If you ask someone what streets make up Midtown Manhattan, you will probably get several different answers. Some will say Midtown is from 40th Street to 59th Street (the base of Central Park) between Fifth and Eighth Avenues. Those people would say that Midtown proper is flanked by Hell’s Kitchen to the west and Sutton Place to the east. Others would say that Midtown is the entirety of the 30s, 40s, and 50s, from river to river.

Hell’s Kitchen (also known as Clinton or Midtown West), has such a colourful history that it stands out even in New York City. Nowadays the neighbourhood (once infamous for its organised crime, violent gangs and tenements) is more likely to feature artists, actors, and luxury apartments than criminals. It lies from 40th Street to 59th Street, between the Hudson River and Eighth Avenue, and is bordered by Chelsea, the Upper West Side and Midtown.

Midtown East, or Sutton Place, is wedged in between Gramercy Park and the Upper East Side and lies between 42nd and 59th Street, and between Fifth Avenue and the East River. It is known for its ‘old New York’ charm. More recently, some younger people, usually those who work in Midtown, have moved in, but it is still generally a neighbourhood suited more to older residents than young families. This is partly due to a relatively small number of schools and a greater distance to the subway.

Accommodation

Central Midtown is a commercial hub, and most of the residential areas lie to the east and the west, in Sutton Place and Hell’s Kitchen. Hell’s Kitchen has undergone major gentrification in the past several years, and is now considered a desirable area to live. The area used to be known for its cheap rents, but this is changing fast. Since September 11, 2001, there has been a major building boom in this area – zoning laws throughout Manhattan were relaxed to assist recovery and redevelopment after 9/11. New projects, such as the Hearst Tower (56th Street and Eighth Avenue) and the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle, both feature luxury apartments at prices to match. Still, there are parts of Hell’s Kitchen that are more reasonably priced than other areas of the city, and the further west you go, the less you will spend. With perseverance and a little luck, you may be able to find a studio or one bedroom for under $2,000 per month.

Shopping & Amenities

And if you want to ‘shop till you drop’, this is the place to do it – the flagship stores of Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, and Tiffany’s are in Midtown, in addition to Saks Fifth Avenue and the world-famous Diamond District on 47th Street.

Entertainment & Leisure

Midtown is a commercial area, with lot sof hotels and some of the most famous tourist attractions, including the Empire State Building, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Times Square. There is a burgeoning ‘Koreatown’, mainly around West 32nd Street, featuring some great Korean restaurants, supermarkets and Karaoke bars.

In Hell’s Kitchen there are several parks, art galleries, and the recently completed Pier 84, which has a boat house, a classroom, a dog run, a garden, and a playground for children. Hell’s Kitchenis also home to the famous Restaurant Row, on West 46th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Here you can sample food from around the world: New York’s usual suspects are there, such as Italian, Chinese, American and French, but you can also try food inspired by the cuisine of Afghanistan, Argentina, Turkey, Ethiopia and Vietnam. Ninth Avenue is also known for its affordable and diverse culinary offerings.
In Sutton Place you can find any sort of entertainment without straying far from the neighbourhood. There are two public parks, one at 57th Street and another at 53rd. Sutton Place also boasts a thriving nightlife for the college crowd.

Health

There is no shortage of medical care in this area: the neighbourhood is served by St. Vincent’s Midtown Hospital (www.stvincentsmidtown.org) and St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital (www.slred.org). There are numerous hospitals on or near Sutton Place, including the American Hospital of Paris (212 605 0380), the Hospital for Special Surgery (212 988 6732), the Children’s Hospital of New York (212 746 5437), and New York Presbyterian (www.nyp.org).

Education

Hell’s Kitchen has some famous schools, including the famous John Jay College of Criminal Justice (www.jjay.cuny.edu). There are several specialist high schools, including the Professional Performing Arts High School (www.ppasinfo.org) and the High School for Environmental Studies (http://envirostudies.org). Schools on Sutton Place include the Garden House School, a pre-school (www.gardenhouseschool.org), and the Montessori School of New York (www.mmsny.org), which is a school for children from pre-school to the eighth grade. Many children in this neighbourhood travel to other areas of the city to attend private schools.

Traffic & Public Transport

Hell’s Kitchen is a transportation hub. In addition to the numerous subways that go to this area, you can catch a bus to countless destinations at the enormous Port Authority, located between 40th and 42nd Streets, and between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Trains to Hell’s Kitchen include: A, C, E (to its eastern border) and the 2, 3, 7, 9, N, Q, R, S, and W (to Times Square). Trains to Sutton Place are not so comprehensive, but you can take the 6, the E or the V.

Safety & Annoyances

During the day the Midtown area is busy, busy, busy, but after dark parts of it become quite desolate and you may feel a little insecure walking around on your own. Parts of Hell’s Kitchen can be a bit seedy too, so use your common sense when venturing out alone at night. All of the Midtown area can get retty crowded during the daytime, especially during holidays.