a seat at the glittering bar have a front-row seat for the mixology mastery.
For a couple of beers with elevated pub grub (notably what some have called the best burger in Tribeca), grab a stool at Walker’s on North Moore Street.
Nightlife in Tribeca
The Roxy
Tribeca isn’t a late-night district, but that doesn’t necessarily mean turning in early. If you’re in the mood to turn it up, The Roxy hotel on 6th Avenue is the place. Here, New York City nightlife impresario Paul Sevigny (Chloë’s brother) has his namesake lounge — a lively establishment for cocktails and swaying to DJs. The basement jazz club, The Django, stages live acts from 7.30pm till late. At the Roxy Bar, the brick-backed stage comes alive with rhythms that get the crowd moving.
You can also catch live music ranging from gypsy jazz to Brazilian choro at Saint Tuesday, hidden in the cellar of Walker Hotel Tribeca.
Where to get a wellness fix
Serene escape Aire Ancient Baths New York – Tribeca offers an array of thermal baths, plus massages and other relaxing rituals. For an even more hush-hush wellness hideaway, subterranean Shibui Spa in the basement of The Greenwich Hotel has an inviting pool and relaxation area for sipping tea after soothing soaks and Japanese-tinged treatments.
Travellers who feel the urge to move — yes, even while on holiday — can choose from cult workout hub the Tracy Anderson Method Studio (right next door to AIRE Ancient Baths, should you want to sweat then soak), Fuze House or WundaBar Pilates.
Where to stay
Warren Street Hotel
Pomp and flash have their place — but not in Tribeca. The Greenwich Hotel is a luxury retreat with A-list roots (actor Robert De Niro is a co-owner) that trades sparkling crystal chandeliers and gaudy gold for warm wood, mood lighting and a no-photos policy. Its elite yet easygoing feel attracts a low-key crowd of industry types (actors, models, producers) and stealth-wealth sorts. Befitting its cinematic-legend owner, rooms and suites are stocked with gratis movie-night snacks (popcorn and candy, anyone?)
Fans of Firmdale — and anyone with an eye for cheery design — will love the Warren Street Hotel, the dashing younger sibling of the group’s Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo. The property proudly waves all the brand’s flags: a dopamine-spiking palette, bespoke Kit Kemp fabrics and bold art. All the rooms and suites are individually decorated. The afternoon tea alone is reason enough to travel Downtown (just ask the dyed-in-the-wool Upper East-siders who gladly make the journey).
If you’d rather save your funds for shopping and dining but still want an HQ that doesn’t skimp on style, consider the Walker Hotel Tribeca. Set in a former ribbon factory, the hip boutique stay provides compact-yet-clever rooms, kitted with all the conveniences you need for a few nights; it also has a sociable flower-draped rooftop.
Feel right at home in Tribeca with our hotels in the neighbourhood; or take a bigger bite of the apple with our full collection of NYC stays and our weekend-break guide