A local's guide to art life in downtown NYC.

Our list/map of the coolest art spaces with the warmest welcomes. Plus the neighborhood places where art locals go to eat, drink, shop, and relax.

Art SpacesLower East Side

Fridman Gallery

An open-arms gallery showing atmospheric paintings with spiritual vibes. Also home to the super cool experimental sound studio, New Ear Inc.

Eat & DrinkChinatown

Dim Sum Palace

Dates and family diners hunker down in this old-world meets new-world Cantonese parlour, with 200+ seats. Gallerists sometimes host opening dinners here.

Art SpacesNoHo

Eric Firestone Gallery

Bold, colorful work by artists who have been making waves since the ‘70s. The energy, like the 70s, is groovy, sensual, and rebellious.

Art SpacesLower East Side

Essex Flowers

Only-on-weekends cooperative with shows curated by member artists featuring emerging artists in a warm, unpretentious space on Monroe Street.

Art SpacesChinatown

Magenta Plains

High-concept, anti-establishment art fills a three-story building just off the iconic Gilded Age gateway to the historic Manhattan Bridge.

Art SpacesLower East Side

Perrotin

Three floors of collector-coveted works by French, American, and Asian artists within this French gallery inside the old Beckenstein fabric warehouse on Orchard Street. Don’t miss its museum-worthy bookstore.

ShopEast Village

Enchantments

NYC’s ‘oldest witchcraft store’. Swoop into all things occult with magic books, tarot cards, oils blends, ritual supplies and all the spells. Or get a candle made to help you through a big life moment.

Art SpacesLower East Side

www.willshott

Meet the art dealer whose jewelry has been worn by hip-hop legends and is now collaborating with wave-making contemporary artists.

Art SpacesNoHo

Amanita

Be drenched in old-world European elegance with art by rarely-seen contemporary Italian artists, shown at the former CBGBs punk bar turned gallery.

Eat & DrinkTwo Bridges

Bánh by Lauren

Flock to this corner store bakery for the signature bánh bò nướng, the heavenly, bright green sticky pandan honeycomb cake topped with pandan custard. OMG!

Eat & DrinkLower East Side

Patacon Pisao

Locals flock to the sky-blue doors of this Venezuelan street food spot. Join them for Patacón sandwiches and arepas washed down with cold passion fruit juice.

Art SpacesNoLita

PARTICIPANT INC

A locally loved, black box (i.e. not white cube) alternative art space with superb shows of historic activist work and underground emerging artists.

Art SpacesLower East Side

Sperone Westwater

Three exhibition spaces across a five-story, starchitect designed building. The best of American and Italian conceptual art and photography since 1975.

Art SpacesLower East Side

Museum on Eldridge Street

Neighborhood history is revived in rotating exhibitions at this restored Synagogue from 1887. Don’t miss the glorious starry night rose window by contemporary artist Kiki Smith.

Eat & DrinkLower East Side

Balvanera

Grab a sunny spot under the awning for Argentinian steaks and family-style dishes. A crowd pleaser, where you can actually hear your dining buddy speak.

Art SpacesLower East Side

56 HENRY

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