Sunnyside and Woodside sit in the middle of Queens between Long Island City and Jackson Heights, straddling the 7 train line, and function as the connective tissue between the borough’s more celebrated neighborhoods. Neither gets much press. Sunnyside has a National Historic Landmark residential district, an active restaurant scene, and rents that confound anyone who has been apartment-hunting in Brooklyn or Manhattan. Woodside has the best Filipino food in New York City and an Irish pub culture that dates to the early 20th century.
Sunnyside Gardens: The Historic District
The Sunnyside Gardens Historic District covers about 20 square blocks between 43rd and 52nd Streets and Skillman and Barnett Avenues. The development was built between 1924 and 1928 by the City Housing Corporation as an experiment in affordable planned housing — architects Clarence Stein and Henry Wright designed the Tudor-style rowhouses around shared interior garden courts, a model that influenced public housing design across the United States and Europe for decades.
The district is a National Historic Landmark and is best experienced by walking the interior streets — the shared garden courts are visible through the buildings during the growing season, and the overall streetscape is remarkably intact from the original 1920s construction. The area around 46th Street and Skillman Avenue is the heart of the historic district.
The Restaurant Scene
Sunnyside’s commercial strip on Queens Boulevard between 40th and 52nd Streets has a good Korean restaurant concentration — Sunnyside Korean BBQ and similar tabletop grill restaurants serve the neighborhood’s Korean population. The Irish pubs on Skillman Avenue, including Sidetracks and similar neighborhood bars, have been operating for decades and maintain a working-class character that’s increasingly rare in the outer boroughs.
Woodside: Filipino Food Capital
Woodside Avenue between 58th and 65th Streets in Woodside is the center of New York City’s Filipino food culture. Ihawan on Woodside Avenue is the most acclaimed Filipino restaurant in Queens — the lechon (roast pig), the kare-kare (oxtail in peanut sauce), and the sinigang (sour tamarind soup) are all excellent and authentic. Renee’s Kitchenette and Grill and similar neighborhood spots serve the Filipino community with traditional dishes at prices that reflect the neighborhood rather than the destination-restaurant tier.
Getting There
The 7 train serves both neighborhoods extensively — stops at 40th, 46th, 52nd, and 61st Streets cover Sunnyside and the eastern edge of Woodside. From Times Square: about 15 minutes to 46th Street/Sunnyside. The 7 is one of the most reliable lines in the Queens subway network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sunnyside Queens known for?
Sunnyside is known for its well-preserved 1920s Tudor-style rowhouses (the Sunnyside Gardens Historic District), a culturally diverse population, and an excellent local restaurant scene anchored by Irish pubs, Korean restaurants, and newer spots serving the neighborhood’s young professional population. It’s one of the most affordable neighborhoods near Midtown Manhattan.
How do I get to Sunnyside Queens from Manhattan?
The 7 train from Times Square to 46th Street/Bliss Street in Sunnyside takes about 15 minutes. The 7 train also stops at 40th, 46th, 52nd, and 61st Streets through the neighborhood. It’s one of the most accessible outer-borough neighborhoods from Midtown.
What is the Sunnyside Gardens Historic District?
Sunnyside Gardens is a planned residential development built between 1924 and 1928 by the City Housing Corporation, designed by architects including Clarence Stein and Henry Wright. The development is a National Historic Landmark — one of the first planned communities in the United States — with shared interior garden courts, Tudor-style rowhouses, and tree-lined streets.
Is Woodside Queens worth visiting?
Woodside is primarily a residential neighborhood with a strong Irish and Filipino community. The Philippines-themed commercial strip on Woodside Avenue between 58th and 65th Streets is one of the best concentrations of Filipino food in New York City — the lechon, kare-kare, and halo-halo at the restaurants here are worth the trip for food enthusiasts.
Also see: our Queens cheap eats guide
Also see: our free Queens activities guide
