New York’s Smartest Enclave
From its elevated position above the Hudson River, Claremont Hall signals a neighborhood of brilliance and natural beauty, of grand city parks and enlightened ideals cultivated by some of the world’s most admired academic institutions. Here, you’ll find five of the city’s most magnificent parks, famous cafeterias and coffee shops, music and art venues of every genre, and a diverse group of world-renowned institutions of higher learning that make this New York’s smartest enclave.
Icons & Architecture
It’s no accident that many of the city’s most beautiful monuments celebrating its most revered citizens reside in this neighborhood. Morningside Heights is, after all, a place the city looks up to.
The Peace Fountain: Adjacent to the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, this 40 foot-high bronze sculpture weaves together several representations of the conflict between good and evil.
General Grant’s National Monument: This monument is the final resting place of Ulysses S. Grant, the U.S. President who led the Union Army to victory in the U.S. Civil War, and his wife, Julia.
Outdoor Recreation
Morningside Park, Sakura Park, and a long swath of Riverside Park — about one-third of Morningside Heights consists of parkland, making it one of the greenest neighborhoods in Manhattan. From baseball to bicycling to birdwatching to bocce, it is also a center of recreational diversity.
Dining in, Out, & Takeout
When it comes to dining out, cafes, delis, and pizza shops have always catered to basic collegiate needs. But over the last decade, the West Side has quietly emerged as a thriving dining destination steeped in culinary diversity — from southern-style comfort food in Harlem to Loire Valley fare served at a favorite French Bistro to some of the best ribs in the city.
New York was home to the first Jewish Deli in America, and after joining the uptown deli migration in 1908 Barney Greengrass quickly established a reputation for having the city’s best smoked fish.
Pisticci: Farm-to-kitchen Italian cuisine at 125 La Salle St.
Melba’s: Proper southern soul food at 300 W114th St.
Arts & Culture
No wonder it’s considered the most educated neighborhood in NYC. Here you’ll find a rich architectural, artistic and academic heritage, with world-renowned scholars and Universities like Columbia, notable arts schools like the Manhattan School of Music, and a remarkable array of galleries and performance spaces catering to every taste, from classical to cutting edge.
“The Unicorn in Captivity” — a masterpiece of The Met Cloisters. Many of the plants depicted in the Unicorn Tapestries are cultivated in the many gardens there.
The Apollo Theater: Dubbed “The Soul of American Culture”, the Apollo has been the nexus of the Harlem music scene since 1934.
Explore the Neighborhood
Nearby
Transportation
- 116th St Subway, Columbia University
- Cathedral Pwky Station
- LaGaurdia Airport20 Minutes
- JFK Airport40 Minutes
- Throgs Neck Bridge25 minutes
- West 30th Street Heliport15 minutes
- George Washington Bridge8 minutes
- Hudson, Rhinebeck, Woodstock2 Hours
- Storm King Art Center1 Hour
- Dia Beacon1 Hour 15 Minutes
- Rockefeller State Park40 Minutes
- Blue Hill Stone Barns40 Minutes
- Rockefeller House40 Minutes
- Vanderbilt Mansion1 Hour 45 Minutes