Located along the East River at the western edge of Long Island, Long Island City is a former manufacturing epicenter in the borough of Queens, New York. Nowadays, sleek residential high-rises house young professionals, multi-ethnic immigrants, and artsy hipsters attracted to their many amenities, short commute, and sweeping views of Manhattan. This area is home to waterfront parks, art galleries, and a pocket of popular bars and restaurants.
Preview what we’ll cover in this article:
- Vibe and characteristics of Long Island City
- Commuting
- Where to eat
- Where to go out for drinks
- Things to do
- Top-rated places in the area
Vibe and characteristics of living in Long Island City
Long Island City blends entertainment and demographics. You’ll find beautiful scenes, tasty restaurants, exciting entertainment, and quiet parks here. As you explore Long Island City, you’ll discover a good mix of students, working professionals, and growing families. The city also caters to all rental types, with apartments, condos, and single-family homes available.
Long Island City is a popular place to call home for people who want to stay close to New York City but don’t want to deal with the traffic.
Commuting in Long Island City
The subway and the ferry make for a convenient commute to and from Manhattan. Long Island City is served by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), with several New York City Subway stations, including Queens Plaza, Queensboro Plaza, Court Square, and Hunters Point Avenue. New York City Ferry’s East River route stops at Hunters Point South and Astoria. Several MTA Regional Bus Operations routes and two Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) stations, Long Island City and Hunterspoint Avenue, also serve the area.
It’s about a 20-minute drive to Manhattan via Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge or the Queens Midtown Tunnel when there isn’t much traffic, which is rare. You’re better off taking public transportation into Midtown instead.
Where to eat in Long Island City
Your dining options are endless in New York City, and Long Island City is no different. Discover two of the many places you’ll find yourself going to regularly.
Your options are endless in New York City, and Long Island City is no different. Here are the places you’ll find yourself going to on a regular basis.
Where locals eat brunch on Sundays
Bellwether
47-25 Vernon Blvd.
Bellwether is a neighborhood standout for seasonal, local brunch and cocktails. In true hipster fashion, the bright, modern, and minimalist space features a wall of moss behind the bar.
The best coffee shop to work remotely
51st Bakery & Cafe
5-33 51st Ave.
This place serves locally roasted beans from Devocion Coffee in nearby Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Enjoy a pastry from Balthazar for breakfast, a sandwich made with cured meats and cheeses from Murrays Cheese for lunch, or one of their amazing chocolate chip cookies as a snack.
Don’t feel like cooking?
John Brown Smokehouse
10-43 44th Dr.
For Kansas City-style BBQ, head to John Brown Smokehouse. The acclaimed counter-service spot services up porcine pleasures including pulled pork, brisket, and burnt ends, pork belly, rib tips, are served up along sides like moist cornbread, crispy hand-cut fries, and mac n’ cheese.
Late-night eats for when you’ve had one too many
Corner Bistro
47-18 Vernon Blvd.
The Corner Bistro won’t let you go hungry, even if it’s late. Their half-pound burger, topped with melted American cheese, and piled high with bacon hits the spot, especially when washed down with one of the dozen beers on tap.
Where to go out for drinks in Long Island City
Preview some popular drinking spots in Long Island City, from dive bars to wine bars with live jazz music.
From dive bars to wine bars with live jazz music, here are your new favorite drinking spots in Long Island City.
The bar where everyone knows your name
L.I.C. Bar
45-58 Vernon Blvd.
Speaking of great burgers, the local watering hole L.I.C. Bar has a pretty darn good one, too. The expanse of exposed brick includes a garden out back where you can enjoy a wide range of beers on tap or a cocktail with friends while listening to a live performance.
Where to drink mimosas outside
Dominie’s Hoek
48-17 Vernon Blvd.
On weekends, you can get brunch with bottomless mimosas for just $12 at Dominie’s Hoek and enjoy them on their large outdoor patio.
Where to get cocktails on a first date
Domaine Bar à Vins
5004 Vernon Blvd.
Canoodle over charcuterie and chardonnay at Domaine Bar à Vins. The adorable wine bar often hosts live jazz, too.
Things to do while living in Long Island City
Close enough to New York City, yet far enough away, Long Island City has a long list of entertainment attractions to enjoy. Find out what activities you can enjoy while living in Long Island City:
Boutiques
Long Island City doesn’t have much to offer in the way of shopping unless you’re looking for urban streetwear, in which case you should visit Long Island City Kleaners. Otherwise, Pet Island has Fido’s needs covered, while Book Culture LIC has all the latest titles. Of course, you could always head to New York City for an afternoon of boutique shopping.
Theaters
The Chocolate Factory hosts dance, theater, and interdisciplinary performances by local, national, and international artists.
Farmer’s markets
Vendors sell antiques and art alongside local produce on weekends in the summer at the large LIC Flea & Food outdoor market.
Parks
LIC boasts several waterfront parks, including Gantry Plaza State Park. Situated on the East River, the 12-acre oasis features manicured gardens, a mist fountain, four walkable piers, restored antique gantry cranes from the 1920s, and spectacular views of the midtown Manhattan skyline, especially at sunset.
The popular Hunters Point South Park is also on the East River near Newtown Creek. The 10-acre urban park offers a waterfront promenade, playground, dog run, and cafe plaza in addition to green space.
North of Queensboro Bridge, you’ll find yet another East River waterfront park. Queensbridge Park, in addition to offering views of the bridge, features baseball fields, picnic areas, and playgrounds.
Once an abandoned riverside landfill, Socrates Sculpture Park now serves as an outdoor museum, showcasing large-scale sculpture and multi-media installations.
Top-rated places in Long Island City
You can’t miss some top-rated places while living in Long Island City. About a block from the sculpture park, The Noguchi Museum houses many sculptures and features a sculpture garden.
For even more sculpture, the artist-founded SculptureCenter exhibits contemporary three-dimensional works. The Museum of Modern Art’s P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, or MoMA PS1 for short, is a nonprofit arts center in an old public school building. See experimental, thought-provoking contemporary art for only $10.
About a block from the sculpture park, The Noguchi Museum houses many sculptures of its own and features its own sculpture garden.
For even more sculpture, the artist-founded SculptureCenter exhibits contemporary three-dimensional works. The Museum of Modern Art’s P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, or MoMA PS1 for short, is a nonprofit arts center in an old public school building. See experimental, thought-provoking contemporary art for just 10 bucks.
Renting in Long Island City
The cost of renting in Long Island City depends on where you decide to call home, including how many bedrooms and what amenities you want in a rental. Discover the average cost you can expect to pay for a rental in Long Island City:
- Average cost of a studio rental: $3,375 per month
- Average cost of a one-bedroom rental: $4,003 per month
- Average cost of a two-bedroom rental: $5,948 per month
Long Island City can be slightly cheaper than living in New York City. While rent prices can still be high, you usually get more space in a rental when living in Long Island City.
Short-term rentals may also be an option in Long Island City. Residents who want to try living outside the city may prefer a short-term rental. Life in Long Island City can be very different than the busy city life of New York.
A short-term rental in Long Island City can also be a good option for long work assignments. Because most rentals include a kitchen space, you can enjoy a home away from home.
Ready to make this neighborhood your new home? Search thousands of Long Island City apartments for rent and find the one for you.
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