Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan

Upper Manhattan is a large, relatively under-visited area that ranges from 125th Street to Inwood Hill Park on the west and from 96th Street northward on the east (where the island of Manhattan tapers off unevenly). The area includes Harlem, recognized globally as a center of African-American culture and business and home to America's historic Black nationalist movements, and East (Spanish) Harlem. Other areas of interest include the neighborhoods of Washington Heights, a center of Dominican culture in New York and the home of The Cloisters museum and the huge Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center; and Inwood and the home of the last remains of the marshes and forests that once covered the island.

Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Halal Explorer

Cloisters outside1 - View of The Cloisters in April

Upper Manhattan is a large and fascinating place where the identity and characteristics of the neighborhoods change almost every few blocks. Harlem itself consists of several neighborhoods each with its own distinct culture and history. Spanish Harlem, commonly called El Barrio, is the famous heart of Puerto Rican culture in the United States. Once known as Italian Harlem, today this area on the East Side, bounded by 96th Street and the Harlem River, is a polyglot mixture of renovated and gentrified streets sharing space with West African immigrants in single room occupancy hotels and the many Latinos who still live in the area. The Latino population of the neighborhood is also diverse, and is now more Mexican than Puerto Rican.

Further north and west, centered around 125th Street, is the Harlem of the Harlem Renaissance and the center of African-American culture in the early twentieth century. While old standbys like the Apollo Theater are still going strong, Harlem and particularly 125th Street are amidst a renaissance as new homeowners renovate historic brownstones and new development surges. A new Marriott hotel is planned for 125th and Park, and former President Bill Clinton's offices are in the neighborhood as well. There are famous churches in the area, such as the Abyssinian Baptist Church, and some of these have famous gospel choirs.

The western side of Harlem is now roughly divided into Manhattanville, an area being developed as a new campus by Columbia University; Hamilton Heights, north of about 133rd street and south of 155th street, which contains City College and the alma mater of quite a few Nobel Prize winners and other notables; and Sugar Hill, east of Amsterdam Avenue and north of 145th street, an area that was always associated with African-American culture but is best known because of the Ella Fitzgerald rendition of Take the `A' Train, a song by Billy Strayhorn which describes how to get to the place where his famous musical collaborator, Duke Ellington, lived. The entire west side of Harlem is a surprising mix of rundown streets with vehicle repair garages, stately single-family town houses, and boarded-up buildings. Even further west, along Riverside Drive running all the way to 165th street, are delightfully preserved apartment buildings from the turn of the twentieth century.

North of Harlem are Washington Heights and Inwood, unlikely to be on most Muslim visitors' radar screen except for The Cloisters but also fast improving from their days as by-words for urban blight. Washington Heights is the acknowledged center of Dominican culture in New York. Today, it is an ethnic mix with recent immigrants fromBangladesh and young artists and professionals in search of relatively low rents rubbing shoulders with long-term Dominican residents in the south and the Yahudi residents of the northern Cabrini Boulevard area. Columbia University's Medical School and Hospital, New York Presbyterian Medical Center, dominates the neighborhood. At the northern end of Washington Heights, The Cloisters, a medieval museum and gift of the Rockefeller family, lives inside the beautiful Fort Tryon Park. Further north lies the neighborhood of Inwood, a mostly residential area, and Inwood Hill Park, a marshy and forested park that is the best approximation of what Manhattan island was five hundred years ago.

History

Frederick Douglas Circle (Half) - Frederick Douglass traffic circle, at the intersection of Frederick Douglass Boulevard (8th Ave) and 110th Street (Central Park North) in Harlem

The original village of Harlem was established in 1658 by Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant and named Nieuw Haarlem after the Netherlands|Dutch city of Haarlem. Throughout the Dutch and British colonial periods, rich farms were located in the region's flat eastern portion, while some of New York's most illustrious early families, such as the Delanceys, Bleeckers, Rikers, Beekmans, and Hamiltons maintained large estates in the high, western portion of the area.

In the early 1900s, particularly in the 1920s, African-American literature, art, music, dance, and social commentary began to flourish in Harlem. This African-American cultural movement became known as "The New Negro Movement" and later as the Harlem Renaissance. More than a literary movement and the Harlem Renaissance exalted the unique culture of African-Americans and redefined African-American expression. African-Americans were encouraged to celebrate their legacy.

Ironically, during the 1920s and 30s, many African-Americans were excluded from witnessing performances of much of the great music that members of their community were creating. Many jazz venues, like Small's and the Cotton Club (where Duke Ellington played), were open to white clients only. The Savoy, which was integrated, was closed down by municipal authorities in the 30s amid concern over interracial relationships engendered by the easy mixing there. Fortunately, segregation in New York clubs is long past, and visitors to Harlem can still listen to jazz over a meal or a few drinks today.

Travel to Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan

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Harlem map - Harlem Map

Upper Manhattan Map ===By subway=== Many New York City#By subway|subway lines pass through the neighborhood. The A, C, and 1 go up the West Side to Manhattanville, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood and Fort Tryon Park. The 2 and 3 go up Lenox Avenue more or less in the center, and the 4, 5, 6 on the East Side. The B and D go up 8th Av. and St. Nicholas Av. along with the A and C as far as 145th St., and then following a stop at 155th St, go under the Harlem River to Yankee Stadium and other stops in the Bronx. The A and D and the 4 and 5 are fast express trains during the day, as the A and D whiz passengers from 59th St. directly to 125th St., while the 4 and 5 go from 86th St. to 125th St. in one stop. The 168th St and 181st St stops on the 1 are among the prettiest stations in the system and deserve a visit. By commuter train Metro North Railroad has a station at 125th Street and Park Avenue with easy connections to and from the Hudson Valley and Connecticut. See the New York City#By train|By train section on the main New York City page for more info. Travel on a Bus in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Malcolm Shabazz Mosque - The Malcolm Shabazz Mosque on the junction of 116th St. and Lenox Av., where Malcolm X used to preach MTA bus There is plenty of New York City#By bus 2|MTA bus service to the area. The M4 makes its slow way up to the Cloisters from Penn Station via the East Side (Madison on the way up and Fifth Avenue on the way down), across 110th St., and via Broadway and Fort Washington Av. further north - a nice way to see the changing face of Manhattan but a very slow way! Or you can take the M5 uptown on the West Side all the way from South Ferry! It travels up Trinity Place, Church St., 6th Av., Broadway, Riverside Drive, Broadway again, and finally Fort Washington Av. Going downtown, it follows 5th Av. from 59th St. to 8th St. and then turns east and travels the rest of the distance to Manhattan/Financial District#Landmarks|the Battery via Broadway. Commuter buses and jitneys There is also the large though sparsely occupied Port Authority George Washington Bridge Bus Station, a commuter bus terminal that is under the ramps to the George Washington Bridge (177th Street between Broadway and Fort Washington Av., accessible from the 175th St. stop on the 1 subway line), with jitney and bus service to points in suburban New Jersey and Rockland County, New York. The jitneys, which are to be found in the parking lanes just outside the Fort Washington Av. doors of the station's lower level, are affordable and a very good option for trips to and from various communities in northern New Jersey, including Fort Lee, Englewood (New Jersey) | Englewood, Teaneck, and Paterson. What to see in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Henry G. Marquand House Conservatory Stained Glass Window - Henry G. Marquand House Conservatory stained glass window at Museum of the City of New York Museums The Cloisters - 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park 40.86489, -73.93191 ☎ +1 212 923-3700 Opening Hours: Daily 10AM Monday - 5:15PM (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's) Admission is by donation; pay as you wish Located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in Fort Tryon Park and the building incorporates elements from five medieval French cloisters--quadrangles enclosed by a roofed or vaulted passageway, or arcade--and from other monastic sites in southern France. There are various artworks on display in the museum, with the Unicorn Tapestries being the most famous. Dyckman Farmhouse - 4881 Broadway 40.86737, -73.92288 Subway: {{NYCS|A to 207th Street ☎ +1 212 304-9422 Opening Hours: Wed-Sat 11AM Monday - 4PM, Sunday 12PM Monday - 4PM Adults $1, children free. The former residence of William Dyckman, who owned several hundred acres of farmland covering much of what is now Inwood and Washington heights. Nestled incongruously at the otherwise unremarkable corner of 204th and Broadway and the farmhouse has been converted into a small museum of life in early Manhattan and hosts various programs for the neighborhood. The "Hessian Huts" in the back yard are a leftover from the British occupation of Manhattan during the Revolutionary War! El Museo del Barrio - 1230 5th Ave 40.79310, -73.95137 at 104th Street ☎ +1 212 831-7272 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11AM Monday - 6PM Suggested admission $9 adults, $5 students/seniors, free for children under 12

priceextra=free for seniors on W, free for everyone on the third Saturday of each month The only US museum devoted to Puerto Rican culture. Hamilton Grange National Monument - 414 West 141st Street 40.82136, -73.94728 between Convent Avenue and St. Nicholas Avenue Opening Hours: W-Su 9AM Monday - 5PM Free Built in 1802 (and physically shifted from its original location) this was the home of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers and the first Secretary of Treasury. Hispanic Society of America - Audubon Terrace 40.83327, -73.94643 west of Broadway between 155th and 156th Sts ☎ +1 212 926-2234 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10AM Monday - 4:30PM, Sunday 1PM Monday - 4PM Free A museum and library devoted to (Spanish), Portuguese, and Latin American art and culture. Morris-jumel - Morris-Jumel Mansion Morris-Jumel Mansion - 65 Jumel Terrace 40.83445, -73.93857 Subway: {{NYCS|C to 163rd St; Bus: M2, M3, M100, or M101 ☎ +1 212 923-8008 Morris–Jumel Mansion 2014 Morris-Jumel Mansion from southwest Built in 1765, this is the oldest house on Manhattan Island. It served as George Washington's headquarters in 1776. Currently a museum set on a 1.5-acre park, it features a decorative-arts collection representing the colonial and Revolutionary War periods. Washington's office is among the 12 restored rooms. Museum of the City of New York - 1220 5th Ave 40.79248, -73.95188 between 103rd and 104th Sts; Subway: {{NYCS|6 to 103rd Street or the {{NYCS|3 to 110th St; Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 or M106 ☎ +1 212 534-1672 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10AM Monday - 5PM Suggested admission $10 adults, $6 students/seniors, free from children 12 and under Rather large, interesting museum with all kinds of documentation of events in the history of this city and delightful artifacts of life in earlier periods, such as the extensive collection of 19th-century dollhouses complete with miniature furniture. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture - 135th Street and Malcolm X Blvd 40.81465, -73.94096 Subway: {{NYCS|3 to 135th St; Bus: M7, M102, or Bx33 - A main research branch of the New York Public Library, this is a repository of priceless documents and also has various exhibitions on themes related to black history and culture. Studio Museum Harlem - 144 West 125th Street 40.80841, -73.94761 ☎ +1 212 864-4500 Opening Hours: W-F,Su noon-6PM, Saturday 10AM Monday - 6PM $7 adults, $3 students/seniors, free for children under 12 The first museum in the U.S. devoted to artists of African descent. Architecture James Bailey House - 10 St. Nicholas Pl 40.82723, -73.94204 at West 150th Street - Street built by architect Samuel Burrage Reed. A major mansion owned by circus entrepreneur Anthony Bailey - joined with showman Phineas T. Barnum in 1881 to form the Barnum & Bailey circus. Now Known to the children of Harlem as the Beauty and the Beast house. Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center - 3940 Broadway 40.83919, -73.94075 NE corner of Broadway and West 165th Street Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM Once the Audubon Ballroom where Malcolm X was assassinated with 21 gunshots. Only a part of the facade of the original building remains (Columbia University demolished the building in 1992). The location now houses a memorial to Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, with a stated goal of advancing human rights and social justice. It also features a 63-foot mural depicting Malcolm X's life. Strivers Row - St. Nicholas Historic District - along West 138th and West 139th Street 40.818056, -73.943611 - St. Nicholas Historic District 2014 Striver's Row 265-249 West 139 by Stanford White Million-dollar homes in an unlikely neighborhood. Hotel Theresa from east - A view of the historic Theresa Tower, which was once the Hotel Theresa - a vibrant center of African-American life. The building is now an office tower. Theresa Tower - 2082-96 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (7th Av.) 40.80875, -73.94892 between West 124th and 125th Street - This New York City landmark started accepting black guests in 1940, becoming one of the few hotels in the city to do so. This led it to become a mixing point for notable African Americans of the time, and through the 40s and 50s it was the center of black Harlem social community. It also gained notoriety when Fidel Castro chose to stay here for the 1960 UN General Assembly. Its ornamentation makes it one of the most visually striking buildings in Northern Manhattan. Parks Fort Tryon Park - 40.8618, -73.9330 - One of New York's most beautiful parks, an expanse of rolling hills high above the Hudson, contains some of the highest natural elevations on the island and is a great place to picnic or stroll in good weather and look at the great views of the New Jersey Palisades across the river. Inwood Hill Park - northwestern tip of Manhattan 40.8716, -73.9259 take the {{NYCS|A train to 207 St. or the {{NYCS|1 train to Dyckman St. and walk west, toward the Hudson River. Inwood Hill Park contains the last tracts of virgin forest in Manhattan. Many arrowheads and other artifacts of the former Native American occupants of Manhattan Island have been found in this park. Marcus Garvey Park - Mount Morris Park - 40.8044, -73.9437 - One of the oldest parks in Manhattan. The elegant brownstones on the western and southern sides of the park hint at the former grandeur of the neighborhood (many were built in the 1880s). The Acropolis, a lookout seventy feet above street level gives views of the Empire State Building and the George Washington Bridge, and Yankee Stadium. The Firetower, a landmark 1857 building, is the only surviving example of nineteenth century fire watchtowers. Riverside Park - west of Riverside Dr 40.804, -73.97 - Riverside Park (Manhattan) Riverside Park 03 A riverfront park providing pleasant views of New Jersey and sometimes breezes off the river. Summer brings al fresco movies and music to the park. Top Muslim Travel Tips for Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Apollo Theater 2 - Apollo Theater Performing Arts in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Apollo Theater - 253 West 125th Street 40.81003, -73.95004 between Adam Clayton Powell Blvd and Frederick Douglass Blvd; Subway: {{NYCS|D or {{NYCS|3 train to 125th Street ☎ +1 212 531-5300 - The legendary Apollo Theater, "where stars are born and legends made", is a source of pride for Harlem, and a symbol of American artistic achievement. The Apollo is best known for its world-famous Amateur Night at the Apollo, which launched the careers of legendary artists like Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Michael Jackson, D'Angelo and Lauryn Hill. The Apollo remains the nation's most popular arena for emerging and established black and Latino performers. Amateur Night at the Apollo - Opening Hours: West 7:30PM $19, $25, $29 Amateur Night at the Apollo celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 2009 as the quintcrucial talent competition, serving as the model for Star Search and American Idol. Competitions are held nearly every Wednesday evening throughout the year, culminating with the "Super Top Dog" competition. The show marries world-class talent with a distinctive, vaudeville-like atmosphere, and has depended on audience participation since the very beginning. The popularity contest has proven an effective measure of star potential, becoming a launch pad for some of the nation's greatest entertainers. Marjorie's Parlor Jazz - 555 Edgecombe Ave, apt 3F 40.83379, -73.93889 Subway: {{NYCS|D to 155th St, {{NYCS|C to 163rd St, or {{NYCS|1 to 157th Street ☎ +1 212 781-6595 Opening Hours: Every Sunday 4PM Monday - 6PM (roughly) Free, donations appreciated One of the most charmingly intimate jazz venues anywhere is simply Marjorie Eliot's apartment in Harlem. It's somewhat a jam session, although there are regulars, drawing an attentive and eclectic crowd including music students from China, neighbors from the building, and everyone in between. Seating is first come, first served, so it does make sense to be there by 4PM. As friendly and hospitable as it gets, people will come around with cookies and juice during breaks. Note that getting off the subway at 155th Street will require a long, steep climb up steps to get from lower 155th to Edgecombe. In addition to the above and the Cotton Club was a famous club and speakeasy during the Harlem Renaissance. There has been for a number of years a new incarnation of the Cotton Club, and it is part of the fabric of Harlem, but since it is on the south side of 125th St. west of Broadway, it is covered in Manhattan/Upper West Side#Drink. Walks [[718-730 St. Nicholas Avenue - Row houses at 718 (right)-730 (left) St. Nicholas Avenue at West 146th Street, which were built in Romanesque Revival style between 1889 and 1890 There are several interesting and pleasant routes for walking through Harlem, including: 125th St, Harlem's main commercial corridor. Expect bustling street life, big crowds, a varied lineup of shops, and major historic monuments like the Apollo. In recent years, some of the local shops have been displaced by big-box stores, and some upscale boutiques more reminiscent of Manhattan/Soho|Soho than the Harlem people used to know have opened, but the local color has not (or at least not yet) disappeared. Street Nicholas Ave in the 140s and 150s is lined with some beautiful apartment houses with ornate facades and front doors. As you walk on that stretch of Street Nicholas Ave, you will also see some buildings on Edgecombe Ave if you look to the east, or you could choose to walk on that avenue as well. South of 142nd St, you pass by the tree-lined expanse of Street Nicholas Park until 128th St. Here, some of the more interesting buildings you can see are up the hill past the park on Convent Av, but the St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Harlem, occupying the square block between 137th and 138th Sts between Street Nicholas and Edgecombe Aves, is a lovely neo-Gothic building with multi-toned stones. There are more worthwhile buildings to see south of Street Nicholas Park, as the avenue cuts diagonally on its way to Central Park North. Convent Ave in the 140s and 150s is also lined with pretty brownstones. It is quieter and less populated than Street Nicholas Ave, which is downhill from Convent and on the other side of Street Nicholas Park. South of 140th St, Convent Ave is lined on both sides by City College of New York, a historic public college and part of the City University of New York. Some of its buildings are landmarked neo-Gothic structures and some are more utilitarian modern structures. South of 127th St, Convent Ave turns into Morningside Ave. Broadway north of 132nd Street and especially past 155th is the center of a lively Dominican neighborhood, filled with the colors of fresh produce, smells of roasted Chicken, and sounds of bachata. East 116th Street is the main commercial street of East (aka Spanish) Harlem. While most famously the heart of New York's Puerto Rican community, it today is an ethnically mixed area, and no less interesting because of that. Muslim Friendly Shopping in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Elbarrio116thLex - 116th St. and the main clothes shopping street and one of the main business streets in El Barrio, aka Spanish Harlem Fairway - 2328 12th Ave 40.81972, -73.95941 at 130th Street ☎ +1 212-234-3883 Opening Hours: 8AM - 11PM Daily Fairway is a quality discount supermarket that's well-known in the New York area. Their humongous Harlem location is in an out-of-the-way location that isn't convenient to any subway stop, as it is quite a bit west and somewhat uptown from the #1 stop at 125th St. and Broadway — not very convenient if you are carrying a lot of heavy groceries — and no bus stops really close by, either (the closest you can get is 125th St. and 12th Ave., via the Bx15 limited bus on weekdays and regular bus on weekends). Most of the people who shop at this location probably drive cars, and the store's website promotes the fact that it is near the 125th St. exit from the Henry Hudson Parkway (and therefore convenient for people who work in New York City and want to buy some produce before taking the George Washington Bridge home to New Jersey). However, if you spend more than $200 and they guarantee free delivery between 86th and 220th Sts., east and west sides (it costs $7.95 otherwise), and they also offer a free shuttle for groups of 10 or more people, by reservation, with pickup and delivery from and to 64th-181st and 12th Avenue-York Avenue. Shopping streets There are also several shopping streets in Uptown Manhattan: 125th St. is lined by many shops, restaurants and department stores; E. 116th St. is known as "La Marqueta" and is the major numbered shopping street in Spanish Harlem, where you can buy cloth as well as cuchifritos, and further west on Lenox Av. (Malcolm X Boulevard), 116th St. is home to the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market, an outdoor market where you can buy kente cloth and all manner of African and African-American products; 3rd Av. is the main shopping avenue in Spanish Harlem, lined by many convenience stores and Puerto Rican and Mexican eateries; and Broadway is the main business avenue and the most important city street in West Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood. Halal Restaurants in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Inwood Hill Park 1 - A view of Inwood Hill Park and the Henry Hudson Bridge, which connects Inwood with Riverdale, in the Bronx. Amy Ruth's - 113 West 116th Street 40.80255, -73.95027 between 7th Ave and Lenox ☎ +1 212-280-8779 Opening Hours: Monday: Tuesday - Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: 11:30AM - 11PM 8:30AM - 11PM 8:30AM - 5:30AM 7:30AM - 5:30AM 7:30AM - 11PM Mains: $12.25-$22.95; Appetizers: $7.95-$11.95; Sides: $4.50; Waffles: $8.95-$16.95; Salads and sandwiches: $6.95-$16.95; Breakfast: $3.99- $10.95; Desserts: $5.00- $5.50 Classic, tasty soul food, friendly service. El Malecon - 4141 Broadway 40.84639, -73.93865 175th Street and Broadway ☎ +1 212 927-3812 - A Dominican restaurant famous for its pollo a la brasa (rotisserie chicken) has its flagship in this neighborhood. Go there and enjoy the food and the fresh-squeezed juice, and the Latin music on the jukebox. El Presidente - 3938 Broadway 40.83890, -73.94098 at 165th Street ☎ +1 212 927-7011 - Offers another take on Dominican food, with good Beef-stuffed plantains, guinea hen stew (an occasional special) and, oddly, a terrific Cuban sandwiches. Mike's Bagels - 4003 Broadway 40.84138, -73.93991 at 168th Street ☎ +1 212 928-2300 - Fresh bagels made in-house daily. Patsy's Pizzeria - 2287 1st Ave 40.79717, -73.93494 between 117th and 118th Sts ☎ +1 212 534-9783 Patsy's Pizzeria 48213 This is great old-school New York coal-oven Pizzas. Don't go overboard on the toppings, which are not the reason why you should go there. Get a plain Pizzas, and enjoy the wonder of a thin, nicely charred crust with delicious Sauce and Cheese that aren't heaped on but applied judiciously in a style that derives clearly from its origins in Naples. A couple should be able to down a pie or two with some salad without trouble for a meal, because the crust is so thin, but note that you can also get slices for takeout. Red Rooster - 310 Lenox Ave 40.80797, -73.94490 between 125th and 126th Sts.; Subway: {{NYCS|2 or {{NYCS|3 to 125 St. Bus: M102 or M7 on Lenox or any of numerous buses on 125 St. ☎ +1 212 792-9001 Opening Hours: Brunch Saturday to Sunday 10AM Monday - 4PM; Dinner: Monday - West 5:30PM Monday - 10:30PM Thursday - Saturday 5:30PM Monday - 11:30PM Sunday 5PM Monday - 10PM; Lunch Monday to Friday 11:30AM Monday - 3PM Dinner: Appetizers: $9-15; Mains: $14-33; Snacks: $4-6; Sides: $7-9; Desserts: $4-10; Fruit cocktails: $11-15 The new restaurant of Marcus Samuelsson, originally from Ethiopia with adoptive Swedish parents. The cuisine is a mix of different influences, with nods to traditional soul food, classic Swedish fare and the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Tables can be hard to come by without a reservation, and you might not get a friendly hostess, but the restaurant by itself is reason enough to take the trip uptown. Settepani - 196 Lenox Ave 40.80431, -73.94758 at 120th Street ☎ +1 917 492-4006 Sister's Cuisine - 47 E 124th Street 40.80507, -73.94079 ☎ +1 212 410-3000 - Anglo-Caribbean. Zoma - 2084 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (8th Ave) 40.80229, -73.95663 corner of 113th St.; Subway: {{NYCS|C to 110th or 116th St. ☎ +1 212 662-0620 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5-11PM; Saturday to Sunday Noon-11PM Appetizers: $7.50; beef, Chicken, lamb: $17-19.59; fish: $20.59; Vegetarian dishes: $13.50; combinations for 2 people: $24.59-28.59 This Ethiopian restaurant is quite arguably the best in the city. Their injera (traditional Ethiopian bread) is more sour than other Ethiopian restaurants in town, and the food is really savory. If you drink, get a bottle of tej (mead) with your meal, as they have a good one. It helps if you like spicy food, as they do not stint on any aspect of flavor. Cash and Amex only; no other credit cards accepted. City College of New York November 2016 - The neo-Gothic tower of Shepard Hall and the main building of City College Londel's - 2620 Frederick Douglass Blvd 40.81940, -73.94413 at West 140th Street ☎ +1 212 234-6114 P. J.'s - 2246 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd 40.81370, -73.94534 at West 132nd Street ☎ +1 212 283-5812 Jazz Jazz and Harlem are so inextricably intertwined that anyone paying the neighborhood a visit should try to make a performance. The jazz scene here is a mere shadow of its former self, when saxophones rang out the door of every bar up and down the main streets and even side streets. But it's still vibrant enough to have several options most nights of the week, which is more than you could say about almost every other American city! American Legion Post 398 - 248 West 132nd Street 40.81391, -73.94679 Subway: {{NYCS|C to 135th Street ☎ +1 212 283-9701 Opening Hours: Jazz: W-Thursday,Su roughly 8PM Monday - 11PM Two words sum this place up: juke joint. A real one. It's a dive bar hosted by the local American Legion with basic soul food, good company, and jam sessions three nights a week. Sunday is the night to come if you want to see some really good musicians come in and light up the Hammond organ. F-Sa they have basically an R&B dance party, but as of 2013 the Fridays have become member only (hopefully this policy won't extend to other nights in the future, as this place gets better known outside the neighborhood!). No cover (although you are required to "sign in" for some reason), but you will be expected to be spending money: think of it as a vague drink minimum, and order food if you take a table. Bill's Place - 148 West 133rd Street 40.81340, -73.94362 Subway: {{NYCS|C to 135th Street ☎ +1 212 281-0777 Opening Hours: F-Sa doors: 8:30PM $20 Bill Saxton, clearly a man destined to play the sax. His Coltrane-like performances are among the best you'll see in the city, but you'll see them here in his own basement apartment with a crowd of just 25 aficionados on a street heavy with jazz history. Unbeknownst to Bill until just recently, his apartment was one of many jazz-filled speakeasies on 133rd, and was in fact where one Billie Holiday got her start and Fats Waller's left hand strode mightily upon the keys. BYOB (and bring cups if you don't want to drink out of the bottle). Make reservations by the kind of confusing process of leaving a voice message (or you could try the less-reliable online form) and then show up around 8:30PM and buzz yourself in. Ginny's Supper Club - 310 Lenox Ave 40.80801, -73.94478 enter Red Rooster and take the staircase down to the basement; Subway: {{NYCS|3 to 125th Street ☎ +1 212 421-3821 Opening Hours: W-Thursday7PM Monday - 2AM, F-Sa 7PM Monday - 3AM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 3:30PM Dinner: $25-60 This is the upscale (and pricey) option for live jazz and other music in Harlem, with a beautiful, classy space, room for dancing, and fine dining (think soul food steakhouse with craft cocktails). Sundays see the gospel brunch, for which reservations are a must. Check the calendar for who's playing and dress to impress. Showman's - 375 West 125th Street 40.81137, -73.95342 Subway: {{NYCS|D to 125th Street ☎ +1 212 864-8941 Opening Hours: Sets: Monday - Thursday 8:30PM, 10PM, 11:30PM; F-Sa 9:30PM, 11:30PM, 1:30AM Think Harlem jazz club, and the aesthetic that should come to mind is exactly what you'll find here. A dimly lit bar where music is king. Opposite the 125th Street station, it's right at the heart of Harlem. Instead of a cover and there's a two-drink/$14 minimum per person per set. eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan and its surrounding regions. With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values. The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan. Key components include: Halal-Friendly Accommodations inManhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan. Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan. Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations. Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values. Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan and beyond. Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients." The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan. About eHalal Travel Group: eHalal Travel Group Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values. For Halal business inquiries in Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan, please contact: eHalal Travel Group Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Media: info@ehalal.io Muslim Friendly Hotels Ascension Presbyterian Harlem dome - Mount Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church, across the street from Marcus Garvey Park The Harlem YMCA - 180 West 135th Street 40.81471, -73.94295 ☎ +1 212 912-2100 Has a Health and Wellness Center and a heated swimming pool. Stay Safe Violent crimes have declined dramatically in Harlem and Washington Heights, and the relative safety in upper Manhattan varies greatly depending on where and when one travels. Most of the tourist destinations are very safe. However, crime still exists, as it does throughout New York City. As in all neighborhoods, exercise caution when walking in the neighborhood at night. Subway stations are generally safe and are patrolled by uniformed and undercover police. Consider staying on main thoroughfares, especially after dark. Population density is generally high in Washington Heights, and most residents are Spanish-speaking and friendly. News & References Manhattan/Harlem and Upper Manhattan Travel Next Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd. To Advertise or sponsor this Travel Guide, please visit our Media Kit and Advertising Rates.