The Ultimate Visitor's Guide to Harlem Spring Edition: the Best Things to See and Do, Plus Where to Eat Nearby
- The Curious Uptowner
- May 12
- 4 min read
Spring is here, welcoming a fresh wave of visitors ready to explore Harlem.
If you're one of them—or happen to be hosting friends and family in the area soon—here's a top-10 list of things to see and do in the neighborhood.
And since you're bound to get hungry, check out TCU's suggestions for where to eat and drink nearby.
1. Tour the area's Black monuments
It's safe to say Harlem has the best collection of Black monuments in the country—from a 25-foot-tall memorial dedicated to Duke Ellington to a striking bronze sculpture of Harriet Tubman—and they're all within walking distance of each other. Ready to see them all? Find the full DIY tour here.
📍Pictured: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Memorial, 125th St and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd
Eat/Drink: Vintage-themed Harlem Shake serves up delectable burgers and shakes at 100 W 124th St and Lenox Ave/Malcolm X Blvd.
2. Admire the neighborhood's historic architecture
From Lenox Avenue's iconic brownstones to Convent Avenue's turreted townhouses, you can easily spend the whole day walking around Harlem while admiring its architecture. Here are ten beautiful streets you shouldn't miss.
📍Pictured: Strivers' Row, W 138th and W 139th Streets between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Boulevards
Eat/Drink: Cozy corner coffee spot NBHD Brûlée at 2620 Frederick Douglass Blvd and W 140th St serves warm sandwiches and is open until 5pm.
3. Check out the cast-iron Harlem Fire Watchtower
Following a lengthy renovation in 2019, this last-of-its-kind cast-iron watchtower—built in 1857 and used to spot fires in pre-telegraph NYC—is back in all its glory atop Marcus Garvey Park. Look for the staircase on the east side of the hill to take you directly there.
📍Top of Marcus Garvey Park between 120th and 124th Streets and Madison Ave and Mt. Morris Park West
Eat/Drink: Family-run ice cream parlor Sugar Hill Creamery, serving scoops of handmade ice cream in flavors like Chairperson of the Board (a.k.a. blueberry cheesecake) as well as brownie sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, and its beloved ice cream hot chocolate is a short walk from the park at 184 Lenox Ave/Malcolm X Blvd.
4. Visit the legendary Apollo Theater
No visit to Harlem is complete without a stop at this famous theater, where everyone from Billie Holiday to James Brown has performed on stage. Take a picture in front of the iconic marquee and don't forget to look down to find the name of your favorite star—Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Prince—on the Apollo Theater's Walk of Fame. The legendary Amateur Night at the Apollo—a vibrant showcase for aspiring musicians, singers, dancers, comedians, rappers and spoken word artists—takes place on Wednesday nights.
📍253 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvds
Eat/Drink: Stylish cocktail bar Sugar Monk, with live jazz on Tuesday nights, is just two blocks south of the Apollo.
5. Hear live jazz (and learn about its history)
Jazz is everywhere in Harlem, but a good place to start your tour is the small-but-mighty National Jazz Museum in Harlem, which hosts live jazz performances a few times a month.
📍58 W 129th St between Fifth Ave and Lenox Ave/Malcolm X Blvd
Eat/Drink: Red Rooster, chef Marcus Samuelsson's world-famous tribute to Harlem, is a short walk away at 310 Lenox Ave/Malcolm X Blvd. Check out the restaurant's live music schedule, including Jazzy Sundays with Nate Lucas All Stars.
6. Explore the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
This division of the New York Public Library dedicated to Black culture—a must for any visitor to Harlem—is celebrating its 100th anniversary (check out the exhibit 100: A Century of Collections, Community, and Creativity through June 30) as well as permanent highlights like the "Rivers" cosmogram inspired by a Langston Hughes poem (pictured). Find the Schomburg's self-guided tour here.
📍515 Lenox Ave/Malcolm X Blvd and W 135th St
Eat/Drink: Experience old-school Harlem at its best at Sylvia's Restaurant at 328 Lenox Ave/Malcolm X Blvd, serving soul food since 1962.
7. Visit a storied Harlem church
The Abyssinian Baptist Church, where congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. once served as pastor and actress Cicely Tyson's public viewing was held in 2021, might be the most storied Black church in Harlem. Tourists are welcome to come worship on Sundays.
📍132 W 138th St between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd
Eat/Drink: French/West African spot Ponty Bistro is open all day at 2375 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd.
8. See where famous Harlemites once lived
Many of the buildings where famous Harlem Renaissance artists, writers, musicians and thinkers—from Duke Ellington to Zora Neale Hurston—once lived are still standing today. Find the homes at your own pace using TCU's DIY guide.
📍Pictured: Graham Court, 1921 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd at 116th St
Eat/Drink: Serving every kind of bagel sandwich imaginable, Bo's Bagels at 235 W 116th St is just down the street from Graham Court.
9. Discover the neighborhood's best murals
From decades-old murals that have recently undergone renovations to the newest subway art commissioned by the MTA, Harlem's murals are surely some of the best in the city. Find TCU's favorites here.
📍Pictured: Bill "Bojangles" Robinson mural, 269 W 150th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvds
Eat/Drink: The charming Lucille's at 26 Macombs Pl, a short walk from the Bill "Bojangles" Robinson mural, serves coffee and food all day (closed Mondays).
10. Stop by the Hamilton Grange National Memorial
Built by founding father Alexander Hamilton in 1802, this lovingly restored house was moved twice from its original spot on 143rd Street and is now located on a grassy slope in St. Nicholas Park. Free park ranger-led tours of the house are held from Wednesday to Sunday.
📍414 W 141 St between Convent and St. Nicholas Aves
Eat/Drink: Fumo (1600 Amsterdam Ave), a popular neighborhood spot for pasta and pizza, is up the hill and around the corner.
Comments