New York City is comprised of five boroughs; Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Each borough belongs to a respective county of New York State which forms the New York municipality. Most of our SilverDoor serviced apartments in New York are located in Manhattan, by far the most popular borough of New York for business travellers, with a portfolio of apartments also in Brooklyn. Despite the majority of New York’s bright lights, charm and iconic sights being located in Manhattan, there are plenty of reasons to visit, or even relocate to, some of the other New York boroughs. Ahead of visiting New York, be sure to read our business traveller’s guide to the boroughs of New York City.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the most famous borough in New York. It is also the smallest and most densely populated. Manhattan is divided into three areas; Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown. Downtown Manhattan is home to Wall Street, the financial district of New York, and a number of iconic skyscrapers. The One World Trade Centre, built to replace the Twin Towers, stands proudly as the tallest building in New York. The National September 11 Memorial Museum commemorates the 2996 people who lost their life on that fateful day. On the waterfront, The Battery offers spectacular views of the city and Hudson Bay, with the city’s Chinatown district a hotspot for travellers visiting New York. Nearby the boundary of Downtown and Midtown Manhattan is 5th Avenue, one of the most famous shopping streets in the world. Midtown Manhattan is home to a number of famous sights. The Empire State Building which opened in May 1931 is arguably the most iconic building in New York, with the Rockefeller Centre another popular visitor attraction amongst tourists and business travellers. Discover our blog on the surprising stories behind New York’s most famous buildings. The bright lights of Times Square and the world famous Broadway theatre district are located in Midtown, with Grand Central Station and Macy’s other key attractions in the area. The boundary between Midtown and Uptown is marked by 59th Street and the famous Central Park. Upper Manhattan boasts the Metropolitan Museum of Art and American Museum of Natural History. When on business travel in New York, Central Park offers scenic beauty away from the busy streets.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populated borough of New York and home to a collection of SilverDoor apartments. Located on the western flank of Long Island, Brooklyn is renowned for its hipster subculture and famed its cultural, social, and ethnic diversity. Our corporate housing in Brooklyn is situated in Downtown Brooklyn, excellently located nearby cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. Brooklyn Bridge, the ferry, and metro system offer quick and easy commutes into downtown Manhattan. Brooklyn has become a hotspot for entrepreneurship, being home to number of high tech start-ups. The borough has a long coastline, situated on which is Coney Island, a seaside neighbourhood which is home to the first rollercoaster in the United States. The trendiness of Brooklyn and its district neighbourhood has seen the borough become a popular reside for celebrities. Likewise, increasingly more business travellers are choosing to relocate to Brooklyn instead of Manhattan. Marine Park and Prospect Park are two large Brooklyn parks offering the ideal city retreat. When looking for a city escape, discover our guide to the five best outdoor spaces in New York.
Queens
Situated on Long Island, Queens is the largest borough in New York City. Queens is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States and is the most ethnically diverse neighbourhood in the world. Most business travellers visiting New York will arrive in Queens, with the borough hosting two of New York’s three airports. John F. Kennedy International Airport and La Guardia Airport are situated in Queens, with the other major airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, being located in New Jersey. Citi Field, the home of baseball team the New York Mets, is located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. Flushing Meadows is also home to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center which stages the annual US Open tennis tournament during the summer months. Queens has a diverse economy, with travel, sport and filming all supporting the local economy. Kaufman Astoria Studios, Silvercup Studios and the Aqueduct Racetrack are all situated in the borough.
The Bronx
The Bronx is the most northern borough in New York City and the only borough part of the US mainland. This borough is considered the most affordable in New York and is also host to Yankee Stadium, the home of the New York Yankees. Many business travellers head to The Bronx at the weekend purely to watch the Yankees who are the most successful Major League Baseball team in history. The Bronx Zoo is a popular attraction and is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, whilst the picturesque New York Botanical Garden is a splendid sight to the north of the Bronx Zoo. The economy in The Bronx is largely retail based, with the borough home to a collection of large shopping malls including Bay Plaza Shopping Centre, Bronx Terminal Market and Hunts Point Cooperative Market.
Staten Island
The most suburban borough of New York is Staten Island. The island in Richmond County is connected to Brooklyn via the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Manhattan is also reachable by the free Staten Island Ferry. This ferry is popular amongst visitors to the Big Apple, with the journey offering mesmerising views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Lower Manhattan. Staten Island is home to the Staten Island Greenbelt, a large area of designated public parkland spanning approximately 2500 acres. This borough is by far the least populated in New York and perfect to escape the busy Manhattan lifestyle!
Thanks for reading our business travellers guide to the boroughs of New York City! We hope that we have provided some useful insights into what each borough has to offer ahead of your business travel to New York. Remember, although Manhattan is great, there are other amazing boroughs to explore! When visiting New York check out our excellent guides to our favourite restaurants in New York for a corporate dinner and the top five serviced apartments in New York for long stay business trips.
