New York City’s Upper West Side is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Manhattan. While landmarks like the Metropolitan Opera, the Lincoln Center, and the American Museum of Natural History lend a distinctly highbrow air to the landscape, the overall community environment favors down-to-earth personalities and accessible neighborhood amenities.

So what’s it like to live in the Upper West Side, and what exactly is this neighborhood known for? The local dining scene is superb, featuring a vast landscape of restaurants representing every style and flavor imaginable, most of which are affordable enough to become regular stops. Grocers and retail stores are close at hand, and everywhere in the Upper West Side is within walking distance of Central Park— those living near the eastern edge of the neighborhood can enjoy gorgeous views of the sun rising over the park every morning.