See Harlem in 24 Hours: Manhattan Walking Guide

Extending west in the Hudson River and east to the East River, Harlem has numerous ancient churches to visit (a whopping 400 of them), theaters to enjoy shows at. It offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the Northern Central Park, which is otherwise left unexplored by many visitors.

Pertinent to the artistic inclination of this place since historical times, the place still hosts a variety of theaters, dance halls, and other art-oriented junctions. Supper clubs, cafes, lounges, rib joints, and bars form essential components of the much-known Harlem nights.

With a variety of engaging and alluring things to be done in Harlem, one must be well-acquainted with the offerings of this place to prepare for the perfect mini-tour to Harlem. Here, we have it all sorted for you.

The history of Harlem does not lay its strong roots only in art and culture but also has a firm association with historically known movements like the Civil Rights Movement. Harlem has been home to the well-known Harlem renaissance movement that began with the dissent of intellectuals and artists on social and cultural issues.

The movement was centered in Harlem New York and spanned around the 1920s. Called as the new Negro movement back then, this restructured and validated how the world understood African Americans and their culture. This movement integrated the black and white cultures while giving birth to the black urban society.

Pertaining to these substantial effects, the Harlem renaissance movement developed a stage for the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950-60s. The Civil Rights Movement was aimed at ensuring the end of racial discrimination towards African Americans while securing legal recognition and federal protection of their civil rights.

The Apollo theater is a quintessential of the artistic richness that Harlem is evident in nurturing. Being an iconic part of Harlem, the Apollo theater was set up years back and since then has been conducting a wide array of presentations for the locals and tourists to enjoy on their visit. It offers various types of programs, including family-friendly shows especially aimed at offering a thing for tourists that come along with their families. Also, the amateur night held every Wednesday is a special treat to watch Harlem nights. It began in the year 1934.

The Apollo Theater is a music hall. It is home to famous African American performances and is the noted venue for ShowTime at the Apollo. Opened in 1914, the Apollo theater has a capacity of hosting 1506 visitors for the shows. An estimated count of 1.3 million people visits this place with reverence for art every year. It was decided that Apollo theater would be the first one to allow black people to perform in an age where they were prohibited from entering almost all theaters in the United States.

The studio museum in Harlem was established in the year 1968. Located at 144 West 125^th Street Manhattan New York, it is an American art museum. It holds work of art from artists of African descent. The museum holds artwork by artists of the American diaspora and others from the African continent. It has earned a good name across the globe and has been recognized widely for its work in promoting work of art by Africans. The artworks put up here are majorly from local, national, and international African artists. Also, the work put up here is a resultant of strong influence from black culture.

The museum remains open for visitors from Thursday to Sunday. The admission fee is free for all on Sunday however on other days $7 for students, $3 for seniors and $3 for children under the age of 12 is to be paid for visiting and exploring. Family programs, gallery tours, and hands-on workshops are also conducted, focusing on different age groups, also for children and their families. The family programs are usually held on Sundays.

Numerous monuments, music halls, museums, around 400 churches, and art galleries comprise of the rich and highly known cultural heritage of Harlem. Besides being home to the Harlem Renaissance movement in the past, the tall standing cultural heritage of this place is proof of the strong association that Harlem has with artists, cultures, writers, and musicians. Studio Museum, Apollo Theater, Marcus Garvey Park, music halls, and a lot more await the tourists on their way to explore Harlem. The place is an impeccable amalgamation of admired culture relating to the African Americans and the history of their struggle throughout the revolutionary past.

Harlem has a history of multiple music genres that inspired change and brought about cultural togetherness and harmony. Even today, music halls of Harlem are known across the globe. The cotton club, noisy and bustling club, the parlor, NAMA, Shrine world music venue, and Jazz mobile are some premier names that count in the music halls of Harlem New York. Music has been a tie that brings people and cultures together. The people of Harlem have done the most diligent use of music for economic purpose over a history of the century-old music scene.

Built-in, the heart of Harlem, Red Rooster, is known for its diversity of delicacies. Opened by celeb chef Marcus Samuelsson in December, this extravagant restaurant serves you the most lip-smacking dishes like the classic Yard bird or a variety of seafood recipes. With loft-like dining and a vast bar, the place is full of giggles at all times and is known for its evergreen gregarious environment. Red Rooster Harlem resides in the heart and soul of Mr. Samuelsson as he has staked his entire life into bringing this place to life.

Located between the 125^th and 126^th street near Lenox Ave, Red Rooster Harlem has always been an ideal lunch/brunch/dinner destination for tourists as well as for the residents. The place has a royal aura in the daytime, which turns into insanely cheerful vibe during the evenings, as people swamp the place to get a combination of good food with extremely entertaining ambiance. To avoid waiting for a table, it is advised to book a reservation prior.

Situated on the Eastern bank of river Hudson, the Little Red Lighthouse was originally built in 1917 and reconstructed in 1921. The main purpose of the lighthouse was to navigate the travelers of Hudson and reduce traffic caused due to fog in the night time. The lighthouse seemed to be obsolete after the completion of George Washington Bridge and thus was extended for auction.

The novel “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge” by Hildegard Swift provoked emotions for the lighthouse in the hearts of the residents. Due to its popularity, the lighthouse was named as the “Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse” in 1989 and is also designated as a New York City Landmark.

The Little Red Lighthouse stands true to its name as the 40 feet structure has 40 stairs in the interior which lead to the top of the lighthouse. Although it is closed for public, you can visit it from inside under authorization. View from the top is what makes the climb worth it. A serene scenario of Manhattan dwelling on the banks of river Hudson can be witnessed from the top of Little Red Lighthouse in Harlem.

Be it exhibiting the craftsmanship of local artists of New York or looking for the exquisite collections of merchandises, the streets of Harlem have it all. Loaded with a variety of shops from all fields, Harlem has proven to be the busiest shopping hub in New York. The frolic filled streets are known to curb the cravings for designer outfits, artistic supply, beauty products as well as mouth-watering delicacies.

You may also find vendors selling great quality shea butter, perfumes, oil accompanied by local musicians displaying their art on the sidewalk. Some major shopping highlights on the streets of Harlem are- Atmos, Bebenoir Boutique, Black Ink Studio, Carol’s Daughter, Denim Library, Gadson Gallery, H&M store, The Winery, etc. To take back a part of Harlem with you, you can visit the Museum of the city of New York and the Studio Museum to buy the distinct Harlem gifts that make the perfect one-of-a-kind souvenirs.

Formerly known as the ‘Mount Morris Park,’ Marcus Garvey Park is one of the oldest public squares of Manhattan. Serving as a meeting place, front yard, play area and a holy place for people of Manhattan for more than 150 years, the park has proven to be the most accessible recreation center.

The park was finally renamed in honor of Black Nationalist leader- Marcus Garvey in 1973. This place is like nature’s envelope amidst the concrete city. With historical rock formations aging since a century, Marcus Garvey Park is beautifully surrounded by a variety of trees and shrubs like- Elm, Hackberry, Hawthorn, Maple, Oak, Orange, and Sweetgum. Visitors also enjoy a peaceful sitting area under the shades of diverse greenery along with the cool breeze flowing in the interior of the park.

Harlem is a place full of intra-cultural restaurants serving a variety of cuisines from all over the world. Be it Japanese, Chinese, India, Thai, Mexican, French, Italian, or any other specialty, name it, and you have it in Harlem. Although there are several places to satiate your appetite, a few popular restaurants are known for their ambiance, and great food is worth visiting.

Some of them are- Red Rooster (taste the delicacies prepared by a celeb chef), Melba (Chicken and waffles with a side of mac and cheese are a must-try), Clay(known for its exquisite menu and attractive ambience), Barawnie (famous for its French-ish American food, the place has vibrant seating with live music on Sundays), Sylvia’s Restaurant( their catfish, ribs and fried chicken have been appealing the public since 1962) and Jacob’s (known for its finger-licking good food at affordable prices).

Harlem is a free-spirited city with diverse cultures dwelling together. The happy-go-lucky aura of this city is contagious, which is why it has great drinking spots at every corner. Many popular bars have been known to serve the customers with a variety of drinks and quality food amidst a vibrant ambiance. Some of the popular places among the tourists are-

1) The Cecil: Famous for its indulging deserts and precisely crafted cocktails, Cecil has an Afro-Asian-American influence over the visitors.

2) Harlem Public: Ever heard of avocado fries? You get them at Harlem Public. The place is always swamped with the cheerful crowd enjoying their brewery.

3) Paris Blues: This place is known for its jazz theme and melodious jazz nights that let you have great wine and dine experience.

4)The Grange Bar and Eatery: The Grange Bar and Eatery has eye-catching decor with extremely exquisite food and bar menu. This is the perfect place to explore new delicacies with great art and craft.

Many other bars like 1020 Bar, Harlem Tavern, Smoke Jazz and Supper Club, etc. are also quite talked about in the town.

Founded in 1938 by the world-famous saxophonist- Henry Minton, Minton’s Playhouse is known as the originator of modern jazz in America. Minton’s is the birthplace of Bebop and has been setting revolution in jazz for a decade. Located on the first floor of Cecil Hotel, this place reclaims the legacy of a musical institution by revitalizing the uptown music scene. Hosting a great wall of fame that has images of all the artists who have graced the place with their presence and extraordinary music, Minton’s is the hub for Harlem’s vibrant scene today.

Music is not the only thing attracting people to Milton’s rather; it also has a great variety of un-parallel dishes that blow the minds of all the visitors. Be it the signature dish- plump oxtail dumplings or the most famous, eight hours-soaked pork ribs, Minton’s provides extra satisfaction not only to the ears but also to the stomach and thus to the heart. It is indeed a great place to spend some quality time with your loved ones.

This beauteous and historically fascinating place of Harlem must be visited when traveling to Manhattan. At minimal costs and a meager time frame of 24 hours, you can get the best out of your tour to this place and will surely get back home with fascinating insights about African American culture and a lot of alluring captures around the cultural heritage of this place.