Enjoy this content as part of Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s Inside The Community series.
With its distinctive, Tudor-style downtown, award-winning school system, and convenient, South-county location, Scarsdale is a perennial favorite for homebuyers. The charming town offers notable shopping experiences and fine dining in its busy-yet-quaint village center. The town’s central train station boasts a quick commute to Grand Central and its location gives easy access to area highways. Plenty of unspoiled natural beauty is also a draw, with Chase Park, Scarsdale Park, and the Greenburgh Nature Center all within its borders. Diverse housing options — everything from pre-war apartment buildings to new-construction townhomes to sprawling estates — also contribute to Scarsdale’s popularity.
Here are some of the best things to eat, buy, see, and do in Scarsdale:
Dining
Martine’s Fine Bake Shoppe
48 East Parkway, Scarsdale
Satisfy every possible sweet-tooth craving with Martine’s masterful array of baked goods — everything from rainbow-hued macarons to warm doughnuts, buttery scones, and delectable cakes for every occasion. The European-style bakery is also famous for its babka, which Jerry Seinfeld raved about when he stopped in while filming Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Family-owned and with a second location in Tuckahoe, Martine’s rounds out its offerings with savory items for breakfast and lunch, including sandwiches, quiche, and soups.
Chat American Grill
1 Christie Place, Scarsdale
The perfect neighborhood spot, Chat American Grill offers brunch, lunch, and dinner, serving favorites like drunken clams, margherita pizzas, gourmet salads, burgers, and elevated entrees such as branzino and assorted pastas. Large portions make it a great spot for a group meal. The restaurant exudes a cozy classic vibe, combining rustic Americana chic with a French bistro twist for a fun dining experience. Chat American Grill is also pet-friendly and offers private dining options for events.
Culture
Scarsdale Library
54 Olmsted Road, Scarsdale
Not surprisingly in a town cherished for its high academic standards, the Scarsdale Library is a beloved local institution. First established in 1906 and housed in several different spots, the library’s most recent renovation and expansion was just completed in 2021. Light-filled, modern, and airy, the building provides a welcoming environment for reading, studying, research, and browsing. There’s even a café, with coffee, breakfast items, and lunch fare like sandwiches and salads. The library also serves as a community hub, hosting fun special events like author talks, summertime lawn parties, film screenings, and even family fun events like Big Truck Day, where kids can climb onboard tractors, fire trucks, etc.
Seasonal Recreation
Bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway
Exit 22 at the Westchester County Center to Exit 4 at Scarsdale Road, Yonkers
Many Scarsdale residents (and Westchesterites as a whole) count Bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway as one of their favorite county activities. The long-time tradition offers a car-free paradise for bicyclists, scooters, walkers, and joggers on select Sundays in June, July, and September. Test your endurance for the whole 13-mile roundtrip stretch from the County Center in White Plains to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers, or pick a spot along the way and jump in to the action for a short run, walk, or bike ride. It’s completely free!
Scarsdale Municipal Pool
311 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale
Summer in Scarsdale isn’t complete without swimming fun at the Scarsdale Pool Complex. Open from May to September, residents enjoy four pools, a concession stand, playground, gaga pit, sand volleyball court, and basketball court as well as showers, changing rooms, and restrooms. In addition to daily open-swim hours and available swim lessons, the pool also hosts special events such as Float Day, July 4th fireworks celebration, and others.
Historical
Wayside Cottage
1039 Post Road, Scarsdale
Now the home of the Junior League of Central Westchester, Wayside Cottage has a rich history, dating back to 1715, making it the oldest landmark in Scarsdale and one of the oldest preserved residences in the United States. Wayside Cottage was everything from a one-room farmhouse to an inn, tavern, post office, and library throughout Colonial times and into the 1800s. It was deeded to the Village of Scarsdale in 1919 and has since been used as a community hub in a variety of ways. Today, schoolchildren can tour the Cottage to learn about Colonial living. It is also available to rent for social and community events.
