Stone Street

Stone Street in the Financial District of Manhattan is a lively little block, filled with outdoor tables of the bars and restaurants that line it. It received its name because it was the first street paved in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam.

The Dutch called it Hoogh Streat (High Street) because it was a bit elevated from the surrounding streets. It was home to some of the wealthiest residents of New Amsterdam and in 1658, they pooled their resources to fund the paving of the street with cobblestones. As New York became Anglified, it was officially named Stone Street in 1794.

As with much of the city, it became abandoned and run-down in the later 20th century. In 1996, with the economic revival of the city, it was declared The Stone Street Historic District. A business improvement district called The Downtown Alliance along with local business owners funded a $2 million renovation of the street. Cobblestones honoring the original paved street were installed and the outdoor venues officially opened in 2000. It’s now enjoyed by locals and visitors alike as one of the loveliest places in the city for a meal or drink, especially during the summer.

Take a stroll down Stone Street on our Secrets of Lower Manhattan Tour.