Photo via NYC Parks
Sept. 17, 2019 By Allie Griffin
Astoria is in the top 10 coolest neighborhoods in the world, according to a new report by Time Out.
After surveying more than 27,000 people around the world and gathering local Time Out editors and city experts’ opinions, the global media and entertainment brand ranked Astoria at number eight on its list of the world’s coolest neighborhoods.
Time Out described the list as 50 “must-see but often lesser-known neighborhoods across the world to stay, eat, drink and go out in.”
Astoria came in at eight for its diverse culinary options and cultural offerings.
“Looking for the diversity, flavor and energy that some people complain can’t be found in New York these days? In Astoria, Egyptian restaurants and hookah bars rub shoulders with the striking street art of the Welling Court Mural Project and some of the city’s most distinctive museums,” the Time Out list states.
Mural by Lady Pink (@ladypinknyc Instagram) from @wellingcourtmuralproject Instagram
“You’ll find a vast range of locals running errands at decades-old shops, feasting at new restaurant openings and raising huge glasses of Czech beer at the outdoor-drinking staple Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden.”
Survey participants were asked to name the best and most underrated neighborhoods in their city, including which neighborhood has the best food and places to go out and have fun in their city.
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46 Comments
I love it here in Queens. It gets more expensive every year though. I just got my lease renewal, here in Long Island. Looking to relocate next year probably. By the way here is another list of 11 neighborhoods: https://expomovers.com/11-best-neighborhoods-to-consider-when-moving-to-queens/
Walked through Astoria yesterday after forty years. I was impressed how very nice young and older alike were. When I walked on my old block and taking ipad pics, people were very nice to me! I think some were baffled as I took picture of locked up garbage and recycle barrells. That shocked me!! I walked from 30 ave on 43 to 31 ave ……just as I arrived at my old house where I married from in 1974 – a young man, his dad and groomsmen were just leaving for HIS wedding. That totally baffled me. They were walking up the block to the church which made me laugh as my limos were late and I almost had to. Was a great day in Astoria.
If cheaper restaurants and bars (compared to Manhattan and Brooklyn) mostly owned by non-minorities are what you are looking for then Astoria is an option. In addition, the mixed street crowds, dirt, traffic, bikes, pollution from the airport/Con Edison, smell of sewer plants, crime, and a street of Egyptian restaurants with a growing community make it a great place for visitors to take selfies, post them on line and show their followers how open they are to it all. For most of them afterwards, they see Astoria as a cheaper alternative “circus” in Queens. That is what articles like the one above do for the neighborhood.
Amazing neighborhood that continues to get better and better. I’ve lived here for the last 5 years and left Manhattan due to the price increase. I was able to find a good landlord that charges me a reasonable amount for the 2nd floor of the house. I love the cultures, restaurants, bars, and safety of living here. You are close to the city, two airports, and everything else. There a few neighborhoods in the world that compare. I feel blessed living here!
Astoria is the best neighborhood in NYC.
Now many more people know that, and we can expect many more people to want to move here.
Cest la vie mon ami.
The secondhand exposure to marijuana smoke in Astoria are effecting some peoples perceptions.
Been here my whole life and that’s a long time. Love it. Love the change, love the young people who come here. I know the Astoria of old. It wasn’t all champagne and roses. There was crime. A lot of it. There were drugs. A lot of them. It’s only getting better. Astoria rocks!
Only an American would think Astoria is cool. Airheads.
Timout is a UK-based publication. DUH.
Yeap, this is why there is Kaufman Studios, this is why amazon tried the best to get there and Deniro will open a new studio as well.. dhd
I have lived in Astoria since I was in Junior H.S., over 40 years!
The biggest changes are the many restaurants appearing every week, driving out many family-run businesses. Rents are sky high, same as in Manhattan.
I like Astoria, but one day it will be unaffordable to all but the wealthiest people.
I love it here, however it true Steinway is a ghost town. Parking is terrible and renting a spot is 150 and up. New Astorian come here with a major attitude rude and nasty. Too many cafés and now we have too many bike, scooter and mini cars all rentals. My car been damage a few times by bikes. They are careless. The clubs attracts undesirable people that get out of the club’s drunks and come into the neighborhoods yelling and screaming at three 4 in the morning. At 4 in the morning I have call the cops over fights and arguments and yelling outside and hanging out with loud music it’s killing our neighborhood. Is very sad what’s happening
Lots of Bangladeshi people live in Astoria. Lots of establishments, business and delicious restaurants.
Safe place to live. Civilized people. We are having a few criminals around now, but nothing comparing with other neighborhoods. I love love here
The Time Out pic they have of Astoria in the article is terrible compared to the rest of the pics. It looks so dirty and gloomy and the fast food sign is the only restaurant in sight. They could of shown a better area of Astoria. Good thing the dirty food carts around that area were not in the picture.
I have been living in astoria from 1981…I like it more than anywhere in the world…the best naibargood ..in my mind in America..!!? authnice community…!! Still the best..??
Mr. Capolla. It sounds like you have some racial issues. That’s is what makes Astoria UGLY.!! I was born and raised in Astoria and what made us unique was the diversity. I had so many friends . Italians, Greeks, Irish, African Americans, well I think you understand what I’m saying here. There are rude people , like yourself , everywhere. Food for thought.
Pray for peace instead.
Astoria.. Great place to live, raise a family, EAT and enjoy the night life. The neighborhood is relatively safe crime is not a problem. As a native astorian I was born there, when to school there and worked there. The neighborhood has gone through some changes over the last three decades, but what neighborhood hasn’t. Astoria has changed with the times and the times are good. Let’s not to forget to enjoy the great Italian food and pizza at Sacs place. Greek food at Romano’s and the best Italian bread and cookies at Parisi’s. Astoria is a friendly and welcoming community. God bless America and God bless Astoria…
Bad news about Sac’s … it has closed
Wait it opened in the basement of Kaufman, though that has not been a great spot for previous restaurants.
Sac’s relocated to Kaufman studios. The food is the just as good, the Pizza is still amazing, and the same crew is still there.
Astoria is many things; cool it is not. And I mean that in a good way
No place better to live in NYC.
Astoria for all . Food ,walk around, drinking, sports, resident, quiet, over night life and morning life all the world gathered in one place named Astoria ?
How to attract more AirBnB tourists….
Anyway, this neighborhood has seen a lot of change in the past few years and will continue seeing more, in a bad way. Lots of building going down; lots of “luxury” bloc apts going up. Between Broadway and 30th, there are about 6 closed stores, and more on the way. Who is this construction for, I have to ask? Right, DeBlasio and Cuomo real estate friends.
Yeah,,,my granparents from Bari Italy.1899..bought a house on 47th street ,around the corner from Wm Cullen Bryant HS,,three blocks to PS151,and two blocks to Horace Greely PS1o Jr,HS…1/2 block to Blvd Hospital..what a place to grow up..lucky me…
WOW – my parents were from Bari too.. We live on 35 St right off Broadway . Yes Astoria was a nice place . I miss all those good stores we went to shop.
Quinns Funeral Home is gone, who ever thought .
To Astoria lifelong residents Astoria was always a fantastic place to live in not as much today, with all its diversity it has brought in waves of rude rude people who think they own Astoria when they come here they trash our parks especially Astoria Park an overcrowd our streets they have no regard for parking or for the local residents that live here in Astoria yes so Astoria used to be a fantastic place now it’s just overcrowded with a bunch of rude ass strangers
Sounds like you should build a wall to protect your hurt feelings.
Astoria is changed used to be quite now its overcrowded and you have lots of appartment buildings with 2 rooms that have 6-10 occupancy in it wow how is a person to enjoy his quiet ti.e
You’re boring.
That’s is absolutely positively correct! Astoria is great not bc of new residents and gentrification. They are the reason Astoria will someday be named in an article abt one of the worst places to live. Rude obnoxious behavior being the top reason. People nowadays dont know a good thing when they have it.
Sorry, but as a lifelong resident, rude has always been here. It’s nothing new. Getting old and not like it, however, is.
Thank the city for changing the building codes.Drive down 21st.street and you can’t even see the sunshine.two family homes demolished and now four family.So many Uber’s you can’t drive.People park there cars for 2 weeks and don’t move them.Astoria Park is a mess,ashame what there doing.Crime is way up.Not my Astoria Anymore.
Amen
Let’s don’t forget the Greeks who no doubt, dominate the Restaurants, bagel shops, sidewalk cafes and Real Estate.
Greeks do not dominate the restaurants in Astoria. Sure some Greek restaurant owners steer away from labeling themselves as Greek dining because most of their “known” food for others has become fast food (street food). But that doesn’t mean that most of the new places that opened up and serve other dishes are from Greeks. The few that remain open are because of the Greek crisis and migrants that came here to work and live. Also people are aware today that many of the Greek dishes basically come from Ottoman/Turkish cuisine with a change in herbs and can be found in those restaurants.
What are you smoking, don’t ever say that Greek dishes are from Turkish cuisine. Learn the history lady. And yes when Greeks and Italians migrated to the US, Astoria was a melting pot for those ethnicities.
Go to any of the two Turkish restaurants 100 bucks spent u leave hungry. You got to a Greek restaurant 100 bucks spent u go home with food and your shirt buttons busting out that’s the difference bonnie. The turks don’t eat pork remember that so your inference is not conclusive.
LOL What a hater. Did a Greek break your heart.
Broadway, 30th Ave, Ditmars, predominantly Greek. About 85% to be exact. Ciao 😉
The hate is strong with this one.
Steinway street?!Is just a gost town!!!!Used to be cool many bars,good alive music,good restaurantes.All gone.Who can afford the rent ?
Even though the article focuses on visiting these places and not living or moving there, I recall seeing something on NY1 about a year ago in regards to living here. A prominent NY realtor said that if you can not afford Brooklyn,, Manhattan or LIC then try Astoria. The only word he is used to describe it was very “multicultural” followed by a blank stare and pause by the host and realtor. Indeed, the growing restaurant and bars like the Egyptian restaurants and hookah bars on Steinway are a huge attraction for people that live elsewhere and read magazines.
Great place to live glad I invested in a home here.
Me too!
Best move I ever made was buying a multi-family home in Astoria!
I am hoping this will increase rents in the area including airbnbs.