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Lots of cosy bars, a variety of ethnic restaurants, affordable shopping and a huge cinema – that’s what you can find in Kips Bay. This small neighbourhood that stretches from East 23rd to East 34th streets between the East river and Lexington avenue has no touristy attractions or major landmarks. In return for this lack of amusements you get affordable accommodation and cheap services, as well as easy transport links to the rest of Manhattan and two New York airports.
This predominantly residential area is clean, life is laid-back, locals – quite friendly and outgoing. Those who live in Kips Bay have been here for a long while and the community spirit is easy to feel. At first glance the exposed brick brownstones and the modern tenement high-rises, all so typical of New York do not impress with any beauty. Built haphazardly during different decades, the buildings look patchy and do not impress with any particular beauty but if you wander the back streets and side alleys you can find the most impressive sights of all – charming period houses nestling beside 20-storey towers. The most notable examples are a tall white wooden frame house sitting next to a smallish brick building on East 29th Street, date back to either the 18th or 19th century. Beside those beauties in Kips Bay you can come across other charming old-time houses of which so very few are left in the city.
Being a primarily residential area Kips Bay is somewhat more affordable than other parts of Manhattan. The streets are lined with numerous shops and supermarkets catering to the needs of local residents. This alone makes the neighbourhood a very convenient place to live or stay. Plenty of services of all types, from dry cleaners to hairstylists, guarantee you can have your every need taken care of at a reasonable price. Shops are mostly centred on First and Second Avenues but all over the area you will find plenty of stores and delis selling all types of foods. Pop into Kips Bay Plaza, the neighbourhood’s mall, to catch a movie at the huge cinema or buy fresh groceries on the cheap at the Fairway market.
Kips Bay is also full of cafes, quite a few ethnic restaurants and unpretentious bars where you can while away the nights. There is nothing too posh or fancy about local establishments but several live music venues and clubs provide night entertainment. The best thing about the lack of tourist interest in this place is that you can always get a table in the cafe or the restaurant. Kips Bay does not have any parks but it boasts a serene riverside promenade that is excellent for leisurely strolls and for admiring the East river and the city on both banks.
While local entertainment might be limited and not that trendy, getting into other more exciting parts of Manhattan is no problem at all. There is no underground service in the heart of the neighbourhood, the Lexington subway line lies on its borders, but you can always hop on a bus or hail a cab to wherever you fancy. The vibrant nightlife and attractions of Midtown Manhattan are within a quick taxi ride, while the La Guardia and JFK Airports are extremely easy to get to via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.
While the neighbourhood boasts good transport services and proximity to all the exciting places in midtown Manhattan, it also manages to remain less busy and crowded than other parts of the city. The family-friendly, community feel is very strong and the convenience of many shops and eateries, some of which open till late hours, make Kips Bay a nice area for affordable and relaxing stays.