Founding Father Foodstroll

picture of founding father Alexander Hamilton - things to do Hamilton Heights

What this foodstroll is

The ultimate afternoon in Hamilton Heights.

Why this foodstroll works

NYC fell to the British Army early in the Revolutionary War, and as a result, much of the iconography associated with that period in American history comes from places like Massachusetts, Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. But as long as you accept the fact that we did lose some battles, a great deal of history can be found throughout NYC, especially in Harlem. In the middle of Harlem is the Hamilton Heights neighborhood and former estate of Alexander Hamilton, the wildly popular Founding Father and inspiration for Broadway’s Hamilton. But that’s just the start. Naturally we’ll be eating American food on this Foodstroll, and some of the best in NYC can be found here.

Strolling

two children read about the history of Hamilton Grange in NYC - things to do Hamilton Heights

The Hamilton Grange sits at the northern end of St. Nicholas Park. If you and your kids have been anywhere near as addicted to Hamilton as we have, it’s a good place to start your Foodstroll. The home was the focal point of Hamilton’s estate, which at the time had river to river views of the Harlem and Hudson Rivers. He lived there from 1801 until his premature death in 1804.

cute girl stands in front of Alexander Hamilton's former mansion in NYC - things to do Hamilton Heights

The museum inside is open Friday-Sunday, and you can view the fully restored interior, including Hamilton’s desk and piano. Check hours of operations before visiting. St. Nicholas Park and City College across the street are also great places to visit. City College, “the Poor Man’s Harvard”, was the first tuition free university in America, with admission based solely on academic merit.

exterior of the beautiful home used in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums - things to do Hamilton Heights

Walking north from Hamilton Grange toward Sugar Hill you’ll stroll through the Hamilton Terrace Historic District. We’re Wes Anderson fans and enjoy walking up Convent Ave past the corner of 144th St. Recognize the house anyone?

beautiful mansions in the Sugar Hill enclave of Hamilton Heights, Harlem - things to do Hamilton Heights

The residential section of Hamilton Heights known as Sugar Hill was an enclave for prominent Black Americans in the 1920s and 30s, and the center of the Harlem Renaissance. The Bailey and Benziger Houses are two of the most ornate residences in the neighborhood, and they’re right next door to each other.

facade of the oldest house in Manhattan, the Morris Jumel Mansion - things to do Hamilton Heights

The Morris Jumel Mansion inside Roger Morris Park is the oldest house in Manhattan, dating back to 1765. The Georgian style home was used as George Washington’s headquarters during the Continental Army’s retreat from Manhattan in the Fall of 1776. The home is open for tours and stocked with period pieces from the 19th century.

beautiful old carriage drive in upper Manhattan - things to do Hamilton Heights

Across the street is Sylvan Terrace, once the mansion’s carriage drive and now a landmarked historic block of wooden row houses. Built in 1882 after the property had been divided and sold, the homes were considered modest at the time, intended for immigrant laborers tasked with NYC’s northward development.

statue of Don Quixote outside the Hispanic Society of America in NYC - things to do Hamilton Heights

Audubon Terrace is a group of structures built by Archer Milton Huntington from 1908-1930 that house several cultural institutions, including The Hispanic Society of America, The American Academy of Arts and Letters, and Boricua College. Huntington’s wife Anna Hyatt Huntington, a well known sculptor, designed several statues around the plaza like this portrayal of the famous Spanish literary icon Don Quixote.

cute child smiling in front of a picture of Lin Manuel Miranda and the cast of In The Heights - things to do Hamilton Heights

The Hispanic Society of America just opened In the Heights: From University to Silver Screen. The exhibit uses images to document the creation and production of the new musical In The Heights. It’s a great way to explain to kids the relationship of Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton character and the real life neighborhood of the actor himself.

stunning exterior and graveyard of Church of the Intercession in NYC - things to do Hamilton Heights

The Gothic Revival Church of the Intercession is a quintessential country church, reminiscent of upper Manhattan’s rural past. You don’t have to be a taphophile to appreciate the magnificent gravestones and mausoleums throughout the grounds.

beautiful gravestone of famous New Yorker John James Audubon - things to do Hamilton Heights

The Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum was constructed in 1842 to relieve the capacity of Trinity Church Wall Street, where Alexander Hamilton is actually buried. But many other historical figures are at rest here, including famous New Yorkers like John James Audubon, Eliza Jumel, and John Jacob Astor.

huge and colorful Daddy Mac burger in NYC - Hamilton Heights restaurants

Harlem Public serves some of the best American bar food in NYC. The Daddy Mac burger, which comes with thousand island dressing and funyuns, is one of our favorites in all of NYC.

the Loaded Grilled Cheese from Best Thing I Ever Ate TV show - Hamilton Heights restaurants

Their Loaded Grilled Cheese was featured on Television’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” Our kids are experts on grilled cheese, and they do not disagree.

enormous and colorful fried chicken sandwich with cheese and mayo in NYC - best restaurants Hamilton Heights

All their fried chicken sandwich options are fantastic. This one consisting of chicken thigh, garlic aioli, American cheese, coleslaw and pickles is so elaborate, it doesn’t even have a name.

two cute children enjoy a huge burger outside dining in NYC - Hamilton Heights restaurants

They’ve always had outdoor dining, but it’s now a year round thing. The setup is perfect for families.

incredibly crispy chicken wings at a bar in Harlem - best restaurant Hamilton Heights

Hamilton Hall is a gastropub where the kitchen is run by a former chef at Eleven Madison Park. The menu is full of elevated pub fare, like these Confit Chicken Wings. In case you can’t tell from the picture, they’re crispy.

one of NYC's best fried chicken sandwiches and gourmet french fries - Hamilton Heights restaurants

Eleven Madison Park is widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world, so when an alum starts slinging things like Fried Chicken Sandwiches from a bar, you need to try one.

cute child tears into a gourmet steak sandwich in Harlem NYC - Hamilton Heights restaurants

Our kids swear by the Steak Sandwich, which they claim is even better than a cheeseburger.

beautiful plate chicken and mashed potatoes in Harlem NYC - where to eat Hamilton Heights

In addition to bar food, they have full scale entrees like this Pan Seared Airline Chicken (wing attached). We don’t typically order chicken breast when it competes on a menu with things like burgers and steak sandwiches, but in this case it’s a really good decision.

juicy cheese burger dripping with cheese and sauce in Harlem NYC - Hamilton Heights restaurants

The Famous Wallace Cheeseburger is more closely related to a smash burger than its cousin at Harlem Public. This can be helpful for young children who can’t quite fit a full sized pub burger into their mouths.

very colorful order of fried chicken and french fries covered in sauce - Hamilton Heights restaurants

The Baker’s Fries are a multi course meal all on one plate. We count four major food groups - chicken, potato, cheese, and scallions. If hot sauce were a fruit, it’d have all five.

incredibly colorful and juicy vegan burger in Harlem NYC - Hamilton Heights restaurants

In spite of our wicked prejudices, we always enjoy good vegan food, and The Melty Vegan is right on the money.

hot dog covered in bacon and mac n' cheese in Harlem NYC - Hamilton Heights restaurants

The Steez Dawg is loaded with bacon and mac ‘n’ cheese. Trust us, there’s a hot dog underneath.

two cute children wearing masks inside harlem's best ice cream shop - Hamilton Heights restaurants

Sugar Hill Creamery is Harlem’s most well know ice cream shop. It has two locations, and their Hamilton Heights outpost is smack in the middle of all the action.

two cute children enjoy ice cream on a sidewalk in Harlem NYC - Hamilton Heights restaurants

The concept of eating ice cream outside when it’s 28 degrees may seem unappealing, but we can assure you it appeals to kids.

Transportation

There are several subway stations along 145th Street that service the 1, A, C, and D trains. There’s also a 1 train stop nearby on 148th Street.

Streetside parking and metered parking are possible in the neighborhood, but finding a space can be frustrating.


two cute hungry kids eat upscale bar food in Harlem NYC - Hamilton Heights restaurants
cute young child lying on the floor of the oldest home in Manhattan - things to do Hamilton Heights
Previous
Previous

Staten Island Day Trip

Next
Next

Sri Lanka to Staten Island