Spanning the area from Houston Street to Canal Street, the bustling Manhattan district of Soho in NYC offers visitors a glut of entertainment and adventure.
(Photo: Leslie-Lohman Museum)
Soho has certainly changed since its bohemian heyday of the 1960s and 70s. Today the former artists’ haven is the personification of gentrified New York, with boutique stores and upscale loft apartments occupying many of the art spaces that once dominated the neighbourhood. Nonetheless, there remains a vibrant creative scene in Soho – it’s just that nowadays it’s more likely to be displayed on an Apple Mac than a canvass. Whatever you make of Soho’s evolution, it remains one of New York’s most popular areas with locals and visitors alike. Here are 7 of the most unique things to see and do here.
Visit a fascinating museum
The social justice movement continues to bring previously marginalised groups into the mainstream, and the Leslie-Lohman Museum, whose roots date back to the late 1960s, is playing a key role in that in NYC. Said to be the world’s only art museum dedicated to art created by and for the LGBTQ community, the free-to-enter museum is home to a vast collection of over 24,000 paintings, as well as photographic and sculptural works, that celebrate sexuality, the history of the struggle for equality, and the ongoing efforts to fight discrimination against people for who they love.
26 Wooster Street / Thurs-Sun 12pm-6pm Weds 12pm-5pm Closed Mon-Tues
Tell the kids you’re off to a museum and they won’t always react with wild enthusiasm. But reveal the museum in question is dedicated to all things ice cream? A guaranteed game-changer. A world of pure imagination, the Museum of Ice Cream features multi-sensory exhibitions and installations designed for children of all ages. Slide down an epic three-story slide, take a celestial ride on an ice cream-themed subway, and follow the buzzing sound to a giant “Queen Bee” hive. There’ll also be a chance to taste the museum’s signature ice creams along the way, before taking a dive into the world’s largest sprinkle pool.
558 Broadway / Thurs 9.30am-7pm Fri 9.30am-8pm Sat 10am-8pm Sun-Mon & Weds 10am-7pm Closed Tues
You can book admission tickets to the Museum of Ice Cream at GetYourGuide
An interactive play area at the Museum of Ice Cream (Photo: Museum of Ice Cream NYC / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
Take a Sex and the City tour
Set in the Big Apple, the TV show Sex and the City soon gained a cult-like status after it premiered back in 1998 – and the years since the final episode aired in 2004 have seen an enduring interest in the romantic comedy-drama among its army of fans. Little surprise, therefore, to see Sex and the City tours on offer that take guests to many of the Manhattan spots immortalised by the iconic small screen series, including several in Soho, such as the gallery where Charlotte worked on Prince Street and the Italian restaurant where the main characters see Big and Natasha’s wedding announcement in The New York Times’ wedding section.
You can book a Sex and the City sites bus tour at GetYourGuide
Shopping Tour of Fashion-Rich Soho
For many, shopping in NYC can be akin to a religious experience, home as it is to so many veritable temples of retail. At the heart of the city’s shopping scene is Soho, and visitors who may feel overwhelmed navigating it on their own can instead join a guided Soho shopping tour. Over two hours, you and your small group of fellow guests will traverse the district’s streets on foot and in the company of an expert guide who will regale you with fascinating facts, stories and insights about the stores that you pass – and on the history of Soho more generally. Along the way, there’ll also be plenty of opportunities to venture inside some of the area’s most renowned retail outlets, including Broadway Boutiques, Bloomingdale’s and Chanel.
You can book a shopping tour of Soho at GetYourGuide
Explore Soho with a professional photographer
Photography enthusiasts visiting Soho can join a unique private photography tour which offers the chance to be accompanied around the district by a professional snapper. The 2-hour tour takes in both Soho and Brooklyn, and there are regular stop-offs at notable landmarks and places of interest, as well as several off the beaten path locations, allowing you to have shots taken. There’ll also be plenty of opportunities to get some valuable photography tips from your guide. At the end of the tour, you’ll get to take home a total of 75 professional quality photos as mementos, which are included in the tour price.
You can book a private Soho photography tour at GetYourGuide
A duo are snapped during a Brooklyn and Soho photography tour (Photo: GetYourGuide)
Drink and dine with a view
If you’re seeking a unique entertainment spot in Soho that combines delectable food & drink, top notch live music, and wonderful views, City Vineyard is very hard to beat. The drinking and dining venue is also a fully operational winery, and its setting on Pier 26, overlooking the Hudson River, makes it a magnet for patrons keen to escape nearby Soho’s glut of basement nightspots. Indeed, while City Vineyard is an all year round venue, summer time is when it truly comes into its own, with a picturesque wine garden allowing patrons to spill out and enjoy the magical vistas while supping on the acclaimed fare.
233 West Street, Pier 26 / Mon-Fri 12pm-10pm Sat-Sun 11am-10pm
Patrons enjoy drinks against a stunning Manhattan backdrop at City Vineyard (Photo: City Vineyard)
233 West Street / Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Catch an Indi flick
You shouldn’t expect to find any Hollywood blockbusters here – the Film Forum is an acclaimed independent film house that instead showcases exclusively foreign flicks and avant-garde documentaries. After opening its doors in the 1970s, the venue rapidly grew to become a much-loved cultural institution on New York’s rich cinematic landscape, and remains the city’s only autonomous, non-profit cinema. As well as adult fare, families will also find kid-friendly classics on the big screen programme here.
209 West Houston Street
Immerse yourself in the art of drawing
Soho is at the heart of New York’s vibrant artistic scene, and as America’s only non-profit arts organisation devoted exclusively to drawing, the Drawing Center stands out as one of the district’s most unique arts venues. Spread across a multi-floor gallery, the large space showcases an assortment of drawings by both historical and contemporary artists, as well as a sprinkling of works by emerging talents in the field. There’s also a busy programme of movie screenings, artist talks, participatory art events, and plenty more.
35 Wooster Street / Weds & Sun 12pm-6pm Closed Mon-Tues