New York, New York – it's a wonderful town as the song says, but is it a safe one? Thanks to our expert take on the city, the answer is yes. And once you've decided on the neighbourhood, up next is choosing from our collection of homes in The Big Apple. Here at Plum Guide, we guarantee quality with all of our homes, so you will never have to worry about your standards not being met. You deserve the best, so without further ado, let's take a look at the safest places to stay in New York.
Upper West Side
Central Park in autumn with supertall Billionaires Row skyscrapers as seen from the lake, Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York
When it comes to the safest places to stay in New York, the Upper West Side is where it’s at, especially if you’re travelling with your nearest and dearest. Thanks to an exceptionally low crime rate, family-friendly vibe, leafy parks, great food scene, and some of the best bagels in Manhattan, this posh residential area is one of the best neighbourhoods with delightful places to call home away from home.
Central Park and Riverside Park are your front and backyards on the UWS. Thanks to Lincoln Center calling the area home, it’s a vibrant centre for the arts as well. The Lincoln Center is where both the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet perform, and there’s really no excuse not to catch a performance when you can walk there from your perfectly located Plum home.
The Natural History Museum is another highlight of staying around here. The NYC institution is dedicated to exploring human cultures, the natural world, and the known universe. The quaint and quiet brownstone-lined streets and leafy adjacent avenues make for an idyllic family walk, even if your kids do nothing but stare at their phone screens the whole time. There are also loads of restaurants, diners and cafés to duck into when one of you inevitably gets hungry. Everybody wins.
Joan of Arch, Plum Guide home in New York
4 Bedrooms | Sleeps 7 | 3 Bathrooms
Key highlights:
Unwind on the private patio, a rarity in NYC
Play a tune on the piano
Marvel at the brick archways
Upper East Side
People mulling about in an art gallery with glass ceilings, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Manhattan, New York
Just across Central Park lies the Upper West Side’s Easterly twin. The Upper East Side is one of Manhattan’s ritziest neighbourhoods, boasting grandiose pre-war apartment buildings, upscale dining options and the type of schools you’d consider sending your kids to if you lived in the city (and wanted to say goodbye to your retirement fund).
For the culture seekers, let it be known that on 5th Avenue between 82nd and 105th Streets lies the Upper East Side’s artistic goldmine, Museum Mile. Along this stretch of enviable real estate are eight world-class museums to explore, including the Museum of the City of New York, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Prefer fashion to frescos? Madison Avenue is the dream come true of shopping in New York, while 5th Avenue promises lots of boutiques to pop in and out of. One of the city’s most iconic department stores, Bloomingdale’s, is also located in the area. And you can't miss a trip to Bergdorf Goodman, A New York landmark for trendsetters since 1901.
The Lexington Arms, Plum Guide home in New York
4 Bedrooms | Sleeps 8 | 5 Bathrooms
Key highlights:
Relax by the fireplace in the living room
Reside in a classy and stylish neighbourhood
Eat on the leather booth at the breakfast table
Chelsea
View over Chelsea from the Highline, New York City
This is certainly a great option if you want something with a little more of an atmosphere but still secure. Trendy Chelsea is just south of Midtown West and offers great shopping, dining, and nightlife. You're close enough to the hustle and bustle of Times Square that you can get there easily enough, but far enough away that you’ll sleep in peace and quiet. The cute cobblestoned streets will see your children selfie-ing to their hearts’ content and are dotted with boutiques, art galleries, cafes and delicious local restaurants. Don’t miss street grub paradise Chelsea Market if you’re up for a food tour of NYC.
A walk on the Highline, a 1.45-mile-long elevated linear park, is the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon. Antique and vintage flea markets also crop up around the area allowing you to buy the perfect, one-of-a-kind souvenir to take back home. If you’re planning a Christmas holiday visit, it’s worth a reminder that nearby Union Square hosts one of the city’s most popular Christmas markets.
St Ives, Plum Guide home in New York
5 Bedrooms | Sleeps 10 | 4 Bathrooms
Key highlights:
Curl up with a book from the library in the second lounge
Come together as a family in the open-plan living space
Share a bottle of wine on the balcony
SoHo and Tribeca
Aerial view of Lower Manhattan skyline at sunset viewed from Tribeca, Manhattan, New York
SoHo (so called because it is South of Houston Street) is south of Greenwich Village’s Washington Square Park, while neighbouring Tribeca is slightly further downtown. Both these trendy neighbourhoods are chock-a-block with chic restaurants, buzzy nightlife and great New York apartments. No wonder they're among the safest areas in the city.
Soho is a shopper’s paradise, so if swiping your credit card is your holiday exercise of choice (no judgement from us), this is the neighbourhood for you. Enjoy meandering through upscale art galleries, browsing the unique wares from local street vendors and taking in the elegant cast-iron facades and charming cobblestoned streets this area is known for. When evening comes, you’ll be spoiled for choice of restaurants and nightlife hotspots. Go on, you know you want to.
It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing, Plum Guide home in New York, USA
3 Bedrooms | Sleeps 5 | 3 Bathrooms
Key highlights:
Enjoy a barbecue on the rooftop terrace
Sit by the fire when the New York weather turns chilly
Keep the kids occupied with the array of toys, books and games
Brooklyn Heights
Brownstone facades and row houses at sunset in an iconic neighbourhood of Brooklyn Heights, New York City
Just one stop on the subway from Manhattan (or a quick cab ride for those of you who’d rather not venture below ground), the Heights is where to stay in BK (short for Brooklyn, by the way) for those who want to feel fancy. It’s one of the safest places to stay in New York – as well as the most picturesque. The neighbourhood is elevated above the East River, offering thrilling panoramic views of Manhattan. Quiet tree-lined streets brim with pre-war brownstones and cosy cafes. There are some fantastic vintage and antique shops and delicious restaurants in this neck of the woods, too.
Don’t miss a sunset stroll along the raised riverside promenade. Watching the night fall on the New York City skyline is only one perk of staying here instead of in Manhattan. Great for families and couples alike, you’ll love the suburban feel here but you'll only be a stone's throw from the action in the city.
Snap Out Of It, Plum Guide home in New York
3 Bedrooms | Sleeps 5 | 2 Bathrooms
Key highlights:
Relax in the evenings with a book from the home library
Have a night off from the local Italian restaurants and eat in the light-filled dining area
Step outside and explore the creative riches of Brooklyn
