A former industrial district in Lower Manhattan, TriBeCa, short for "___Tri___angle ___Be___low ___Ca___nal Street", has transformed from artist community to upscale residential district in the 21st century. Sitting on the Hudson River and sandwiched between Canal and Chambers Streets west of Broadway, the neighborhood's cobblestone streets and loft buildings give it a surprisingly quaint feel for Manhattan. Nevertheless, numerous art galleries, fine restaurants, and a growing film festival have brought an element of prestige to this old port neighborhood.
Understand
Previously farmland, TriBeCa became a central transfer point for textiles and dry goods in the mid-1800s. In the 1960s, the Washington Market Urban Renewal Project transformed the area from commercial to residential by replacing the industrial buildings with apartment houses, office buildings and schools. Between 1970 and 1980, the population of TriBeCa jumped from 243 to 5,101. Today, TriBeCa features numerous galleries, stores and fine restaurants and is home to the burgeoning Tribeca Film Festival organized by Robert De Niro to help revitalize lower Manhattan after 9/11.
TriBeCa is one of the few neighborhoods in Manhattan that embodies a sense of community. The neighborhood has that quaint, safe, and comfortable feeling which are not typical adjectives that come to mind when thinking of NYC. Although the neighborhood is transforming into more of a place for the rich and famous, you will still find the struggling artist and average New Yorkers that were there before TriBeca became one of NYC’s most desirable residences.
Another aspect that separates TriBeCa from the rest of the neighborhoods in the city is its general appearance. The neighborhood represents historic Lower Manhattan. Unlike most areas, the Triangle Below Canal street still has the cobblestone streets and loft apartment buildings that disappeared in most areas years ago.
Get in
By subway
You can get in by bus or subway. The 1 train runs through the middle of the neighborhood under Varick Street, stopping at Canal, Franklin, and Chambers Streets. You can also take the 2 and 3 trains to Chambers Street. The A, C, and E stop at another Canal Street station, with the A, C, E, 2, and 3 also stopping at Chambers Street–World Trade Center / Park Place station. A third Canal Street stop, several blocks east of the heart of the neighborhood, is served by the N, Q, R, J, Z, and 6 trains.
By PATH
The PATH stop at World Trade center is connected to the Park Place/Chambers Street Station.
See
- Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway (between Barclay St and Park Pl; Subway: to Park Pl or to Chambers St or to Word Trade Center or to City Hall), 40.712219°, -74.008061°, +1-203-966-9663. One of the oldest and most famous of New York's skyscrapers (dubbed the "Cathedral of Commerce"), the neo-Gothic Woolworth Building was completed in 1913 and was the world's tallest building until 1930. The building has a beautiful ornate lobby. Tours are offered most days. Pre-registration is required. $20-45
- Hook & Ladder #8 (Ghostbusters firehouse), 14 N Moore St (between West Broadway & Hudson St; Subway: to Franklin St), 40.71956°, -74.00662°, +1 212 334-0611. The firehouse used for exterior shots in the movie Ghostbusters.
- Hudson River Park, 40.72027°, -74.01382°. Walk along the Hudson River and enjoy the breezes, views, and people-watching.
- Tribeca Film Center, 375 Greenwich St (Subway: to Franklin St), 40.71959°, -74.00993°, +1-212-941-2000.
- Washington Market Park, bounded by Greenwich, Chambers and West Streets (Subway: to Chambers St), 40.71705°, -74.01130°. Great place for kids to play, to enjoy a nice picnic, or just sit back and relax. There is plenty of playing equipment for children, as well as organized games and arts and crafts. Hosting birthday parties is very popular in this park for those who are interested in renting out the gazebo. In the summer, bands will often play music in the gazebo for the older generations. The park is small and safe.
Do
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Halloween in TriBeCa is a great experience for kids. Traditionally trick-or-treating in New York City happens floor to floor in the tall apartment buildings. However, in TriBeCa, all the restaurants, stores and galleries participate in the holiday. Trick or treating outside gives kids the exciting experience that usually only happens in suburban areas.
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The TriBeCa Film Festival is another fun activity to not miss out on. Stop by to sample some delicious food from all the nearby restaurants. There are also many fun activities and games for the younger generation, as well as some dance, instrumental, and vocal performances. It's also a great opportunity to catch some celebrity sightings, and if you're lucky enough, even snagging a ticket to one of the films participating in the festival.
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Taste of TriBeCa is a yearly food festival that everyone should attend at least once. It takes place every year on May 16 from 11:30AM to 3PM on Duane and Greenwhich St. It was developed by parents of the children in the neighborhood in 1994. During the festival the best restaurants come together and cook their best dishes, giving visitors the ability to have six tastings for a set fee. Along with the restaurants, there are visiting corporate donors, like UNICEF, live entertainment, and some designers offering items like. T-shirts and hats. Just a few of the participating restaurants include, Acapella (Italian),Flor de Sol(Spanish), and Salaam Bombay(Indian).
Buy
Eat
- Bubby's, 120 Hudson St. (at N. Moore St; Subway: to Franklin St), 40.71984°, -74.00844°, +1 212 219-0666. Open 24 hours. One of the more affordable restaurants in Tribeca, this place caters to families and those who don't mind sitting next to high chairs. They do indeed have a wonderful variety of pies on any given day, one of the best cheeseburger in town, and an interesting choice of beers.
- Ninja New York, 25 Hudson St (Subway: to Chambers St), 40.71672°, -74.00937°, +1 212 274-8500. Daily 5:45-11PM. A ninja-themed restaurant with dark hallways, sneaky ninja/waiters with swords, and many elaborate dishes that involve smoke or fire. Caution: Many who have eaten there don't recommend the food, so if you go, go for the experience.
- Square Diner, 33 Leonard St (corner of Varick & Leonard Sts, opposite New York Law School; Subway: to Franklin St), 40.71846°, -74.00725°, +1 212-925-7188. An inexpensive diner; a neighborhood institution.
Drink
Sleep
- Cosmopolitan Hotel Tribeca, 95 West Broadway (at Chambers and Hudson Sts; Subway: to Chambers St), 40.71555°, -74.00882°, +1 212 566-1900, reservations@cosmohotel.com. Clean, comfortable rooms with private bath and color television, plus wireless internet at a reasonable price. $200
- The Roxy Hotel Tribeca, 2 Avenue of the Americas (between White and Walker Sts; Subway: to Franklin St or to Canal St), 40.71938°, -74.00482°, +1 212 519-6600. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 1PM. Gorgeous, trendy hotel. Not for the light-walleted. $250-500
- Hilton Garden Inn New York/Tribeca, 39 Avenue of the America, 40.72086°, -74.00556°, +1-212-966-4091. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. The Garden Inn has a slightly dated chain hotel feel, but a reasonably nice restaurant and a strategic location. Rooms feature the usual conveniences found in midscale hotels, enhanced with a microwave and fridge that could be convenient for self-caterers, who will also find a hotel "pantry" with convenience food items for sale in the lobby. 2016-08-21
- The Greenwich Hotel, 377 Greenwich Street, 40.71987°, -74.00986°, frontdesk@thegreenwichhotel.com. The five-star boutique member of The Leading Hotels of the World takes "olde-worlde" charm to a new level in its rooms, but offers truly pampering service and a number of amenities unexpected for a hotel of only 88 rooms, including a reasonably-sized pool, Japanese spa and quite spacious gym. 2016-08-21
Connect
Go next
Cross Canal St. to visit SoHo, another upscale neighborhood, or take a 10-minute walk east to Chinatown, a neighborhood that's quite different and features some good, inexpensive food.