Gramercy Park: The Classic Corner of Downtown Manhattan

The beautiful, secretive Gramercy Park gives its name to one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Midtown Manhattan. Woody Allen fans will remember it from a scene in Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993), where Diane Keaton and Alan Alda walk right past it.

What to see in Gramercy Park

This is a residential neighborhood next to Union Square and the Flatiron District, just north of the East Village. It's full of small buildings and townhouses with lovely back gardens. It's worth a visit just to picture yourself living in this traditional Manhattan neighborhood that has changed very little over the past century.

After a stroll, head over to Irving Place, a little street lined with small cafes and restaurants, and right nearby, Irving Plaza, a famous venue for rock concerts.

History buffs can visit the reconstruction of the house where Theodore Roosevelt was born, since the original was demolished long ago.

Another standout is the boutique hotel Gramercy Park Hotel, built in 1925 with interiors designed by filmmaker Julian Schnabel. The hotel has prime views over the park, and during their stay guests get access to a few keys to the famous park.

If it fits your budget, it's a great place to stay in the city, but there are also other hotels in Gramercy that are more affordable and superbly located.

Visiting Gramercy Park

This oasis in the middle of one of Manhattan's busiest areas, one of only two private parks in New York, is open exclusively to the privileged residents of the surrounding buildings, who pay an annual fee for its upkeep.

Because it's private, this quiet park hasn't been photographed or filmed much. For Europeans it's nothing new, since its design mimics small Parisian or London parks.

That said, you can look in through the outer railings, or get lucky and be in New York on the one day a year they open it to the general public, a date we still haven't managed to pin down.

In any case, to me it looks a lot like the park at Tudor City in Murray Hill, steps from the UN, which anyone can visit. It's a half-hour walk away and the neighborhood is lovely to explore on foot 🙂

Address

Gramercy Park sits between 14th and 30th Streets south to north, and between Broadway and 1st Avenue west to east

Getting there

Subway lines 4, 6. 23rd St and 14th St stations
Subway line 5. 14th St station