An Afternoon on the Upper East Side? What to Do & Where to Eat

The Upper East Side of New York City is home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, some phenomenally expensive homes, and a lively restaurant and bar scene.

In this quick guide, we’ll break down what an afternoon (or full day) on the Upper East Side can look like, from pre-museum activities, an excellent bar for happy hour, and a few food options you won’t want to miss!

This quick guide covers some of our favorite spots on the Upper East Side.

Let’s do it! 👇

Note: This article was written by a real human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

Afternoon on the Upper East Side Podcast

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First Stop – Early Lunch at Don Filippo & Coffee at 787 Coffee

Don Filippo is quite the unassuming spot, with the decor giving you the feel of an authentic ’90s pizza joint. But don’t be fooled; their pizzas are phenomenal, available as a pie or by the slice.

Don’t skip the garlic knots! Check out Don Filippo here.

Before heading to the MET, take a quick detour for some delicious and highly-rated coffee from 787 Coffee. Their cappuccino is solid, and they also offer delicious drip coffee.

The museum is massive, and you don’t wanna be dragging during your visit! Check out 787 Coffee on the Upper East Side here.

Main Activity – 2-3 Hours at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET)

Head to their website beforehand to buy tickets (which will save you some time) and plan out certain exhibits or art pieces you want to see.

It’s a huge museum covering many time periods, art styles, and art mediums. Check out the MET here.

Read our full guide to The Met here.

You can also check out guided tours if you want to be sure you’ll hit the best highlights, plus many of the tours have “skip the line” options, which is vital on busy days!

Optional 2nd Activity – The Obelisk & Belvedere Castle in Central Park

The Belvedere Castle and the Obelisk are two iconic spots in Central Park. Plus, they’re close to the MET and will only take roughly 45-60 minutes to explore after your visit to the museum.

The views are also phenomenal!

Check out The Obelisk here & see Belvedere Castle here.

Post-Museum Drinks at The Raven Pub

The Raven Pub is a great spot on the UES with plenty of solid food and drink options. Ideally, you catch their happy hour until 7 pm to get $7 beers, wines, and well drinks!

We love this pub, which features a surprisingly robust food menu, plenty of beers on draft, and live music throughout the week. Check out The Raven Pub here.

This Episode’s You’ll Have to Check It Out Segment – Sushi Gama

Sushi Gama is a fantastic option for some fresh sushi with quick service and fair prices, especially during happy hour.

Happy hour for food is from 12-6pm, and drinks are from 3-7pm. We love this spot!

Check out Sushi Gama here.

Dinner at Up Thai on 2nd Avenue

This is one of our favorite Thai spots in New York City! Up Thai is a slightly upscale Thai spot serving unique dishes, delicious duck options, and phenomenal cocktails.

Their specials are worth trying and rotate with the seasons. Beef Shortrib Panang and Duck Tamarind are some of the best Thai dishes we’ve had. We recommend getting many dishes and sharing rather than having each person get their own dish.

The M&M (Magical Spicy Margarita) and the Lycheetini are our go-to cocktails. Vegetable Pad Thai has perfectly cooked, thick vegetables rather than the small/stringy veggies that typically come with Pad Thai.

Check out Up Thai here.

Dessert Option – Anita La Mamma del Gelato

There can be a line, especially in the summer, so plan on that, but it will be worth it. They have phenomenal gelato, and their waffle cones are a must-get!

Check out Anita La Mamma del Gelato on the UES here.

Afternoon on the UES Recap

This is truly only a slice of what the Upper East Side has to offer, but we LOVE all these spots.

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