The Bronx, New York, is the northernmost of New York City’s five boroughs, home to approximately 1.4 million residents across 42 square miles of riverfront neighborhoods, hilltop parkland, and densely urban avenues — the only borough physically attached to the American mainland, a place whose character has been shaped by the thunderous legacy of its Italian-American Arthur Avenue corridor, by the world-historical birthplace of hip-hop in the South Bronx, by one of the finest urban park systems anywhere in the United States, and by a dining and cultural identity that has oscillated between profound national neglect and fierce local pride before arriving, in recent years, at something approaching its rightful recognition as one of New York’s most layered, most alive, and most irreplaceable places. Settled by Jonas Bronck, a Swedish sea captain who purchased land from the Lenape in 1639 and gave the borough its name, the Bronx grew across the 19th century as waves of German, Irish, Jewish, and Italian immigrants transformed its farmland into dense residential neighborhoods connected to Manhattan by the Third Avenue El and the IRT, and its incorporation into New York City in 1898 initiated the extraordinary boom that produced the Grand Concourse — a 4.5-mile boulevard modeled on the Champs-Élysées and lined with Art Deco apartment buildings that constitute one of the finest concentrations of that architecture outside Miami Beach. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage at 2640 Grand Concourse in Poe Park — open Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sundays from 1 to 5 PM — is the borough’s most quietly evocative literary landmark, the humble 1812 farmhouse where Poe spent the final years of his life and wrote “Annabel Lee” and “Eureka” while his tubercular wife Virginia convalesced in the Bronx’s then-rural air, a place described by visitors as something really remarkable in its simplicity, with a rocking chair and mirror said to be original to the house and an atmosphere that, as one visitor put it, is just so Poe-ish — a feeling you can’t quite explain but can’t escape once you’re inside. The Museum of Bronx History at the Valentine-Varian House at 3266 Bainbridge Avenue — open Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sundays from 1 to 5 PM — is the borough’s finest historical institution, a pre-Revolutionary stone farmhouse whose curator is described by first-time visitors as impressive and whose knowledge ensures you fully understand what you’re seeing, a hidden gem described as a great place for family and one that rewards the curious visitor with depths that its modest exterior does nothing to advertise. Wave Hill at 4900 Independence Avenue in Riverdale is the borough’s most transcendent cultural and natural destination — a 28-acre public garden and cultural center perched above the Hudson River with views across to the Palisades, open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM, admission just $10 with free admission on Thursdays, with formal flower beds, a tropical conservatory, an alpine house, woodland trails described as beautifully shaded even on the hottest summer days, a gift shop with impressive selections and staff described as so helpful and attentive, and an overall atmosphere described by one visitor as truly an oasis and a must-visit destination just 30 minutes from Grand Central — a place that manages, improbably, to feel like an entirely different world while remaining firmly, magnificently, in the Bronx. Van Cortlandt Park in the borough’s northwestern corner — open daily from 6 AM — is New York City’s third-largest park and the Bronx’s finest outdoor corridor, with trails described as feeling like actual woods, a lake described as peaceful, the oldest public golf course in the United States, the Van Cortlandt House museum described as worth a look as the oldest building in the Bronx, a legendary cross-country course used by high school and college teams from across the region, wildlife including cottontail rabbits, chipmunks, turtles, and a remarkable variety of birds, and an atmosphere described by one devoted regular as a place they strongly recommend to anyone with an interest in running, history, hiking, birding, golfing, sports, or nature. The Bronx’s dining scene is anchored most indelibly by Arthur Avenue in Belmont — the true Little Italy of New York, a neighborhood whose Italian butchers, bread bakers, cheese shops, and red-sauce restaurants have remained stubbornly, magnificently authentic while their Manhattan counterparts became tourist simulacra — and by the surprising depth of the borough’s broader restaurant landscape across neighborhoods from City Island to East Tremont. Enzo’s of Arthur Avenue at 2339 Arthur Avenue is the strip’s most celebrated and enduring table — open seven days from 11:30 AM, with clams oreganato described as amazing, chicken capricciosa described as so delicious it will spoil you as only a nonna could, pasta al forno and pesto pasta drawing consistent rapture, focaccia with figs, cheese, and prosciutto and lasagna with meatballs described as bringing one visitor back home to Italy, and server Liliana described as the most sweet, kind, and friendly waitress you can ask for — a restaurant described as the best on Arthur Avenue and a local staple whose consistency across decades has made it a benchmark against which other Italian restaurants in New York are quietly measured. Lena Trattoria at 3470 East Tremont Avenue is the borough’s most exciting newer Italian arrival — open seven days from noon, with a classy and spacious atmosphere described as beautiful from the moment you walk in, a Japanese kimchi marinated NY strip described as cooked perfectly, lasagna described as absolutely delicious, an upscale yet comfortable modern vibe described as perfect for a night out or a special celebration, and an event space whose wedding receptions leave guests still talking about the service and the food — a restaurant described as one of those hidden gems in the Bronx that gives you a little bit of everything. Vistamar Restaurant & Lounge at 565 City Island Avenue rounds out the borough’s dining picture as its most festive and welcoming Latin dining destination — open weeknights from 4 PM and weekends from noon, with a salmon described as perfectly flaky and juicy, a mango guava cheesecake described as phenomenal with a chef’s kiss, food described as 10 out of 10 and fresh and beautifully presented, servers Miguel, Caroline, Angel, and Jonathan each described by name with gratitude by reviewers who felt genuinely taken care of, and an atmosphere warm and relaxing and perfect for enjoying time with family — a restaurant described as one of the best experiences visitors have had, the kind of place whose great decor and welcoming vibe make you want to stay all night.
