SoHo is one of the most fashionable neighbourhoods in New York City. Come for cobblestones, the historic cast-iron building facades, major fashion labels and the American raw bars and classic bistros that have become New York institutions. I lived in New York City, next to SoHo in Nolita, for nearly two years. This SoHo neighbourhood guide includes my favourite things to do in SoHo and the best places to eat and drink.

The best things to do in SoHo are admiring the historic wrought iron facades, especially on Mercer, Broome and Greene Street, going for a power lunch or glamorous dinner at Balthazar or Raoul’s, designer shopping, galleries like Jeffrey Deitch and The Drawing Centre, and visiting historic taverns like Fanelli’s Cafe and The Ear Inn.

Once upon a time, SoHo was anti-establishment, but these days it’s for the firmly established. You’ll find Chanel, Chloe, Zadig & Voltaire and any other fashion labels which has “made it” and landmark restaurants like Balthazar. For smaller, younger and trendier boutiques, bars and restaurants, head to neighbouring Nolita, the Lower East Side and East Village.

Where is SoHo?

SoHo, which stands for South of Houston, is bordered by Houston St to the north, Canal St to the south, Lafayette St to the east and West Broadway to the west. It’s a small neighbourhood, surrounded by West Village, Nolita, Chinatown & Tribeca. My favourite parts of SoHo are Prince St, Grand St and Spring St. 

A brief history of SoHo, NYC

SoHo was once New York’s red light district. By the 1950’s it was an industrial wasteland of factories and sweatshops and had earned the name “Hell’s Hundred Acres” (not to be confused with Hell’s Kitchen further north – Manhattan used to be a real gem!).

It’s a tale as old as time: undesirable parts of town has cheap rent, and cheap rent attract the city’s starving artists and other creative types. The artists make the neighbourhood cool, and then everyone else wants in. Urban revitalisation and gentrification see soaring rents, and new neighbours like Gucci and Louis Vuitton move in.

The Best Things to Do in SoHo

SoHo Street Art

There’s a lot of great public art in SoHo, you just need to keep your eyes peeled – and crucially, not glued to your iPhone. If you head onto Mulberry St, into Little Italy, you’ll also find Eaton’s famous Audrey Hepburn mural!

Some of the best major pieces of street art in SoHo are:

• Gucci Art Wall – Corner of Prince St & Lafayette St
• Pop Art Crying Girl by D*Face – 421 Broome St
• Gigi Hadid Mural by Tristan Eaton – 389 Broome St

Pick up an original photography print

On a visit to New York a few years ago, I stumbled across photographer Rob Hann‘s streetside stall in SoHo. I immediately was drawn to his portraits and landscapes of Middle America and picked up a print to take home. Rob is British, but has lived in the USA for years, as he documents rural and Middle America through his photography. You can find him at 113 Prince St.

Visit the Glossier Holy Grail

Skincare addicts will love the impressive Glossier flagship in SoHo. More of a showroom than a store, the famous online beauty brand has made sure that their first in-the-flesh retail presence goes above and beyond. There’s even a “wet room” stocked with glossier products where you can test out face washes and other products using the bathroom-like space, which includes sinks and mirrors. The best part is definitely the super cute check out process, with a pink conveyer belt that sends out your products all packaged up and ready to go.

Admire the architecture

SoHo is a great neighbourhood for architecture enthusiasts and photographers. The neighbourhood is a protected historic district because of the cast-iron facades on the buildings, which make for a classic New York photography subject.

The most beautiful streets in SoHo are Mercer St, Wooster St and Greene St, and Broadway is also iconic.

Pilates, Yoga & Barre

Naturally, a neighbourhood as trendy as SoHo is no stranger to boutique fitness studios. My favourite SoHo pilates studio is Physique57, which is all about high intensity pilates and barre.

Shopping in SoHo

If you’re looking for labels, you’ve come to the right place. SoHo is New York’s best place to shop major brands. You’ll find luxury labels as well as younger brands like The Kooples, Paige Denim, Frame Denim and Zadig & Voltaire. Skincare addicts can’t miss the impressive Glossier flagship! There’s also a Bloomingdale’s in SoHo which has a wide range of labels.

Jeffrey Deitch Gallery

SoHo is home to a number of private art galleries which are open to the public. Jeffrey Deitch gallery is great for dipping your toe into the art world – it’s a small space, has free entry and has eye-catching, cutting-edge exhibits. Deitch is the former Director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and is now based in New York.

The Drawing Center

The Drawing Center is a small but considered gallery that celebrates the humble drawing. Entry is $5 and it’s not far from Jeffrey Deitch.

Best Brunch, Cafes & Bakeries in SoHo

SoHo is packed with stylish cafes, brunch spots and bakeries, from chic Balthazar Bakery and viral sensation Dominique Ansel, to gorgeous all day cafes like Jack’s Wife Freda. Check out my complete guide to the best cafes, brunch, bakeries & coffee in SoHo for more recommendations!

La Mercerie

One of the most beautiful cafes in New York City, La Mercerie is a firm favourite for brunch spots in SoHo. Expect an elegant French breakfast & brunch menu, and don’t miss the design adjacent design store!

Jack’s Wife Freda

Jack’s Wife Freda is my favourite brunch spot in New York. They’ve also got locations in West Village and Chelsea. They have a great Croque Madame with house cured duck bacon and their cantaloupe (rockmelon) mimosas are the perfect way to celebrate a weekend brunch. This spot gets really busy but if you arrive before 9 you probably won’t wait for a table.

Balthazar Bakery

Attached to Balthazar’s glamorous restaurant is the teeny tiny Balthazar Bakery. It’s permanently packed but their chocolate doughnuts are worth the wait.

Dominique Ansel

Dominique Ansel’s eponymous bakery in SoHo is ground zero for the infamous croissant-doughnut hybrid, along with other pastries and baked goods. It’s become somewhat of a pilgrimage for sweet teeth in New York, much like Magnolia Bakery in West Village, Milk Bar in East Village and Nolita and Morgenstern’s ice cream in the Lower East Side.

The Best Restaurants in SoHo

SoHo’s restaurant scene is made up for a powerful trifecta of classic French bistros like Balthazar and Raoul’s, new-school spots like Charlie Bird and all-American raw bars such as AquaGrill and The Dutch. Check out my complete guide to the best restaurants & diners in SoHo for more recommendations!

Balthazar

Balthazar is one of New York’s most iconic restaurants, although it is more renowned for it’s vibe than for it’s food. It was the place to go for a power lunch in the 1990s (and still is), is full of people hiding behind enormous sunglasses.

It was featured in Sex and The City as “Balzac” which was notoriously difficult to get into and does classic Paris-meets-New York bistro like nowhere else. Yes, it’s been popular with tourists for decades, but it’s still just as popular with New Yorkers. Go for dinner or brunch.

Little Prince

Little Prince is cosy, charming and always busy. I love their menu of French bistro classics and fresh, produce-driven lighter dishes – especially their salads! This is a great spot for lunch after a morning of shopping in SoHo.

Charlie Bird

Charlie Bird is a distinctly downtown neighbourhood restaurant. It was born out of a desire to deliver a casual neighbourhood hangout with excellent food, service and wine – and succeeds on all three counts. It’s particularly well known for it’s stellar wine program, run by Wine Director Grant Reynolds, which offers a stellar wine list by the glass and half bottle without any of the usual pretension.

Everyone raves about the pasta and chicken here, but I’m obsessed with their simple yet delicious farro salad which I could probably eat every day for the rest of my life.

The Best Bars in SoHo

SoHo is home to plenty of high end spots, but don’t miss the historic dives and taverns like Ear Inn, Toad Hall, Broome St Bar and Fanelli Cafe which have stood the test of time.

Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

Okay, so it’s not technically in SoHo but it’s only a block away and I adore this place. Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels has an exciting wine list ( wine geek alert) with interesting varietals from all over the world, knowledgeable staff and it is blessedly not a scene. A really cool spot and completely off the tourist trail.

Toad Hall

It seems very un-SoHo these days, but this cozy English-style tavern has been a local haunt for years. Come to Toad Hall for a SoHo bar thats totally unpretentious, cheerful and perennially busy.

Healthy Food in SoHo

SoHo is both trendy and a model magnet, so there are plenty of green juices, matcha lattes and kale salads to go around. These are some of my favourite spots.

Matchaful

Matchaful is a gorgeous SoHo cafe along Canal St that serves plenty of Matcha tea variations, but my favourite thing here is the snacks fridge – the vegan onigiri is DELICIOUS! Such a perfect healthy snack on the go.

Juice Generation and Joe & The Juice

Juice Generation and Joe & The Juice are both solid juice bars and just what the doctor ordered after a few days of eating classic American tourist food.

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