21 E 81ST Street
$16,500,000
MLS# RLS20110701 · Upper East Side
Listed August 24, 2026 · 78 days on the market
6 Beds 6 Baths 8,538 Sq.Ft.
About This Property
Just off Fifth Avenue on one of the Upper East Side's most coveted blocks, 21 East 81st Street presents a rare opportunity to own a piece of New York history. Built in 1899, this south-facing, 20-foot-wide, six-story limestone townhome spans approximately 8,600 square feet and is crowned by a charming mansard roof. Grand interiors feature impressive 12-foot ceilings, multiple wood-burning fireplaces, elegant period details, and an elevator servicing all levels. The parlor floor offers generous entertaining spaces, with sun-filled rooms and a massive windowed kitchen. Above are spacious bedrooms, oversized walk in closets, and a stately library. Crowning the residence is a beautiful landscaped roof deck with views of the Metropolitan Museum and space for dining, lounging, and entertaining. Currently configured as an owner's quadruplex with a separate income-producing duplex, the home offers exceptional flexibility for extended family, guests, staff, a home office, gym, or den. It can also be returned to its original configuration as a grand single-family residence. Set on one of the neighborhood's most elegant tree-lined blocks, 21 East 81st Street is moments from Central Park, the Guggenheim, Museum Mile, and the Upper East Side's celebrated restaurants, art galleries, and Madison Ave shopping.
Agent's Note
From Curtis Bain. Details about the apartment are drawn from the listing information provided through RLS by Serhant.
An elevator serves all levels of this six-story townhouse, which makes groceries, deliveries and moving furniture between floors much easier. There's a washer and dryer in the unit, and the bedrooms above the parlor floor have walk-in closets.
The parlor floor is built for hosting, with sun-filled rooms, a large windowed kitchen and wood-burning fireplaces. The south-facing windows get about 8.5 hours of direct sun on a winter day, between 7:41 AM and 4:07 PM, though nearby buildings can block some of it.
The ceilings are 12 feet, which gives the main rooms a sense of height and leaves you more freedom in how you furnish them. A library and several spacious bedrooms let the house work as a single family home, or as the owner's quadruplex with a separate duplex that it's set up as now.
The landscaped rooftop deck has views of the Metropolitan Museum and room for dining and lounging. It's over 60 square feet, and rooftop access is part of the home.
Central Park is about 2 minutes away on foot, and the Metropolitan Museum is about 4 minutes. The 77 St station on the 6 is about 8 minutes away, and Morton Williams supermarket is about 8 minutes on foot.
Quick answers+
Does the home have in-unit laundry?
Yes, there is a washer and dryer in the unit.
Is there private outdoor space?
Yes, there is a landscaped roof deck of over 60 square feet, with rooftop access.
Does the home have an elevator?
Yes, the elevator services all levels of the townhouse.
Curtis Bain
Brown Harris Stevens
Property Features
Policies
- Pets allowed
- Smoke-free
Home features
- Washer/dryer in unit
- Fireplace
- High ceilings
- Walk-in closets
- Private outdoor space (over 60 sq ft)
- Rooftop access
Building amenities
Services and facilities
- Elevator
- Green building
Estimate
Monthly Cost & Closing Costs
The rate is a placeholder, not a quote. Enter the one your lender gives you.
$93,435 / month
- Principal and interest$83,433
- Property taxes$10,002
Due at closing
- Down payment (20%)$3,300,000
- NYS “mansion tax” (3.5%)$577,500
- Mortgage recording tax (1.925%)$254,100
Not included: attorney, title insurance, lender and appraisal fees, board application and move-in fees, flip tax and prepaid items. Estimates only, based on the published New York State rates. Your attorney and lender will confirm the real figures.
Location & Nearby
Map
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21 E 81ST Street
Subway
- 677 StAbout 8 min walk
- 45686 StAbout 9 min walk
Parks
- Central ParkAbout 2 min walk
Public schools · Elementary schools
- P.S. 6 Lillie D. BlakeAbout 2 min walk
- P.S. 290 Manhattan New SchoolAbout 13 min walk
- P.S. 527 - East Side School for Social ActionAbout 19 min walk
Middle schools
- J.H.S. 167 Robert F. WagnerAbout 12 min walk
High schools
- Eleanor Roosevelt High SchoolAbout 18 min walk
Colleges & universities
- Marymount Manhattan CollegeAbout 17 min walk
- New York School of Interior DesignAbout 17 min walk
- Hunter College (CUNY)About 18 min walk
- Bard Graduate CenterAbout 20 min walk
Museums
- The Metropolitan Museum of ArtAbout 4 min walk
- Whitney Museum of American ArtAbout 9 min walk
- Solomon R. Guggenheim MuseumAbout 10 min walk
- National Academy of DesignAbout 11 min walk
Walking times are estimates. Schools shown are the nearest public and charter schools and are not zone assignments; a nearby school is not necessarily the one an address is zoned for. Confirm zoning with the NYC Department of Education. Sources: MTA, NYC Parks and NYC Department of City Planning open data.
The Neighborhood
About Upper East Side
Manhattan's gold standard for luxury living with iconic architecture, Central Park, and Museum Mile.
Walkability
9/10
Public transit
9/10
Schools
10/10
Dining
9/10
Groceries & parks
9/10
Schools in Upper East Side
Many of NYC's most selective schools sit here, with a concentration of elite K-12 private schools, strong public feeders like PS 6 and PS 290, and easy access to top selective high schools.
Private schools in the area include The Dalton School, The Brearley School, The Chapin School, The Spence School, Nightingale-Bamford School, The Browning School.
Gallery
Property Photos
Listing Courtesy of Serhant
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.