Most of Manhattan above 14th Street follows a grid laid out by the Commissioners’ Plan of 1811: streets run east–west and are numbered from south to north, while avenues run north–south. Fifth Avenue divides East and West addresses on the streets. The key to navigating — and to a smooth car pickup — is the cross street: “Park Avenue at 52nd Street” tells a driver far more than a building number alone. Below 14th Street, the older street pattern of Greenwich Village and Lower Manhattan is irregular.

The basics

Feature How it works
Streets Run east–west; numbers increase going north
Avenues Run north–south; First Avenue is farthest east (with a few exceptions)
East/West Fifth Avenue divides East and West street addresses
Blocks North–south blocks between streets are short; east–west blocks between avenues are long

East and West addresses

On a street, numbers start at Fifth Avenue and increase moving away from it in both directions. So 10 East 60th Street is just east of Fifth Avenue, and 300 West 57th Street is several avenues west.

Avenue addresses

Building numbers on avenues don’t map neatly to cross streets. That’s why New Yorkers always give the cross street. For example, “1000 Fifth Avenue” means little to a visitor — but “Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street” instantly identifies the Metropolitan Museum.

Why it matters for car service

When booking or updating a pickup:

  • Give the cross street (“Lexington between 58th and 59th”).
  • Name the side of the street or the entrance if a building has several.
  • Mention landmarks for hotels or large buildings.
  • Avoid pickups on avenues with bus lanes at rush hour if a side-street entrance exists.

Downtown exceptions

In the Financial District, Greenwich Village and SoHo, streets have names and follow older paths. Here, landmarks and exact intersections are essential. See our Financial District and Greenwich Village pages.