Stone Street
Stone Street
This narrow cobblestone street in the heart of the Financial District was the first street paved with stone in the city, back when it was a small Dutch farming and trading colony called New Amsterdam. It was originally paved in 1658, when Wall Street was still a wooden wall built as a protective barrier at the northern edge of New Amsterdam. After decades of neglect in the middle of the 20th century, Stone Street became a seedy, derelict back alley (think crack vials and trash). It was finally restored and repaved in the 1990s and became a Historic District in 1996. Today, this charming old street, flanked by restored lofts and warehouses from the late 1830s, is one of the best dining destinations in Downtown Manhattan. This is especially true in the warmer months, when restaurants and bars place long wooden tables in the middle of this pedestrians-only street. The whole vibe feels very European and helps you forget that you are on Manhattan island, better known for noisy traffic and countless skyscrapers than old-world charm.