A former industrial neighborhood that’s now an icon of the city, SoHo, or the area South of Houston Street, remains one of the most desirable. A long-time creative hub, originally for artists lured by airy loft spaces in 19th-century cast iron buildings and today headquarters for international brands, the tapered cobblestone streets team with a constant flow of local and tourist foot traffic. It’s a retail mecca for luxury and indie designer boutiques and remains a bastion of culinary delights, where age-old, always-booked favorites Raoul’s, Balthazar, and Blue Ribbon share a diverse but loyal clientele, with a rotating cast of new eateries angling to achieve similar status.<