New York's Lower East Side was once an immigrant, working class neighbourhood, but in the last decade it has become the buzzing centre of cool. Trendy restaurants, art galleries, rock bars and independent designer boutiques abound, run by and frequented by the local population of hipsters who swear this is the city's best district. And with celebrities like Gossip Girl's Blake Lively regularly spotted in the area, we'd have to agree.

Related:
*Insiders' Guide to New York
*Meet NYC's 'It' girls
*Partying Gaga-style in New York