New York’s must-see neighbourhoods

New York’s most vibrant neighbourhood, packed with small, cool bars and independent restaurants offering food from around the world. Vintage and consignment fashion boutiques are dotted between stores selling records, punk accessories and quirky knickknacks. Take the subway to Union Square or 2nd Avenue.

A former cluster of meat processing factories that’s evolved into the hottest, swankiest neighbourhood in town. Untypically spacious, with cobbled streets and authentic heritage buildings, it’s home to super-fashionable nightlife and shopping – with all the top designers having stores here – and trendy boutique hotels. A magnet for the uber-cool, sexy and stylish. Most of the action centres around the Standard Hotel. Start there.

A tourist trap hated by New Yorkers. See it once for the lights, especially with kids, or dart in to get discount theatre tickets, but otherwise avoid it. The streets are dark, dirty and jammed with honking taxis, bewildered package tourists and hawkers selling tat, all jostling together. The 1, 2, 3, S, N, Q, and R subway lines all stop at Times Square.

One of New York’s prettiest neighbourhoods that charms with its cobbled streets and industrial buildings characterised by lattices of external fire escapes and decorative iron cladding. Now home to designer-label stores from Prada to Patagonia, and restaurants and boutique hotels frequented by celebrities. Take the subway to Spring Street (C, E), Prince Street (N, R) or Broadway Lafayette (B, D, F, M).

A charm-heavy old neighbourhood of winding streets and brownstone town houses. It shelters with a mix of fancy and old-school shops, upscale boutiques and some terrific cutesy eateries, that are a delight to stumble on. Take the subway to 14th Street and walk south.