These small enclaves along the East River in midtown have some fine buildings, but their whole is greater than their parts. They have a gracious ambiance that is elegant but not too formal, impressive but not awesome.
Sutton Place is the larger of the two, but both combine apartment buildings and townhouses and the juxtaposition is dramatic and works well urbanistically. Sutton Place benefits from two public parks, one at 57th Street and another at 53rd Street, while Beekman Place has one.

Both have one great apartment building that sets the tone: One Sutton Place South is one of the city's premier addresses with a triple-arch driveway and a large lobby that opens onto its own large garden. One Beekman Place is not quite as imposing, but is very handsome and elegant.

Sutton Place has two townhouse rows. The ones on the east side of 57th and the south side of 58th Street between Sutton Place and the river all share a large communal garden. 58th Street east of Sutton Place is known as Sutton Square, a name also given to the block of townhouses with the communal garden. Near the middle of the garden that slopes down to a promenade along the river, and over the F.D.R. Drive, is a large tree with a swing hanging down from one of its quite high branches. At the end of the street named Sutton Square is Riverview Terrace, a short private street with several townhouses that stretch to the north and overlook the East River.