DK Travel : New York : Lower Manhattan

Old and new New York meet at the tip of the island. The city was born here under Dutch rule and became the nation’s first capital after the Revolutionary War (1775–83). At the intersection of Broad and Wall streets are the Federal Hall National Memorial, marking the site where George Washington was sworn in as president in 1789, and the New York Stock Exchange, the financial giant founded in 1817, whose influence is felt worldwide. The 20th-century skyscraper era added drama to the skyline. The 2001 leveling of the World Trade Center towers damaged but certainly did not destroy lower Manhattan. Historic buildings, exciting architecture, outdoor sculptures, and waterfront promenades remain unscathed. Numerous museums and galleries add to the area’s appeal.

Page
1
2
3
4

14 Wall Street

A handsome setting for fine French cuisine. Service is impeccable and there’s a convivial bar.
2 West

A contemporary steakhouse with French influences. Located in the Ritz Carlton Hotel, with views across the Hudson and Battery Park.
A Day Exploring Lower Manhattan

Morning

Begin at Battery Park for a view of the waterfront, and look into Castle Clinton (see Castle Clinton National Monument), an 1807 fort, to see dioramas of a changing New York. Then visit the Museum of the American Indian at the U.S. Custom House. Cross to Bowling Green, the city’s first park, then turn right on Whitehall, and left on Pearl Street for the Fraunces Tavern Museum, a restoration of the 1719 building where George Washington bade farewell to his troops.

Continue on Pearl Street and turn left to Broad Street to join Wall Street denizens at a favorite lunching spot, the impeccably French 14 Wall Street .

Head up Broad Street to Wall Street to the New York Stock Exchange, where there is chaos on the trading floor. Close by is Federal Hallp73), where the country’s first president took his oath of office. Join Wall Street denizens at a favorite lunching spot, the impeccably French 14 Wall Street (see 14 Wall Street), between Broad Street and Broadway.

Afternoon

Continue uptown on Nassau Street (a continuation of Broad Street) to see Chase Plaza and its famous sculptures. At the end of the Plaza on Liberty Street is the ornate Federal Reserve Bank and then Louise Nevelson Square, featuring the artist’s Shadows and Flags .

Go back on Liberty and turn downtown on Broadway to find Trinity Church and the Cunard Building. End the day with dinner at the Ritz-Carlton’s restaurant, 2 West @ Battery Park Place (see Battery Gardens).
Battery Gardens

This restaurant offers a New American menu with Asian accents, and panoramic views of the harbor.
Battery Park

Built largely on 18th- and 19th-century landfill, this park at New York harbor is usually visited for Castle Clinton, the 1807 fort that is now the embarkation point for Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty ferries. This welcome swath of green is of interest for its many monuments and statues.
Battery Park City

Several prestigious architects were involved in this extension of Manhattan, a commercial and residential enclave built on a 92-acre landfill created with earth displaced by excavation for the World Trade Center. A 2-mile (3-km) esplanade offers grand Statue of Liberty views. Parts of the complex were damaged by the Trade Center collapse but a brighter future is forecast since the opening of the posh Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the new Skyscraper Museum.
Bayard’s

Located in the restored landmark India House. The chef uses the freshest ingredients and the wine list is good.
Cunard Building

Brass doors and wrought iron gates lead into a U.S. Post Office in one of New York’s grandest interiors; a Great Hall with murals, frescoes and an elaborate domed ceiling. It was once the ticket office for the Queen Mary and Cunard’s other great ocean liners.
Double Check

The briefcase of J. Seward Johnson, Jr.’s 1982 seated bronze figure contains a stapler, calculator, and an occasional sandwich provided by a passerby.
Federal Hall National Memorial

Although the bronze statue of George Washington on the steps marks the site where the nation’s first president took his oath of office, the original building was replaced by this handsome, columned Greek Revival structure in 1842. It served as the U.S. Custom House and a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank before becoming a museum in 1955, with exhibits of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. An introductory video and talks detail the historic events that occurred here.

Jump to top

Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with a glass of house wine, and all unavoidable charges including tax.
- under $25
- $25-$50
- $50-$80
- over $80