Zen Palate has returned to Union Square at their new location on East 18th Street. Offering a unique, Asian-infused take on vegetarian dining, Zen Palate has provided patrons with freshly prepared and beautifully arranged dishes for nearly 20 years. By using only the highest quality local ingredients, Zen Palate also takes an environmentally responsible approach to its cuisine.
With rich and sumptuous dishes like the Temple of Zen, the Curry Supreme, or the popular Sweet and Sour Sensation, this eatery has raised the bar for vegetarian dining in New York City. Zen Palate offers a relaxing dining atmosphere (or free delivery service), so stop in today to welcome them back to the neighborhood while once again experiencing some of the City’s most forward-thinking vegetarian cuisine.
Visit: Zen Palate
Argo Tea seeks to redefine the message of tea as a healthy beverage, to create unique, all-natural tea-based beverages, and to provide customer experiences that reflect modern designs and a sustainable environment.
The drink menu features a unique line of healthy Signature Drinks such as Earl Grey Vanilla Crème and energizing Maté Laté. The food menu offers an assortment of gourmet pastries baked fresh every day and a Café Signature line with tea-infused ingredients. If you’re looking for a unique, refreshing take on tea, then stop by Argo today.
Visit: Argo Tea Cafe
If you’re looking for a casual, delicious meal, then stop by Vapiano. Offering a unique take on traditional Italian cuisine, Vapiano’s hand tossed pizzas, house-made pasta, and gourmet salads are sure to please those who want to enjoy the pleasures of a sit-down meal but might not have the time for an elaborate dining experience.
At Vapiano, customers use a "chip card" to personally order their food and drinks from the bar or from the individual fresh pizza, pasta or salad stations. With this method there’s no need to divide the bill if you dine with a group. Because all of the seating is communal, Vapiano also encourages a social approach to dining. All of these unique features provide customers with a totally stress-free way to eat out.
Visit: Vapiano
As its flagship store located in the heart of Union Square, the new Duane Reade offers much more than your typical drugstore. Open 24 hours a day, Duane Reade meets the needs of the city that never sleeps. Pharmacists are on duty at all times to fill your prescriptions, and on-site physicians offer walk-in health care.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat, Duane Reade has a fresh made daily bar offering sandwiches, salads, sushi, and coffee. You can also find a boutique employing beauty advisors and all the best cosmetic brands so that you can look your best. With such a diverse range of services and products, the new Duane Reade offers everything you need right here in Union Square.
Visit: Duane Reade
Further expanding our reputation as one of NYC's tastiest neighborhoods, Nanoosh Mediterranean Hummus Bar, the square's newest addition, offers a unique take on one of the area's most popular cuisines. Using only organic ingredients, Nanoosh serves authentic hummus wraps and plates, salads, soups, and a variety of tasty sides.
The Union Square location also offers table service where customers can complement their meal with a glass of wine or beer. If you're on the run, opt for delivery or take-out as well, which can be conveniently completed online. Nanoosh is the perfect spot for someone looking to enjoy a savory and healthy meal, so stop by today!
Visit: Nanoosh
If you’re looking for a satisfying, nutritious, and energizing meal, then Pump Energy Food is the place to go. By partnering with local food companies and an in-house nutritionist, Pump Energy Food seeks to encourage healthy and sustainable eating among its clientele.
Using a process called “food pairing,” the Pump combines dishes from different food groups in order to ensure that its customers are enjoying a comprehensively nutritious meal. Additionally, all the food is prepared from scratch on a daily basis, so it's always fresh. Whether you’re a member of the gym set or you just want to keep tabs on your diet, the Pump offers an easy way to eat well.
Visit: The Pump Energy Food
Nordstrom Rack, the off-price division of Nordstrom, has opened up shop in Union Square in a portion of the same space Virgin Records once occupied. As the discount branch of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, it is a bargain shopper’s dream. The Union Square Nordstrom Rack, Manhattan's first, carries many of the same brands as regular Nordstrom stores, but at a significant discount.
The Rack offers shoes, clothing, and accessories at 50-60% off original prices. Additionally, the location has 25,000 pairs of shoes, 3,000 pairs of premium denim jeans, and 800 handbags in stock as well as onsite tailoring. Be sure to stop by any day of the week and browse the latest deals for both men and women.
Visit: Nordstrom Rack
No matter what your shopping needs are, the Limelight Marketplace is an all-in-one destination. Housed in the same 19th-century landmark building where the former nightclub of the same name was once located, the Limelight Marketplace combines an antique aesthetic with current trends in fashion and food in order to provide visitors with a truly unique shopping experience.
The first floor, called “The Festival of Shops,” consists of kiosks featuring many name-brand and local retailers. The upstairs portion features an indoor farmer’s market, a gourmet food court, an apothecary, and a jewelry section. Be sure to stop by and sample all that this bustling commercial center has to offer.
Visit: Limelight Marketplace
The New School was founded in 1919 and its campus is based in the heart of the Union Square district. Approximately 9,300 students are enrolled in graduate and undergraduate degree programs, organized into eight different schools.
The New School houses a number of libraries, galleries, and performance spaces, many of which feature lectures, concerts, exhibitions, and other free programming that is open to the local community. For additional information about the New School and its programs, please visit their website below.
Visit: The New School
Beth Israel Medical Center
Located at E. 16th Street and 1st Avenue, Beth Israel Medical Center has been dutifully serving the Union Square area since 1929. It acts as University Hospital and Manhattan Campus for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and as the teaching hospital for the Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing.
Beth Israel Medical Center regularly hosts information sessions and lectures that are open to the public in order to encourage residents' well-being and awareness. For questions about Beth Israel's services, please consult the website below.
Visit: Beth Israel Medical Center
Founded in 1831, NYU is the largest private, nonprofit institution of higher education in the United States, and it enjoys an enrollment of more than 40,000 students distributed across nearly 20 schools and colleges.
In the 1990s, NYU built a community around Union Square, where it continuously fosters the growth of the district along with the work of community members and other related organizations. NYU also plays host to a number of cultural and academic events that are open to the public. Please consult their Office of Community and Government Affairs website for further information about NYU's interaction with the local community.
Visit: New York University
Whether pursuing your newest business venture or resizing your company, City Space Suites has a wide variety of full-time offices for rent. Rates include furniture, internet, phones, utilities, receptionist, daily cleaning and tech support.
The entire infrastructure is set up from the moment you step out of the elevator. As a result, start up and capital investment costs are virtually eliminated. Be sure to find out more about the rental packages available today!
Visit: City Space Suites
Located west of the park, Coffee Shop is New York City's hot spot to see and be seen in Union Square whether meeting for power business breakfast, or grabbing a drink after work at the restaurant bar or downstairs in The Lounge.
Coffee Shop offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and patio seating outside in the warm weather months.
Visit: Coffee Shop and The Lounge
Baked by Melissa's second New York City location opened in Union Square in December 2009, selling a collection of bite-sized stuffed cupcakes with giant taste. Flavors include s'mores, cookie dough, peanut butter cup and PB&J.
The bakery's offerings were designed to allow customers to taste a variety of flavors with every visit and not feel overwhelmed by post-dessert guilt. Baked by Melissa is the perfect spot for anyone who has the sudden to satisfy their sweet tooth.
Visit: Baked by Melissa
For more than 20 years, the Union Square Cafe has served its own style of food and customer service to neighborhood visitors from around the region and the world. USC pairs imaginative food and fine wine with thoughtful hospitality, comfortable surroundings and exceptional value.
Dedicated to supporting their community and shopping local, USC purchases many of its ingredients from the district's local Greenmarket, and supports beautification programs in the park. Accolades are nothing new for this neighborhood institution with Zagat rating them its #1 Restaurant 8 times between 1997 and 2008.
Visit: Union Square Cafe
Casual sandwiches with an upscale taste are available at ‘wichcraft with eleven New York City locations including one at 20th Street and Broadway.
‘wichcraft offers a variety of warm and cold sandwiches complemented by an array of salads and soups to make the perfect lunch for walk-in customers at a reasonable price. The Union Square location also serves dinner with a delightful array of dishes prepared by Chef Tom Colicchio.
Visit: 'wichcraft
Union Square is home to New York City’s premier men’s clothing store, Rothman’s, which sells business attire for men including suits, sports coats, outerwear and sportswear.
Among their many featured designers are fashion moguls Hugo Boss, John Varvatos and Calvin Klein to name just a few. Rothman’s also offers a selection of suits for children, caters to special occasions including weddings, and provides alterations on site.
Visit: Rothman's
Directly south of Union Square Park, Whole Foods Market provides the neighborhood with natural and organic food options. Whole Foods is committed to buying from local growers and selling locally-produced products including everything from chips to artisanal cheeses, and summer squash to scented soaps.
In addition to aisles of food you can prepare at home, the store offers prepared food and coffee that can be eaten right in the café space on the buildings upper floor. Look for the “Health Starts Here” logos around the store for assistance in making healthy choices.
Visit: Whole Foods Market
Best Buy Union Square celebrated the grand opening of its flagship store in November 2009. This is Best Buy’s first store to be open 24 hours, and it includes all the CDs, DVD and electronic selections that made Best Buy famous, as well as a large selection of musical instruments and home appliances.
Look no further than Best Buy Union Square for all your electronic needs, and be sure to check the store’s website for special event listings and a weekly advertisement listing.
Visit: Best Buy
In addition to offering quality women and men's athletic apparel for yoga, running, dancing, and more, each lululemon athletica store offers complimentary yoga classes and goal setting seminars, a community board highlighting health and fitness opportunities in their area, and information about local yoga studies.
lululemon is very involved in the Union Square community, partnering with USP during our annual "Summer in the Square" series, organizing instructors for each week’s yoga class and providing mats.
Visit: lululemon athletica