Why come here?
1. Because Tribeca is gorgeous, a trip back in time to old, industrial New York. 2. Because it’s just north of the World Trade Center, which you’re probably visiting anyway (and Century 21, too). 3. Because you keep hearing the name—thanks to the Tribeca Film Festival—and you want to know what the actual place is like. One of the great joys of Tribeca is just wandering and admiring the streetscapes—cobblestones, loading docks, wooden water towers, metal awnings, all of it.

What’s Tribeca?
Everyone agrees that the northern border of the Triangle Below Canal—the phrase from which Tribeca gets its name—is Canal Street. But while the name of the neighborhood is a fairly recent phenomenon, it has so many historic features that we have four mapped historic districts. This site tends to consider the borders as the Hudson River to the west, Broadway to the east, and the World Trade Center to the south.

P.S.
West Broadway is a totally different street than Broadway. (And there’s also an East Broadway over in Chinatown.)

Must-see spots
1. Staple Street. Possibly the coolest street in Manhattan, thanks to the bridge (see photo above). Also, the south end leads to….
2. Duane Park. Twenty-five years ago it was a dump, now it’s a gem. It’s also 227 years old.
3. The Ghostbusters firehouse (Ladder 8) at Varick and N. Moore.
4. Hudson River Park between Chambers and 59th Street. The entire park is a treat, but the Tribeca section has a hilly boardwalk, two piers for recreation, two playgrounds, a minigolf course, two restaurants, a historic lightship and views forever — you can see the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
5. Four noteworthy examples of contemporary architecture: 56 Leonard, a.k.a. the Jenga Building; the Spring Street Salt Shed (at Spring and West St.); the Tribeca Synagogue (49 White); Frank Gehry’s rippled skyscraper at 8 Spruce.
6. City Hall Park and the Brooklyn Bridge are at the eastern side of the neighborhood. Don’t skip a stroll over the bridge.
7. While not Tribeca proper, remember that Chinatown is only a 15-minute walk.

Restaurants
I encourage you to check out the Tribeca Citizen Restaurant Guide—the neighborhood has a lot of wonderful restaurants, but they’re scattered all over. Or search for “New Kid on the Block” for the latest additions.

Shopping
Tribeca is full of terrific shops, with relatively few chain stores, but here are ones that (a) sell stuff you might buy while on a trip, and/or (b) you can’t find everywhere….
••• Korin for Japanese knifes (they’ll ship).••• There are many great kids’ clothing stores: Babesta, Koh’s Kids, My Little Sunshine…. Many sell toys, too.
••• Boomerang Toys for regular toys; Playing Mantis for eco-sensitive toys; Balloon Saloon for kitsch; Words on Warren for kids books.
••• The Armoury for cool men’s clothes.
••• James Perse, Rag & Bone for cool men’s and women’s clothes; Patron of the New for cutting-edge fashion for women and men.
••• Nili Lotan, 180 The Store, and La Garçonne for women’s apparel.
••• Lola Tribeca and Gurhan Atelier for jewelry.
••• Shinola for bikes, watches, leather goods, journals, and other American-made stuff.
••• Philip Williams Posters for every kind of vintage poster.
••• Home decor: Espasso (Brazilian), Abhaya (Asian antiques), Stillfried Wien (new and vintage Austrian), Stella for bedding and the like.
••• The Mysterious Bookshop for exactly what the name implies, but worth a visit just for the charm.

Hotels
••• The Greenwich Hotel
••• Warren Street Hotel
••• Fouquets New York
••• Four Seasons New York Downtown
••• Smyth
••• Conrad New York (in Battery Park City)
••• The Roxy
••• The Frederick
••• The Walker Hotel
••• There are also a few worthy hotels just north of Canal: Arlo, Hotel Hugo, The James, Sixty Soho, and Soho Grand. And in Fidi there are a dozen; The Beekman is a landmark.

Walkabouts
I’ve created a couple walking tours over the years, below, plus here’s a list of commercial tours from the Downtown Alliance:
Art at the World Trade Center
Holiday Walking Tour
Chinatown Dumpling Tasting Tour