158 East 81st Street
Description
Masterfully designed by AD100’s Markham Roberts to accommodate gracious entertaining and peaceful daily life, this 20-foot-wide home features a flexible, modern layout where original details combine beautifully with contemporary updates. Wide-plank hardwood floors lie beneath soaring ceilings while tall art walls and windows boast lavish...Quintessential New York City townhouse luxury awaits in this stunningly renovated six-bedroom, six-and-half-bathroom home on one of the Upper East Side's best blocks.
Masterfully designed by AD100’s Markham Roberts to accommodate gracious entertaining and peaceful daily life, this 20-foot-wide home features a flexible, modern layout where original details combine beautifully with contemporary updates. Wide-plank hardwood floors lie beneath soaring ceilings while tall art walls and windows boast lavish coverings. Stately wood-burning fireplaces and chic designer lighting provide soft illumination and drama.
Arrive through an inviting vestibule and foyer to take in lovely cerulean blue details that act as a consistent, whimsical design theme throughout the home. The sunny eat-in kitchen and large butler's pantry contribute to lively entertaining with glass-front cabinetry, marble counters and a full suite of stainless steel appliances, including a Bertazzoni range, triple ovens, dishwasher, wine refrigerator and built-in microwave. Enjoy casual dining at the kitchen window banquette, or head to the formal dining room to find delightful window seats and a marble fireplace. Just outside, the south-facing fairy tale 45-foot sun-filled garden makes outdoor lounging and al fresco entertaining irresistible.
On the second floor, a large living room with 11-foot ceilings is centered on an impressive fireplace while tall windows with original concealed shutters frame views of the peaceful street below. The master suite on this level invites the sweetest of dreams with its backyard vistas, handsome built-ins, and an additional fire place. A custom walk-in closet attends to wardrobe needs, and the en suite bath features a large shower and double vanity.
On the third floor are two more bedroom suites, each with a private bath. There is an additional bedroom/study, and rows of closets add extensive storage in the hallway. The fourth floor includes a beautiful office, a bedroom suite with an adjoining bathroom, and the final bedroom suite where concealed pocket doors reveal a large media room with a skylight and a private bath.
The newly installed HVAC system includes five independent zones for optimal year-round comfort, and the large basement level features a full bathroom and a huge laundry room with two sets of Miele washer-dryers. A well-maintained Neo-Grec brownstone façade and charming garden forecourt add abundant curb appeal to this enchanting townhouse residence, which is regularly photographed and recognized for its beautiful plantings.
This fine home is located on a gorgeous tree-lined block that delivers inconspicuous celebrity appeal and residential tranquility. There are only six houses on this side of the street, three of which are exceptionally large, creating a unique and remarkable series of gardens in the back. The trees, plantings and birds give the sense of having been transported to a bucolic haven. Neighbors are friendly and welcoming, and they take immense pride in maintaining the unrivaled Upper East Side streetscape. Uptown convenience surrounds the home with easy access to great shopping, dining and transportation. Enjoy world-famous works of art at nearby galleries, Museum Mile and world-class outdoor space in Central Park and the East River promenade, each just a few blocks away.
Positioned outside local historic districts, this home also offers significant available FAR and the ability to repurpose the property as desired. Recently renovated with tremendous attention to detail and charm, this house is not to be missed. Owner/Broker.
Amenities
- Fireplace
- Central AC
- Foyer
- Dining Alcove
- Windowed Kitchen
- Northern Exposure
- Southern Exposure
- Garden Views
Property Details for 158 East 81st Street
| Status | Sold |
|---|---|
| Days on Market | 18 |
| Taxes | $5,028 / month |
| Maintenance | - |
| Min. Down Pymt | - |
| Total Rooms | 12.0 |
| Compass Type | Townhouse |
| MLS Type | House/Building |
| Year Built | 1899 |
| Lot Size | 2,086 SF / 20' x 104' |
| County | New York County |
| Buyer's Agent Compensation | 2.5% |
Building
158 E 81st St
Location
Building Information for 158 East 81st Street
Payment Calculator
$48,649 per month
30 year fixed, 6.15% Interest
$43,621
$5,028
$0
Property History for 158 East 81st Street
| Date | Event & Source | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 09/01/2020 | Sold Manual | $8,950,000 |
| 09/01/2020 | $8,950,000 -0.5% / yr | |
| 01/28/2020 | Contract Signed Manual | — |
| 01/09/2020 | Listed (Active) Manual | $8,950,000 |
| 07/10/2013 | $9,245,000 |
For completeness, Compass often displays two records for one sale: the MLS record and the public record.
Public Records for 158 East 81st Street
Schools near 158 East 81st Street
Rating | School | Type | Grades | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public - | PK to 5 | |||
| Public - | 6 to 8 | |||
| Public - | 6 to 8 | |||
| Public - | 6 to 8 |
Rating | School | Distance |
|---|---|---|
P.S. 6 Lillie D Blake PublicPK 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.
Neighborhood Map and Transit
Similar Homes
Similar Sold Homes
Explore Nearby Homes
- Carnegie Hill Homes for Sale
- Upper East Side Homes for Sale
- Yorkville Homes for Sale
- Lenox Hill Homes for Sale
- Roosevelt Island Homes for Sale
- Astoria Homes for Sale
- Northwestern Queens Homes for Sale
- Upper West Side Homes for Sale
- Lincoln Square Homes for Sale
- East Harlem Homes for Sale
- Upper Manhattan Homes for Sale
- Long Island City Homes for Sale
- Upper Carnegie Hill Homes for Sale
- Manhattan Valley Homes for Sale
- Midtown Manhattan Homes for Sale
- Manhattan Homes for Sale
- New York Homes for Sale
- Queens Homes for Sale
- North Bergen Homes for Sale
- Guttenberg Homes for Sale
- West New York Homes for Sale
- Edgewater Homes for Sale
- Weehawken Homes for Sale
- Bronx Homes for Sale
- Brooklyn Homes for Sale
- Cliffside Park Homes for Sale
- Union City Homes for Sale
- Fairview Homes for Sale
- Hoboken Homes for Sale
- Fort Lee Homes for Sale
- 10024 Homes for Sale
- 10025 Homes for Sale
- 10044 Homes for Sale
- 10075 Homes for Sale
- 10128 Homes for Sale
- 10162 Homes for Sale
- 10021 Homes for Sale
- 11106 Homes for Sale
- 10065 Homes for Sale
- 11102 Homes for Sale
- 10023 Homes for Sale
- 10035 Homes for Sale
- 10029 Homes for Sale
- 10026 Homes for Sale
- 10019 Homes for Sale
No guarantee, warranty or representation of any kind is made regarding the completeness or accuracy of descriptions or measurements (including square footage measurements and property condition), such should be independently verified, and Compass, Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates and their agents and associated third parties expressly disclaims any liability in connection therewith. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions. Offers of compensation are subject to change at the discretion of the seller. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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. 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.