West 85 St, Upper West Side

Neither too trendy nor too downmarket, too busy nor too quiet, too artsy nor too bourgeois, the West 80's represent one of Manhattan's few truly balanced areas. While many family-friendly areas are either so dull and residential as to be unliveable, or gather their "safe" atmosphere by raising prices to the level of over the top exclusivity, the Upper West Side is family-friendly yet unpretentious, with a thriving restaurant scene that, though tables may not be booked months in advance, nevertheless offer good and often great food for reasonable (for New York) prices. Some family-friendly restaurants on or around West 85th Street include the relaxing brunch place Popovers, hearty Italian trattoria Nonna's, and Bar Luna, although Celeste is another popular choice. There's plenty of greenery around - with Riverside Park on one side of this not-too-long crosstown street and Central Park on the other. Pet owners will be glad to hear that it's also near the 87th Street Dog Run in Riverside Park, a popular community meeting point. This lively neighborhood is a must-consider for New York families looking for a comfortable place to put down roots.

85th Street is one of the lovely streets on the Upper West Side that you can walk down and escape the hustle and bustle of New York City. Starting on Riverside Drive and continuing to Broadway, you'll walk past gorgeous brownstones and several independent local businesses. Deli Kasbah, a Jewish Deli between West End and Broadway, serves delicious Jewish staples and is run by lovely people. A laundromat on the same section of the street also does a very good job for a reasonable price.

Continuing forward, you may already be hungry from your walk. Consider eating at Dean's Pizzeria, which serves amazing New York style thin crust pizza (and which delivers, which definitely comes in handy). French Roast and La Cucina, a French restaurant and a Spanish restaurant respectively, each also serve delicious food.

After having a meal, continue walking down W 85th St and admiring the brownstones. Before you know it you'll be at Central Park, and you can take a lovely walk onwards from there.