East Harlem: What to do, see, eat and more in NYC’s famed Latin neighborhood

• Countless restaurants and record shops preserve El Barrio’s roots. Its street culture is embodied in the murals that decorate the area and in the Graffiti Hall of Fame in the Jackie Robinson Educational Complex on 106^th Street.

  However, “It’s definitely changing — gentrifying,” Vincent Mingalone, owner of Harlem Florist Loft on First Avenue, said of the neighborhood. “It’s becoming more and more like downtown.”

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• New bars and coffee shops, like D’Amore Winebar on East 116th Street and Rise & Grind on Second Avenue, are catering to a millennial demographic.

  “There are a lot of young people now,” said Edward Mateus, who’s lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. “It’s like the new Williamsburg.”

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• East Harlem has the nightlife that young residents want, as well as the family-friendly activities that parents need, locals said. It’s close to Central Park, multiple smaller parks, the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, and Randall’s Island.

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• Affordable rents are also attracting new people to the upper Manhattan area.

  Rental buildings in East Harlem range from walkups to new high-rises. The average rent on a one-bedroom is around $1,900, according to Citi Habitats realtor Woori Jo. The old walk-ups are the least expensive, she said.

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• Condos for sale start around $439,000 for a two-bed, one-bath, while two-bedroom co-ops fetch about $200,000 and up. New condos close to Central Park are pricier, such as in One Museum Mile that has a one-bedroom, one-bath condo listed on StreetEasy for just under $1 million.

  The neighborhood also has a lot of townhouses, but Jo said they’re rarely put on the market and sell for about $2.5 million to $10 million depending on the size and state of upkeep.

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• And although East Harlem may feel like you’re living way up north, the commute downtown is quick via the 4, 5 and 6 trains.

  “The transportation is really convenient for me,” said Jo, who’s lived in the neighborhood for four years. Getting from 116th Street to Grand Central takes her about 20 minutes.

  “Everyone is very nice,” Jo said of her neighbors. “It’s definitely an up-and-coming and very friendly neighborhood.”

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• To rent

  120 E. 102nd St. #2A One bed, one bath; $2,296 per month

  2147 Second Ave. #7C Two beds, one bath; $2,499 per month

  To buy

  169 E. 102nd St. #5C Two beds, one bath; $624,000

  225 E. 111th St. #PH Two beds, two baths; $1,084,000

  161 E. 110th St. #2E One bed, one bath; $838,000

  2015 East HarLem market data as of Sept. 11:

  Median sales price: $495,000

  Number of units on market: 114

  Median rental price: $2,100

  Number of rentals on market: 2,122

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• — East Harlem Café, 1651 Lexington Ave.

  The breakfast and lunch spot serves up fresh coffee, traditional breakfast foods, and a variety of sandwiches and salads, and has free Wi-Fi. Eastharlemcafe.com

  — Ricardo Steak House, 2145 Second Ave.

  This trendy restaurant not only offers steaks, seafood and pastas, but also has a live DJ every night. Dinner’s never boring. Ricardosteakhouse.com

  — Taco Mix, 234 E. 116th St.

  Taco Mix is a no-frills taqueria that serves simple, authentic tacos and other Mexican fare. Facebook.com/tacomixusa

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• — Earl’s Beer & Cheese, 1259 Park Ave. Along with beer, this small bar serves multiple types of cheesy foods, such as grilled cheeses, and hosts trivia nights. Earlsny.com

  — The Duck, 2171 Second Ave. The sister bar of Tribeca?s the Patriot, the Duck’s main draw is its cheap prices, with $8 pitchers of beer and $3 drafts. 212-831-0000

  — The Lexington Social, 1634 Lexington Ave. This rustic, Mediterranean-style tapas bar also has an extensive wine, beer and cocktail menu. Thelexingtonsocialnyc.com

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• — East River Plaza, 520 E. 117th St. Shop at Costco, Target, Best Buy, Marshalls, PetSmart, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Old Navy and other stores. Eastriverplaza.com

  — La Casa Azul Bookstore, 143 103rd St. Specializing in Latino literature, La Casa Azul is one of the few remaining independent bookstores in the city.Lacasaazulbookstore.com

  — Coco Le Vu Candy Shop & Party Room, 202 E. 110th St. This old-fashioned candy shop sells more than 500 types of candy, including jelly beans, chocolate lollipops and more than 20 flavors of homemade fudge. Cocolevu.com

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• — El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Ave. An art museum showcasing Latin American cultures, with exhibitions on The Young Lords and Rodriguez Calero on display now.Elmuseo.org

  — Lorenz Latin Dance Studio, 2153 Second Ave. From group classes to weekend socials, this Latin dance studio can teach you how to salsa like a pro. Lorenzdancestudio.com

  — The Poet’s Den Theater and Gallery, 309 E. 108th St. This cultural hub offers art exhibitions, fashion shows, dance performances and workshops for the neighborhood. Its annual film festival is in October. Eastharlempresents.org

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• The East Harlem Small Business Association is trying to block the city’s plan to evict businesses to make way for an East Harlem Media, Entertainment and Cultural Center.

  Businesses on the strip — from 125th to 126th streets between Second and Third avenues — have tried to fight the project in court. The East Harlem Business Association hired real estate lawyer Adam Leitman Bailey on their behalf, however Bailey declined to comment.

  The $700 million, 1.7 million-square-foot project, approved by the City Planning Commission in 2008, is slated to include 30,000 square feet of community space, more than 600 affordable housing units, a public plaza, a hotel, and office and retail space.

  On Wednesday the New York Supreme court granted the city’s petition to acquire the properties. However, according to Kelly Magee, vice president of public affairs for the Economic Development Corporation, which is responsible for the project, businesses will receive buyouts.

  “When the city does acquire the properties, compensation will be given to all former owners and to those tenants entitled to payment under the law,” Magee said via email.

  Among the affected establishments is the New Light Baptist Church on 125th Street, which will lose the parking lot for its congregation.

  New Light pastor Bobby Lewis said there’s been a lack of communication between the city and the businesses.

  “We weren’t notified at all,” of the city’s plans to acquire the properties, Lewis said. “We just heard other people in the community talking about it.”

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East Harlem still boasts its historic Latin American community, but the northern Manhattan neighborhood is quickly diversifying.

Affectionately referred to as “El Barrio” — or “the neighborhood,” reflecting its roots as one of the city’s vital communities of Spanish-speaking immigrants and Puerto Ricans — its affordable rents have begun to attract a mix of hipsters and other immigrants.