Upper East Side

Located on the most coveted stretch of the Upper East Side, just across from the Central Park Zoo, this sprawling 10-room pad at 838 Fifth Avenue offers the kind of Manhattan luxury that $27 million can buy. The mansion-sized condominium spans 5,427 square feet including a 45-foot corner expanse, with Central Park and skyline views in every direction. The home's opulent interiors are more Versailles than Vogue, heavy on the upholstery and French Provincial style beneath coffered ceilings and ornate moldings. But we're guessing the next buyer of this eight-figure refuge will be able to afford the renovation of their dreams–and Manhattan skyline views never go out of style.
Opulence on the Avenue, this way

Photos courtesy of Compass

September 30, 2022

Asking $12M, this ivy-covered Upper East Side brownstone was once Gloria Vanderbilt’s home

Located in the Carnegie Hill Historic District in the heart of the Upper East Side, this ivy-covered 6,400-square-foot townhouse at 67 East 91st Street was built in the 1890s. The five-story home has been updated with elegant and functional 21st-century interiors–including an elevator, a greenhouse/studio, and a solarium–while retaining its turn-of-the-century charm. It was undoubtedly this quiet grandeur that won the heart of designer-author-socialite (and Anderson Cooper's mom) Gloria Vanderbilt, who lived here in the 1980s and 90s. The classic Manhattan townhouse was recently listed for $11,995,000.
Take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

Take a tour of the tallest penthouse on the Upper East Side, asking $33M

All photos courtesy of Sean Hemmerle

September 28, 2022

Take a tour of the tallest penthouse on the Upper East Side, asking $33M

Earlier this year, the highest residence in the tallest tower on the Upper East Side hit the market. This week, new photos of the penthouse at 180 East 88th Street were released, showing off the impressive architecture of the five-bedroom home, which was listed for $33,000,000 in March. On full display are the apartment's stunning sculptural staircase, dramatic archways, brass-framed windows, and private outdoor space with panoramic views.
Take a peak

Photo courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 18, 2022

A $26M duplex co-op in Jacqueline Onassis’ childhood building recalls the Gilded Age

A mansion-sized 14-room duplex at 740 Park Avenue, a building considered to be Manhattan's most luxurious residential address, is now on the market for $26,000,000. Built in 1929 by James T. Lee, grandfather of Jacqueline Bouvier (later Kennedy Onassis), who lived there as a girl, the Art Deco building was designed by Rosario Candela. One of its first notable residents was John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who resided in a duplex similar to the one featured here.
Step inside one of the city's grandest homes

This $22M UES penthouse in an Emery Roth building has mid-century good looks and a huge roof terrace

Photo credit: Eytan Weber

August 17, 2022

This $22M UES penthouse in an Emery Roth building has mid-century good looks and a huge roof terrace

Atop an Emery Roth-designed Art Deco-style building at 880 Fifth Avenue, this two-floor co-op has the kind of elegant Manhattan cachet you won't find on Billionaires' Row. Along with its classic mid-20th-century interior style (lots of sleek wood and architectural built-ins), the luxurious 2,800-square-foot trophy pad boasts 3,350 square feet of private outdoor space, including a manicured rooftop terrace that's akin to having your own private park. And it's across the street from Central Park itself, with the iconic park and city views you'd expect from an Upper East Side penthouse with a $22,000,000 price tag.
Penthouse tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

SHOP THE LISTING: A classic Upper East Side pre-war co-op

Listing photos: Coldwell Banker Warburg

July 22, 2022

SHOP THE LISTING: A classic Upper East Side pre-war co-op

Built in 1929 by Bing & Bing and designed by prolific architect Emery Roth, this bright one-bedroom co-op at 225 East 73rd Street is as classic as it gets. Part of the Eastgate complex, this Upper East Side home has plenty of pre-war charm in the form of beamed ceilings, original hardwood floors, and gracious proportions, with the cozy surprise of a wood-burning fireplace. It’s now available for $725,000. If you're loving the interior design of this home, we've sourced a few key pieces that are identical or similar to the items in the listing photos. So you can get the look–without having to move.
Shop the listing, this way

Shop

Central Park’s Loeb Boathouse to close permanently

Image courtesy of ajay_suresh on Flickr

July 21, 2022

Central Park’s Loeb Boathouse to close permanently

Loeb Boathouse, Central Park's iconic lakeside restaurant which has operated for nearly 70 years, will be closing permanently on October 16. According to a notice filed with the New York State Department of Labor (DOL) by the venue's owner, the establishment will be closing its doors and laying off all of its 163 employees due to what owner Dean Poll calls, "rising labor and costs of goods."
Find out more

Photos by Richard Caplan, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

July 13, 2022

Completely restored and renovated, the historic Emily Trevor mansion asks $29.5M

Located in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Carnegie Hill, the townhouse at 15 East 90th Street was commissioned in 1926 for noted socialite and philanthropist Emily Trevor. According to Mansion Global, Andrew Carnegie himself stayed in its ornate rooms during the renovation of his nearby home. Steps from Central Park and next door to the Cooper Hewitt museum, the landmarked 12,000-square-foot house is 26 feet wide and spans five floors that contain five bedrooms, two outdoor spaces, two gym rooms, and a steam room and sauna. Following a stem-to-stern renovation that modernized the home's infrastructure (including an elevator that serves all floors) and restored its original architecture and details, the historic townhouse is back on the market for $29,500,000.
See all five floors of this historic home

Distinctive Homes

For $725K, this classic Upper East Side pre-war co-op is a perfect-sized first home or pied-a-terre

Photo credit: Coldwell Banker Warburg

July 6, 2022

For $725K, this classic Upper East Side pre-war co-op is a perfect-sized first home or pied-a-terre

Distinctive Homes

New photo exhibit shows New York City children playing on car-free streets in the summer of ’68

Photo credit: Katrina Thomas. NYC Parks Photo Archive

July 5, 2022

New photo exhibit shows New York City children playing on car-free streets in the summer of ’68

The city's Parks Department opened a new photography exhibition at Central Park's Arsenal Gallery that displays more than 40 archived photographs from the department's collection. Called "Streets In Play: Katrina Thomas, NYC Summer 1968," the exhibit features images taken by the late photographer Katrina Thomas, who in 1968 was hired by NYC Mayor John Lindsay and tasked with capturing the city's summer initiative, "Playstreets," in which residential blocks were closed to vehicles and instead equipped for recreational activity.
Take a look

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher’s former Upper East Side townhouse lists for $11.5M

Photo credit: Shannon Dupre/DDreps

June 17, 2022

Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher’s former Upper East Side townhouse lists for $11.5M

A quintessential Upper East Side townhouse with all the trimmings always makes a few waves when it hits the market–especially if it has a Hollywood connection. This 4,275-square-foot brownstone at 154 East 74th Street was once home to Debbie Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher. According to the NY Post, Reynolds' son, Todd Fisher, recalls fond memories of growing up in the Manhattan townhouse–specifically the garden-level screening room, where the family spent many an evening--in his 2018 memoir. Asking $11.5 million, the four-story home has newly-renovated interiors that complement vintage craftsman details as well as luxurious additions like a wine cellar, fully-stocked gym, and landscaped rear patio.
Take the tour

Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Warburg

June 8, 2022

A private waterfront terrace and river views define this sprawling $2.5M Upper East Side co-op

This 2,600-square-foot co-op at 45 East End Avenue has seemingly endless interior space, but 500 square feet of outdoor terrace with waterfront views steals the show along with three exposures and unobstructed East River views. Asking $2,500,000, this three-bedroom Yorkville residence is in an elegant Emery Roth-designed 1951 building.
Tour this private UES escape

Distinctive Homes

See the new stucco sculpture by Jan Hooss on display in the Upper East Side’s tallest tower

Photo courtesy of Alex Stein

May 26, 2022

See the new stucco sculpture by Jan Hooss on display in the Upper East Side’s tallest tower

World-renowned plaster artist Jan Hooss has installed a custom stucco art installation in the lobby of 180 East 88th Street, a new condo tower designed by Joe McMillan's DDG. Inspired by an architectural style widely used on the Upper East Side at the beginning of the 20th century, the art piece "fuses a rococo design with a whimsically modern aesthetic," according to a press release. The stucco sculpture sits above the vaulted lobby's fireplace, contrasting its flowing, water-like quality with the fire below.
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You can pick your own tulips on Park Avenue

Photo courtesy of East Midtown Partnership on Flickr

May 24, 2022

You can pick your own tulips on Park Avenue

Get your trowels ready! The Park Avenue Tulip Dig is back, giving New Yorkers the opportunity to dig up and take home tulip bulbs planted along the famed thoroughfare between the north side of East 54th Street and the south side of East 86th Street. Approximately 60,000 tulips are planted every year in a new color by the non-profit Fund for Park Avenue, as reported by Patch. This year's flowers are a pink tulip known as "Darwin Hybrid Apricot Pride."
Learn more

Interior designer Muriel Brandolini lists attractive UES townhouse for $9.5M

All photos by Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 19, 2022

Interior designer Muriel Brandolini lists attractive UES townhouse for $9.5M

Celebrated interior designer and decorator Muriel Brandolini is selling her four-story brownstone on the Upper East Side for $9,500,000. Brandolini, known for her "modernist-tropical" style reflective of her French-Vietnamese upbringing, decorated her home at 167 East 80th Street with art, patterns, and statement lighting, creating highly-livable spaces on every floor. Outside, a long private rear garden surrounded by bamboo gives the home a vacation vibe.
See inside

Distinctive Homes

The 92nd Street Y rebrands as 92NY and kicks off $200M redevelopment

All renderings courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP

May 11, 2022

The 92nd Street Y rebrands as 92NY and kicks off $200M redevelopment

A New York institution is getting a makeover---and a new name. The 92nd Street Y announced on Tuesday it has rebranded to 92nd Street Y, New York (with a nickname of 92NY), as part of a post-pandemic transformation that also involves a major revamp and new online programs. This month, a $200 million redevelopment of the organization's Upper East Side home at 1395 Lexington Avenue led by Beyer Blinder Belle will begin, starting with a renovation of its public performance space, a new dance center, and improvements to the gym.
Find out more

This $13M slender UES townhouse has been occupied by the same family since 1907

Photo credit: David DuPuy for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 2, 2022

This $13M slender UES townhouse has been occupied by the same family since 1907

The five-story Italianate brownstone at 38 East 70th Street may only be 16 feet wide, but what it lacks in width, it makes up for with over 5,000 square feet of preserved original details and modern updates. Asking $13,000,000, the circa-1884 home, designed by architect Charles Graham, currently offers six bedrooms and an original formal layout of rooms for sitting, dining, and display. Just two blocks from Central Park within the Upper East Side Historic District, the home has been occupied by the same family since 1907.
More details this way

Distinctive Homes

This UES locksmith and shoe repair store is actually a chic cocktail bar

All images courtesy of Melissa Hom

April 15, 2022

This UES locksmith and shoe repair store is actually a chic cocktail bar

An inconspicuous locksmith and shoe repair storefront on the Upper East Side is actually home to a chic cocktail lounge. Located at 1488 Second Avenue, the speakeasy Keys & Heels comes from Massimo Lusardi, the restauranteur behind Uva and Uva Next Door. Hidden behind the facade of a locksmith and shoe repair store, Keys & Heels features a creative cocktail menu and a food menu that complements the bar's "low-key" ambiance.
Find out more

Food & Dining

This $6.8M Upper East Side duplex has 3,000 square feet of living space and a huge terrace

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman Realty

April 8, 2022

This $6.8M Upper East Side duplex has 3,000 square feet of living space and a huge terrace

Asking $6,750,000, this duplex penthouse co-op atop 53 East 66th Street has been renovated where it counts, but it's as classic an uptown Manhattan residence as it gets, a block from Central Park. Nearly 3,000 square feet of interior space on two floors is wrapped by 1,000 square feet of private terrace on the top floor.
See more, this way

Distinctive Homes

April 5, 2022

Ralph Lauren picks up $4M co-op in his UES building of 40 years

Ralph Lauren and his wife Ricky have bought a second apartment in the same Upper East Side building where the couple has lived for the past four decades. As first reported by the New York Post and confirmed by property records, the fashion designer paid $4,000,000 for a co-op at 1107 Fifth Avenue, a 14-story building on the corner of East 92nd Street in the Carnegie Hill Historic District.
Get the details

Photo courtesy of Fox Residential

April 4, 2022

On the Upper East Side, this $2.6M co-op is a pre-war classic, complete with step-down living room

Located on a high floor, spanning 2,400 square feet, this three-bedroom co-op at 180 East 79th Street has just become available for the first time in many years. Asking $2,595,000, the Lenox Hill apartment is a standard classic six with pre-war bones, from its beamed ceilings to a gracious entry foyer and step-down living room.
Step in and have a look around

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Asking $33M, the tallest penthouse on the UES has dramatic archways and three levels of terraces

All images courtesy of March Made for DDG

March 31, 2022

Asking $33M, the tallest penthouse on the UES has dramatic archways and three levels of terraces

Here's a chance to own the highest residence in the tallest residential tower on the Upper East Side. Situated at the pinnacle of DDG's condominium at 180 East 88th Street, this duplex penthouse boasts over 5,500 square feet of interior space. Now on the market for $33,000,000, the five-bedroom penthouse flaunts soaring ceiling heights, a sculptural spiral staircase, and an incredible 3,500 square feet of private outdoor space spread across three levels.
See inside

This $16M Upper East Side townhouse is like a small city on seven levels, with a basketball court on top

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for The Corcoran Group

March 24, 2022

This $16M Upper East Side townhouse is like a small city on seven levels, with a basketball court on top

Built in 1901, the Upper East Side mansion at 164 East 70th Street received a thorough and considered renovation by BWArchitects in partnership with PSA Studios and Kari McCabe. The 7,400-square-foot, 20-foot-wide townhouse unfolds on seven levels including a finished basement, with the interior space opened dramatically from front to back. Asking $16,250,000, this dazzling property offers at least five bedroom suites and endless flexibility along with architectural fabulousness. Topping it all off is a windowed basketball court on the seventh floor.
Take the seven-floor tour

Distinctive Homes

Penthouse atop Upper East Side’s historic former Hotel Wales hits the market for $23M

Photo credit: VMI Studios

March 22, 2022

Penthouse atop Upper East Side’s historic former Hotel Wales hits the market for $23M

Capping the reinvention of the former Hotel Wales at 1295 Madison Avenue as luxury condominium residences, a newly-constructed 4,179-square-foot penthouse spanning the building's highest floor has just arrived on the market. The $23,000,000 home in the Carnegie Hill Historic District contains five bedrooms and seven bathrooms; its biggest asset, however, may be the 3,114 square feet of wrap-around terraces on two levels with Central Park views, an outdoor kitchen with a wet bar, a fireplace, and a butler’s pantry.
Get a peek at this parkside penthouse

$7.9M Upper East Side townhouse with a glass rear facade takes live-work balance to a new level

Photo credit: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

March 21, 2022

$7.9M Upper East Side townhouse with a glass rear facade takes live-work balance to a new level

From its distinctive mansard roof to a full-height lower-level office floor, 240 East 68th Street is a unique find on one of Manhattan’s loveliest blocks. Asking $7,900,000, this 5,400-square-foot single-family townhouse mixes 19th-century traditional style and stunning contemporary design, then adds the convenience of ample office space. Originally constructed in 1899, the home currently has seven bedrooms, five working fireplaces, a roof terrace, a glass-paned rear facade–and an elevator to put all of it within easy reach.
Meet the many sides of this unique townhouse

Distinctive Homes

Gloria Vanderbilt’s childhood home on the UES has sold for $32.2M

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

March 8, 2022

Gloria Vanderbilt’s childhood home on the UES has sold for $32.2M