Astoria
Greek, Egyptian, Brazilian and Bangladeshi food in one walkable neighborhood, plus a century-old beer garden, a serious film museum, and a park with the best bridge view in New York.
- What it costs
- Free to walk. Astoria Park and the waterfront are free; food and the museum charge.
- Best in
- Spring, Summer, Fall
- Where
- Ditmars Boulevard & 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105
- Official site
- nycgovparks.org
The food, which is the point
Astoria was the largest Greek community outside Greece for decades and the Greek food is still the backbone — bakeries, fish tavernas, and cafés where people sit for three hours over one coffee.
Layered on top: a substantial Egyptian presence along Steinway Street with shisha cafés and grills, Brazilian restaurants and bakeries, Bangladeshi and Bosnian food, and a strong newer Italian scene.
It is cheaper than Manhattan by a wide margin and the quality is high across all of it.
Astoria Park
Sits on the East River between the Hell Gate and RFK Triborough bridges, and the view of the Hell Gate arch from the park is the best bridge view in the city that nobody photographs.
The park has the oldest and largest public pool in New York City, built for the 1936 Olympic trials — free, open in summer, and enormous. There's also a running track, tennis courts and a long riverside path.
Beer gardens and film
Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden has been running since 1910 and is the oldest beer garden in New York City — a large outdoor space behind a Czech community hall, with long tables, a proper beer list and Czech food. It is exactly what you want on a summer evening.
The Museum of the Moving Image is on the site of the historic Astoria studios, with a serious permanent exhibition on how film and television actually get made, plus a screening programme. It is far better than its low profile suggests.
Socrates Sculpture Park on the waterfront is free, outdoor, and shows large-scale contemporary work with the Manhattan skyline behind it.
Getting there
The N or W to Astoria–Ditmars Boulevard for the northern end, or 30th Avenue / Broadway for the middle. About 20 minutes from Midtown, elevated most of the way.
The M or R to Steinway Street serves the eastern side.
The NYC Ferry Astoria route lands at Hallets Point and is the pleasant way in.
Getting around once you're there
Flat streets throughout. Astoria Park is largely flat with paved paths, though the waterfront path has some grades. Most N/W stations in Astoria are **not** accessible — check before travelling.