West Village NY Guide

The West Village is one of the most premium residential areas of New York City. Filled with tree-lined streets, beautiful old brownstones and hundreds of shops, restaurants and cafés, it is truly a quintessential NYC neighborhood, inhabited by locals and celebrities who can afford to live anywhere they choose. If you've watched any pop culture television or movies in the last few years, such as Friends or Sex and the City, then you are already quite familiar with the West Village...now it's time to come experience it!

Things to Do

The West Village is a quaint neighborhood with some of the best dining and shopping in New York City. There is hardly anything “touristy” about it, except, maybe Magnolia Bakery. Great people, atmosphere and NYC culture – when people move to NY, this is where many of them want to live.

Recommended Restaurants

Babbo (110 Waverly, 6th Ave/MacDougal) - Mario Batali. Very romantic, upstairs on the 2nd floor of a converted brownstone.

Snack Taverna (63 Bedford/Morton)- Greek, romantic, quaint, local favorite.

Spotted Pig (314 W 11th/ Greenwich St) - also Mario Batali. Delicious, quaint, indulgent. Upscale, but down home atmosphere British/Italian food. Always see celebs here.

Extra Virgin (W 4th, Perry St) – delicious brunch, casual. Small, but great atmosphere.

Del Posto (85 10th Ave, 16th St) - also Mario Batali. Italian, pricey, but worth it. A perfect place for a special occasion.

El Faro (823 Greenwich STREET, Horatio)– Spanish, a NY institution. Tiny, maybe seats 40 ppl – delicious.

Morandi (211 Waverly Place, 7th Ave)– rustic Italian, same owners as Pastis and Balthazar

Cowgirls Hall of Fame (519 Hudson at 10th St) - Eight kinds of bbq sauce for kids to do taste tests, games to play. Rumor has it, if the waitress likes you, the kids get cowboy/girl hats.

Café Wha? (115 MacDougal St, Minetta Lane)– live music and original stomping ground for Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. Bruce Springsteen, Peter, Paul & Mary and others.

Las Ramblas - one of my favorite, tiny, tapas places in NYC.

Shopping

Walk up and down Bleecker Street and check out all the shops and restaurants
Marc Jacobs, Verve (bags and shoes), James Perse, Polo Ralph Lauren, Scoop, Lulu Guinness and many more boutiques on just a few blocks
Christian Louboutin (59 Horatio St, Greenwich St)