Posted by This lovely residential village is home to leafy streets, historic apartment buildings and multi-million-dollar brownstone townhouses interspersed with cosy corner restaurants and bars, plus some lively entertainment venues and excellent people-watching. The village doesn’t feature NYC’s grid-like street layout, so it’s easy to get utterly lost, but that’s part of the fun, for you never know what you might discover on your wanderings.
Stylish Bleeker St is the hub for on-trend boutiques and shopping, Hudson St and 7th Ave are busier thoroughfares ideal for hopping between a wide collection of bars and eateries, whilst Grove St is a wonderful example of the evolvement of the village; iconic old school venues like Marie’s Crisis sit side by side with dashing restaurants like Via Carota and polished newcomer Bar Pisellino.
For some fresh air and exercise hit the greenway which runs along the Hudson River, and make a pit stop on the architectural wonder that is Little Island.
After you have covered all there is to see in the West Village, check out Travis’ other NYC guides to the Lower East Side and Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Just Coffee..
Partners Coffee | 44 Charles St
Yes, another Australian coffee shop finds itself at home in NYC, but hey why not bring quality caffeine to a city that desperately needs it. This chilled corner coffee house with its big windows invites you to sit and linger a while, but it’s conveniently located for grabbing a cup on the go too. Partners Coffee
Hungry Ghost Coffee | 315 Bleeker St
This may be one of eleven Hungry Ghost locations around the city, but that doesn’t detract from the quality of the brews – they use Stumptown beans and treat them well (with Cold Brew on tap also available). This outlet is decorated in a cool retro style and offers a bunch of little nooks for sipping and working. Hungry Ghost Coffee
Merriweather Coffee + Kitchen | 428 Hudson St
Another Aussie success story, this peppy café has white walls adorned with a solitary fluorescent sign, light timber tables and a bright coffee machine. The coffee is excellent, they use Counter Culture beans, as well as a changing selection of beans from guest roasters. There’s also an all-day breaky and lunch menu. Merriweather Coffee + Kitchen
THE ELK | 128 Charles St
On a residential block of Charles St, Elk is a welcome surprise – this charming and pokey shop brews a good coffee and also retails some basic (though gourmet) groceries and interesting homewares. There’s some outdoor seating, otherwise it’s a coffee on the go place. THE ELK
Birch Coffee | 56 7th Ave
A small local chain dreamed up by two friends, Birch now has cafes in many of NYC’s best districts. This one is on the northern edge of West Village, it’s a cute rustic spot with just three high tables, jazz tunes playing and very good coffee. Birch Coffee
Breakfast & Brunch…
Little Owl | 90 Bedford St
Whilst sitting in this cute neighbourhood diner, if you wonder what the crowds of tourists across the road are looking up at, it’s because above you is the exterior of the apartment building used in the TV series ‘Friends’. Brunch here is only served Friday to Sunday, but it’s a popular affair, with the menu divided into two columns – more traditional breakfast style fare and a column of more lunch like dishes, such as sandwiches. The food is good, hearty and comforting. Little Owl
Banter | 643 Hudson St
This Aussie inspired café has locations in both West Village and Greenwich Village. They pitch Banter as ‘your local’ and that’s a fair descriptor, it offers a brunch menu that doesn’t stray too far from the classic formula (think avo on toast), sandwiches and a selection of sweeter breaky fare too. The coffee is very good, naturally. Banter
Café Cluny | 284 West 12th St
A charming West Village bolt-hole since 2006, the compact dining room is filled with character, making it seem like it’s been here for much longer. The brunch menu offers French-American staples such as French toast, eggs benedict and a three-egg omelette, though there’s some light options such as granola too. The sides list is extensive, so feel free to build your own meal, and don’t skip the breakfast potatoes, they are really good. There’s a soundtrack of soft retro tunes playing in the background, just what you need at this time of the day. Café Cluny
Buvette | 42 Grove St
Whilst dinner is when Buvette really shines at its brightest, brunch is still a lovely affair. The menu is rather simple and it’s essentially prepared behind the bar rather than in the kitchen, on offer are pastries, waffles, a croque monsieur and steamed eggs with salmon or prosciutto – and when they say steamed, they mean these fluffy scrambled eggs are cooked using the steamer from the coffee machine! The coffee isn’t great, but the cute carafes of fresh OJ hit the spot. Buvette
Little Ruby’s Café | 225 West 4th St
With four outlets in NYC’s most happening neighbourhoods, Ruby’s popularity is well-earned. The formula and acute attention-to-detail remains almost identical at each café, though the styling and general vibe differs – at the West Village outpost, there’s two handsome dining rooms with pastel murals and indoor greenery, plus a sun-dappled annex, with upbeat soul tunes providing the soundtrack. The Australian inspired menu features comforts like Vegemite on toast, plus dishes including breakfast burritos, green eggs and salads, pasta and burgers. There’s a big drinks list, including smoothies, slushies and cocktails, and breakfast is conveniently served all day until 4pm. Little Ruby’s Café
Dining…
Buvette | 42 Grove St
A lovely neighbourhood bistro, the rustic interiors are immediately embracing and the welcome is warm, so much that you may genuinely think you’re in Paris. The dinner menu isn’t overly complicated, neatly divided into small categories including tartines, poissons and viandes, plus fromages and charcuterie – the coq au vin is one of their signatures. The portions are petite though rich and morish, and reasonably priced. They offer a whole book of cocktails and wines, and a blackboard features a map of France with wines by the glass shown in the region they are from. With a formula this right, it’s no surprise Buvette has opened in other international cities including London, Tokyo and yes, even Paris! Buvette
Via Carota | 51 Grove St
A wonderful neighbourhood style Italian diner that manages to achieve the delicate balance between classy and down-to-earth with panache. The rustic room features timber floors, distressed brick walls, quirky chairs, and a long bar, it feels much warmer and intimate than the large space should be. The classic but just interesting enough menu delivers on its promise of hearty yet modern Italian fare (the handmade pasta is to die for) and finishes with a long list of desserts, that the attentive servers will verbally recite to you. The long wine list is mainly Italian, and there’s six classic cocktails and six versions of the Negroni for those seeking something stronger. It would be easy to linger over a very long meal here, though the crowds waiting for a table might make you feel bad (no reservations taken) about over-staying your welcome. And trust me, if you’re one of those waiting, it’s worth it! Via Carota
The Clam | 420 Hudson St
With a couple of welcoming rooms inside and large outdoor dining spaces, The Clam is deceptively big, but you wouldn’t guess it from the warm atmosphere and attentive service. Proving that top quality seafood doesn’t need great interference, there’s a light touch with much of the menu – start with cold bar delicacies like oysters, shrimp and clams, move onto inventive appetisers like crab toast or lobster arancini, then finish with a choice of larger rustic dishes. The comfort factor extends to the playlist, with classic tunes you’ll know and love, and a cute finish is your check arriving in a little black book full of thankyou notes from happy patrons. The Clam
Dante | 551 Hudson St
The slicker younger sibling of Café Dante, Greenwich Village’s famed café dating from 1915, the West Village outlet has an elegant mid-century design and well-dressed clientele. The food follows the well-worn but successful model of modern comfort fare, leaning towards seafood, Italian and European cuisines. Negroni’s are the drink de jour here – there’s a whole menu of variations to imbibe in. It’s a popular venue, exceptionally loud when it’s full-house, and a little bit of a ‘scene’ at times. Dante
Bangkok Supper Club | 641 Hudson St
This happening spot serves up delicious modern Thai fare in small or large plate options from a compact menu. Balancing the perfect combination of flavour and spice, the menu offers traditional Thai dishes with inventive modern spins, with a generous selection of seafood options – the food looks good and tastes great. There’s an interesting Asian inspired cocktail list and a short but broad wine selection from around the world. The room is long so deceptively big, with pared back contemporary décor, big indulgent booths and bar seating. The service is attentive and professional. Bangkok Supper Club
The Mary Lane | 99 Bank St
Striking a nice balance between quietly refined and casually comfortable, the delectable food here is a pleasant surprise, as whilst the produce-driven menu reads well, the contemporary American fare that arrives at the table is seductive and very morish. Divided into small and large plates, it’s best to go with a group and try a broad selection of dishes, accompanied by some graceful wines from a list that covers Europe extensively – with a handful of Californian labels added into the mix. The Mary Lane
Mary’s Fish Camp | 64 Charles St
A tiny seafood bar with an open kitchen, Mary’s is modelled on a traditional Floridian fish camp. The menu offers a daily changing choice of oysters, around ten each of appetisers and mains, and daily specials. The fare is fresh and generally straightforward, they get that there’s no need to fuss or tamper too much with great seafood. The lobster rolls are a highlight, they are weighed carefully to ensure you get the precise amount of lobster – at market price, they aren’t inexpensive (I paid $46 the day I visited). The wine list is mainly European drops, if it’s wine by the glass you’re drinking, be prepared to only have six or seven options to choose from. Mary’s Fish Camp
Rosemary’s | 18 Greenwich Ave
A big, bustling, smart-looking restaurant that’s well-liked for its crowd-pleasing Italian fare, which includes some sublime pasta offerings – even a provincial arrabbiata is elevated with big chunky tomatoes and mouth-watering ricotta. Rosemary’s is well-suited for catchups with a group of friends where free-flowing drinks and good food are in order. There are Eastside and Midtown Rosemary’s too. Rosemary’s
Malaparte | 753 Washington St
This modest restaurant delivers beautifully classic Italian fare and thin crust pizza in a quaint and warm dining room, on a quiet corner in the West Village away from the hustle. The service has that charming, slightly chaotic Italian style, the menu doesn’t stray too far from what’s good and hearty, and the pasta is silky and morish, you can tell it’s made with love and care. Malaparte
Drinks…
Little Branch | 20 7th Ave
A West Village stalwart, slip in through the discreet entrance and downstairs to a romantically lit bunker bar lined with cute booths. There’s an old-world ethos and soft touch here, with a very classic and refined approach to their cocktails, proving that timelessness is always in demand. There’s a very small choice of wine or beers, but why bother when the cocktails are so on song.
Employees Only | 510 Hudson St
This West Village bolt-hole was one of the city’s earlier speakeasy style bars, it’s not only maintained its popularity but spawned sibling bars across the world. With a discreet curtained entrance and a cryptic sign that states ‘Physic’, once you make your way inside you’ll find a rollicking good time. They treat their cocktail making very seriously here, with your bartender decked out in a crisp white physician coat, though the wine list is more than adequate too. At the rear of the compact bar is a cute dining area, serving great comfort food with flair. Open till the wee hours, it’s the perfect place for a late late night! Employees Only
Hudson Bar & Books | 636 Hudson St
A dark and lavish cigar and cocktail bar with an old-school Eastern European vibe, no doubt influenced by its sister venues in Prague and Warsaw. It’s got continental style in spades, with dark timber panelling and a prominent copper bar, and a formality to the service that speaks of its heritage. The cocktail offering is very much focused on the classics, however they do have a small seasonal selection, whilst the whiskey selection is truly impressive. A stalwart of the neighbourhood since 1990, a refresh of the bar was revealed in late January 2024. Hudson Bar & Books
Entwine | 765 Washington St
A tiny and charming cocktail and wine bar that the village locals seem to know and love well, Entwine is the type of place you’ll end up chatting warmly to the person next to you at the tiny bar (or you’ll sneak into the cosy back room for a late night tipple or three – it closes at 1am later in the week). The wine list is Euro centric, though North and South American varieties do feature as well, wines by the glass are more than accessible, but if you want to splash out, the bottle list offers some expensive options. ‘Off-Classic’ cocktails, malt whiskeys, all sorts of liquor and digestifs are also on offer. There’s also a somewhat secretive basement to slip down the stairs into, if you really want the night to never end. Entwine
Bar Pisellino | 52 Grove St
Created by the Via Carota team, this Italian inspired bar occupies a prominent corner on 7th Ave, with the alfresco terrace area ideal for people watching whilst enjoying an aperitivo (the compact interior is a stylish option too). True to the Italian style, they open from morning for coffee and pastries, but aperitivo hour is the most popular time, when smart looking clientele sit snacking and sipping on sublime Negronis. This is not a late-night drinking den, it’s usually lights out by 11pm here. Bar Pisellino
St Jardim | 183 West 10th St
A pocket-sized corner bar with big windows and light streaming in, the mood changes as the sun goes down and the dainty lighting comes on. Low intervention wines are their key interest here, you’ll find shelves of bottles to pick from or a short but very sufficient choice of varieties by the glass, as well as a modest number of cocktails. The food menu is short, interesting and perfectly accompanied by a nice glass of vino. St Jardim
Vin Sur Vingt | 192 7th Ave
Modelled on Paris’ beloved local bistro’s, this charming and more than a little romantic wine bar will leave you with a warm glow. The French wine list spans the country, helpfully divided into each region and with evocative descriptions – there are ample options by the glass and wine flights if you simply can’t choose one yourself. The food matches the quality of the wine, with ‘Les Classiques’ such as escargot, charcuterie and fromage, though the dainty pots of cassolettes are the stand-outs that you mustn’t go past. Vin Sur Vingt
Donna | 7 Cornelia St
The roomy space divided into two zones has an uncluttered retro-chic look, with rusty pink hues, carpet circles on the walls and a large L-shaped banquette. They don’t make it hard to make decisions, offering up just seven wines (wines by the glass and bottle are the same price no matter which variety) and ten house cocktails that highlight tropical flavours, mezcal and rum. There’s tempting snacks with a Southern Californian bent, the guacamole is especially good. This is a workers cooperative business, so the staff are totally invested in creating a good time. Donna
Julius’ | 159 West 10th St
No visit to the village is complete without a visit to one of its legendary gay bars and you may as well make it the oldest one in NYC. Despite its vintage and the deep history shared in photos and mementos that line its walls, Julius has kept up with the times, with a youthful outlook and diverse crowd of young and old who happily coexist. The drinks are simple, there’s upbeat music but also TV’s showing the big sporting matches, and even solo drinkers quietly reading books. Just chatting is more than OK here and the overriding feeling is that NYC’s oldest gay bar is also its friendliest one. Julius’
Arthur’s Tavern | 57 Grove St
Arthur’s offers a more refined live music experience, though still modest and welcoming. Established in 1937, there is a quiet but friendly sophistication here, the team serve drinks effortlessly, whilst all attention is on the small spot-lit stage, hosting a nightly roster of talented jazz musicians. The performances are low key and engaging, there’s an obvious love of their craft and perhaps they are humbled by the homage to jazz greats displayed on the exposed brick walls. The drinks list is unfussy, just a handful of wine and beer and hard liquor, there are no fancy cocktails. Cheeseboards featuring fromage from Murray’s Cheese shop are available for sustenance. Arthur’s Tavern
Where to Stay…
The West Village is more residential in nature, so if you prefer a hotel over Airbnb, you’ll need to stay in the nearby enclaves of Greenwich Village, the Meatpacking District or Soho. Some nearby options to consider include the pleasant Courtyard New York Manhattan/Soho, the always fun The Standard Highline, boutique bolt-hole Chelsea Pines Inn, the wonderfully restored The Hotel Chelsea or the classic gem The Marlton Hotel, just near Washington Square Park.
Must Do…
Marie’s Crisis Café | 59 Grove St
A pokey sub-basement piano bar, Marie’s is a little unloved and could do with a good dust, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun if you’re in the right mood. Get there early enough and the stools around the piano player won’t be so hotly contested, as it fills up, the volume of the show tunes seem to go up a notch and the crowd really gets into it. Attracting a broad and inclusive mix of people, with more than a few ‘wannabe’ Broadway performers hankering for some attention, the crowd take turns leading the singing, with someone breaking out into a show-stopping solo when you least expect it. Unless you are a big musical theatre fan, many of the songs might not be so familiar, but the mood will still catch you, especially if you find yourself standing next to someone who’s wonderful voice surprises you. It feels like being invited to a backstage Broadway rehearsal or cast party and as the piano player proclaimed on one of my many visits to Marie’s, “If you don’t know who Judy Garland is, why are you even in this bar”! Marie’s Crisis Cafe
Joe’s Pizza | 7 Carmine St
One of those classic NYC pizza joints that has grown a cult following since its establishment in 1975, they offer simply great pizza by the slice, you never know what will be available as they tend to sell quickly as soon as each pizza comes out of the oven, but the simple cheese or pepperoni are the slices of choice. Whilst they also have other branches now, this one is the original and maintains a wonderfully down-to-earth charm. Many late nights out in the village seem to end with a stop at Joe’s, where one slice is often not enough, but two slices could be too much! Joe’s Pizza
Little Island | Pier 55, Hudson River Park – at West 13th St
This marvel of design and engineering opening in 2021 and quickly became as popular at NYC’s revered Highline. With 280 individual concrete piles supporting the island, it’s as compact as its name suggests at just 2.4 acres, but they pack a lot into the intricate landscape and garden designs. It will only take a short stroll around to explore the entire island but do stop along the way to take in the different perspectives it offers of NYC and New Jersey. It’s a ‘rolling landscape’, so there are stairs and ramps to navigate along the way. Little Island
Travis’ Wish List…
Because there’s always more eating, dining and exploring than can be done in just one visit, Travis likes to keep a wish list so there’s an incentive to visit again!
The West Village has so many fabulous places, with new ones constantly opening, that it’s likely we’ll never get through our growing wish list, but here are a few coveted places to visit; brunch at Café Kitsune, Breakfast by Salt’s Cure or Joseph Leonard. Cocktails at Angel’s Share or a lovely drop of natural vino at Moonflower. For dinner, we’ll be planning special nights out at I Sodi, Saint Theo’s and The Waverley Inn.
Featured Photo: ‘Sing Sing Sing – Marie’s Crisis, West Village
Travis. 
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