Always crowded and never boring, the Lower East Side (LES) is without a doubt New York’s hottest area. It’s where art studios, Jewish delis, upscale shopping, tenement housing, new constructions, sceney hotels, nightlife, and the city’s hottest restaurants meld into something beautiful and uniquely New York. While it's experienced rapid gentrification over the past decade like so much of the city, the neighborhood has been able to retain its grit and cool. Bowery, in particular, has played a huge role in LES’ emergence – the galleries, antique stores, and speakeasy style bars help keep the area’s bohemian vibe very much alive.