The Perfect Day in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, known simply as “The Village” by locals, is the city’s bohemian capital. With the abundance of restaurants and a lively music and entertainment scene, Greenwich Village is a fantastic neighborhood to visit in New York City if you’re in the mood for something out of the ordinary.
Greenwich Village (©Belinda Fewings)
The restaurant scene runs the gamut from neighborhood gems like Joseph Leonard serving a full, varied menu from fried chicken sandwiches with okra to the new NYC “staple”—avocado toast. You’ll find breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch available at this Greenwich Village staple.
Pizza joints are seemingly everywhere in this “college-y” part of the city (NYU’s enormous campus lives here) and are juxtaposition to some compelling farm-to-table menus like Netflix’s award-winning documentary “Chef’s Table” participant, Blue Hill. The combination of all these distinctive personalities and native flavors makes Greenwich Village a culinary hot spot. Dante is always a great idea for its fantastic bar and delicious menu.
Flatbreads at Dante (©Steve Freihon)
The epicenter of New York‘s 1960s counterculture movement, the tree-lined streets of Greenwich Village, are a hub for storied music venues, bars and restaurants. NYC‘s famous live music venue Cafe Wha? has a killer house band and was the stomping ground for Bruce Springsteen, Kool and the Gang, Richard Pryor and many more.
Some of the best nightlife in the area is found in venues like the The Stonewall Inn, known as the birthplace of the modern Gay Rights movement. In addition, there are karaoke dens and reasonably priced bars, as well as Slowly Shirley, a hidden speakeasy located below the jovial restaurant and bar, The Happiest Hour.
The Stonewall Inn (Courtesy <a href=”https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=6nhZakiWSinWUu-NLOmmzw”>Alice W.</a>)
The city’s oldest jazz lounge, Village Vanguard has some of the best acoustics and jazz legends stop in regularly; rock and folk music clubs like The Bitter End can be found amid the brownstones and NYU (New York University) buildings.
The Village may be small, but it offers a wealth of nightlife. Catch a surprise appearance by a big-name comedian at The Comedy Cellar, discover some new artists at NYU Skirball Center for dance, theater, comedy, music and film.
(Courtesy NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts)
