Barbershop FAQ —
City Barbers Upper East Side

City Barbers is located at 223 E 74th St, New York, NY 10021 in the Upper East Side (Lenox Hill) neighborhood of Manhattan. We're between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. We have been at this address since 1972.

Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

We are open seven days a week.

The closest subway stops are the 6 train at 77th Street (3 blocks north of us) and the Q train at 72nd Street (2 blocks south). We are on East 74th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. The M72 crosstown bus also serves our block.

Street parking is available on East 74th Street and surrounding blocks. There are also parking garages on 2nd and 3rd Avenue within a short walk. Check the standard street parking signs for restrictions.

Yes! Walk-ins are welcome seven days a week. No appointment needed. If you want to guarantee a specific time or barber, you can book online through Square.

You can book online at Square Appointments, or call us at (212) 794-3267. Online booking lets you choose your preferred barber and service.

Yes. When booking online, select your preferred barber — Mike, Alvaro, Arthur, or Igor. For walk-ins, let us know who you'd like when you arrive and we'll accommodate you whenever possible.

Walk in or arrive at your appointment time. You'll be greeted by your barber and have a brief consultation before the cut begins. No pressure, no upselling. We ask what you want, do it right, and send you out looking great. The shop has a classic, relaxed atmosphere. Cash and all major credit cards accepted.

Our current pricing:

Men's Haircut — $40
Skin Fade — $40
Beard Trim — $25
Hot Towel Royal Shave — $50
Buzz Cut — $30
Shape Up / Line Up — $20
Kids' Haircut (ages 12 & under) — $40
Haircut & Beard Trim Combo — $60

We accept cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Tips are always appreciated and can be left in cash or added to a card payment.

Yes. We offer a professional beard trim ($25) with hot towel finish, and a full Hot Towel Royal Shave ($50) with straight razor. Both can be combined with a haircut.

Absolutely. City Barbers has been cutting kids' hair for over 50 years. We offer kids' haircuts for ages 12 and under at $40. Our barbers are patient, experienced with young clients, and genuinely enjoy working with families.

Yes. We handle first haircuts for toddlers regularly. A tablet or small toy to distract young children can help the process go smoothly. We recommend booking in advance for toddlers to minimize any waiting.

Yes — we have multiple chairs and barbers. Many families come in together. Just let us know when you arrive or book multiple appointments online.

A taper gradually reduces hair length along the sides and back but leaves some hair visible at the neckline — giving a clean, defined finish without going all the way to bare skin. A fade takes that reduction all the way down to the skin, creating a seamless gradient that disappears into nothing. All fades taper, but not all tapers fade. If you prefer a more classic, conservative look, a taper is the safer call. If you want something sharper and more modern, ask for a fade. Your barber at City Barbers can walk you through which works best with your hair texture and the style you have on top.

A skin fade — also called a bald fade or zero fade — blends the hair all the way down to bare skin on the sides and back. The transition from your natural hair length to the skin is done gradually so it looks clean rather than harsh. At City Barbers, skin fades are $40 and can be paired with any length on top: longer textured styles, short crops, or a classic side part. It's one of our most popular services.

A shape-up (also called a line-up or edge-up) sharpens and defines the natural hairline along the forehead, temples, and sideburns using a straight razor or trimmer. It makes the hairline look crisp and intentional rather than soft and uneven. At City Barbers, a shape-up is $20 and takes about 10–15 minutes. Many clients get one between haircuts to keep things sharp without committing to a full cut.

The Hot Towel Royal Shave is our full professional straight razor shave, priced at $50. The service includes a hot towel treatment to open pores and soften the beard, a pre-shave oil application, a rich brush lather, a precision straight razor shave, and a cold towel finish to close pores. It takes 30–40 minutes from start to finish. Many clients describe it as the best shave they've ever had.

Yes. The Hot Towel Royal Shave is available as a standalone service for $50. You do not need to book a haircut to get one. Many clients come in specifically for the shave experience, particularly for special occasions or as a regular grooming ritual. You can book online or just walk in.

Yes. City Barbers offers a Haircut & Beard Trim Combo for $60, which saves $5 compared to booking each service separately. It includes a full men's haircut and a professional beard trim with hot towel finish. It's the most popular combo booking we do and takes about 45–55 minutes.

Yes. City Barbers offers buzz cuts for $30. A buzz cut is a clean, uniform clipper cut all over the head — either at one consistent length or with a slight blend. It's fast, low maintenance, always sharp-looking, and works on almost every face shape and hair type. It's a great option if you prefer a clean, no-fuss style.

Here's a general time guide for our services:

Men's Haircut: 30–45 minutes
Skin Fade: 30–45 minutes
Shape Up / Line Up: 10–15 minutes
Beard Trim: 15–20 minutes
Buzz Cut: 20–30 minutes
Hot Towel Royal Shave: 30–40 minutes
Kids' Haircut: 20–35 minutes
Haircut & Beard Combo: 45–55 minutes

Classic professional haircuts include the side part, ivy league (a longer, combed crew cut), taper, and classic taper fade. These styles are timeless, polished, and versatile enough for boardrooms and weekends alike. The right choice depends on your hair type and how much time you want to spend styling in the morning. Bring a reference photo when you come in and your barber will find the closest match that works for your specific hair.

Absolutely — and we recommend it. A reference photo is one of the most effective ways to get the cut you want on the first visit. Pull it up on your phone and show your barber at the start of the appointment. They can tell you right away how achievable the look is with your hair type and texture, and what modifications to expect. Photos remove ambiguity and help everyone land on the same page quickly.

Yes. Come in with clean, dry hair and minimal product. Heavy pomades or gels can weigh the hair down and make it harder to see the true texture and length — which affects how accurately your barber can cut. If you're coming from work or the gym, washing your hair beforehand makes a real difference in the quality of the result.

The right product depends on your hair type and the finish you want. For high shine and strong hold, use a pomade. For a matte, natural finish with strong hold, use a clay. For flexible, medium hold, use a wax. If you have fine hair, avoid heavy products — a light cream or sea salt spray often works better. At the end of your appointment, ask your barber for a personalized product recommendation. We carry products in the shop as well.

Pomade gives high shine and strong, slick hold — ideal for classic styles like side parts or slick-backs. Wax offers medium, flexible hold with little shine — good for textured or natural styles. Clay provides strong hold with a matte finish and adds volume — the most versatile option for everyday styling, especially on thicker or medium hair. When in doubt, start with a clay — it works well on most hair types and finishes naturally.

A skin fade looks sharpest for about 2–3 weeks before the outline begins to soften. To extend that window: moisturize the skin around the hairline daily, avoid scratching or picking at the hairline, and consider coming in for a shape-up ($20) between full haircuts to re-define the edges without paying for a full cut. Most clients with fades come back every 2–4 weeks depending on how fast their hair grows.

For thick hair, a matte clay or fiber paste usually works best. These products provide strong hold without weighing heavy hair down and give a natural, textured finish. Avoid heavy oil-based pomades on thick hair — they tend to flatten it and can look greasy by midday. Apply product to slightly damp hair for better distribution and use your fingers or a comb to style while the product is still workable.

After a professional straight razor shave, your skin needs a little recovery time. Apply a soothing aftershave balm (not alcohol-based toner, which can sting and dry the skin) to close the pores and hydrate the skin. Avoid shaving at home for at least 24–48 hours to let the skin settle. Your barber will apply aftershave at the end of the service, so you'll walk out ready to go. If you experience any irritation, a cool damp cloth helps immediately.

Use a quality beard oil daily to soften the beard hair and moisturize the skin underneath — this reduces itchiness and keeps the beard looking healthy. Comb or brush your beard every morning to train the hair to grow in a consistent direction. Use small scissors or a trimmer to clean up stray hairs between appointments. Come in for a professional beard trim every 3–4 weeks to maintain the shape and keep the neckline and cheek lines clean.

Scissor cuts are better for longer styles, fine or wavy hair, and natural texture — they remove less hair at once and allow more precision in shaping. Clipper cuts are faster, great for short uniform styles, and essential for fades. Most haircuts at City Barbers use a combination of both tools — clippers for the back and sides, scissors for the top. If you have specific concerns about how much length is removed or the texture of the finish, mention it to your barber before the cut begins.

City Barbers opened at 223 E 74th Street in 1972, making us one of the longest-running barbershops on the Upper East Side. We have served the same neighborhood for over 50 years. Many of our current clients are the children or grandchildren of original regulars who started coming in the 1970s and 80s. The shop has stayed at the same address the entire time.

City Barbers has four experienced barbers: Mike (the owner, 25+ years of experience), Alvaro (20+ years), Arthur (15+ years), and Igor (10+ years). Each has their own style and specialty, but all four are skilled across every service we offer. You can request a specific barber when booking online or let us know when you walk in.

City Barbers is rated 4.9 stars on Google with 232 reviews, making it one of the highest-rated barbershops on the Upper East Side and in Manhattan overall. Our reviews consistently mention consistent quality, a welcoming atmosphere, and barbers who listen and deliver exactly what you ask for.

City Barbers is a traditional men's barbershop. We specialize in men's and boys' haircuts, fades, tapers, beard trims, shape-ups, and straight razor shaves. We do not offer women's haircuts, hair coloring, highlights, perms, or other salon services. If you're looking for a classic barbershop experience — great cuts, skilled hands, and zero pretense — you're in the right place.

City Barbers is open most holidays with regular hours. Hours may be reduced or we may be closed on major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. We recommend calling ahead at (212) 794-3267 or checking our Google listing for current holiday hours before making a special trip.

City Barbers is located in Lenox Hill, a sub-neighborhood of the Upper East Side in Manhattan. Our address is 223 E 74th St, New York, NY 10021, between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. We are centrally located within the Upper East Side and draw clients from Carnegie Hill, Yorkville, Lenox Hill, and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Yes. City Barbers is approximately 5 blocks from Lenox Hill Hospital at 100 E 77th St. We're a convenient option for hospital staff, visitors staying nearby, and residents in that part of the Upper East Side. Walk-ins are always welcome.

Yes. A significant portion of our regular clients come from Carnegie Hill to the north and Yorkville to the east. We also have long-time clients who travel from the Upper West Side and Midtown specifically because they prefer the quality and consistency they get here. Our central Upper East Side location makes us accessible from most of Manhattan within 20–30 minutes.

Yes. City Barbers is located about 5 blocks east of Central Park. If you're spending time in the park or coming from the west side of the Upper East Side, we're an easy walk. Our shop is between 2nd and 3rd Avenue on East 74th Street.

Yes. City Barbers gift cards are available and make an excellent gift for any occasion — birthdays, Father's Day, holidays, or just because. Ask at the shop or call us at (212) 794-3267 for current availability and denominations.

Yes. We carry a curated selection of professional men's grooming products available for purchase at the shop. Ask your barber at the end of your visit what they recommend for your specific hair type and style — they can show you what they used during your cut and how to apply it correctly at home.

Yes. City Barbers can accommodate groups with multiple back-to-back appointments. This is popular for groomsmen getting ready before weddings, father-son visits, and group outings. Call us at (212) 794-3267 ahead of time to arrange it, especially for groups of three or more, so we can make sure the right number of chairs are available.