SoHo uncovered: your guide to NYC’s most stylish neighborhood

Let’s get to know SoHo first – its cobblestone lanes and that remarkable collection of cast-iron architecture (the largest of its kind in the world, fact fans). And what’s the best way to see it all? That’s right: flex your Go City New York pass and book a walking tour with an expert local guide. SoHo’s cast-iron buildings tell the story of the neighborhood’s transformation from austere industrial hub to swoonsome style capital. You’ll spot beautifully restored façades with grand, arched windows, elaborate columns, decorative cornices and fire escapes that look almost sculptural.

These blocks, particularly on and around Broadway, Canal and Houston Streets, just beg to be given the full Insta treatment – no filters required – especially when sunshine glints off the iron trim and filters through gaps in the metalwork.

The two-hour tour continues on to Little Italy and Chinatown, giving a flavor of nearby foodie hotspots as well as delving into the darker side of the area’s history.

Find out more about the tour and get your Go City NYC pass here.

All that walking made you a little peckish? Of course it has! Join the line outside Spring Street’s Dominique Ansel Bakery, the very place where the Cronut was born. An absolute must for pastry aficionados, this delectable croissant/donut mash-up comes in a different flavor each month and is so insanely popular with hungry Manhattanites that it’s recommended you pre-order yours online before pitching up. Or, at the very least, get there good and early before they sell out, which they frequently do. Like hotcakes they are. Or, er, warm Cronuts.

The good news is that you needn’t go hungry even if you do miss out on the signature bake. Other treats available here include moreish mini madeleines, heavenly hazelnut praliné St. Honoré tarts, sinful salted caramel éclairs and all manner of cute seasonal sweets.

Pair your sugar fix with a flat white and snag a bench in Spring Street Park for the quintessential SoHo experience.

SoHo shines when it comes to shopping. Broadway is where it’s at for your classic brands and flagship stores, from Uniqlo and Muji to department store staples like Bloomingdale’s. Duck down any side street and you step into a completely different world: indie boutiques, curated vintage, home-design shops, and jewelry counters that could just as easily pass for art galleries. The Shops of SoHo is this exact vibe in microcosm, a covered artisan designer market with cobblestones and cool architecture to boot. For quirky gifts, pop into Purl Soho for crafting supplies or Alessi for playful modern homeware.

Bookworms are well catered for here, too. McNally Jackson is SoHo’s indie bookstore go-to. Browse thoughtfully curated shelves, check out the latest staff picks, and settle into a cozy corner with a latte from the in-house café. Nearby Housing Works Bookstore promises  secondhand charm with a side of goodwill – donations help support vital local causes. Exposed brick walls, winding staircases and book-lined balconies make for an atmospheric escape on a rainy SoHo afternoon. And, yes, you can get coffee and pastries here too.

Want more? Lean into SoHo’s arty side with a visit to the MoMA Design Store. Expect clever home goods, quirky gadgets, stylish lighting, contemporary jewelry and bold wall art pieces inspired by MoMA’s own collection.

From scorching hot to freezing cold, the Museum of Ice Cream is all but guaranteed to bring out your inner child. Your hungry, sugar-craving inner child, that is. Just when you thought a food-themed adventure in NYC couldn’t get any more whimsical… step inside for a kaleidoscopic experience that will make your Insta pop and give you hallucinatory ice-cream-based dreams for several weeks to come.

This isn’t just a museum; it’s a veritable playground for the incurably sweet-toothed. Expect multi-sensory installations, fun facts about everyone’s favorite frozen treat, and photo opps that write their own hashtags. You can dive into a pool of sprinkles, swing on a banana, or pose with an oversized melting popsicle. Best of all – yes – you get to snack on fun and creative ice-cream flavors as you explore. It’s Willy Wonka’s workshop brought to life; a full-immersion fun palace complete with Oompa-Loompas guides that really know how to bring the energy, turning every room into a mini party. Not, in other words, for shy and retiring types.

The Children’s Museum of the Arts on Hudson Square believes all kids are artists, making it a brilliant place to let your children’s imaginations run riot. It’s all about the hands-on fun here, with little hands, eyes and ears let loose on sculpture, sound-art and stop-motion animation, among other things. Beats art class at school, amiright?

The whole place is an absolute joy. Professional artists encourage kids at all skill levels to make (occasionally messy) masterpieces, rotating themed exhibitions add extra color, there’s a collection of children’s art that dates back to the 1930s, and plenty of space for tiny finger-painting Picassos to explore and thrive.

Pair your visit with a stroll through a nearby market like the Union Square Greenmarket or Chelsea Market to let the little ones snack on farm-fresh fruit (and maybe a cookie or two) as you admire their latest artistic creations. 

One thing’s for sure: you won’t go hungry in SoHo. I mean, you can’t really. And, if you do, then you’re doing it all wrong. There are cozy bistros, cool bars and impossible-to-resist artisan bakeries on nearly every cast-iron street corner. Balthazar is the neighborhood’s most see-and-be-seen option, with signature steak frites to di(n)e for and profiteroles for dessert; its vintage mirrors and red-leather banquettes keep things classy. For Parisian bistro vibes that are a little less spenny, Raoul’s on Prince Street is another bona fide SoHo institution – order the steak au poivre (rare, bien sûr) for the win and, in summer, try to snag a seat on the petite back patio for superlative city views.

Last but very definitely not least, the historic Fanelli Café has your laid-back brunch desires covered. Set in one of the city’s oldest and most storied taverns, its menu – all burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and French toasts – pairs well with checkered floors, walls festooned with vintage photos, and a buzzy atmosphere that’s just perfect for a spot of SoHo people-watching.