The Lower East Side’s New Center of Cool

By Jason Chen
January 04, 2017
Credit: David Alexander Arnold
For as long as Soho has existed as a neighborhood, its eastern edges have always been more of a frontier, farther from public transport and traditionally less commercial—in other words, not quite ready for primetime. Lately, however, the parts of Soho where Nolita bumps against the Lower East Side are now home to some of New York’s buzziest restaurants, cafes, and stores, including a healthy breakfast spot owned by a nightlife baron, the cafe that’s made a centuries-old Japanese beverage trendy, and the restaurant that has us all thinking pink. These days in New York, there’s no cooler neighborhood mashup than what some are calling “NoLo.”
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Touring New York City's NoLo Neighborhood

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Bang Bang NYC

Credit: David Alexander Arnold

The stylish set head straight to Bang Bang NYC on Broome Street when they want to get edgy. Owner Keith McCurdy’s shop opened in 2014, when he was just 28 years old (Bang Bang is his nickname), and the sleek black and white storefront has a following that belies its understated exterior. Hypebeasts line up to get fresh ink from the artist whose elaborate, photorealistic handiwork graces the skin of Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Kylie Jenner, and Miley Cyrus. But New York’s fashion crowd really started zeroing in on McCurdy’s work when he created tattoos for superstar models Jourdan Dunn and Cara Delevingne (whose lion tattoo is surely one of the most photographed in the industry).

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Pietro Nolita

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Café Henrie

Credit: David Alexander Arnold

Buzz is something that seems to follow Andre Saraiva wherever he goes (his club Le Baron—which has outposts in New York and Paris—are consistently packed with chic jet-setters), and his newest endeavor is no different. Excitement over his restaurant , Cafe Henrie, had reached a fever pitch by the time it finally opened in September 2015 during fashion week. Since then, the healthy food spot—its fare leans heavily on chickpeas, market vegetables, and signature slicks of bright red beet tahini—has drawn high profile regulars like publisher Olivier Zahm and actress Chloe Sevigny, all of whom have graced Saraiva’s Instagram while dining here.

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Cha Cha Matcha

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CW Pencil Enterprise

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