Gramercy Flatiron is a district of Manhattan in New York, situated in the southern part of the Midtown area in the central and eastern parts of the island; broadly, from 14th up to 34th Streets and east of Sixth Avenue. The compact open spaces of Union Square and Gramercy Park define the East Side in this area. Union Square was completely revitalized in the 1990s and is now one of the city's premier shopping, dining and entertainment districts. The loosely-defined "Flatiron District" extends east from 6th Avenue and north of Union Square, centering on the famed Flatiron Building on 23rd Street. Tranquil, exclusive Gramercy Park is open only to immediate area residents, though the old brownstones surrounding the park and on Irving Place are some of Manhattan's most attractive streetscapes. Toward the north is Kips Bay, an affluent residential neighborhood, and, in the low 30s between 5th and 6th Avenues near Herald Square, an emerging Little Korea of BBQ restaurants and Asian markets.

Attractions

Landmarks

 • Flatiron Building, 23rd Street, Broadway and 5th Avenue. An iconic building, considered the oldest remaining skyscraper in New York, the Flatiron was completed in 1902. 285 ft (87 m) tall.

Museums and galleries

 • Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, 28 East 20th Street, tel 212-260-1616 - Tu-Sa 9am-5pm, closed Federal holidays, admission $3.00 adults, children under 16 free, guided tours available - a designated National Historic Site, Roosevelt lived at this site from his birth in 1858 until the age of 14 years. The building is not the original - this was demolished in 1916 - but a reconstruction erected by admirers only three years later in 1919 after Roosevelt's death, and subsequently furnished with many of the original fittings and memorabilia of the 26th US President by Roosevelt's wife and sisters
 • Museum of Sex, 233 Fifth Avenue at 27th Street, (212) 689-6337, . Su-F 11am-6:30pm, Sa 11am-8pm. $14.50 + tax.

Parks and gardens

 • Union Square - an important and historic intersection in New York City, situated where Broadway and the Bowery came together in the early 19th century. Union Square Park (3.5 acres) is known for its impressive equestrian statue of George Washington, erected to Henry Kirke Brown's design in 1856. In April 1861, soon after the fall of Fort Sumter, Union Square was the site of a patriotic rally that is thought to have been the largest public gathering in North America up to that time. A newer addition, added in 1986, is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the southwest corner of the park. Union Square is also known for its Greenmarket and is known as a focus for political demonstrations, most recently the 2004 Republican National Convention protest activity. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Union Square became a primary public gathering point for mourners and those seeking information about missing loved ones. People created spontaneous memorials in Union Square, and the square was the setting for vigils held to honor the victims of the attacks.
 • Gramercy Park. Open only to immediate area residents.

Dining

 • Dos Caminos Park, 373 Park Avenue South, between 26th and 27th Streets, tel 212-294-1000, open lunch: Mo-Fr 11.30am-4pm, brunch: Sa-Su 11.30am-4pm, dinner: Su-Mo 4pm-11pm, Tu-Th 4pm-12midnight, Fr-Sa 4pm-12.30pm, cards taken - one of two up-market Mexican restaurants in Manhattan by the same name and under the same ownership (the other's in SoHo...) Sticky, saucy ribs and guacamole to die for.... Above average $$ prices.
 • Union Square Cafe, 21 East 16th Street, tel 1-212-243-4020, hours lunch Mo-Sa 12noon-2:15pm, dinner Su-Th 6pm-10:15pm, Fr-Sa 6pm-11:15pm, accepts cards - one of New York's best-loved restaurants, serving great American and Italian cuisine with flair and crisp style. Osso buco, tuna burgers, roast vegetables and corn pudding are fine examples of dishes created using the best local and seasonal produce from the Cafe's neighbor, the Union Square Farmers' Market. Mains in excess of $30 average. Reservations advised.

Links

Manhattan Overview