Tucked away on Manhattan’s east side, Kips Bay is a charming neighborhood that’s starting to gain popularity…especially for residential moving. Home to loads of restaurants and entertainment as well as being a few steps away from the East side waterfront, it’s starting to make a name for itself in Manhattan!
In this guide, we’re going to point you in the right direction of some of Secret NYC’s favorite spots…ranging from restaurants and bars to attractions! Here’s what to do if you find yourself in Kips Bay:
Where exactly is Kips Bay?
Kips Bay’s boundaries are 34th Street to the north, the East River to the east, 23rd Street to the south, and Third Avenue to the west.
1. Georgia Room
Kips Bay isn’t necessarily a hotbed for nightlife in NYC, but it is home to a popular lounge and club that we do love to frequent. It’s on the second floor of the Freehand Hotel and its southwestern-inspired decor and massive disco ball makes it one of our favorite places to dance on Friday and Saturday nights. They usually have DJs spinning on weekends and occasional live music and fashion events too. See what’s on at Georgia Room here.
Where: 23 Lexington Ave, 2nd Floor
2. AMC Kips Bay 15
There are plenty of AMC movie theaters in the city, but very few compare to AMC Kips Bay 15! The popular theater is home to 15 different auditoriums hosting current movies in regular format, IMAX, IMAX VR, and REAL-D 3D! The quality of the experience is awesome too…it has comfy leather recliners, reserved seating, dinner menu with seat delivery options, and much more.
🎥 You can grab tickets for AMC Kips Bay 15 for a discounted price here!
Where: 570 2nd Ave
3. New York Comedy Club
Ready to laugh? New York Comedy Club in Kips Bay welcomes in some of the industry’s funniest names…including the likes of Ari Shaffir, Chris Distefano, and many more. It’s a great neighborhood comedy club where you can pop in on a weekday and check out both local talent and nationally touring comedians! They also have other locations in the East Village and Upper West Side! See what’s on at New York Comedy Club here!
Where: 241 E 24th St
4. Bella Union
Doubling as one of our favorite rooftop bars and espresso martini deals, Bella Union is a neighborhood hotspot that draws crowds from even beyond Kips Bay! Their rooftop is super cute and has great Empire State Building views, and they offer speciality deals throughout the week. We’re talking $5 Espresso Martinis on Tuesdays, $10 burgers on Wednesdays, and plenty more!
It’s a pretty versatile spot too, perfect for anything from Happy Hour (Monday – Friday, 4 – 8 pm) to a date night on the roof. See Bella Union’s menu and reserve a table here!
Where: 411 3rd Ave
5. Blue Haven East
Blue Haven East is one of our favorite sports bars in NYC, and their Kips Bay location is particularly great for game day! According to their website they “blur the line between upscale NYC sports bar and draught beer pub” and they do so perfectly with their range of TVs, great food, and quality draft beers.
We highly recommend reserving a table if you go here, especially for big games…and definitely take advantage of their daily deals (Monday-Friday), which differ every week! Check out Blue Haven East’s weekly deals and reserve a table here!
Where: 493 3rd Ave
6. Empire Cruises
Head all the way east in Kips Bay to the waterfront if you’re looking to have a buoyant experience! Empire Cruises is a boat rental service along the FDR that friends or family can rent to throw birthday parties, bachelorette cruises, any everything in between! Check out all of Empire Cruises’ boating rental options here.
Where: 2430 FDR Dr
7. Housing Works Thrift Shop
For all of our thrift shop fans out there, be sure to stop by Housing Works, who has multiple locations around NYC and one in Kips Bay. It’s actually operated by a non-profit organization dedicated to ending homelessness and HIV/AIDS, and all sales proceeds are directly donated to Housing Works’ advocacy and services!
Of course there’s plenty of awesome gems in here too, including a vast selection of clothing, accessories, and home décor items. It’s definitely worth a visit!
Where: 157 E 23rd St