The Flatiron District is one of New York City’s most iconic neighborhoods. It is located in the heart of Manhattan, just south of Union Square and north of Gramercy Park. Flatiron District has been home to many prominent media companies and corporations, including The New York Times Company and Google.
Flatiron District gets its name from the Flatiron Building; this building was built in 1902 by Daniel Burnham as a response to the challenge that cities are growing increasingly taller. Flatiron’s significance comes largely from its place at the intersection of Broadway (the “Great White Way”), Fifth Avenue, 23rd Street (a major crosstown artery), Madison Avenue, and Sixth Avenue(the city’s central axis).
Flatiron Building
Charles McKim was the architect of Flatiron Building. Following Daniel Burnham’s philosophy that cities are boundless and should not be constrained in their geography, he designed a building with an open plan facing all four directions as opposed to one side or another. This way it would maximize its exposure to light and air. Flatiron Building was built in 1902 at a cost of $18 million, which would be about $400 million today.
Shake Shack
In 2001, Shake Shack opened its first Flatiron District location at the corner of 21st Street and Fifth Avenue. They have since expanded to 41 locations in New York City alone!
At the Shake Shack, you can get a Flatiron Burger, a ShackBurger, or Cheese Fries. As for the drinks, they have shakes, iced teas, lemonades, and of course their famous Shakes.
Union Square
The Flatiron Building’s iconic presence has made Union Square one of New York City’s most popular locations for protests in recent years. It is also home to an iconic Barnes and Noble bookstore, a beloved New York institution that has been around for over 30 years.
Rose Bar
The Flatiron District is also home to a variety of restaurants, including Rose Bar. This is the perfect place for an intimate dinner with your significant other or group of friends. You can enjoy some delicious French cuisine while looking out over Union Square Park.
Gramercy Tavern
In 1985 Peter Meehan and Danny Meyer opened their first restaurant, which was Gramercy Tavern. In 1992 they opened another location in Flatirons, called The Modern at MoMA PS; MAD Architects designed it as a contemporary addition to New York City’s most important museums (MoMA). Today there are three locations: The modern near Madison Square Garden- you can stop by after concerts and games at MSG-, one on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and one in Flatiron.
Dough Doughnuts
Flatiron District is also home to Dough, which opened in 2013. They make delicious doughnuts that are available every day of the year- not just on holidays like you might expect! Usually, the doughnuts go for about $0.65 apiece, and they have the most varieties of any doughnut shop in Manhattan for such a small price!
The City Bakery
The City Bakery was opened in 1994 by New York Times food columnist and cookbook author Carole Lalli as a response to the growing demand for quality baked goods. Flatiron District is home to this bakery, which also includes rooms for private events like birthday parties or bachelorette celebrations! The price ranges from $25- $175.
Birch Coffee
Birch Coffee Flatiron opened in 2013 and is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a quick cup of coffee. They offer up some delicious artisanal coffees as well as cold brews.
Cooper Square Hotel
In 1889 John Waring came up with a plan to build his own hotel that would also have an office, theater, and restaurant. Flatiron District is home to the Cooper Square Hotel. The design of this hotel was influenced by McKim’s Flatiron Building.
SoHo Apple Store
The Flatiron District also has an iconic apple store that opened in 1983- it features a glass cube at its entrance that reflects light from all directions! They also have a Genius bar, where you can get help with any Apple product. The Flatiron store is open 24 hours and has plenty of seating for customers to wait while their tech gets fixed!
Chelsea Flea Market
The Flatiron District is home to the Chelsea Flea Market. They offer a variety of antiques, vintage clothes, and other goods from vendors all over New York City! It’s open every Saturday and Sunday- but you’ll want to get there early because it does sell out quickly! You never know what you might find there on any given day!
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