14 Things to Do in Harlem NYC

If you are in New York, you have to visit the neighborhood that inspired a few years ago the popular Harlem Shake dance. The home of the Harlem Globetrotters, good jazz, hip hop and soul food cuisine.

And the diversity, history and eclectic atmosphere of Harlem make it a unique experience. Highly recommended!

The Apollo Theater is more than just an important stage. It was the center of the movement known as the Harlem Cultural Renaissance. It featured such figures as: Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix. Book a tour of African-American culture in Harlem and learn all about its history.

Located at 253 125th Street, the theater is also a meeting place. In addition to hosting the legendary Amateur Nights and the NY Comedy Festival, it offers a series of cultural programs aimed at education, family and community. With emphasis on the contribution of African-American culture to the development of the United States and global culture.

• Address: 253 West Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard (125th Street).
• Hours: Guided tours daily at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Wednesdays only at 1 p.m.).
• Price of guided tours: $16 (approximately €14.70).

The renewal in music, starting with the aforementioned renaissance, was an extraordinary phenomenon in Harlem. Gospel and jazz dominated the streets of New York. And even today they still define to a large extent the idiosyncrasy of this charismatic place.

If you want to delve deeper into this phenomenon, I recommend you take a gospel tour and go to a mass. You will have the opportunity to connect with the spirituality and the most genuine values of the neighborhood. In addition, together with a tour guide, you will optimize your time. You can expect crowded places, a ceremony of about 2 h. and to be asked for a donation. Always remember that a mass is a moment of religious communion, be respectful and follow the rules of the place.

I offer you several options that will allow you to learn more about their lifestyle, customs and history:

• Tour of Harlem with gospel mass (Sunday), from $80.
• Tour of Harlem with gospel mass (Wednesday), from $80.
• Sunday gospel mass with locals in Harlem, from $71.

If you want to know the place where Billie Holliday 's career was born, you must go to Bill's Place. This club was an authentic speakeasy during Prohibition in 1920 and still maintains its spirit.

Run by Dr. Theda Palmer and Bill Saxton, "the king of Harlem jazz", the venue promises visitors a night of pure jazz. You can enjoy a jamming session with exceptional musicians. The place is small, intimate and noisy. It offers an unforgettable experience for those who love live music. This will be one of the options you will know if you book a tour of jazz venues in Harlem.

• Address: 148 West 133rd Street (between Seventh and Lenox Avenues).
• Hours: Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Price: 30 $ (27.50 € approximately).

Following this line of music tourism you must make a mandatory stop at 656 125th Street, the Cotton Club. This legendary jazz club opens its doors every Monday and Saturday at 8 pm. Here you can order dinner and drinks while enjoying a jazz or blues performance. It also has a Brunch & Gospel option on Saturdays and Sundays, from 12 to 2:30 pm.

Although this is not the historic club, as the original building is gone, it retains the charm of the time when stars such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Slappy White, Chuck Jackson, Art Blakley and Count Basie performed. If this plan appeals to you, I recommend you book a tour of the Jazz Series concerts in Harlem.

• Address: 178 7th Avenue South (between Perry Street and Waverly Place in the West Village).
• Hours: Mondays and Thursdays from 8pm to 11:30pm, Saturdays from 12:30pm to 2pm and 9pm to midnight and Sundays from 12:30pm to 5pm.
• Price: from $20 (approximately €18.30).

From Central Harlem it is very easy to get to the Columbia University campus. In fact, there is some controversy between the boundaries that define one space and the other. If you are interested in educational tourism you can plan a time in your tour of Harlem to go to the University.

You will notice that the differences between the two areas are marked. You can also book a contrasts tour, which are quite popular.

Harlem is known for its soul food cuisine, with its references to Southern cooking. The fried chicken with waffles, the burgers and BBQ, the chocolate cake or the banana pudding. All delicious dishes that will make you feel at home and at affordable prices. Here are three recommendations of places to have the soul food experience in Harlem. Do not hesitate to book a guided tour of Harlem with food tastings and try the best dishes and if you prefer to eat in a specific place, I recommend several options:

Sylvia's Restaurant

Sylvia's Restaurant Sylvia's Restaurant, founded in 1962 by Sylvia Woods, "the queen of soul food". It is located on Malcom X Boulevard. This is probably the best known of Harlem's restaurants. It will soon be 60 years old and is still run by the Woods family.

Amy Ruth's

AmyRuth's opened its doors in 1999. A charming place where dishes named after prominent African-American figures are served. So you can savor dishes named: President Barack Obama (chicken), Michelle Obama (fish), Gabrielle Union (pork chops), Judge George B. Daniels (shrimp) and C. Virginia Fields (carrot cake).

The house specialty is waffles. You can find on the menu waffles with chicken, bacon and sausage, strawberries, blueberries, cinnamon, bananas and pecans, among others.

Red Rooster Harlem

RedRoosterHarlem is a resident favorite. Conceived by Marcus Samuelsson, the renowned Ethiopian-Swedish chef, it opened on Lenox Avenue in 2010. In his own words the restaurant "celebrates the roots of American cuisine and the diversity of the neighborhood's culinary traditions."

If you go downstairs you'll be surprised by Ginny's Supper Club. A club that emulates the spirit of the secret bars of the 1920s. Where you can enjoy live jazz and private dining.

New York is the city of irresistible museums, and Harlem is no exception. The Studio Museum, opened in 1968 at 144 125th Street, was the first art gallery in the area. For remodeling reasons, it is now located at 429 West 127th Street.

However, you can keep up to date with the latest news through the website and its social networks (@studiomuseum). Check the calendar for programming and actively participate in the life that surrounds the institution.

The museum exhibits the work of more than 400 artists of African descent, Afro-Latino or from the diaspora. In addition to collections and events, it fosters the Artist-in-Residence program. This offers an 11-month residency to 3 local, national or international artists. In addition, I recommend you book a tour of African-American culture.

• Address: 144 W 125th St, New York.
• Hours: Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 12pm to 9pm and Saturdays from 10am to 6pm.
• Price: from $20 (approximately €18.30).

If you're looking for a place to drink in Harlem, trendy bars are the place to be. You can find everything from beers, margaritas and mojitos, to the most exotic cocktail drinks.

Accompanied by appetizers, music and entertainment. You can enjoy them with your friends, your family, your partner. Or you can take the opportunity to party alone and meet new people.

Here is a list with some proposals to have a great time. The best rated bars, cocktail bars, breweries and clubs on Google:

• Room 623 Harlem's Speakeasy (Jazz Club).
• Lucille's Coffee and Cocktails (Bar).
• Harlem Hops (Brewery).
• The Honey Well (Cocktail bar).
• Sugar Monk (Cocktail Bar).

Harlem is a piece of living art. Its streets blend tradition and modernity. Nineteenth century and skyscrapers, brownstones and graffiti come together. Thus, taking the subway and walking aimlessly to appreciate the local architecture can be in itself a very pleasant experience.

A singular attraction is the Langston Hughes House, located at 5th Ave and 127th St. Here the poet lived from 1947-1967. The house is a brownstone, as the brown buildings and sidewalk staircases we see so often in the movies are known. These picturesque buildings adorn the Harlem landscape, becoming a hallmark of Harlem's identity.

The Latino community is one of the most important in New York. In Spanish Harlem is concentrated the largest population of Puerto Rican, Cuban and Dominican origin in the city.

• The Graffiti Hall of Fame is an exciting display of street art. It emerged in the 1980s, when it was not even considered a serious art form. Its promoter was Ray Rodriguez, a New York graffiti artist known as Sting Ray. Today it is considered a commissioned space for public art. The murals invite artists and amateurs from all over to intervene the space and contemplate the results. This landmark has become a traveling outdoor gallery.
• Another key location in Spanish Harlem is La Marqueta. The market, open since 1936, is located at 1590 Park Avenue. Here you can buy food, fabrics, flowers and other products. Mostly organic and local products are sold. La Marqueta also functions as a cultural platform, uniting Latinos around cuisine and community.

The Central Park area near Harlem is an area rarely visited by tourists. If you want to take a moment to connect with nature, head to the Central Park Conservatory Garden or Harlem Meer.

• The Central Park Conservatory Garden will transport you to a little piece of Europe. Surrounded by the beauty of its gardens and its Italian, French and English style statues.
• Harlem Meer offers incredible views of the lake. You can even take a guided audio tour.

In both places you will be able to appreciate a less exploited area of the park. And, therefore, have a quieter and more private experience. At the same time you can take a break from the tour of Harlem. Also, if you want to go deeper into Central Park, sign up for one of the many tours available:

• Central Park Tour, from $42.
• Central Park bike cab tour with driver, from $51.
• Electric scooter tour of Central Park, from $91.
• Central Park Tour with movie locations, from $35.
• Horse-drawn carriage tour of Central Park, from $103.
• Horse-drawn carriagetour of Central Park and Times Square, from $276.
• Photo Tour of Central Park, from $99.
• Central Park Bike Tour, from $36.
• Two-hour bike tour of Central Park, from $52.
• Private bike tour of Central Park, from $73.

Similar is the case with El Museo del Barrio. Founded in 1969, it is located at 1230 5th Avenue and 104th Street.

With more than 8,000 exhibits, its mission is to preserve Latino culture in the United States. The museum produces bilingual publications and programs. It organizes exhibitions, educational activities and festivals. And it promotes the work of artists from the Caribbean and Latin America.

Through its virtual platform you can explore the proposed activities. The museum recommends getting tickets in advance. And you should keep in mind that certain health measures are required. Among them, it is mandatory to be vaccinated against covid-19 to enter the premises.

• Address: 1230 5th Ave, New York.
• Hours: Friday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Price: $8 (approximately €7.40).

The Theresa Hotel is a symbolic place. Not only was it one of the first establishments to admit black people. It also became a cultural center linked to the struggle for civil rights in the United States. A curious fact is that among its most famous guests are: Fidel Castro, Nikita Khrushchev, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Jawaharlal Nehru and Patricio Lumumba. It also hosted intellectuals such as Allen Ginsberg and C. Wright Mills.

For history buffs, Harlem is a special destination. Districts such as the Mount Morris Historic District and the St. Nicholas Historic District maintain the original look of the area. Other major buildings of public interest are linked to the founding fathers of the American nation, they are:

• The Morris-Jumel Mansion, located in Washington Heights, where George Washington stayed in 1776 - The Hamilton Grange National Memorial, the last house where Alexander Hamilton lived.

Between the 1970s and 1990s Harlem experienced serious social conflicts caused by drug trafficking. However, today it is a safe and prosperous place. It is also a multicultural space where cultures as distant as Puerto Rican and Senegalese converge.

Another of the things to see and do in New York and Harlem is to go to the George Washington Bridge, a suspension bridge. It is the only bridge that crosses the Hudson River and connects New York and New Jersey. The structure is 94 years old and 1451 meters long.

For many people walking across the bridge looking at the views of the river is a very rewarding activity. You can also cross it, or ride a bicycle over some of it. But you must be alert to the information that the authorities issue for pedestrians and cyclists.