Hi Travel Experts,

Recommendations for an afternoon in Harlem?

A VERY vague, open ended question.

Here's a start...

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am..._loc:5407.html

What are your interests?

Also Sylvia's, a very famous soul food restaurant. Great food, lots of celebrities eat there. I spotted a movie director when I was there. Actually, two of them, twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes.

Sylvia's: Not so good (and it pains me to say this). Red Rooster: Excellent.

Second Red Rooster. If the lines are long (and they can get pretty long), for other restaurants in that area, Corner Social is diagonally across the street on 126th and Lenox, and is a decent pinch hitter. Harlem Shake is down the block on 124th and Lenox, and is worth visiting for their Red Velvet Shakes.

There's always pretty excellent people watching on 125th Street and on 116th Street. If you head over to the Morningside Heights area, the cathedral of St John the Divine is always worth a visit. I like the Studio Museum of Harlem a lot. If you have bikes or rent Citi Bikes, you can also ride along the East River to 96th street (or further) and back.

-A Brooklynite who's moving to Harlem shortly!

Red Rooster has a fun vibe, sidewalk seating if weather is good. Our table had very mixed reviews on the food.

Sylvia's: Not so good (and it pains me to say this)

I liked Sylvia's. Different strokes for different folks...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran..._New_York.html

Sorry, but saying something is "not so good" without any further explanation is simply unacceptable from someone in the travel industry.

I didn't like Sylvia's either. See this link for a review (one of many, second one down):

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...xperiences.cfm

Much prefer Amy Ruth's or Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too in Harlem.

Here's a walking tour of Harlem I put together with a few suggestions:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...lking-tour.cfm

As you can see from the link I posted to the tripadvisor reviews, some people like it, some don't. As with all restaurants.

Sylvia's or no Sylvia's, enjoy your afternoon in Harlem.

bardo1 - We like to eat cheap, but good food; museums, and jazz.
: )

If you are there on a Thursday night go to the jam session at The Legion American Post. It is mostly jazz with a Hammond B3, guitarist and drummer, but guests can sing or play also. My DD plays the Hammond B3 and runs the jam session!!! Great soul food too.

http://www.yelp.co.nz/biz/american-l...t-398-new-york

They also have jazz on a Sunday night.

The fried chicken at Red Rooster was terrible. The gravlax were good.