What to See in New York City’s West Village
New York City is easily my favorite city in all of the U.S. In a way, it’s become my home away from home over the years. What was once a beast to navigate is now second nature to me and each time I return, I fall more in love. Today, I’m bringing you along to explore New York City’s West Village.
For those not familiar, the West Village is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. So, basically, anything west of 6th Avenue, north of Houston and south of Chelsea. Its quaint tree-lined cobblestone streets, cosy cafes, and beautiful brownstones make you feel as though you’re walking through a little European village. It’s no wonder writers have been known to frequent this neighborhood over the years. (Lookin’ at you, Jack Kerouac.)
So, instead of hanging out at Times Square, I always tell people to wander the streets of the West Village. There is a nearly endless supply of trendy West Village restaurants, cafes, and boutiques but in this post, I’ll be sharing with you some of my favorite spots to check out!
Get happily lost along the maze of streets that go against Manhattan’s street grid system. The reason for this is that the area known today as the West Village was already standing in the early 1800’s, before the rest of Manhattan was built. In fact, most of New York’s population lived below what is now Houston Street and all the land north of Houston was mostly farmland. So, the Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 drew up the map: 12 main North to South avenues and a series of East to West cross streets, with Broadway being the only angled road, transforming Manhattan into what we know it as today. However, the West Village remained as is, which is why you’ll see many crooked streets and odd angles there compared to the rest of the city.
If you’re looking for a tour on the area’s dark history, check out the Gangster’s and Ghosts Tour here!
Without further ado, here is my list of what to see and do in New York City’s West Village, starting with some of its most picturesque streets and squares.
Gay Street
Gay Street is one of those tiny, crooked streets that is easy to miss! I love the light on this street and it really gives off those quintessential New York City vibes.
Minetta Lane
Fun fact: See that bright red building? That’s where Bob Dylan wrote “Blowin’ in the Wind” in 1962, then the Fat Black Pussycat, and now Panchito’s Mexican Restaurant. Panchito’s sadly slabbed that bright red paint right over the faded sign for the Fat Black Pussycat several years ago, destroying the last trace of a legendary establishment.
Minetta Lane is by far one of my favorite streets. It’s quiet, secluded, with a touch of mystery. Just around the corner, you’ll also find The Bitter End, another place Bob Dylan fans may know about. He was known to hang out there, play pool, and occasionally perform on stage. It’s still there today.
Grove Court
Just down the street from The “Friends” Apartment (we’ll get to that next), is this cute little courtyard nestled between Numbers 10 and 12 Grove Street. Grove Court, comprised of six charming townhouses, built between 1853 and 1854, is a private court so you’ll have to enjoy the view from the other side of the gate. Continue taking a stroll along Grove Street for some incredible architecture, where you’ll find many beautiful brownstones, a row of Federal style townhouses, as well as (wait for it)…
The “Friends” Apartment Building
Located at 90 Bedford Street, at the corner of Grove and Bedford, you’ll find the building our friends Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, and Joey hung out at. One of two things will happen when you get there. You’ll either see the group of people hanging out across the street confirming that, yes, you’re in the right place. Or, you’ll get there and no one else will be around. And then, when passersby see that you’re taking a picture of the building, they’ll look to see what you’re photographing and say to their friend, “Hey, that’s the building from Friends!” :)
Carrie Bradshaw’s Brownstone
If you’re a Sex and the City fan, then you’ll be able to stop by Carrie’s brownstone apartment located at 66 Perry Street. Just don’t try getting a picture on the stoop. There’s a chain and many signs preventing tourists from sitting down. But don’t miss out on the many other beautiful buildings up and down this tree-lined street.
Bleecker Street Pizza
We just so happened to pop in here after working up an appetite from all of the walking. It’s a tight squeeze (and the bathroom is an even tighter squeeze) but this is a great place to go for that greasy slice of New York pizza! Even though it was cold outside, we found a seat on the terrace in the sun. Since Bleecker Street Pizza is situated right on the corner of 7th Avenue and Bleecker Street, this is a great spot for people watching!
The Butcher’s Daughter
This plant-based restaurant, hence the name, is located at 581 Hudson Street. I tried their famous avocado toast and a juice and it was everything I could ask for. The ambience of this place alone was everything I could ask for.
Toby’s Estate Coffee
Favorite coffee in Manhattan! I stopped by their Brooklyn location on a separate visit in the summer and their Black and White Cold Brew hit. the. spot! Then, during another visit this winter, we got an early start that morning and were in need of a little pick-me-up (and a much-needed escape from the cold!) I love to Yelp on the go and was pleasantly surprised when I discovered a Toby’s Estate in the West Village at 44 Charles Street. It was Black Friday so I ordered a flat white and perused the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade front page of the New York Times. Oh, New York. I love you.
Three Lives & Company Bookstore
Three Lives deserves its very own blog post. That’s how special this independent bookstore that has been in the West Village for three decades is. It’s a tiny little bookstore with a lot of heart, standing on the corner of W 10th Street and Waverly Place. Go here and get lost in their carefully curated selection of books.
I, personally, found myself enthralled with the selection of books on writing, something that reminded me not only of my own passion but of this very special place in the world that I was currently in. I highly recommend Three Lives and Company Bookstore. To the readers, the writers, and the dreamers… be sure to include this beloved bookstore in your trip to New York City. Find something good to take home with you.
For more ideas on what to do in the West Village, I recommend checking out GetYourGuide below. I always book my tours and activities through them as they have a lot of experiences that I otherwise would never have known about.
That’s it! I hope you’re able to visit New York City’s West Village and see some of the sights I’ve mentioned. Have you been to NYC? What are your favorite places in the West Village? Let us know your recommendations in the comments below!
You can find more information from my travels over on Instagram @ChelseaDinen or subscribe to my YouTube channel!
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