When people think of downtown Manhattan, they often think of Financial District and the 9/11 Memorial area or SoHo. But nestled in between these two busy neighborhoods are the quiet and charming streets of Tribeca.
Curious to know what does Tribeca stand for? The name is a clever abbreviation of the location – Triangle Beneath Canal (Street).
Tribeca is one of New York City’s oldest residential neighborhoods but in recent decades, it’s earned another superlative as New York’s most expensive neighborhood. It’s home to many celebrities including Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, and Harry Styles to name a few.
You’ll find a charming mix of old and new here, from the cobblestone streets and restored warehouses to the towering skyscrapers. It has amazing restaurants, shops, and history to explore. Keep reading as we dive into 12 things to do in Tribeca.
1. Eat at Robert de Niro’s Restaurant
Fun fact: Robert de Niro owns restaurants in New York City, two of which are in Tribeca. The first is Tribeca Grill, which is a classic American restaurant that’s a favorite among New Yorkers. It’s a great place to gather with friends or have a date.
The other restaurant is Locanda Verde, a lovely Italian restaurant. It’s frequented by celebrities (Harry Styles has eaten there!) and serves up some of the best Italian food downtown. Don’t miss the whipped ricotta, it’s a fan-favorite.
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2. Smallest Museum in NYC
Do you want to go to the smallest museum in NYC? It’s in Tribeca and it’s so small, it can only fit 2-3 people at a time. The Mmuseumm, located at 4 Cortlandt Alley in a freight elevator with simple shelves displaying objects that provide commentary on the current time. It’s an incredibly thoughtful collection of artifacts. The museum isn’t always open but there’s a window in the door where you can view it even when it’s closed. Check out what’s currently on view here.
3. Jenga Building
56 Leonard Street, or casually known as the Jenga Building, is a 60-story glass skyscraper that is very reminiscent of a Jenga stack, with misaligned rectangles all around.
In reality, it’s a high-tech apartment building designed by the Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron and is home to high-profile residents like Bella Hadid and Harry Styles.
It’s one of Tribeca’s most unique buildings so be sure to snap a shot!
4. Bean Sculpture
Located right below the Jenga Building is a shiny bean-shaped sculpture that’s designed to look like it’s propping the entire building up. It was created by Anish Kapoor, the sculptor behind Chicago’s famous “Cloud Gate” in Millenium Park. It’s a fun place to see the connection between art and architecture (or to take a cool selfie).
5. Hudson River Park
One of Tribeca’s crowning attractions is the Hudson River Park, looking over the Hudson River. The piers are the perfect place to go for a walk, lounge in the sun, picnic with friends, or have a playdate.
Pier 25 is great for families with a playground, mini golf, and a volleyball pit. Check out Pier 26 nearby for City Vineyard, a great wine bar with a rooftop that’s great for sunset! There’s free kayaking in the summer here too. If you’re looking for a grassy area to have a picnic or run and play in, head to Nelson. A Rockefeller Park.
6. Coffee at Hugh Jackman’s Coffee Shop
If you go to Tribeca, a stop at Laughing Man is a must. It’s owned by Hugh Jackman and was opened with a mission to donate all of the proceeds to charity. The Aussie coffee shop serves up an amazing flat white and has vegan bites for breakfast and lunch.
7. Mysterious Bookstore
Continue the spooky theme and check out Mysterious Bookstore, which sells only mystery, crime fiction, espionage, and thriller books. It’s the largest and oldest mystery bookstore in the world. How cool!
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8. Philip Williams Posters Store
Check out the largest collection of vintage posters at the Philip Williams Posters Store. It was established in 1972 and is a treasure trove of over 100,000 original posters dating from 1870 to the present. Whether you go just to flip through the posters or shop to bring one home, it’s a fun spot to visit.
9. Brunch at Bubby’s
In a city as fast as NYC, it can be hard for restaurants to capture a hometown feel but Bubby’s does it perfectly. Opened in 1990, Bubby’s is the go-to place for comfort American classics. Although they have amazing burgers and pie, they recognize the melting pot of cultures that makes up American cuisine, so you’ll you’ll find food with Chinese, Mexican, Southern influences as well.
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10. Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters fans won’t want to miss this one! In Tribeca, you can visit the firehouse featured in Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II. Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8 is located at 14 North Moore Street. It’s a fully operating fire station so you can’t go inside but you can check out the iconic exterior and the spray-painted ghosts on the sidewalk.
11. Hit the Shops
The shopping in Tribeca is a serious rival to that of nearby SoHo.
Here are some of the best shops and boutiques in Tribeca:
- Cliq – contemporary art, home decor, and clothing
- La Garçonne – upscale boutique with clothing, shoes, and accessories from cutting-edge designers
- Espasso – midcentury modern & contemporary Brazilian furniture
- 180 The Store – shop with a wide selection of Japanese brands
- Heyday – one-stop skincare shop
- Livly – children’s store
- LoLa – jewelry store
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12. Dinner at Odeon
Odeon is a gem in the Tribeca restaurant scene. It’s been around since the 1980s and has been the go-to spot for locals and tourists alike. The French brasserie vibe makes it an inviting hangout spot and will explain why Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat spent so much time here. Grab a seat on the sidewalk for some excellent people-watching.
Those are our top recommendations for things to do in Tribeca. What are your favorite spots in the neighborhood?