Untitled at 3 Freeman Alley

Worth getting out of bed for

The alleyway entrance of Untitled at 3 Freeman Alley is worth browsing as well as passing through: we’d love to tell you about its street artists in residence at Freeman Alley, but as it’s an ever-evolving collection, just take our word for it that creatives including Modomatic, Voxx Romana, C0rn Queen, Lmnopi, Captain Eyeliner and Timmy Ache have all passed through. In this district of former tenements, the Tenement Museum is an obvious place to start to understand the area’s history – you can explore it on a guided visit only, or book a neighborhood walking tour for a wider foray into the locale’s immigrant past. Housed in a dome-ceilinged former synagogue, the Museum at Eldridge Street checks the history box with exhibitions of all things Jewish, be it mezuzah collections or kosher pop art. Forward-thinking art and ideas are curated at the New Museum; and life through a lens is the speciality of the glass-walled galleries at the International Center of Photography. For buying as well as browsing, art galleries abound in this bohemian corner of Manhattan: try Woodward for fine arts, Van Der Plas for rulebreakers and street art, and Bitforms for tech trailblazers. Art of a different kind is yours to don when you shop at Assembly, which debuts international designers, and interlaces vintage pieces into its ready-to-wear rails of NYC-produced womens- and menswear, mostly made with deadstock and upcycled fabrics. 

Local restaurants

A self-described ‘clandestine American tavern’ open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Freemans at the end of the alley couldn’t be nearer: European-inspired rustic plates include lemony, herb-flecked mussels with thick-sliced sourdough, pork chop with dandelion greens, and Amish half chicken with brown butter spätzle. On Allen Street, chef Amanda Cohen oversees work-of-art vegetarian plates such as pea raviolo, carrot millefeuille, and mushroom mousse, at Dirt Candy: try the set tasting menu, paired with wines. Then there’s the glut of globetrotting dining spots on your doorstep: Parm for Italian and Prince Street Pizza for the noble crust; Nakamura for ramen, and Cocoron for soba; Congee Village on Allen Street for Cantonese, and Malaysian cuisine at Kopitiam (walk-ins only).  

Local cafés

Iconic deli Russ & Daughters has a café on Orchard Street where you can feast on lox and bagel without having to queue for takeaway. Katz’s Deli has similar legendary status – bolstered by an appearance in When Harry Met Sally: go for the stacked pastrami sandwiches. And the delicious knishes at nearby Yonah Schimmel are a comfort-food classic worth sampling. For mind-blowing pastries, you want Supermoon Bakehouse at 120 Rivington. 

Local bars

Head to Lullaby on Rivington for superlative signature and seasonal cocktails (and better people-watching); Bar Goto on Eldrige for Japanese concoctions, and unearth artful mixology upstairs at velvet-chaired speakeasy, Garfunkel’s. Suds-seekers, you want the beer garden at Loreley on Rivington; niche needs for natural wine (and small plates) are catered for at French Tabac-inspired Le Dive.