The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street.
It was traditionally an immigrant, working class neighborhood. But it has undergone rapid gentrification into a "hipster" neighborhood in recent years, prompting The National Trust for Historic Preservation to place the neighborhood on their list of America's Most Endangered Places. It is now home to upscale boutiques, and to trendy dining establishments along its Clinton Street restaurant row.
The Lower East side, LES, is bordered in the south and west by Chinatown (which extends north to roughly Grand Street), in the west by NoLIta and in the north by East Village.