Harlem is one of NYC’s most historic neighborhoods, rich in culture and lore dating all the way back to the 1920s-30s. Ever since the Harlem Renaissance drove many Black Americans to the area decades ago, it’s continued to be synonymous with music, literature, dance, art, and African American heritage.
Sitting right above Central Park, the neighborhood continues to be buzzing today, welcoming some of the best museums, soul food, and African American institutions to the area. We’ve put together a list of the best things to do, see, and eat in Harlem next time you visit.
Sylvia’s Restaurant
Step foot into the oldest black-owned restaurant in NYC and the undisputed “Queen of Soul Food” at Sylvia’s Restaurant. When we say this place is not only a Harlem institution, but a city-wide one, it’s true.
The neighborhood staple has been slinging authentic soul food since 1962, including their beloved menu items like BBQ ribs, chicken and waffles, mac and cheese, and a whole lot more.
Having a meal here is like collecting one of the infinity stones of the NYC restaurant gauntlet, and is somewhere you can brag to your friends about.
📍 328 Malcolm X Blvd
🍽️ Reserve a table at Sylvia’s Restaurant
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater is one of the most historic music venues in the history of American entertainment, and continues to be a neighborhood staple hosting all kinds of events. Over the course of history, the theater has launched the careers of legendary artists like Billie Holiday, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder!
Nowadays the renowned weekly talent show Amateur Night (which has been around since 1934) continues to encourage Harlem’s finest to come make a name for themself, as well as hosting other concerts and performances throughout the week. It’s the heartbeat of the African American culture and artistic expression that radiates throughout the neighborhood.
📍 253 W 125th St
🎤 See what’s on at Apollo Theater
National Jazz Museum in Harlem
Harlem’s rich jazz heritage is evident, and it’s all commemorated at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Since being founded in 1996, the museum uses educational programs, exhibits, and live performances to “preserve, promote and present jazz by inspiring knowledge, appreciation and the celebration of jazz locally, nationally and internationally,” according to their website.
The museum is curated by multi-GRAMMY® winning Artistic Directors Jon Batiste and Christian McBride, meaning that every exhibition, event, and collection is carefully thought out to demonstrate the importance of jazz in the neighborhood!
📍 58 W 129th St
🎷 Learn more about the National Jazz Museum in Harlem
Claire’s Kitchen Café
The ultimate breakfast spot, Claire’s serves up favorites like the classic BEC, Western breakfast wraps, and egg sandwiches and emphasizes Mediterranean-inspired bites. Though it’s a great early-morning pitstop, what’s particularly beloved about the eatery is the vibe: it’s an easy-going place to catch up with friends over coffee and pastries and it’s ideal for people watching.
📍19th Saint Nicholas Ave
Vinateria
No one leaves Vinateria hungry. The Black and woman-owned business has quickly become a Harlem staple with a cool twist thanks to the with Spanish influence on Italian dishes. We highly recommend a bowl of the papardelle with lamb ragu — trust us!
📍 2211 Frederick Douglass Blvd
Marcus Garvey Park
This 20-acre park right in the heart of Harlem is of course named after influential Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey, and serves as one of the neighborhood’s great gathering points! New Yorkers can stroll through the famous park and check out different features like the 47-foot cast-iron fire watchtower and the pair of performance arts stages where various cultural events and concerts (including the famous “Black Woodstock” in 1969) take place from time to time.
Marcus Garvey Park also boasts one of the best outdoor swimming pools in the summertime and one of our favorite playgrounds for kids in the area.
📍 6316 Mt Morris Park W
Red Rooster Harlem
Acclaimed restauranteur Marcus Samuelsson is behind this one-of-a-kind comfort food restaurant in Harlem, one that’s named after the legendary Harlem speakeasy that attracted neighborhood folk, jazz greats, and noteworthy figures of the 20th century.
Red Rooster’s menu focuses on elevated twists of traditional Harlem comfort food; think chicken & waffle, shrimp & grits, mac & cheese, cornbread, and plenty more. The restaurant also hosts plenty of live jazz and soul performances which pair pleasurably with your meal. We recommend going on Sundays for one of their gospel brunches.
📍 310 Lenox Ave
🍽️ Reserve a table at Red Rooster Harlem
Sugar Hill Creamery
Who’s got a sweet tooth?! Sugar Hill Creamy is one of the best Black-owned ice cream shops in New York City, and their Harlem outpost is a must-hit when we’re in the area. They’re famous for making the ice cream in small batches and with unique flavors inspired by Caribbean and Midwestern cultures.
They switch menus seasonally so be sure to check out what’s in store, but trust us it’s worth dropping by for a scoop!
📍 184 Malcolm X Blvd
🍦 See Sugar Hill Creamery’s flavors
Archer & Goat
This pretty unassuming restaurant inside a Harlem townhouse is worth the rave, and their menu of classic American twists and traditional Latin and South Asian dishes should catch your eye. Archer & Goat’s cute little dining room adorned with lots of lightbulbs is great for a quick meal, drink with a friend, or post-work catch up.
It’s a family-owned business so you know everything is made with love and care, including our favorite items the Chicken Vindaloo Arepas, Carne Asada, and Roasted Duck.
📍 187 Malcolm X Blvd
🍽️ Reserve a table at Archer & Goat
Sugarmonk
We couldn’t make a Harlem guide without a great place to grab a cocktail, and Sugarmonk has our hearts! The lounge vibes are real here and the bartenders are amazing and know your name if you go there enough.
Owners Ektoras Binikos and Simon Jutras use their visual arts backgrounds to construct some of those most unique drinks you’ll ever see, divided by their inspirations. From a gin-based “Ugly Beauty” to a cognac-based “Over the Volcano” we promise you won’t find another cocktail bar quite like it.
📍 2292 Frederick Douglass Blvd
🍸 Plan your visit to Sugarmonk
The Studio Museum in Harlem (Reopening Soon)
Bookmark this one for later this year, but The Studio Museum in Harlem is set to reopen in the fall of 2025 after a six-year closure, marking a significant return to the cultural scene.
The museum’s first show will feature a comprehensive presentation of the work of artist, educator, and activist Tom Lloyd, highlighting his electronic sculptures and works on paper from the 1970s and 1980s. The museum was founded to address the exclusion of artists of African descent from mainstream art institutions.
📍 144 W 125th St
🎨 Learn more about the The Studio Museum in Harlem’s reopening
Harlem Uptown Market
Each summer, Harlem’s beloved outdoor food market returns with tons of local vendors serving yummy food! 2025 marks the 5th annual edition of the festival, which welcomes local small businesses to help amplify the vibrancy of Harlem’s community, culture, and food.
Last year, over 80+ diverse vendors representing over 20 countries were on display and we can expect even more this year! The night market usually takes place on the second Thursday of each month, April to October under the Harlem Arches.
📍 701 W 133rd St
🍔 Learn more about the Uptown Night Market
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
The breadth of the New York Public Library is well known, but in Harlem it means even more. Specifically the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, which is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history and culture of people of African descent worldwide.
The library dates back to 1925 and today houses over 11 million items spanning history, literature, and so much more. The center is well known for offering extensive resources for research and hosting various cultural events and exhibition; all with a focus on Black cultural expression and historical preservation!
📍 515 Malcolm X Blvd
📚 Plan your visit to Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
The original home of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers, resides in Harlem and the historic house museum is open to visit for New Yorkers! The house, which was initially built back in 1802, serves as a symbol of the key figure in shaping the U.S. government and economy.
Over the years, the house has gone through several restorations, and today has a historically furnished interior that offers a glimpse into Hamilton’s life and legacy. It’s one of the coolest pieces of living history in NYC in our humble opinion.
📍 414 W 141st St
🎷 Plan your visit to Hamilton Grange National Memorial
Minton’s Playhouse
If Harlem’s jazz scene isn’t evident enough quite yet, let us introduce you to Minton’s Playhouse, our go-to jazz club in the neighborhood. The legendary venue is known as the birthplace of bebop, a style of jazz that emerged through the club’s late-night jam sessions.
They host jazz/dinner shows all the time, welcoming in live performances from talented musicians in combination with delicious food from The Cecil Steakhouse. It’s a great date spot with live music and moody dark ambiance that’s next to none in the neighborhood!
📍 206 W 118th St