Explore the Lower East Side near the Howard Johnson Manhattan

The Howard Johnson Manhattan provides budget lodging in the Lower East Side, putting visitors within walking distance of iconic eateries (Russ & Daughters, Katz's, Yonah Schimmel), two early 19th-century marble cemeteries, the Merchant's House Museum, the Ukrainian Museum, and neighborhood institutions focused on comics and Holocaust remembrance. Many of those institutions have changed or moved in recent years, so verify hours and locations before visiting.

A budget base in the Lower East Side

The Howard Johnson Manhattan has long served as a budget-friendly option on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Its appeal has always been the neighborhood: a mix of immigrant history, Jewish delis, and small museums within easy walking distance of SoHo and downtown Manhattan.

Food that defines the neighborhood

Walk out the door and you can reach iconic food spots that shaped the area's flavor. Russ & Daughters (known for smoked fish and bagels), Katz's Delicatessen (classic pastrami sandwiches), and Yonah Schimmel Knishery (traditional knishes) remain signature Lower East Side stops for locals and visitors alike.

Small museums and historic sites nearby

The Lower East Side and nearby Bowery host several compact, historically rich sites. Two early 19th-century burial grounds - the New York Marble Cemetery and the New York City Marble Cemetery - preserve a rare slice of pre-Civil War New York history and are tucked into quiet blocks. ¹

The Merchant's House Museum, a restored 1830s family home, offers a preserved interior of period furniture and objects that illustrate domestic life in antebellum New York.

The Ukrainian Museum highlights Ukrainian art, folk traditions, and history, and continues to operate exhibitions focused on culture and heritage.

Comic art, remembrance, and changing institutions

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) was an influential Lower Manhattan institution focused on sequential art and cartooning; its collections and exhibition programs have since changed locations and institutional arrangements. ²

The Anne Frank Center USA has presented programs and exhibitions about Anne Frank and Holocaust remembrance in New York; its public presence and visitor offerings have evolved in recent years. ³

How to make the most of a stay

If you choose a budget hotel in the area, plan to explore on foot. The neighborhood rewards walking: historic cemeteries, small museums, and long-running eateries sit within short strolls of one another. Check each site's current hours and any temporary closures before you go.

Practical notes

Many small museums in the neighborhood offer limited hours and occasional special events. Confirm current opening times and admission policies online or by phone. Public transit access is good, but some places are best reached on foot to appreciate the streetscape and storefronts.

1. Confirm current operating status and address of Howard Johnson Manhattan (or whether the property has been rebranded or closed).
2. Verify the formal names, founding years, and public access status of the New York Marble Cemetery and the New York City Marble Cemetery.
3. Confirm the current institutional status and location of the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) and where its collections/exhibitions are now held.
4. Confirm the current public programming and visitor status of the Anne Frank Center USA.