- 1. Where it is located and how to get there
- 2. 10 things to do and see in Soho
- 3. 1 - Cast Iron District
- 4. 2 - Greene Street
- 5. 3 - Soho Building
- 6. 4 - Trompe L'Oeil mural
- 7. 5 - Anthony Arnoux House
- 8. 6 - MoMA Design Store
- 9. 7 - The Drawing Center
- 10. 8 - Children Museum of Art
- 11. 9 - Shrine Church of St Anthony of Padua
- 12. 10 - Jimmy at the James
- 13. Historical notes, curiosities, and practical information: what you need to know briefly
- 14. Tours, guided visits, and online tickets
New York is a cosmopolitan city where countless cultures meet and live together. Just think of neighborhoods like Little Italy, Chinatown, and Harlem, to name a few. One of the most beloved areas is definitely the Soho neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. This is Manhattan's artistic and shopping district and represents one of the must-see stops in New York! Here is a small guide to exploring Soho in New York: where it is located, how to get there, and what to see!
Where it is located and how to get there
- On foot it is located in the Lower Manhattan district. This is bounded by Houston Street, Canal Street, Lafayette Street, and 6th Avenue. Easily reachable on foot from Little Italy (10 min), Hudson Square (10 min), and Greenwich Village (17 min) - Get directions
- By bus easily accessible from all over Manhattan. There are three stops along the Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue) and numerous stops along Houston St and Canal St. Soho is also crossed by Broadway, which also has numerous stops.
- By subway easily accessible from all over Manhattan. The main station is Broadway-Lafayette Street Station (lines B, D, F, M, 6). You can also arrive at the Canal St, Houston St, Spring St, and Prince St stations.
10 things to do and see in Soho
1 - Cast Iron District
The most characteristic area of Soho. Here you will find most of the famous cast-iron buildings with external fire escapes.
2 - Greene Street
The main street of Soho, rich in shops and venues, also the heart of the neighborhood's lively nightlife. It is best explored with your eyes looking up to admire the architecture of the buildings.
3 - Soho Building
On Greene St, a combination of two old buildings commissioned by a famous merchant of the city. One dates back to 1908 and the other to 1920. Here you will also find the Floating Subway Map, by Belgian artist Francoise Schei.
4 - Trompe L'Oeil mural
On Prince St, a wonderful mural by Richard Hass. It replicates the appearance of a typical Soho building, creating the illusion that it is real.
5 - Anthony Arnoux House
On Greene St, a historic traditional house with the typical red bricks, dating back to 1825, that has withstood the test of time. It can only be seen from the outside.
6 - MoMA Design Store
Soho is rich in design museums and art galleries. On Spring St, this is one of the most beautiful stores, featuring unique design items, making it great for an unusual souvenir.
7 - The Drawing Center
On Wooster St, this is the only non-profit institution/museum in the entire United States. It focuses exclusively on historical and contemporary drawings.
8 - Children Museum of Art
On Charlton St, a museum mainly dedicated to children, where they can engage with art and be little artists for a day.
9 - Shrine Church of St Anthony of Padua
On Sullivan St, this is the oldest Italian parish founded in New York.
10 - Jimmy at the James
One of the most famous spots in Soho, known for its lively nightlife. Located inside the James Hotel on Thompson St, it features a terrace offering views of the Manhattan skyscrapers.
Historical notes, curiosities, and practical information: what you need to know briefly
Many neighborhoods in New York have names that are actually abbreviations. In this case, SoHo stands for South of Houston Street. Since the 1960s, it has been a neighborhood frequented by artists and has maintained its artistic spirit today, thanks to the many galleries, fashion, antique shops, and numerous venues. It is also a very expensive neighborhood, both in terms of apartment rent and cost of living and shopping.
One of the characteristic aspects of Soho is definitely its architecture: here you will find the famous cast-iron buildings and colorful bricks with external fire escapes, like those seen in numerous movies and TV shows. You cannot miss a photo in this neighborhood!