103rd Street (1)

Welcome to Manhattan Valley, the transitional neighborhood between the Upper West Side and Morningside Heights. A perfect Manhattan Valley day might involve a Riverside picnic or stroll, paired with a meal just outside the station.

The station brings you to Broadway street, which has a bunch of vibrant food and bar hangouts. Sit-down options include Cafe du Soleil, Kesari Indian Cuisine, Serafina West, and so many more. There are also faster options like falafel or Mama’s TOO.

Cafe du Soleil in the summertime, just outside the station

Amsterdam street, one block east, hosts the Frederick Douglass Houses, where the vibe is more “the projects” and less “we’re getting drinks at Serafina!” There are some exceptions though, like Arco Cafe, which has a more Broadway-street vibe to it even though it’s sandwiched among the projects on Amsterdam.

Riverside Park, a few blocks west, is a stunner especially in summer. Enter the park on 103rd and wander north a short distance, and you’ll find Ellington in the Park, a casual food stop.

Some notes on the park: The park has two layers to it: the upper green stroll, which you’ll hit first, and the lower riverside walk/bike/run path, which also has some green patches for a river-facing picnic. Both are great to explore. Enjoy!

The lower level of Riverside Park off this stop