Hugging the East River high up in western Queens, Astoria is a neighborhood that demands attention. A 20-minute subway zip from Midtown, this 17th-century enclave is chock-full of leafy parks, quirky museums and hip shopping and dining options. Read on for our pick of the best things to do in Astoria, including…
- Astoria Park
- Museum of the Moving Image
- Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
- Greek Eats on Ditmars Boulevard
- The Noguchi Museum
- Socrates Sculpture Park
- Steinway Street shopping
- … and more!
Parks and recreation
Astoria Park
You can’t really visit Astoria without spending at least a little time exploring its lush riverside playground. Stretching along the East River between the equally photogenic Robert F Kennedy and Hell’s Gate bridges, it delivers some pretty ace Manhattan skyline views, alongside leafy picnic spots, tennis courts, children’s playgrounds, a skatepark and, of course, those all-important benches, perfect for people-watching over coffee and cronuts.
One of Astoria Park’s most beloved features is its riverside pool, the largest public swimming baths in the city, which ramps up the fun every summer, drawing hordes of swimmers, sunbathers, and families looking to cool off with the kids. The pool’s Art Deco design gives it classic Insta appeal, set against the backdrop of the soaring Robert F Kennedy road bridge (formerly the Triborough) and there are lockers for stashing valuables while you take a dip.
In spring and fall, the park hosts festivals, concerts and pop-up events – stick around for sundown, when the bridge lights flicker on, the skyline glows across the water, and those chilled golden hour Astoria vibes start to kick in.
Socrates Sculpture Park
South along the East River from Astoria Park, the rather extraordinary Socrates Sculpture Park has risen from the rubble of a former landfill site to become the largest open-air sculpture gallery in New York, showcasing any number of eye-popping works by contemporary artists.
In 1986, the artists Mark di Suvero and Enrico Martignoni set out to transform an illegal landfill into a hub of innovative community activity and creative thought. And it worked! Come over all philosophical as you wander this four-acre public park, set against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, and ogle the impressive and ever-changing sculptures, installations and artist exhibitions. But that's not all: there’s also a whole calendar of events here, including bleeding-edge music and dance performances, movie screenings, educational workshops and more. You can also get your zen on with yoga and capoeira sessions among the sculptures and pick up artisan meats and cheeses at the farmers’ market that runs here Saturdays through the summer months.
Welling Court Mural Project
Welling Court Mural Project
Another one of our favorite spots to visit in Astoria is the Welling Court Mural Project. Located just a few blocks from the Socrates Sculpture Park, this vibrant community endeavor started out in 2009 as a means of both beautifying the area and engendering positive social change through the art of graffiti. Free and open to the public 24 hours a day, the gallery displays the works of over 150 cutting-edge contemporary street artists, including murals by Lady Pink, Queen Andrea, Swoon and Crash. The walls serve as a backdrop for a wide variety of subject matters: from the socially charged and pragmatic to the comedic and whimsical, you’ll spot it all here. And trust us when we say that your Insta reels will thank you for visiting!
Steinway Street shopping
Steinway Street shopping
No trip to Astoria would be truly complete without exploring the mighty shopping mecca that is Steinway Street. Brace your credit card for a serious workout, for the neighborhood’s main drag weaves together decades-old local businesses, quirky one-off boutiques, thrift shops, high-street names, and more international eateries than you can shake a shish, souvlaki or pizza slice at, all set beneath the rattle and rumble of the elevated subway line.
The magic here lies in the discovery, so strap in and choose your adventure: you’ll find Lebanese bakeries doling out honey-drenched baklava, Middle Eastern spice shops heady with cardamom and za’atar aromas, and family-run jewelry stores that are like catnip to incurable lovers of all things shiny.
Fashion and home goods fans can comb through indie clothing stores, shoe shops, thrift and vintage stores for unique finds (that one-of-a-kind bargain is definitely in there somewhere), while gift shops come crammed with Astoria-themed tees and trinkets. All shopped out? Duck into one of Steinway’s dozens of cafes, restaurants and bubble tea bars to refuel and gloat over your quarry.
Astoria’s top museums
Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of the Moving Image
TV aficionado? Movie maven? Into gaming and digital art? Then the Museum of the Moving Image (aka MoMI) is likely to be right up your cinematic strasse. For here’s your chance to geek out over the art, history, technique and technology of digital media in all its forms. And this ain’t no look-and-don’t-touch kinda joint either. No, this cinephile’s dream ticket lets you get hands-on with all sorts of cool stuff. Bring stop-animation to life with flipbooks, green-screen your way into your own blockbuster and try your hand (pun intended) at puppeteering in the Jim Henson Exhibition (which also just happens to be home to Kermit, Miss Piggy and nearly 50 more of Henson’s most beloved characters).
Muppets and Fraggles a bit too cuddly for ya? Fear not: horror movie costumes and props from the likes of Nightmare on Elm Street and The Exorcist have you covered. Afterwards, snag a tub of popcorn and head to the state-of-the-art screens for independent and foreign film showcases.
The Noguchi Museum
If your visit to Socrates Park has put you in the mood for a second dose of sculptural magic, you’re in luck. The Noguchi Museum, founded and designed by Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, is just around the corner on Vernon Boulevard and stands as the first institution in America to be founded with the sole intention of showcasing the artist’s own work. Since then, the repository has grown to include a wide range of sculptures from other modern and contemporary artists, although Noguchi’s work still rules the roost – indeed, this is the largest collection of his work anywhere in the world. Either way, there’s plenty of cool eye candy to ogle here.
The museum feels like a tranquil retreat from Astoria’s hubbub, blending minimalist galleries with a serene outdoor sculpture garden, a combination that instantly hushes city noise and makes you slow down and contemplate the subtle textures and unexpected forms that Noguchi is known for.
Astoria eats (and drinks)
Greek Eats on Ditmars Boulevard
Greek Eats on Ditmars Boulevard
Astoria’s reputation as the Greek food capital of New York is unassailable, a bona fide Big Apple institution built on gyros, moussaka and tzatziki. Our first stop is the Artion bakery and patisserie on 31st Street, for all your honey-drenched baklava, custard-filled galaktoboureko, and buttery koulourakia (classic Greek cookies) needs. Of which, if you have any taste, you will have many.
Nearby Ditmars Boulevard is Astoria’s unofficial epicenter for all things Greek and delicious. Simply follow your nose to the goods as the heady scents of olive oil, grilled lamb and calamari drift tantalizingly on the breeze. The smart money here is on Ovelia, famous for its hearty brunches, all aromatic loukaniko sausage, buffalo calamari, super-sweet baklava pancakes, and punchy Greek coffee.
For lunch or dinner, Taverna Kyclades stands out for its grilled fish, sizzling shrimp saganaki, warm pitta, and mountainous salads, but you can find equally satisfying meals – plump pork gyros and tender souvlaki – from the many takeout counters that dot the area.
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
If there’s anything more delightful in this world than savoring a frosty cold one on a balmy summer’s evening, we’ve yet to discover it. In this regard, the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden really delivers the goods. As it should do: it’s been trading here in Astoria since 1910 (give or take a Prohibition Era or two), making it the city’s oldest beer garden. Suffice it so say then, they know what they’re doing here.
Step through the unassuming entrance and you’ll find yourself in a leafy courtyard filled with long communal tables with string lights twinkling overhead. A perfect spot, in other words, for debriefing over Czech pilsners and American craft brews after the day’s exploration. Soak it all up with hearty plates of potato pancakes, mac’n’cheese and lashings of goulash.
SingleCut Beersmiths Brewery
SingleCut Beersmiths Brewery
At the risk of fixating a little too eagerly on Astoria’s great beer-drinking culture, our last pick is the sensational SingleCut Beersmiths Brewery. There’s a strong connection to music here – even the name comes from an obscure musical term (look it up!) – so, as you’d expect, there’s plenty of rock- and pop-related fun, including guitar head door handles, a vast vinyl record collection, music quiz nights and even the occasional punk karaoke evening.
But, that aside, it’s really all about the beers served up in the industrial-chic tap room – think ever-changing pours of creative IPAs, lagers and porters. Heck they’ve even brewed up collaborations with music legends including neighbors Steinway & Sons. There’s no dining menu here, but you’re welcome to bring in your own takeout food, so long as you pair it with a drink from the bar.
Looking for more NYC inspo? Discover all the best things to do in Central Park and get the lowdown on Chelsea’s most essential attractions.
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