Miles 21 through 23 of this Sunday's New York City Marathon go down Fifth Avenue in Harlem. It's a section of the route–from E 138th Street to E 96th Street, with a detour around Marcus Garvey Park–with a less-crowded, almost small-town feel.
If you're planning to cheer on the 50,000-plus runners along this 42-block stretch–get to the route around 10:45am if you want to catch the elite runners– you might find yourself feeling peckish.
Luckily, three new spots to grab a sip or bite have opened on Fifth Avenue in Harlem since this time last year.
From south to north, here's where to go when you're hungry but don't want to miss a minute of the action:
1280 Fifth Ave between E 109th and E 110th Sts
Located on Mile 23 of the race, this welcoming new fast-casual spot inside the Africa Center allows you to mix and match an assortment of dishes rooted in West African home cooking. Once you've made your selection, bring your bowl of scrumptious food to the windows by Fifth Avenue and enjoy the view.
1330 Fifth Ave between E 111th and E 112th Sts
Need a boost of energy to cheer on all those inspirational athletes running down Fifth Avenue? This specialty coffee chainlet, which opened its first Harlem location this spring, offers everything from lattes to red eyes, plus fine pastries.
1 W 125th St and Fifth Ave
Most of the windows at Harlem's first Shack face Fifth Avenue, making it the perfect spot to watch the spectacle outside. Pair your burger with an only-in-Harlem concoction: the 125th Treat concrete, a frozen vanilla custard mixed with snickerdoodles from local bakery Lady Lexis Sweets.
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