Carnegie Hill is one of New York's most prestigious neighborhoods located within the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Roughly speaking, it's bounded by 86th St. on the south, 3rd Ave. on the east, 96th St. (Spanish Harlem) on the north, and 5th Ave. (Central Park) on the west. The neighborhood is part of Manhattan Community Board 8. It is widely considered the most prestigious residential area of the Upper East Side.
The neighborhood is named for the mansion that Andrew Carnegie built at Fifth Avenue and 91st Street in 1901. The mansion today is the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution. The architecture of Carnegie Hill is an eclectic mix of taller residential buildings, lush mansions, townhouses, and even wood-built homes built over a nearly 200-year span.
Known for its family-friendly atmosphere, Carnegie Hill boasts many fine restaurants, upscale boutiques, and gourmet food stores. Following New York City's tradition of similar stores residing next to one another, the stretch of Madison Avenue that runs through Carnegie Hill is known for its numerous children's clothing boutiques. The neighborhood includes several of the nation's most exclusive private prep schools, including Dalton, Nightingale-Bamford, Spence, and Convent of the Sacred Heart. The neighborhood also includes the public Hunter College High School, one of the US's top high schools.
