If you stand on the corner of 116th and Broadway New York NY, you aren't just at a subway stop. You're at a collision point. To your east, the iron gates of Columbia University look like something out of a Harry Potter film, all neoclassical granite and intellectual weight. To your west, the neighborhood spills down toward Riverside Park, where the Hudson River breeze cuts through the summer humidity. It's a weird, beautiful tension. You have Nobel Prize winners grabbing bagels next to lifelong residents who remember when this neighborhood felt a lot grittier than it does today.
People call it the gateway to the Ivory Tower. That's kinda true, but it misses the soul of the place.
Most folks just see the 1 train station. They see the frantic swarm of students at 10:55 AM rushing to an 11:00 AM lecture. But if you actually hang out here for an hour, you realize this intersection is basically the brain of Upper Manhattan. It’s where the city’s relentless energy meets a very specific kind of academic stillness.
The Architecture of Power at 116th and Broadway New York NY
Look at Low Memorial Library. It isn't actually a library anymore—it’s administrative offices—but that doesn't stop it from being one of the most photographed spots in the city. When Charles Follen McKim, of the legendary firm McKim, Mead & White, designed this campus at the turn of the 20th century, he wasn't playing around. He wanted it to feel like an "Acropolis." He succeeded. The scale of the columns makes you feel small. Honestly, that’s probably the point.
Across the street sits Barnard College. It’s a different vibe entirely. While Columbia feels heavy and masculine with its massive brick edifices, Barnard’s entrance at 117th and Broadway feels a bit more integrated into the streetscape, though the 116th street corridor remains the primary artery for both.
Why the "College Walk" Matters
Technically, 116th Street used to run straight through the campus. In the 1950s, the university struck a deal with the city to close the block between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue to vehicular traffic. Now, it’s "College Walk." This was a massive shift. It turned a noisy city street into a pedestrian plaza. It changed the psychology of the intersection. Suddenly, 116th and Broadway New York NY became a porch. In the spring, when the cherry blossoms hit, the steps of Low Library (popularly called "The Steps") become the city’s most intellectual sunbathing spot.
You’ll see students reading Kant, but you’ll also see locals from the surrounding blocks eating Halal cart chicken and watching the world go by. It’s a public space that happens to be owned by a private entity, and that friction is always present.
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Eating Your Way Through the Intersection
If you're hungry, you have options, but you have to know where to look. Most tourists end up at the oversized chains, but that’s a rookie mistake.
Tom’s Restaurant is just up the street at 112th, but the gravity of 116th pulls everyone toward the smaller, tighter spots. Wu + Nussbaum on the corner is the current iteration of a long history of delis at this spot. It’s where you get a bagel that’s surprisingly decent for a place that also serves potstickers. It represents the modern New York hustle—why do one thing well when you can do five things fast?
- The Halal Guys (and their rivals): The carts parked right outside the 116th Street station gates are legendary. The smell of cumin and grilled lamb defines the air here.
- Community Food & Juice: A bit more "Upper West Side" in its DNA, located just a block north. It’s where you go when your parents are in town and they’re paying for the avocado toast.
- M2M Memories: Older alumni will remember the Asian convenience store M2M that sat near here for years. It’s gone now, replaced by more polished retail, but that’s the story of Broadway, isn't it? Everything evolves.
The 1 Train: The Lifeblood of the Heights
You can't talk about 116th and Broadway New York NY without talking about the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line. The station opened in 1904. It’s one of the original ones.
The station is deep. Not "deepest in the system" deep—that’s 191st Street—but deep enough that the trek up the stairs feels like a workout. There’s no elevator here. If you have a heavy suitcase or a stroller, you’re going to have a bad time. It’s a classic NYC bottleneck. During the morning rush, the platform is a sea of North Face backpacks and New York Times digital subscribers.
There’s a specific sound here. The screech of the 1 train rounding the curve from 110th Street is a pitch-perfect C-sharp (sorta). It’s the soundtrack of the neighborhood.
Protests, Politics, and Tension
This intersection has seen some things. Because it’s the front door to Columbia, it is the de facto staging ground for every major protest in Upper Manhattan.
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In 1968, this area was a war zone. Students protesting the Vietnam War and the university’s proposed gym in Morningside Park occupied buildings and clashed with NYPD right here on Broadway. Fast forward to 2024, and the intersection was again the epicenter of global news cycles during the Gaza solidarity encampments.
The gates are the thing. Sometimes they’re wide open, inviting the city in. Other times, during periods of unrest, they’re locked tight, requiring a CUID to pass. When those gates close, the vibe at 116th and Broadway New York NY changes instantly. It goes from a vibrant public square to a fortress. It reminds you that for all its beauty, there’s a complex relationship between the wealthy institution and the neighborhood that surrounds it.
Surprising Details You Might Miss
If you're walking around, look down. Or look up. Just don't look at your phone.
- The Sundial: On College Walk, there’s a massive stone base. There used to be a giant granite sphere on top—the Sundial. It was a gift from the class of 1885. It cracked and was removed in the 40s, but the base remains a "meet me at" spot for everyone.
- Alma Mater: The bronze statue by Daniel Chester French (who did the Lincoln Memorial). Rumor has it there’s an owl hidden in the folds of her cloak. Finding it is supposed to guarantee you’ll graduate as valedictorian. Or find a husband at Barnard. The legends vary depending on who you ask.
- The Hidden Vaults: Rumors of tunnels under 116th Street have circulated for decades. Some are real—steam tunnels and passages connecting the lab buildings. Some are just urban legends. But knowing there's a whole world beneath your feet adds a layer of mystery to the sidewalk.
Life Beyond the Campus
West of Broadway, 116th Street feels much more residential. You have the Coliseum and other massive apartment blocks. This is where the professors live. It’s quiet. It’s leafy. It feels like the New York that Woody Allen used to film before everything became a bank or a Duane Reade.
Morningside Heights is often called the "Academic Acropolis," and it’s easy to see why. Between Columbia, Barnard, the Manhattan School of Music just a few blocks north, and Union Theological Seminary, the density of PhDs per square inch is probably the highest in the world.
But it’s not all books.
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If you walk two blocks east to Morningside Drive, the earth literally drops away. You’re looking down into Harlem. The cliffside is dramatic. It’s a reminder of the geography of Manhattan—that this isn't a flat island. 116th and Broadway New York NY sits on a ridge, literally elevated above the rest of the city.
Is it worth a visit if you aren't a student?
Actually, yeah.
If you’re a tourist, you probably go to Times Square (don't) or Central Park (do). But coming up to 116th gives you a sense of "Real New York." It’s clean, relatively safe, and culturally dense. You can hit the Riverside Church—which is basically a cathedral on steroids—and then grab a coffee and sit on the Columbia steps.
It’s one of the few places in the city where you can feel the history without it feeling like a museum. People are living here. They’re working. They’re arguing about grades and rent and the Mets.
Actionable Tips for Navigating 116th and Broadway
If you're planning to head up there, keep these things in mind.
- Avoid "Between Class" Times: If you want to use the 1 train without being trampled, check the Columbia course schedule. Seriously. At 10 past the hour, the station is a nightmare. Aim for the middle of the hour.
- The Bathroom Situation: Public bathrooms are non-existent. Your best bet is the Alfred Lerner Hall (if you can get in) or hitting a local cafe like Joe Coffee on 120th and being a paying customer.
- Best Photo Op: Stand on the median of Broadway looking south. You get the perspective of the subway entrance, the university gates, and the long, straight shot of the avenue.
- The "Secret" Library: If you can get access to Butler Library (across from Low), do it. The main reading room is breathtaking. If not, the public library branch on 113th is a solid, quieter alternative.
116th and Broadway New York NY is a place of transitions. It’s where people become adults, where theories are tested, and where the 1 train screams through the bedrock of Manhattan. It’s loud, it’s smart, and it’s unapologetically New York.
Next Steps for Your Visit
- Check the Columbia University Events Calendar online before you go; often there are free public lectures or performances in Low Plaza.
- Take the 1 train to 116th, but walk back down through Riverside Park to 72nd Street for the best views of the Hudson.
- If you're there in the winter, the trees along College Walk are wrapped in white lights, making it arguably the most romantic spot in the city that isn't the Empire State Building.