Manhattan’s historic trading port has come a long way since Hurricane Sandy flooded its cobblestone streets in 2012. In the storm’s aftermath, real estate developers swooped in and transformed these 4 acres into the center of Lower Manhattan’s urban renaissance. Spend a few hours steeping in the surrounds.
Seafaring Stories
Begin by brushing up on Manhattan’s maritime beginnings at the South Street Seaport Museum. This area was home to the city’s principal port until the Civil War, and its streets still showcase 18th- and 19th-century architecture from its heyday.
Modern Markets
You won’t find the seaport’s fish market and brothels of yore, but modern merchants still sell top-grade goods. New York bookstore chain McNally Jackson is a word-nerd wonderland and Mûre and Grand’s flower-power threads are a ray of sunshine. It’s worth scheduling a trip around the Hester Street Fair (hesterstreetfair.com), Pier 17’s summer weekend popup, where vendors sell vintage thrift clothes, handmade jewelry and other uber-cool knickknacks.
Sip and Snack
Break up the shopping by imbibing at bars along the piers. In the Tin Building, an upscale food emporium fit for all tastes, it’s possible to hop around specialty counters for wine, beer and cocktails. At Pier 17’s Pearl Alley, you can grab a negroni while gawking at Brooklyn. There’s no shortage of fabulous food, either, with Carne Mare (Italian chophouse) and House of the Red Pearl (Chinese) topping the list.
