Destinations / New York City / Top Things to Do in New York City for Architecture Fans on the Upper West Side
Top Things to Do in New York City for Architecture Fans on the Upper West Side
1. The Dakota
A German Renaissance Revival masterpiece anchoring 72nd Street at Central Park West, The Dakota’s high gables, dormers, and wrought-iron details make it one of NYC’s most photographed façades. Its sculptural silhouette reads beautifully against the treetops of Central Park.
✓ Why Go:
To admire one of Manhattan’s most storied apartment houses and study period masonry, ironwork, and rooflines up close from the sidewalk.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Early morning or late afternoon golden hour for soft light; weekdays are quieter.
✓ Insider Tip:
Frame the building from Strawberry Fields across the street for a classic skyline-and-façade shot.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors call it hauntingly elegant and appreciate how its craftsmanship rewards close inspection.
2. The San Remo
The Upper West Side’s iconic twin-towered cooperative combines a dignified base with soaring Art Deco crowns. From the park, the pair reads like bookends to the skyline.
✓ Why Go:
To see how vertical massing and twin towers transformed luxury living and the neighborhood’s profile.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Sunset from Central Park’s west edge for glowing stone and dramatic tower silhouettes.
✓ Insider Tip:
Shoot from Bow Bridge or The Lake’s shoreline to mirror the towers in the water.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Frequently described as cinematic and timeless, with many praising its symmetry.
3. The Beresford
A triple-towered landmark at 81st Street, The Beresford mixes classical ornament with powerful corner pavilions, creating one of the city’s most commanding residential profiles.
✓ Why Go:
To study how setbacks, towers, and sculptural corners create a monumental yet refined presence.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late afternoon when the sun rakes across Central Park West and brings out the carving.
✓ Insider Tip:
Stand on the museum steps across the street to capture the full height unobstructed.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Admired for its grandeur; many call it the quintessential Upper West Side building.
4. The Eldorado
A twin-towered Art Deco standout near 90th Street, The Eldorado pairs streamlined geometry with stylized crowns that sparkle at sunset.
✓ Why Go:
To appreciate late-1920s Art Deco residential design and the interplay of vertical lines and ornament.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Golden hour from the Central Park Reservoir path for dramatic reflections.
✓ Insider Tip:
Use a moderate zoom from the Reservoir’s west side to compress the twin towers against the treeline.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Praised for elegant Deco detailing and skyline drama without ostentation.
5. The Ansonia
This exuberant Beaux-Arts former hotel stretches an entire block with mansard roofs, rounded corner turrets, and lavish stonework—Parisian grandeur transplanted to Broadway.
✓ Why Go:
To see turn-of-the-century opulence at urban scale and the theatrical side of Beaux-Arts design.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Morning light on Broadway highlights its sculptural curves; weekends are lively but photogenic.
✓ Insider Tip:
Walk the 73rd Street corner for the best view of the turrets and rooftop silhouettes.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors love its over-the-top personality and photogenic details from every angle.
6. The Apthorp
An Italian Renaissance palazzo transplanted to Broadway, The Apthorp encloses a majestic courtyard behind rusticated stone and stately arched entrances.
✓ Why Go:
To admire urban palazzo design and masterful stonework that turns a city block into a private world.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Midday when the façades are evenly lit along Broadway.
✓ Insider Tip:
Peek through the monumental gates on 79th Street for a glimpse of the courtyard geometry.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Regarded as refined and romantic; many note the satisfying symmetry and detailing.
7. The Dorilton
A flamboyant Beaux-Arts showstopper at 71st Street with sculptural balconies, cartouches, and a famed arched carriageway bridging its wings.
✓ Why Go:
To experience high drama in stone and one of the neighborhood’s most ornate façades.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Late afternoon when shadows deepen the carvings and balustrades.
✓ Insider Tip:
Stand on the south side of 71st Street to center the arch and capture the building’s full breadth.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Often called jaw-dropping; architecture fans linger to parse the wealth of ornament.
8. New-York Historical Society
A dignified Beaux-Arts museum building with a colonnaded façade and handsome stone detailing, it anchors Central Park West at 77th Street.
✓ Why Go:
To pair architecture appreciation with exhibits, and to study proportion, rhythm, and classical motifs up close.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Morning for front-light on the façade; rainy days are great for interior galleries.
✓ Insider Tip:
Check the rear courtyard and side elevations for quieter photo angles free of traffic.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors value the harmony of building and boulevard; many call it stately but welcoming.
9. Beacon Theatre
A 1929 movie palace on Broadway with a richly atmospheric interior—ornamented arches, gilding, and intricate plasterwork—restored to its original splendor.
✓ Why Go:
To see historic theater design and craftsmanship that defined the golden age of performance halls.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Arrive shortly before a scheduled event to glimpse the lobby and auditorium glow.
✓ Insider Tip:
Look up: the vaulted lobby ceiling and chandeliers are the star details many miss.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Celebrated as magical inside and out; guests rave about the preserved detail.
10. American Museum of Natural History
A sprawling campus mixing Romanesque Revival masonry with contemporary interventions like the glass-and-steel Rose Center—an architectural timeline in one place.
✓ Why Go:
To study contrasting styles and how modern additions dialogue with historic fabric.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Weekday mornings for calmer exteriors; twilight for reflections on the Rose Center glass.
✓ Insider Tip:
Circle the block: the Central Park West façade, Theodore Roosevelt Park side, and Rose Center each tell a different architectural story.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Admired for its variety—visitors love the juxtaposition of heritage stonework and sleek modernism.
