159 East 71st Street
Description
Built in 1880 by noted architect James E. Ware...159 East 71st Street is a distinguished 20-foot-wide single-family townhouse offering approximately 5,400 square feet across 5 levels, with 7 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and private gardens at both the front and rear of the residence. Set on one of the Upper East Side’s most coveted tree-lined townhouse blocks, the home combines gracious scale, abundant natural light, and beautifully preserved architectural character. Additional 10,240 SF of air rights.
Built in 1880 by noted architect James E. Ware in the Neo-Grec style, the residence features 5 working fireplaces, high ceilings, and distinctive architectural details throughout. Oversized bay and oriel windows bring exceptional natural light into the interiors while framing views of the surrounding gardens. The home also offers ample storage space, including more than 20 closets.
The garden level is centered around a spacious eat-in kitchen and an open living and dining area overlooking the beautifully landscaped rear garden. Measuring more than 650 square feet, the garden provides a private outdoor retreat in the heart of Manhattan. This level also includes an additional bedroom and full bathroom, ideal for guests or staff.
Above, the grand parlor floor showcases the scale and character of the house, with high ceilings and a gracious living room at the front. At the rear, an elegant wood-paneled library with a fireplace and bay window overlooks the garden below. A wet bar and powder room complete the floor, creating an ideal setting for entertaining.
The primary bedroom level offers a private retreat with 3 large south-facing windows, a generous dressing area, extensive closet space, and an en-suite bathroom. An additional bedroom or home office with its own en-suite bathroom provides flexibility. The upper level features 4 additional bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms.
A nearly 200-square-foot front garden creates a gracious approach to the residence, while the expansive rear garden offers a rare sense of privacy and tranquility.
Beyond its architectural distinction, 159 East 71st Street has a storied New York history. The home was once owned by acclaimed pianist and bandleader Peter Duchin, who was known for hosting memorable gatherings at the residence, and it was the site of Mayor Ed Koch’s inauguration celebrations on two occasions. Just a few doors away is the iconic townhouse featured in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, adding to the history and character of this exceptional block.
With its 20-foot width, historic architecture, gracious scale, remarkable provenance, and exceptional outdoor space, 159 East 71st Street presents a special opportunity to own a classic Manhattan townhouse in one of the Upper East Side’s most desirable locations, moments from world-class museums, schools, restaurants, galleries, shopping, and Central Park.
Amenities
- Primary Ensuite
- Private Patio
- Common Garden
- Common Outdoor Space
- Decorative Fireplace
- Fireplace
- Wet Bar
- Hardwood Floors
- High Ceilings
- Floor to Ceiling Windows
- Bay Windows
- Oversized Windows
- Walk Up
- Washer / Dryer
- Air Conditioning
- Powder Room
- Dressing Area
- Eat-in Kitchen
- Northern Exposure
- Southern Exposure
- Walk-in Closet
- Custom Closet
- Voice Intercom
- Basement
- Double Entry Bathroom
- Attached Primary Half Bathroom
- Full Basement
- Laundry Room
Location
Listing Courtesy of: .
Payment Calculator
$50,341 per month
30 year fixed, 7.03% Interest
$42,441
$7,900
$0
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1Property Information for 159 East 71st Street
- Taxes: $7,900 / month
- Total Rooms: 12.0
- MLS Type: Single Family Townhouse
- County: New York County
- Buyer's Agent Compensation: 2.5%
- Stories: 5
- Year Built: 1910
- Building Size: 20' x 100'
- Building Sq. Ft: 10,000 SF
- Lot Size: 2,000 SF
Property History for 159 East 71st Street
| Date | Event & Source | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 09/01/2026 | Listed (Active) Manual | $7,950,000 |
| 08/26/2026 | — | |
| 04/25/2026 | $7,950,000 | |
| 04/21/2026 | $7,950,000 | |
| 09/09/2025 | $8,450,000 | |
| 09/08/2025 | $8,450,000 | |
| 09/16/2024 | $8,700,000 | |
| 07/17/2023 | $8,950,000 | |
| 07/17/2023 | $8,950,000 | |
| 07/01/2023 | $8,950,000 | |
| 06/29/2023 | — | |
| 04/18/2023 | $8,950,000 | |
| 02/21/2020 | $8,950,000 | |
| 02/21/2020 | $8,950,000 | |
| 08/19/2019 | $8,950,000 | |
| 07/10/2019 | $9,490,000 | |
| 07/10/2019 | $9,490,000 | |
| 06/03/2019 | $9,490,000 | |
| 12/12/2018 | $9,490,000 | |
| 12/03/2018 | $9,490,000 | |
| 10/19/2018 | $9,950,000 |
For completeness, we often displays two records for one sale: the MLS record and the public record.
Public Records for 159 East 71st Street
Schools near 159 East 71st Street
Rating | School | Type | Grades | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public - | K to 5 | |||
| Public - | 6 to 8 | |||
| Public - | 6 to 8 | |||
| Public - | 6 to 8 |
Rating | School | Distance |
|---|---|---|
East Side Elementary School, PS 267 PublicK to 5 | ||
Nyc Lab Ms For Collaborative Studies Public6 to 8 | ||
Lower Manhattan Community Middle School Public6 to 8 | ||
Jhs 167 Robert F Wagner Public6 to 8 |
School ratings and boundaries are provided by GreatSchools.org and Pitney Bowes. This information should only be used as a reference. Proximity or boundaries shown here are not a guarantee of enrollment. Please reach out to schools directly to verify all information and enrollment eligibility.
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$3,999,000
- 3
- Bedrooms
- 3
- Bathrooms
- 3,000
- Square Feet
- Unavailable
- Acres
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This information is not verified for authenticity or accuracy and is not guaranteed and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. ©2026 The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., All rights reserved. The source of the displayed data is either the property owner or public record provided by non-governmental third parties. It is believed to be reliable but not guaranteed. This information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the IDX Program of OneKey® MLS. Information Copyright 2026, OneKey® MLS. All data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Compass, Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates and their agents and associated third parties. See Terms of Service for additional restrictions. Compass · Tel: 212-913-9058 · New York, NY Listing information for certain New York City properties provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board of New York’s Residential Listing Service (the "RLS"). The information contained in this listing has not been verified by the RLS and should be verified by the consumer. The listing information provided here is for the consumer’s personal, non-commercial use. Retransmission, redistribution or copying of this listing information is strictly prohibited except in connection with a consumer's consideration of the purchase and/or sale of an individual property. This listing information is not verified for authenticity or accuracy and is not guaranteed and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. ©2026 The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., all rights reserved. This information is not guaranteed, should be independently verified and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Offers of compensation set forth here are for other RLSParticipants only and may not reflect other agreements between a consumer and their broker.©2026 The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., All rights reserved.