Upper West Side Halloween Festivities: Why This Neighborhood has the Best Decorations and Where to Find Them

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While most people talk about Dyker Heights and the Upper East Side, for decorations, little talk about the Upper West side Halloween magic that flies under the radar.

I always walk around the Upper East during Halloween and for the city’s best Christmas decorations. But this year, I decided to cross over to the other side of Central Park and take a stroll in a different neighborhood. I couldn’t believe how great the decorations were, and how charming this underrated part of the city is!

In this guide I’m sharing the best Halloween decorations in the Upper West Side, along with some pretty cafes and incredible hidden gems I stumbled across.

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Basic Info About Visiting the Upper West Side During Halloween

Before diving into all of the Upper West Side Halloween decorations, we’re going to help familiarize you with what the neighborhood is like, where its’ situated, and exactly how to get there from other areas of the city.

⭐️ Why Visit the Upper West Side for Halloween

The Upper West side truly has a character of its own. While the Upper East side feels a bit more elegant and refined, the Upper West side feels classy in a less pretentious way. It has a bit more character, less tourists, and a uniquely rich feel to it.

The Upper West Side has a rather condensed section of decorated houses, making it a bit easier to explore than the Upper East Side decorations, with plenty of cafes, boutique shops, and small green spaces tucked away along the way.

📍 Where the Upper West Side is Considered

The Upper West Side is technically the entire stretch of Manhattan west of Central Park from the bottom of the park to the top. That covers down from West 59th all the way up to West 110th, from Central Park West Avenue all the way to the Hudson.

At 1.9 square miles, this seems like an overwhelming area to explore – but don’t worry! While there are halloween decorations all over the Upper West Side, we’ve found the majority of the best ones to be condensed in a much smaller region, from W 75th to W 88th between Amsterdam Ave and Central Park W.

🚌 How to Get to the Upper West Side in NYC

The Upper West side is a bit less connected than more central parts of Manhattan, but that’s also part of the magic. There are only a handful of Subway stations, and you won’t see tons of buses and taxes zooming by. That being said, it’s also incredibly accessible, and can be reached in a number of ways:

🚇 Getting to the Upper East Side Halloween Decorations by Subway

Taking the subway in NYC is honestly usually the easiest option for getting around the city, and the option I always use getting to the Upper West Side.

There are 6 lines that run through the UWS. The ABC goes up Central Park W and has stations on W 72nd, W 81st, W 86th, and W 96th. You can also take the 123 up Broadway, which stops at 66th Lincoln Center, W 79th, and W 86th. We’d recommend starting at W 86th and working your way down, or starting at 72nd and moving your way up for your Upper West Side Halloween decoration walking route.

🚌 Getting to the Upper East Side Halloween Decorations by Subway

We usually prefer taking the subway over the bus due to traffic, but if you’re traveling outside rush hour and are in Midtown, taking the bus can be another easy option for heading up to the Upper West Side.

There are three buses that service the UWS – the M5, M7, and M11 which go up Amsterdam and Columbus, and the M104 which goes up Broadway.

Upper West Side Halloween Experience: Decorations, Cafes, & Our Recommended Route

Ready to explore the Upper West side halloween decorations? Here are the top streets you’ll want to visit, along with a few other fun places to add to your route, along with our personal itinerary recommendation.

🏡 The Best Upper West Side Halloween Decorations

The Upper West side is FULL of Halloween decorations! While every street probably has a decorated house or two, we’re giving you some of our favorite ones to prioritize during your visit.

📍 158 W 75th Street

Come explore a fun home that took it’s spookiness to a fun and sporty look. Let’s go Knicks!

📍 128 W 75th Street

I loved this home because it was brought a bit of elegance to its spooky vibes. It also has gorgeous architecture, and it a cute one to get a photo at!

📍 151 W 76th Street

This is one of the most beautifully decorated homes in the Upper West Side, leaning into colorful florals and pumpkins for a lovely Autumn-feel rather than a spooky one.

📍 153 W 82nd Street AKA Halloween Manor/ Simon Wallace Design House

If you’re short on time, this is the house you’ll want to prioritize. Simon Wallace is a designer, and she makes exceptional displays each year for Halloween. This year’s theme is gothic mansion, and it truly is equal parts beauty and terror.

📍 120 W 87th Street

Instead of a kissing booth, this house features a killing booth. I also personally loved the unque pumpkin garland they put on their railing!

📍 56 W 87th

If you love the Knicks, then don’t miss this basketball-festive home – Knicks or die!

📍 23 W 88th

Dwight Summer Day Camp has made a fun shark-themed decor this year, complete with inflatables, flags, and signs. It’s super cute, and different then the traditional ghosts and skeletons you’ll find at many other buildings.

📍 41 W 88th

Just a few doors down from the day camp, it’s worth also checking out this pretty home that compliments their porch with flowers and skeletons giving a sort of cutesy terror to it.

☕️ Cute Cafes/ Restaurants to Stop in While in the Area

Since you’re going to be walking quite a bit, you’ll probably want to make a stop for a bit or drink. This area of the city has plenty of great places to eat and drink, and here are a few of our favorites that are nearby the Upper West side Halloween homes.

🌭 Gray’s Papaya

Gray’s is known for their hot dogs, and has been an absolute icon to the Upper West Side. It’s right outside the subway station on 72nd, and also has incredible prices – making it a must if you’re hungry before or after you do your Upper West Side Halloween walk.

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☕️ Fellini

Fellini is one of our favorite cafes in the city, and has locations in both the Upper West and Upper East, as well as Soho, Chelsea, and the Meatpacking district.

It’s a chic European-style cafe with great coffee, delicious brunch options, and a cute window you can order from if you want something on the go while exploring the Upper West side Halloween decorations.

🪴 Plant Shed

With a few locations across the city, Plant Shed double as a plant shop and cafe. It’s the perfect spot to grab a hot drink or treat and feel like you’re in a little slice of green paradise.

🍍 Tiki Chick

If you’re looking for some fun cocktails then you can stop into Tiki Chic, a tiki-style restaurant serving their drinks in cute glassware. They have absolutely delicious food to boot, making it a great choice for lunch, happy hour, or a simple stop-by.

🌳 Other Stops to Include in Your Route

While this guide is mostly about the Upper West Side Halloween decorations, there are also some other great spots to add to your Upper West Side itinerary! Here are a few of the places we recommend squeezing into your route.

🦕 Museum of Natural History

If you have some time, we highly recommend checking out the Museum of Natural History! it sits right on the edge of Central Park, and is conveniently located right between the most popular streets of halloween decorations.

We went with our friends and absolutely loved it. It has a ton of exhibits, and is equally educational as it is aesthetic. You’ll want to allow for a couple of hours so you can truly appreciate all different areas of the museum!

💄 Savor Beauty

This little beauty shop caught my eye for their pumpkin cream! It’s a seasonal face cream, which is a great addition to your beauty routine, or a fun gift to pick up for someone.

🌿 W 87th Street Park & Garden

This small green space feels like a small getaway. It blends the beauty of Central Park nature and the city’s urban feel in a small place tucked away from the chaos. Poke your head in to enjoy the beauty, or stop for a few minutes to give your feet some rest.

🗺️ Our Recommended Upper West Side Halloween Itinerary

We’re going to start from W 75th street, and then head uptown. You can also reverse this route if you’d like – depending on what you’ll plan on doing next.

We recommend taking the subway to 72nd street, which connects with the 123. From there,
you can make the follow stops:

➡️ Where to Go Next

After you finish your Upper West Side Halloween decoration tour, you can continue your journey! Head over to Central Park and enjoy the start of fall foliage. You can also cross the park over the other side and check out the Halloween decorations of the Upper East Side.

Along with Halloween decorations, the Upper East side also has charming cafes, pretty book stores, chic shops, and some of the best museums in NYC to check out!

Final Tips for Visiting the Upper West Side During Halloween

The Upper West Halloween decorations are definitely one.of the city’s best kept secrets! While more and more people are going to the Upper East Side, this neighborhood feels like a hidden gem in a sense.

We recommend wearing comfy shoes, bringing water with you, and making a stop at at least one of the cafes on our list. Don’t rush from one home to the next, and keep an eye out for both sides of the street!

While these are some of our favorite Upper West Side Halloween decorations, there are plenty more, and we encourage you to walk up and down more streets if you have time!

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👀 What’s Next?

Now that you’ve explore all of the Upper West Side Halloween decorations, let’s help you explore more of the city.

Here are other New York Fall guides we have:

🍁 20 Amazing things to do in fall in NYC
🎟️ 25 Fall events in New York
🍂 A guide for visiting New York in Fall
🎃 Halloween in NYC guide
🪦 Sleepy Hollow day trip from NYC

Here are a few other New York guides we have:

So are you ready to enjoy the incredible Halloween decorations of the Upper West Side? We hope this guide has inspired you to visit a different neighborhood in New York, and to enjoy all that Halloween in NYC has to offer!

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