Living in SoHo, Manhattan

Soho stretches from Canal Street to Houston Street and lies between the Hudson River and Lafayette Street and is the cultural center of Manhattan. It is pulsing with activity and life 24 hours a day with tourists and locals alike jostling for position among the narrow streets.

Soho only takes up a quarter square mile of the city but it has over 250 art galleries which should give you an idea of the type of vibe this place has. It also has four museums, 200 restaurants and 100 shops crammed within its borders. The nightlife here is busy and there's something to do at any hour of the day. If you're looking for a place to get a drink, try the Anchor Bar for its festive atmosphere or Antarctica for somewhere a little less pretentious that most places in this area. Greenhouse is the first environmentally friendly nightclub in New York, whatever that means. Or try the infamous Madam X, a bordello-style lounge with private party rooms and intimate nooks.

Avenue Q

SoHo isn't widely popular for its parks and recreation, with visitors normally frequenting this part of town more for other forms of entertainment, namely its bars, clubs and live music. The SoHo Park is one place that provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, with its innovate garage-garden offering an escape from fashionistas and tourists while indulging one in great food and drinks. Not a park in the true sense of the word, this little piece of heaven provides much needed quite-time that any outdoor park would.

SoHo is very well served by public transportation, both buses and the subway. Many subway lines travel through SoHo: A/C/E to Canal or C/E to Spring Street; 1/2/3 to Houston and Canal Streets; R/W to Prince Street; N/R/Q/W to Canal Street, 6 to Canal and Spring Streets; J/M/Z to Canal Street. For buses, the M1 goes cross town to Houston Street and the M1 and M6 run down Broadway with the M1 going back up Lafayette and the M6 up 6th Avenue. The M20 goes up Hudson Street and down Varick Street. If gives plenty of options for anyone who lives here to get around town. Although if you can afford rent in this area, chances are you can also afford to take taxis everywhere!

SoHo is one of the most famous areas of New York and living here would put you in the center of all the action. If you can afford it, living in SoHo will give you a great flavor of what living the high life is like.

Living in SoHo, Manhattan

Kirsty runs a website about living in New York with tips for new arrivals heading to the city. It also has information on what living in SoHo is like.