Apartments For Rent in Harlem, New York, NY

Harlem is so huge that each spot has its own unique history. For example, West and Central Harlem were burned to the ground during the American Revolution, whereas East Harlem wasn’t really developed until the 1860’s. However, one fact remains consistent for all of Harlem: That the population of the area exploded once a prominent Black neighborhood was destroyed to make room for Central Park.

The Harlem Renaissance began around WWI and the cultural impact the neighborhood would have on the world began. Becoming a major player in the worlds of art, literature, music, and civil rights, Harlem became a mecca for Black and Latinx culture. Even during the multiple financial crises of the 1900’s, Harlem never lost its pride and artistic routes.

Once the 1990’s came around, the city began to invest heavily in Harlem, building and renovating new residents and preserving the history that made the area so significant. Today, Harlem is equal parts cultural haven, quiet residence, and innovative force.

Harlem has literally everything. Row houses and Brownstones, low to mid rise apartment complexes, pre war apartments, and luxury high rises are everywhere you look in this beautiful part of the city.

The atmosphere of Harlem depends largely on the area you’re in. East Harlem, for example, has a vibrant nightlife and wholesome community feel to it. Many families have lived in this area for generations and have transformed the area to fit their needs and wants.

Central Harlem is the cultural heart of the neighborhood. Home to several museums, entertainment venues, and amazing restaurants, more tourists come through this area more than the eastern and western parts of the neighborhood.

West Harlem is more quiet and subdued. Far more suburban than the rest of Harlem, there are more parks and activities for kids in this area. There is an emerging nightlife here, but families love this area because of the peaceful energy here.

Different areas of Harlem have different crime rates, but, overall, Harlem is a very safe area. Violent crime is extremely rare and the sheer size of the neighborhood means families have a lot of options in terms of schools and hospitals. You’ll find that many families already live here, meaning the neighborhood is, obviously, a wonderful place to raise children.

• City College of New York
• Manhattan Center of Science and Mathematics
• Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change

• Ray Santos: Musician
• Alexander Hamilton: Founding Father
• James Baldwin: Novelist and Writer

The New York City subway system has a variety of options to get to every part of Harlem. These trains are:

• West Harlem: Accessible via the 1, A, B, C, and D trains.
• Central Harlem: Accessible via the 2, 3, A, B, C, and D trains.
• East Harlem: Accessible via the 4, 5, and 6 trains.

Biking is popular depending on what area of Harlem you’re in. More pedestrian prone areas might be hard to navigate. That said, the more low key areas have wide streets and plenty of Citi Bike docking stations to choose from.

Driving is also popular depending where you are. Traffic is never bad in Harlem, but some areas have more pedestrians than others, so drivers should practice caution.

• Museo del Barrio
• Alexander Hamilton Grange National Memorial
• Apollo Theater

• Check out some of the neighborhood's coolest museums like The National Jazz Museum or the Graffiti Hall of Fame!
• Harlem is home to some of the best entertainment venues like The Apollo and The Harlem School of the Arts!
• Some of the best food on Earth can be found here including the comfort food of Red Rooster and the elegant eats of Ricardo Steakhouse!

• National Hispanic Heritage Month: Places to Check Out in NYC
• Strivers’ Row and the Resurgence of the Harlem Brownstone