River Views, Then Burgers at a Wooden Bar
Walk above the water on the Upper East Side, pausing on benches along a path shared with cyclists. A spacious Irish tavern changes the setting for mac and cheese, draft beer or a game on television.
River Walk and Pub Dining
Upper East Side breathing room
East River Walk runs directly above the water from East 63rd Street to East 81st Street. The path is open daily from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Walking and biking share the paved route. Expect rough and cracked sections underfoot. Benches offer places to sit along the river, with bridge views from the promenade. You can make this first stop a stroll or spend more of it sitting by the water.
An Irish tavern in Midtown
Blackwell's Pub and Restaurant serves burgers and mac and cheese on East 47th Street. The spacious interior has a wooden bar and televisions that bartenders can tune to requested games. Eighteen beers are on tap. Opening hours run from 11:00 AM to midnight Monday through Friday and 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Saturday. The pub is closed on Sundays. Brunch is also offered, alongside lunch and dinner.
Two settings for slowing down
East River Walk puts the focus on the water, with benches and a shared walking and biking path. Blackwell's Pub and Restaurant brings the emphasis indoors, pairing classic pub fare with draft beer and televisions for sports. The contrast is open air versus tavern comfort, river views and room to sit at the first stop, then burgers or mac and cheese at the second. The pairing is about a change of atmosphere rather than a tightly scheduled outing.
