SoHo’s cobblestone streets are dotted with high-end restaurants and nightlife hotspots that draw in visitors and locals alike. Sun-drenched loft buildings with massive windows used to house creatives in the ‘60s, earning it a reputation as a bohemian haven for artists. Now the diverse and increasingly upscale neighborhood is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the country.
“SoHo” refers to the area “South of Houston Street,” which is bounded by Canal Street to the south. This trendy Lower Manhattan ‘hood is surrounded by Tribeca, Houston Square, NoHo, NoLita, Little Italy, Tribeca, Greenwich Village, and Chinatown. SoHo is a shopper’s dream come true, with a variety of designer boutiques, fancy chain stores, and street vendors. This area is also known as the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District as it boasts the greatest collection of cast-iron architecture in the world. Read on for our top picks in this NYC neighborhood.
Commute
Numerous Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway lines and several city bus lines serve SoHo. Which one you use depends on which part of the neighborhood you wish to access, but the Prince, Canal, and Spring Street stations are all in the neighborhood. Nearby foodie-heaven NoLita, Little Italy, TriBeCa, and Greenwich Village are within walking distance, while most Brooklyn neighborhoods are easily accessible by the C subway line.
Eat
Where locals eat brunch on Sundays
80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Visitors line up for bougie brunch at Spring Street’s Parisian-style brasserie, Balthazar. Locals know to make a reservation and to start with the $24 basket of freshly baked bread and pastries.
The best coffee shop to work remotely
126 Crosby St, New York, NY 10012
It’s spacious and quiet enough to get some work done, plus you can feel good about getting a cup of joe. The volunteer-run cafe/bookstore’s proceeds benefit people affected by the HIV/AIDS and homelessness crisis.
The best take-out spot
149 Sullivan St # 1, New York, NY 10012
Order paninis, pasta, salads, and other traditional Italian staples from Pepe Rosso To Go.
Late-night eats for when you’ve had one too many
114 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012
Seek the neon sign that says “the corner” at Lafayette and Kenmare, and ye shall find La Esquina Corner Deli, a taqueria slinging fresh, yet fast Mexican fare until 2am.
Drink
The bar where everyone knows your name
48 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
You’re not going to find many dive bars in this bougie area, but if you’re in search of cheap beer, follow Spring Street toward Nolita, where you’ll run into Spring Lounge. This classic neighborhood dive has been around since the 1920s and is colloquially known as Shark Bar, as it is decorated with stuffed sharks, among other kitschy items. It’s a popular post-work spot, but opens at 8am Monday-Saturday for anyone who wants to start early.
Where to drink mimosas outside
239 Centre St, New York, NY 10013
When it’s nice outside, join Maman for weekend brunch in the garden from 9am-4pm. The rustic-chic Centre Street café’s eponymous breakfast sandwich is made with housemade bourbon bacon jam, avocado, and oven-roasted tomatoes, then topped with a fried egg on a cornmeal focaccia bun and served with balsamic mixed greens. Paired with a mimosa on the garden patio, it’s a perfect Sunday if you ask us.
Where to get cocktails on a first date
La Compagnie Des Vins Surnaturels
249 Centre St, New York, NY 10013
Also located on Centre Street, La Compagnie Des Vins Surnaturels is French for “The Company of Supernatural Wines.” This Parisian wine bar is brought to SoHo by the same people behind Lower Manhattan’s Experimental Cocktail Club. The low lighting, intimate tables, and wine list Français make it a romantic spot for a date.
Things to Do
Theaters
Cinephiles flock to Film Forum on W Houston St to see classic repertory films and contemporary independent releases. The HERE Arts Center performing arts venue at 6th Ave and Dominick presents innovative dance, theater, puppetry, and visual art experiences. Another off-Broadway theater, The Performing Garage on Wooster Street is the permanent home of the experimental theater company, The Wooster Group.
Shopping
The sidewalks of West Broadway, Prince Street, and Broadway become crowded and chaotic with tourists and vendors on the weekend. In addition to high-end chains and outlets, SoHo is home to bougie boutique stores like Anine Bing that offers luxury basics; Céline, a minimalist and trendy French cult label; and VEDA, where you can find the perfect classic leather moto jacket, for a price. For ultrafeminine bohemian vibes, visit the French fashion house Chloé on Greene Street. For hip, cosmopolitan unisex clothing, head to one of the neighborhood’s most popular shops, Opening Ceremony on Howard Street.
Farmer’s Markets
Fashion trumps fruit in SoHo, so you’ll have to venture to Tribeca Greenmarket ou City Hall Park Greenmarket for fresh produce.
Parks
Vesuvio Playground is one of the only public parks in the area, offering basketball courts, play equipment, a wading pool, and kid-friendly activities. Plus, it’s right around the corner from Dominique Ansel Bakery—home of the cronut! Spring Street Park is a small, triangular park, sporting a statue of historical Uruguayan independence leader, José Artigas.
Elizabeth Street Garden offers an open, tranquil greenspace in nearby Nolita, while Greenwich Village’s Washington Square Park serves as a parade ground, gathering spot for avant-garde artists, chess player battleground, and playground for kids and dogs. Hudson River Park lies less than a mile to the west of SoHo. The 500-acre park and estuarine sanctuary is the nation’s longest riverfront park, offering all kinds of activities, from carousel rides to mini-golf.
Top-Rated Places
Many of the area’s art galleries have been forced to relocate due to rising rents, but the neighborhood is still home to the LGBTQ-themed Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art; DTR Modern Galleries, with an impressive collection of Dali, Matisse, Picasso, Basquiat, and Warhol, plus elite contemporary artists; more Picasso and Warhol at Martin Lawrence Galleries on West Broadway; more pop-art at Pop International Galleries; and drawing exhibits at The Drawing Center. Some Soho galleries make you question your sanity, like the avant-garde New York Earth Room, which is a whole floor of dirt that you can’t step on or photograph.
© Benoît Prieur / Wikimedia Commons 
Elisa Rolle / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Other notable SoHo spots include The Wall, a giant blue wall/iconic public art installation that is known as the “Gateway to Soho,” as it welcomes visitors on the northwest corner of Broadway and Houston. And, the E. V. Haughwout Building’s eye-catching facade is a beaming example of the cast-iron architecture for which the neighborhood is known.
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