Manhattanville - New York, NY Area Guide

Manhattanville was a thriving industrial port in the 1800s. As Columbia University expanded in the 1970s, more and more university students began to make their way into Manhattanville, calling it home. The famed Manhattan School of Music also calls Manhattanville its home.

Continuing revitalization of the neighborhood has brought the West Harlem Piers and the Aaron David Theatre, designed specifically for dance productions. The neighborhood also includes several architecturally notable buildings and churches, as well as Grant's Tomb.

Joining the musical past with the vital present, the Apollo Theater features a stunning interior, incredible sound and a history like none other. This famed theater that launched the careers of Ella Fitzgerand, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr., Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and the Jackson Five still holds its famous Amateur Nights.

Restaurant choices in Manhattanville speak to the wide diversity of the neighborhood. Choose from Italian restaurants, soul food, barbecue, ramen houses and Mexican food, to name just a few.

Pisticci on La Salle Street features eclectic artwork from local artists even as it serves up heavenly Italian food. Choose from lamb maltagliati, orecchiette with broccoli rabe, or whitefish, and make sure you choose a special cocktail. Pisticci prides itself as a place you can bring out-of-town friends for a celebration as well as that wonderful place where you nestle down to dinner alone with a book. Check out the restaurant's wine tastings and opera nights, or show up on Sundays for live jazz.

When you're in the mood for Asian food, Jin Ramen can take care of you. Sure, you'll want some ramen, but make sure to order one of their delectable pork buns, which some locals claim are the best in Manhattan. Look around, and you're likely to see Columbia University students happily slurping down their spicy tonkatsu.

More nightlife options exist just to the east in Harlem proper and south in Morningside Heights, but Manhattanville has a few places that can show you a good time after hours. Head to Showman's Jazz Club any night of the week for live jazz and blues. This old-school club plays jazz the way it's meant to be, and the two-drink minimum, lower than at many Manhattan clubs, keeps your evening reasonably priced. More jazz is on tap at American Legion Post 398, a dive bar in the basement of a brownstone. You won't come for the generic food, but you'll certainly stay for the amazing jazz.

Local subway service in and near Manhattanville includes the 1, 2 and 3 trains as well as the B and C trains. The 1 train connects Manhattanville to the Financial District in the south and the Bronx in the north; the 2 and 3 trains do the same and also head into Brooklyn. The B train also goes into Brooklyn, as far as Brighton Beach. The C train runs down the west side of Manhattan before curving over into Queens. For extra speed, pick up the 4, 5, A or D trains to speed you right into downtown.

The NYC bus system serves Manhattanville well, with many lines passing through every six to 12 minutes, heading north, south and east. While cabs are less plentiful in Manhattanville than further south in Manhattan, they can be accessed on an on-call basis and can sometimes be found on major boulevards. Uber hasn't really penetrated as far north as Manhattanville, but several car services are available.

While few people keep cars in Manhattanville, just as in the rest of Manhattan, the parking garages tend to be less expensive than elsewhere in the city, which is a good thing since street parking can be an iffy proposition. The Henry Hudson Parkway runs along the west side of the neighborhood, and just a bit north, 145th Street leads to the Bronx.

Riverbank State Park gives locals a lovely spot for a walk or a jog, and those who work in the neighborhood can easily walk to work as well. Bike paths run through Riverbank as well as West Harlem Piers Park.

Riverside State Park runs alongside the Hudson River at the west side of Manhattanville, featuring basketball courts, tennis courts, a gym, a running track, a pool and much more. Riverside even has a skating rink that shifts from summertime roller skating to ice skating during the winter. No bikes are allowed in the park, but plenty of people find other ways to get their exercise there. While the park doesn't host any festivals, take your kids there when school lets out to find plenty of summer camp activities.

West Harlem Piers Park provides a quiet retreat from the city, as well as bike and running paths. University students often come here to relax and study, though they're likely to be distracted by the gorgeous views. Go to Saint Nicholas Park on Manhattanville's border with Harlem when you want to let your dog have a little run at the dog run there.

The cost of living in Manhattanville runs slightly higher than that of New York City as a whole; you can expect to pay a small 11 percent premium to live here. A one-bedroom apartment runs about $1970 per month.

If you do choose to have a car while living in Manhattanville, expect to pay about 11 percent more for gas than the national average. Public transportation is a bargain though, with a subway ride costing only $2.50 to get you downtown or anywhere else in Manhattan, and your cost can be even less expensive if you buy a MetroCard. When you want to stop at a neighborhood pub for a beer, expect to spend $6 or $7, but at happy hour, you may luck out and find a brew for as little as $2.

Many locals in Manhattanville head to 125 Street to shop at major chains such as H&M, Marshalls, The Gap, and American Apparel. More eclectic shops can also be found in the neighborhood, however, and they're worth checking out when you want to find clothing or gifts that aren't just like everyone else's.

When you're ready to deal with the unexpected and your wallet feels a bit thin, head to the Columbia University Consignment Shop, where you might be surprised by pencil skirts, vintage jewelry, cashmere sweaters and designer handbags. Don't forget to take a look in the sales bins outside, where you can find bargains for as low as $5.

If you need to stock up on necessities for your apartment, one quick stop at El Mundo Department Store might provide everything you need. Whether you need to stock your kitchen or you're looking for crafting supplies, inexpensive clothing for adults and kids, bathroom supplies or sunglasses, you can find it here. Brush up your Spanish before you arrive to make the shopping experience easier.

Several smaller grocery stores serve residents' needs in Manhattanville. Head to the Met Foodmarket on Amsterdam Avenue for basic groceries and nonperishables; if you have a student ID, you get a 5 percent discount. Most residents, however, make their way toward West Harlem Piers Park to shop at Fairway Market. Locals compare Fairway favorably to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, praising its cheeses, fresh-baked pies, organic produce and olive bar. To buy dairy and meats, you walk into a real meat locker, an especially enjoyable experience on a hot day.

While Manhattanville doesn't host any farmers markets, you can find several nearby, including the Mount Morris Village Farmers' Market and the Harvest Home Farmers Market in Harlem, as well as the Columbia University Greenmarket just to the south.