New York
Flatiron
Introducing Flatiron
It’s easy to see why architecture and design buffs flock to the Flatiron District. This neighborhood swathed with cast-iron buildings and Beaux-Arts architecture has, as its namesake and centerpiece, the Flatiron Building, a distinctive three-sided vertical Renaissance palazzo.
The Ladies’ Mile Historic District, where the women of Edith Wharton’s era shopped for finery, continues to stand in its Gilded Age glory. In this neighbourhood, interior design enthusiasts can find everything from mid-century modern furniture to ornate crystal chandeliers.
The city's most iconic skyscraper, the Empire State Building, is clearly visible from most parts of the neighborhood – particularly from Madison Square Park, a lush oasis tucked within the city where Manhattanites can escape for one of Danny Meyer’s famous Shake Shack burgers or to simply take a break from the workday, surrounded by public art exhibitions and greenery.
The historic Toy Center Building continues to bring joy, this time to a different crowd: the gastronomes and oenophiles who pack into Eataly, Mario Batali’s Italian mega marketplace and food-hall complex. Across the park, a remarkable Art Deco building holds an impressive surprise: three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park, whose executive chef Daniel Humm crafts culinary delights worthy of a pedestal of their own.
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Best known for
The Flatiron Building
Built in 1902, this wedge-shaped building was the tallest skyscraper in the area at its completion, stirring up controversy among the neighborhood’s residents who thought the structure would not be able to withstand the high winds of that area.
The Flatiron Building continues to stand proud to this day, enthralling tourists with its intricate facade of lion heads, Greek faces and fleur de lis.
The Ladies’ Mile Historic District
The heart of the Gilded Age, this district once held not just fashionable shops but also the finest concert halls, galleries and restaurants of that era. While big box and high street retailers take up most of the commercial space today, the beautiful exteriors of these buildings built in a myriad of styles from Neo-Renaissance to Romanesque Revival remain carefully preserved.
In this neighbourhood, interior design enthusiasts can find everything from mid-century modern furniture to ornate crystal chandeliers.
