Steve: If the Upper East Side has a crown jewel, it is Museum Mile.
Most visitors know the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They should. The Met is one of the finest museums in the world, and you could spend weeks inside without seeing everything. What many people do not realize is that the Met is just one stop along one of the greatest concentrations of museums anywhere.
The Temple of Dendur is one of my favorite places inside the Met. The ancient Egyptian temple, dating back more than 2,000 years, sits beneath soaring glass walls on the Northeast side of the museum. Daylight pours through the massive windows and reflects off the water, creating a breathtaking space.
I have been fortunate enough to attend a few private events there over the years. Every time, I find myself pausing to appreciate the absurdity of the moment. There are not many places in the world where you can enjoy cocktails and dinner beside an actual Egyptian temple in the middle of a major city. Even by New York standards, it is a special place.
Sadly, the seasonal Roof Garden is closed until 2030. Looking out across Central Park and the grand skyline on three sides, it was an opportunity to enjoy a world class view with a nice beverage. I can’t wait until it reopens!
A short walk north brings you to the Guggenheim Museum, which is defined by Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic spiral design. The spiral is approximately ¼ mile long and climbs six floors above the ground. It creates a unique exterior as well as a wonderful, light filled interior to enjoy the collections that include Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Cézanne and Klee.
Nearby, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum offers a fascinating look at design, architecture, and innovation inside Andrew Carnegie’s former mansion. For me, the best part of the visit is wandering through Carnegie’s amazing 1902 Beaux Arts abode. The collections are differentiated from other museums in the area, including a touch table on each floor to create your own designs. The café, the gardens and the conservatory offer quieter spaces to relax.
Then there is the Frick Collection, a true treasure. The mansion houses a remarkable collection of European masters, but what I love most is the way the building was designed from the ground up as both a family home and a future museum to display the masterworks. Spaces combine art on the wall with furniture that was used by the family. The second floor was recently converted from Frick family quarters to public museum space, opening in 2025. Unlike the grandeur of the Met, or the soaring interior of the Guggenheim, the Frick feels personal.
Anyone one of these museums would take days or weeks to explore properly. Together, these institutions create one of the great cultural walks in America.
Steve’s Guide to the Upper East Side:
Steve’s Guide to the Upper East Side: Central Park – The Neighborhood’s Backyard
