New York’s hidden gems: an insider’s guide to the West Village

New York City is a destination defined by its vibrant and colorful neighbourhoods. In all five boroughs, visitors can find a treasure trove of unique and multicultural experiences.

But while I love exploring the City’s multitude of neighbourhoods, I feel most at home in Manhattan’s West Village, whose tree-lined, brownstone-dotted streets have a unique intimacy that make you feel like you’re living in a village rather than a City.

I like to get off the subway at either West 4th St or Christopher St and be immersed into this beautiful neighborhood. Here, the streets are narrower and bustling with adorable restaurants and shops throughout. You will even encounter some great TV and film locations in the West Village, including the Friends apartment building (on the corner of Bedford and Grove Streets) and Carrie Bradshaw’s brownstone (Perry Street between West 4th and Bleecker Streets). The West Village is also home to the Stonewall National Monument, as well as some great bars and even a popular piano bar. Below are a few highlights:

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

To load up on hearty down-homefare, head to Cowgirl Hall of Fame, a kitschy local restaurant serving up classic American comfort food. I love the All Chopped Up salad with warm cornbread, it’s a must-try! And for an eye-popping pudding, try Cowgirl’s Original Ice Cream Baked Potato Brownie - this jacket potato actually contains a delicious dessert.

If your tastes run more gourmet, Via Carota, run by chefs Jody Williams and Rita Sodi, offers excellent Italian food that’s worth the long wait for a table (sadly, there are no reservations). Their Insalata Verde is my favourite salad in the world - washed down, of course, with an Aperol Spritz. Nearby Buvette and I Sodi also in the direct vicinity are also excellent choices for a memorable dining experience.

Continuing the continental feel, Bistro Pierre Lapin is the place for classic French staples. The chicken for two is chef and co-owner Harold Moore’s signature dish, and it never disappoints - espeically when followed by their delectable coconut cake!

Great shops abound along Bleecker Street between Bank and Barrow Streets – my favorites are James Perse and Marine Layer – both are where you will encounter the softest of shirts! Christopher Street also has a nice Rag & Bone, check it out.

Time to take a break? Try the best ice cream in town at Big Gay Ice Cream: try the Salty Pimp for something memorably delicious! Expect long lines on hot summer days.

If you fancy giving your 'do the New York look, look no further than my favorite salon in NYC - Whittemore House. In a discreet downstairs location on Grove St, they have great hair products and the scent of the place alone is guaranteed draw you in!

Pets need pampering, too! If you have a four-legged friend in tow, try out my favorite doggie store, Zoomie’s on Hudson Street. Warning: you will spend more than you imagine!

Hudson River Park is the place to be for jogging, biking, tennis or just walking along the beautiful Hudson River. You can even hire a kayak! Catch your breath afterwards at the Christopher Street Pier (Pier 45) – I like to call this Pier the West Village’s “beach”, although you can’t swim in the Hudson.

For a rip-roaring night out, musical fans will want to head to Marie’s Crisis, a piano bar where you can sing along to Broadway-style show tunes.

The Stonewall Inn is a perfect place to raise a glass to the pioneers who led the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in modern LGBTQ history (just celebrated the last weekend of June, 2019). Beautiful Christopher Park is out in front, which is part of the Stonewall National Monument, which was designated by the Obama Administration in 2016

Employees Only, a speakeasy right on Hudson Street, just north of Christopher St, is masked as a fortune teller’s lair, but beyond the doors likes one of the City’s coolest bars with a dining room in the rear. You can be guaranteed a perfect cocktail in a cool, intimate setting.

One final tip: when you need a break from the hustle and bustle of NYC, sneak off to the gardens at St. Luke in the Fields, located at Hudson St and Barrow St. It’s a serene setting, and great place to relax and reflect right in the heart of the West Village .

For more information on visiting New York City, check out NYC & Company, the official organisation for tourism in New York City.