520 E 81st St #2F · Apartment for Rent

Property Status: Active A rare alcove studio at The Salem House with the proportions of a junior one-bedroom. The home is anchored by a 23-foot living room and a dedicated sleeping area set apart from the main living space a layout you almost never find at this price on the Upper East Side. The entry opens into a generous living and dining room measuring nearly 24 feet long, with a wall of north-facing windows that look out onto the tree canopy of a quiet residential block between York Avenue and East End Avenue. Crown molding runs the perimeter of the ceiling, lending an unexpected touch of prewar character to the space. The room is proportioned to easily hold a full-size sofa, dining table, and a dedicated work-from-home setup without compromise. Hardwood floors run throughout. A separately defined sleeping alcove sits at the rear of the apartment, with its own wall of windows and enough room for a queen bed, nightstands, and additional furnishings. A pass-through with built-in closets buffers the sleeping area from the main living space, giving the home the feel and privacy of a one-bedroom layout. The bathroom has been beautifully updated with Carrara-style marble cladding on the walls, floor, and vanity, paired with polished chrome fixtures and a tub-shower combination. The enclosed kitchen features wood cabinetry, dark stone countertops, a glass mosaic backsplash, and full-size appliances including a gas range and dishwasher. The Salem House is a full-service postwar condominium built in 1964 and converted in 1980, set on a tree-lined block one block from Carl Schurz Park and the East River Promenade. Amenities include a full-time doorman, live-in resident manager, central laundry, bike storage, on-site parking garage, and a landscaped roof deck with sweeping skyline views and a glimpse of the East River from one side. The building is pet-friendly, permitting one dog up to 35 pounds per residence with condo approval. Yorkville offers a quieter, more residential pace than the rest of the Upper East Side without giving up convenience. Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion, and the East River Promenade are steps from the front door, and the neighborhood's strongest food destinations Agata & Valentina, Eli's Market, Orwasher's, and the dining along York and Second Avenues are all within an easy walk. The Q train at 86th Street provides express service to Midtown, with the 4, 5, and 6 at Lexington a short walk west, and the M79 and M86 SBS crosstown buses at the corner (Q, 4/5/6). ----- Please be aware that this is a condo building with a board review process that can take 3-4 weeks. This is not the same as a co-op, where you have a risk of outright denial. Because of this review period, it is important to have flexibility around your move-in date, as your actual move-in may be later than the date stated on the lease. Renting in a condo also involves additional one-time fees paid directly to the condo board or building management when you submit your application package. For this building, those fees are: Processing Fee (non-refundable): $600 Consumer Report Fee (non-refundable): $100 per applicant Criminal Background Check Fee (non-refundable): $200 per applicant Move In Fee (non-refundable): $350 Move In Deposit (refundable): $500 Office Phone: (646) 982-0353 Copyright © 2026 My State MLS. All rights reserved. All information provided by the listing agent/broker is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verifi..