Soho in New York City, New York

Soho is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, an shortened version for South of Houston Street. This hip neighborhood is just above Chinatown and packed full of artists' galleries, tall expensive loft apartments, vibrant restaurants, and high end shopping. Soho is home to retailers like Prada, Dean and Deluca, J.Crew, Crate and Barrel, Muji, Bloomingdales, and more. There are also successful stand along shops like Dominique Ansel's bakery, Cafe Habana, and my favorite, the McNally Jackson bookstore. Historically, it was home to artists because of the cheap loft spaces with large windows. Every artists' dream is to have a bright, open space for cheap. It is now home to successful, rich artists and celebrities. Home prices run upwards of $1 million for a one bedroom. It's a neighborhood that's seen a lot of commercialization and change, but what neighborhood in New York hasn't?

Though I've been a New Yorker my entire life, my first time really exploring this neighborhood must have been during my high school years when I met a friend for lunch at now defunct Jacques for a nice french meal. I fell in love with the old cobblestone streets and red brick buildings. There was something that I gravitated towards. Don't get me wrong, the streets are completely dirty at time with garbages strewn out from the overflowing bins but the energy of the place is incomparable. Soho feels alive to me. It's where the cool kids are. It's where the artists and misfits are. It's edgy. It's beautiful without trying to be and a bit grungy to reflect the hardness of New York.

It's still my favorite place in Manhattan to walk around and show off to friends visiting from out of town. I've rarely had complaints from guests about spending time here. The options for eating and shopping are endless. It's almost impossible to not find something for everyone. 

RECOMMENDATIONS

Travel
CE train to Spring Street or NRW to Prince Street.
The address to Dean and Deluca is a great meeting spot and central point to explore Soho.
560 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
Coordinates: 40.7241° N, 73.9977° W

Cost & Admission
Varies, depending on what you do.

Food
Cafe Habana, Prince Street Pizza, Balthazar

Activities
Shopping, eating, walking, exploring.

Tips
Soho can be very dirty and very crowded. It's an edgier place but safe to an extent. Like in most of New York, keep aware of your surroundings, yourself, and your belongings. My favorite meeting point is Dean and Deluca where I can grab a quick bite or cup of coffee for fuel before shopping or walking.