Flatiron

If you’ve been listening to ever-wise words of rap mogul Jay-Z, you’ll know that the Flatiron District is where it’s at in New York City. Even without the backing of the infamous Sean Carter, clubs and lounges like Cheetah, Eugene, Centro-Fly, and Limelight would probably stand just fine on their own reputations. Models, dot-commers, slick-talking young professionals, and downtown club kids alike flock to this tiny, architecturally interesting area of Manhattan not only to party, but also to find great places to live.

The Flatiron District is easily recognizable for its strangely shaped namesake building, sitting at the precarious intersection of 5th Ave, Broadway, and 23rd Street. But the structural achievements of the Flatiron founding fathers extend beyond the obvious—it can be more interesting when walking through this neighborhood to look up rather than down, checking out the incredible details on the building roofs, the vaulted ceilings and arches of business buildings and restaurants. Even the clubs have to look the part in Flatiron—take the much maligned and troubled Limelight club, built into an old cathedral complete with a stained glass rose window, Gothic ceilings, and multiple floors for drinking, dancing, and random illegal activity.

This neighborhood is also a great place to eat—upscale eateries like 11 Madison Park are light and air-filled spectaculars of fine dining. The southern tip of Flatiron houses the cute and cozy Chat&Chew, where feel-good grub is served up in generous proportions. Music lovers get their fix at Irving Plaza, where bands big and small play to the fiendishly loyal masses.

Due to the popularity of the clubs and various diversions in the area, many apartments in Flatiron have gotten pricey facelifts in recent years to keep up with the demand of young professionals moving into the area. Apartments in Flatiron are a melange of beautifully mixed styles and incredible attention to detail—perfectly suited to the fairly well-paid, younger members of the community. New high-rises are going up all the time, much to the chagrin of some older residents who truly know the neighborhood by its name—one filled with buildings made of pewter, brass, and bronze metals.

Transportation is served by several lines—the 6 on Lexington Avenue, NR on Broadway, or the Union Square lines if you’re feeling the walk. On the West Side, there’s the 1,9 to 23rd Street, serving the 7th Ave area. Otherwise, a short cab ride should take you just about anywhere you want to go from this centrally located area. This rule applies to all of life in the Flatiron District—never far from the action, this neighborhood is ideally suited to hip individuals.