103rd Street (6)

At the bottom of a short hill, this stop has very binary vibes. It’s somehow both El Barrio and also the Upper East Side. Like, a restaurant or shop will either clearly be for the Spanish-speaking Afro-Latinx crowd, or for the white yoga ladies and business professionals, and nothing in between. (If this mixing/not-mixing intrigues you, check out this stop in Inwood).

I spy the green subway station bulbs of this stop. Can you find them? Difficulty level: Hard.

Some of the Upper-East-Side-Vibe restaurants include Alison, The Lexington Social, and Chu Ros Thai. If you are a mid-to-upper-SES person who frequents the below-96th part of the UES, these three restaurants are a nice gateway into expanding your geographic and cultural horizons while staying within a restaurant vibe you’re probably used to.

Alison has Upper East Side vibes, but it’s right across from Exotic Fragrances, which has El Barrio vibes.

However, the gem of this stop, Exotic Fragrances, falls into the “El Barrio” camp. This is a fascinating perfume store teeming with Spanish-speaking customers who pull a number upon entry to be called for the next available fragrance consultant. Whoever you are, it’s worth a visit. Or at least, over 3,000 google reviewers think so, rating it at an average 4.9 stars.

An El-Barrio style mural above Exotic Fragrances, facing the entrance to Alice.

El Barrio vibes right outside the station.

Upper east side vibes, also right outside the station. Notice the white lady.

Inside Exotic Fragrances, packed on a Wednesday afternoon.