Your Travel Guide to the Best of NYC's SoHo Neighborhood

Our Guide to New York City’s Soho Neighborhood

Today, we are thrilled to bring you a new travel guide… This time, we traveled to New York City to bring you a guide to NYC’s Soho neighborhood. Indeed, NYC is a city photographer Maritere Rice and I both love and know well, particularly the neighborhood of Soho. So, we took great joy in traveling there together to document the places and scenes that make us happy.

Our objectives on this trip were two-fold: (1) develop a Soho mural guide, and (2) create this travel guide. Of course, we have already published the mural guide. And today, we bring you the travel guide!

Now, a few words about Soho… Remarkably cool and hip, Soho has a unique vibe that is very different from what you might experience in some of the more touristy areas of NYC like Times Square and Midtown. Indeed, the neighborhood is set away from some of the busiest areas of town, making its picturesque streets a lovely respite within the city. Soho is filled with young locals who are known for being fashionable and artistic.

A brief disclaimer, in case we have any NYC neighborhood purists…. As with the mural guide, our travel guide does not stick strictly within the neighborhood boundaries of Soho. We also ventured out to Nolita and Chinatown too. But what does hold true is this: all of these attractions are within walking distance of Soho. So, if you are staying in Soho, you should be able to reach all of these recommendations in easy order.

Where to Stay

Let’s start with the most important aspect of any trip, shall we? Where to stay…

NoMo SoHo

On this trip, Maritere and I had the pleasure of staying at NoMo SoHo. NoMo SoHo is an ultra-chic, high-rise hotel in the heart of SoHo on Crosby Street. However, when you arrive at the hotel, you feel as if you are entering a quaint, quintessential SoHo hotel. Indeed, the hotel has the enviable position of being both hidden, yet centrally located.

If you’re anything like us, you’ll feel instantly more cool when you step in this place! The beautiful, Instagram-worthy restaurant is the perfect place for meeting friends for coffee or a drink. Then, you’ll be able to take in breathtaking views of Manhattan from the floor to ceiling windows of your room. And did I mention the location of this hotel is perfect?

Unequivocally, we highly recommend a stay at the NoMo SoHo!

Other Hotels

Based on previous stays in the area, Maritere also recommends the following area hotels:

The Broome

The James NYC

Sixty Soho

The Nolitan (in the Nolita neighborhood)

One More Option

If you’re traveling with more than just a few people, perhaps a non-hotel solution suits you better. In that case, I highly recommend this fashionable loft in the heart of Soho. In fact, in September, my family joined me in NYC for fashion week. Since we would have needed more than one hotel room (and hotel rooms were in high demand, extremely hard to come by, and extra expensive), we opted for this Airbnb listing. And we couldn’t have been happier! We surely felt like we got an authentic Soho experience.

What to Eat

Now, when you read this section, you’re going to think that all we do is eat. Ha. But the truth is there are just so many great cafes and restaurants and such in the Soho area! So, don’t judge. Rather, just enjoy all we have to share with you! 😉

Coffee Shops and Cafes

Balthazar Take-out Cafe – Balthazar is a favorite for breakfast and brunch, but don’t disregard their take-out storefront for a quick coffee, hot chocolate and a pastry!

80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Cha Cha Matcha – If you are a matcha gal or gent, then this is absolutely the place for you! This is an all matcha place, from matcha latte to soft serve matcha ice cream. Now, in full disclosure, I actually am not a matcha person (Maritere is, though), but I still had to visit to take in all the pink and green coolness, and it didn’t disappoint.

373 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

Happy Bones – This is a Soho coffee staple! Indeed, all of the coffee is great here. Now, be careful – the storefront is so narrow that you might accidentally pass it by. Grab a coffee and cookie for a nice break in your wanderings.

394 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

La Colombe – For those that love great Italian espresso, this is a must-visit.

270 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Laduree – Feel like transporting yourself to Paris while in NYC? Well, stop by this place for a rainbow variety of delectable macarons, a specialty tea menu, and much more.

398 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012

Maman – A lovely French coffee shop with great coffee and amazing pastries!

239 Centre St, New York, NY 10013

Pietro Nolita – Affectionately known as the new pink place, stop here for a coffee and some photos, as we did.

174 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch Spots

Balthazar – This is a legendary, famous Soho brunch spot. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time, particularly if you plan to go for Saturday or Sunday brunch.

80 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Cafe Henrie – A relatively new cafe, this spot is gaining notoriety for its pink and blue decor (plus some risqué neon artwork near the bathrooms). Notwithstanding the quirky attractions of the restaurant, they serve up delicious and healthy food.

116 Forsyth St, New York, NY 10002

The Butcher’s Daughter – A go-to place in the Lolita-Soho area, you’ll find lots of fresh juices and healthy light fare. This place is wonderful if you are searching for vegetarian and vegan option. Plus, if the weather allows, you can sit outdoors on the patio.

19 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012

Egg Shop – What’s not to love about this egg-strodinary (wink) egg-inspired restaurant? This is a great place for a savory meal any time of day, from breakfast until dinner.

151 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

Jack’s Wife Freda – We implore you – don’t leave NY without trying this Soho staple! This is a favorite of ours, and everything here is great. My personal favorite at any time of day is the savory breakfast bowl. If you like to spice things up, be sure to ask for their hot sauce!

224 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Seamore’s – Great seafood in a great space. In fact, both the interior and exterior have art by one of our favorite street artists – James Goldcrown, the same artist who created this wall.

390 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

Two Hands Cafe – This is a good spot for coffee, smoothies, and light breakfast foods like avocado toast and acai bowls.

164 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Dinner Spots

Aurora Soho – If you are craving Italian, this is a great spot to go for rustic Italian food in Soho.

510 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

Blue Ribbon Sushi – Small, authentic, and full of locals, you can’t go wrong with this place if you like sushi. Note that the restaurant is located on a residential street with limited signage. But trust us – you’re in the right place!

119 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

The Dutch – A modern, lively spot serving solid American fare and drinks. Definitely check out the oyster bar.

131 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

Freeman’s – This place is known for the lovely hidden alley in which it is located. They offer good American fare and great cocktails.

Freeman Alley, New York, NY 10002

The Mercer Kitchen – Dimly lit to create a nice ambience, this restaurant serves great food and cocktails, perfect for a girls night out. We recommend asking for a table downstairs.

99 Prince St, New York, NY 10012

Tartinery – This is a French-inspired chic cafe with great open sandwiches and an equally great atmosphere for dinner.

209 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012

What to Do

Well, first, may we suggest visiting some of the area’s great murals? If you consult our mural guide, you’ll find that we’ve included helpful hints as to which of these cafes and eateries and stores are near each of the murals.

Secondly, the area is known for its great shopping. You can seriously find practically any store your heart desires! With everything from J.Crew to Intermix to Stella McCartney and everything in between, Soho is a great venue for window shopping. Here are details on a few of our favorite stores:

Alexander Wang – the designer’s flagship store

103 Grand St, New York, NY 10013

Free People – bohemian chic apparel

99 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Golden Goose Deluxe Brand – my favorite luxury sneakers

468 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

Jonathan Adler – iconic modern American interior design

53 Greene St, New York, NY 10013

Kate Spade – one of the brand’s main stores for feminine preppy apparel

454 Broome St, New York, NY 10012

Pirch – luxury, modern kitchen, bath, and outdoor showroom, with a great espresso bar and lovely view of Soho

200 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Scotch & Soda – Amsterdam-based, chic apparel brand

273 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Superga – Maritere’s favorite Italian-made sneakers

78 Crosby St, New York, NY 10012

Tictail Market – A unique shop dedicated to finding emerging designers from around the world.

90 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

In Closing

Finally, if you haven’t already gathered this, let me reiterate… If you haven’t explored the Soho area of NYC, we strongly recommend it. You will experience a side of NYC different from what you’ve probably experienced thus far. And if you have explored Soho, we’d love to hear any recommendation you may have for us!

Major thanks to Maritere Rice for both the photos and her assistance in curating this guide.