Since being founded in 1869 as one of America’s first planned residential villages, Garden City has stood the test of time to remain one of the most prominent villages on Long Island.
Garden City is home to an extensive list of food options with a variety of cuisines. More than 10 restaurants reside on Seventh Street, including Leo’s Tavern and Pizzeria G, which earned a 7.9 from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy during one of his One Bite Pizza Reviews. The French Workshop — an artisan bakery and coffee shop — also has a franchise location on the tree-lined strip and has been cited as being a personal favorite of New York Islanders captain Anders Lee.
Much like Seventh Street, Nassau Boulevard and Franklin Avenue are lively hot spots in the village. Nassau Boulevard contains highly ranked eateries like ITA Kitchen, while Franklin Avenue features Grimaldi’s Pizzeria and Bar Plancha. For breakfast, My Three Sons Bagel Cafe sports a location on both streets.
Along with having shops sprinkled around the village,Roosevelt Field Mallis the mecca for Long Island shopping. With nearly 300 stores, the mall contains a bit of everything, ranging everywhere from high-end department stores, such as Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s, to an AMC Theatre.
Bethpage native Kaley DeMicco, who rents an off-campus house in Garden City with seven fellow Adelphi students — including her twin sister Julia — called the mall “one of the best places to go” in the area.
“[Roosevelt Field] is probably the best mall on Long Island,” DeMicco said. “Having that 10 minutes away is a great factor with living here.”
If visiting the area, the Garden City Hotel is the longest operating property in the village, as 2026 will mark its 152nd year in business. The hotel includes the Red Salt Room — a fine dining restaurant by celebrity chef David Burke. The luxury hotel has hosted countless famous guests, including John F. Kennedy, Charles Lindbergh and Michael Jackson, who rented the entire penthouse floor for a month.
As a key commercial hub, Garden City, home to nearly 24,000 residents, is a popular moving destination. Lee and many other Islanders both past and present have been famous for adopting the upscale village as their home. While the main draw is its close proximity to the team’s practice facility in Eisenhower Park and Elmont’s UBS Arena, a large chunk of players never leave once they enter the walkable village due to its top-rated school system.
Garden City High School was ranked No. 2 on Long Island, No. 16 in New York and No. 147 nationally. In addition to those factors, Garden City has its own independent police department to serve the community, making it an ideal suburban location for families.
Though her situation differs as a college student, DeMicco has experienced this firsthand. The 21-year-old heavily praised the village for its safety and picturesque atmosphere.
Source: LI Press
