Not For Tourists Guide to New York City - Not For Tourists (2016)

Map 6. Washington Sq / NYU / NoHo / SoHo

Neighborhood Overview

Map 6

Simply put, this is still the center of the universe. It all radiates from the corner of Broadway and Houston, which serves as the intersection for four of New York City's most exciting neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, Soho, NoHo, and NoLiTa. While the area is far from bucolic—green space is limited to a few patches of grass in Washington Square Park—it has everything one could possibly want in terms of culture. Architecture, art galleries, movie theaters, live music, shopping, restaurants, old New York, new New York, and every other kind of New York are all here for the taking. If you're new to the city and ready to dive in and explore, start here.

One of this area's highlights is the sheer number of buildings from every period of New York City's development. Just walk the streets and you'll traverse over two hundred years of architectural history. Start with the somewhat-hidden former stables at Washington Mews for a taste of 18th-century New York. Other ancient (for New York) buildings include St. Marks Church in-the-Bowery (1799), Colonnade Row (1830s), the Old Merchant's House (1832), Grace Church (1846) and the Cooper Union Building (1859). The stunning white terra cotta exterior of Louis Sullivan's Bayard-Condict Building (1899), and Ernest Flagg's Great Jones Fire House (1899) and Little Singer Building (1904) hearken back to New York at the turn of the 20th century. In the early 20th century Daniel Burnham (Wanamaker's, 1904/1907) and Henry J Hardenbergh (376 Lafayette St, 1888, and the Con Edison Building, 1914) added their contributions to the area. Our ultimate favorite is the little-known DeVinne Press Building (1885) by Babb, Cook & Willard (and not just because Astor Wines is there). Starting in the 21st century, modern (or should we say postmodern?) architecture has run rampant along the Bowery, transforming the once derelict district. Notable examples include Thom Mayne's Cooper Union New Academic Building (2009), Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa's brilliant New Museum of Contemporary Art (2007), and Herzog & de Mauron's bizarre 40 Bond (2007).

Unlike these buildings, some historical places of interest seem hidden in plain sight. Our favorite of these is the lovely New York City Marble Cemetery, tucked away on Second Street between The Bowery and Second Avenue. NYU's Brown Building was the site of the horrific Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, while 18 West 11th Street was the site of the Weathermen explosion. A plaque at the Mark Twain House on West 4th Street commemorates his time as a Greenwich Villager. And, while you can't rock out at CBGB anymore, you can still visit the site (now a John Varvatos store), right around the corner from where Joey Ramone lived on East 2nd Street, also known as Joey Ramone Place.

Just as there's no shortage of history, the cultural options here can make your head spin. A few of our favorites include the Salmagundi Club for art, the Astor Center for food and cooking events, and Anthology Film Archives for experimental film. The Bowery Ballroom is one of the best venues in NYC to catch up-and-coming musical acts. Browsing The Strand's 18 miles of books is a must, as is checking out the critics' picks at Other Music, which has outlasted practically every other record store in this 'hood.

For all the history and culture here, signs of the area's down-and-out heyday in the 1970s and 1980s are few and far between. Milano's still serves up divey goodness, as it's been doing since the 1800s. Skate punks still hang out at The Alamo (give it a spin), even while fancy glass towers rise around it. You can still get your punk rock and goth gear at Trash & Vaudeville, and browse the magazine racks at Gem Spa. Much of the rest of St. Mark's Place between Second and Third Avenues now resembles a cross between a strip mall and Little Tokyo, which stretches along 9th Street as well. If you're ready for a break from all this excitement, grab some ramen, then get a cocktail at Angel's Share (one flight up and behind a Japanese restaurant) or explore the sake list at Decibel while feeling like you've left the Village far behind.

Map 6

✵ 376 Lafayette St ✵

376 Lafayette St [Great Jones St]

Henry Hardenbergh’s NoHo masterpiece, circa 1888.

✵ 40 Bond ✵

40 Bond St [Bowery]

Uber-futuristic condo projects by Herzog & de Meuron et al.

✵ The Alamo (The Cube) ✵

4th Ave & Astor Pl

Give it a spin sometime.

✵ Bayard-Condict Building ✵

65 Bleecker St [Crosby St]

Louis Sullivan’s only New York building.

✵ Brown Building of Science ✵

23-29 Washington Pl [Greene St]

Site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.

✵ Colonnade Row ✵ 428 Lafayette St [Astor Pl]

Remains of a very different era.

✵ Con Edison Building ✵

145 E 14th St [Irving Pl]

Cool top.

✵ Cooper Union ✵

30 Cooper Sq [Bowery]

212-353-4100

Great brownstone-covered building.

✵ Cooper Union New Academic Building ✵

41 Cooper Sq [E 6th St]

Supercool, futuristic, and eco-friendly architecture.

✵ DeVinne Press Building ✵

399 Lafayette St [E 4th St]

Killer 1885 brick-and-glass masterpiece by Babb, Cook & Willard.

✵ Former location of CBGB & OMFUG ✵

315 Bowery [Bleecker St]

Now houses high-end retail. Ew.

✵ Great Jones Firehouse ✵

Bowery & Great Jones St

The coolest firehouse in NYC.

✵ Joey Ramone Place ✵

Bowery & E 2nd St

It’s Joey Ramone’s place. Period.

✵ Little Singer Building ✵

561 Broadway [Prince St]

A fine building by Ernest Flagg.

✵ Mark Twain House ✵

14 W 10th St [5th Ave]

Mark Twain lived here. It’s also NYC’s most haunted portal.

✵ The Merchant’s House Museum ✵

29 E 4th St [Lafayette St]

212-777-1089

The merchant is now dead.

✵ New Museum ✵

235 Bowery [Prince St]

212-219-1222

Brilliant white stacked cubes houses contemporary art and killer bookstore. Yah.

✵ The New School ✵

66 W 12th St [5th Ave]

212-229-5600

Legendary progressive university located in and around Greenwich Village.

✵ New York City Marble Cemetery ✵

74 E 2nd St [1st Ave]

212-228-6401

Cool, but generally closed. But you can still see in.

✵ New York University ✵

70 Washington Sq S [LaGuardia Pl]

212-998-1212

One of the city’s largest private employers.

✵ Salmagundi Club ✵ 47 5th Ave [E 12th St]

212-255-7740

Cool building.

✵ Site of the Weathermen Explosion ✵

18 W 11th St [5th Ave]

Townhouse where the Weathermen’s plans to destroy Columbia’s library went awry.

✵ St. Mark’s Church In The Bowery ✵

131 E 10th St [3rd Ave]

212-674-6377

Old church with lots of community ties.

✵ Union Square Clock/Metronome ✵

52 E 14th St [Broadway]

Get lost in time while looking South in Union Square.

✵ University Settlement ✵

184 Eldridge St [Rivington St]

212-453-0242

Providing a haven for lower east siders of all ages since 1886.

✵ Wanamaker’s ✵ E 8th St & Broadway

Former classiest department store in the city is now a Kmart. Ugh.

✵ Washington Mews ✵

University Pl (entrance) [5th Ave]

Where horses and servants used to live. Now coveted NYU space.

✵ Washington Square Park ✵

W 4th St & Washington Square W

From Potter’s field to counterculture mecca and everything in between.

For better or worse, this area is why New York is called the city that never sleeps. For dives, we like Scratcher, Milano's, and Blue & Gold. For cocktails, check out Mayahuel or Angel's Share. Catch a reading at KGB, an indie film at Angelika Film Center or Sunshine Cinema, or live music at Joe's Pub or Le Poisson Rouge or Bowery Ballroom. We guarantee you won't be bored.

✵ Atlas Café ✵

73 2nd Ave [E 4th St]

212-539-0966

Middle Eastern eats, juice, and vegan stuffs.

✵ Café Gitane ✵

242 Mott St [Prince St]

212-334-9552

Worth the wait. Delicious food, beautiful people.

✵ Caffe Reggio ✵

119 MacDougal St [W 3rd St]

212-475-9557

A New York classic. Check out the custom coffee cups.

✵ Coffee Project New York ✵

239 E 5th St [2nd Ave]

Home of the deconstructed latte.

✵ Gimme! Coffee ✵

228 Mott St [Prince St]

212-226-4011

Amazing cappuccinos from the Ithaca experts.

✵ Ground Support Cafe ✵

399 W Broadway [Spring St]

212-219-8722

Serving up the almighty coffee from Intelligentsia.

✵ Joe The Art of Coffee ✵

9 E 13th St [5th Ave]

212-924-3300

Joe really knows his joe.

✵ La Colombe Torrefaction ✵

400 Lafayette St [E 4th St]

212-677-5834

Philly’s Stumptown expands toward the East Village.

✵ La Colombe Torrefaction ✵

270 Lafayette St [Prince St]

212-625-1717

Philly’s Stumptown.

✵ Mudspot ✵ 307 E 9th St [2nd Ave]

212-529-8766

The Mudtruck’s stationary shop.

✵ Porto Rico Importing Co. ✵

201 Bleecker St [MacDougal St]

212-477-5421

Beans by the barrel full.

✵ Think Coffee ✵

248 Mercer St [W 3rd St]

212-228-6226

Collegiate coffee house. NYU hangout.

✵ V Bar ✵

225 Sullivan St [W 3rd Ave]

212-253-5740

Cozy spot. Morning = café. Night = wine bar.

✵ Saint Mark’s Church Greenmarket ✵

E 10th St & 2nd Ave

Tues 8 am-7 pm Jun-Dec

✵ 8th Street Wine Cellar ✵

28 W 8th St [MacDougal St]

212-260-9463

Classy and calm. Luckily NYU kids don’t drink wine.

✵ Amelie Wine Bar ✵

22 W 8th St [Macdougal St]

212-533-2962

French wine bar with delish foie gras, escargot, etc. Bon ap’!

✵ Amsterdam Billiards Club ✵

110 E 11th St [4th Ave]

212-995-0333

Expensive and more posh than most pool halls.

✵ Angel’s Share ✵

8 Stuyvesant St [E 9th St]

212-777-5415

Semi-hidden cocktail spot. Bring someone special.

✵ Bar Goto ✵

245 Eldridge St [Houston St]

212-475-4411

Crafted cocktails and Japanese bar comfort food.

✵ Bar Next Door ✵

129 MacDougal St [W 3rd St]

212-529-5945

For serious jazz enthusiasts with a penchant for wine and crispy pizza.

✵ Bar Veloce ✵

175 2nd Ave [E 11th St]

212-260-3200

Sip grappa on a first date. Also in Chelsea.

✵ Beauty Bar ✵ 231 E 14th St [3rd Ave]

212-539-1389

Just a little off the top, dahling?

✵ Black & White ✵

86 E 10th St [4th Ave]

212-253-0246

Amazing rockin’ DJs on weeknights; beware Bridge and Tunnel infiltration on weekends.

✵ Blue & Gold Tavern ✵

79 E 7th St [1st Ave]

212-473-8918

Another fine East Village dive.

✵ Blue Note ✵

131 W 3rd St [MacDougal St]

212-475-8592

Classic jazz venue. Pricey.

✵ Booker & Dax ✵

207 2nd Ave [E 13th St]

212-254-3500

Near perfect cocktails from the Momofuku team.

✵ Botanica Bar ✵ 47 E Houston St [Mulberry St]

212-343-7251

Good bar, but we still miss the Knitting Factory.

✵ Bowery Ballroom ✵

6 Delancey St [Bowery]

212-533-2111

Great space that attracts great bands.

✵ The Box ✵

189 Chrystie St [Rivington St]

212-982-9301

Burlesque and bottle service for the filthy rich.

✵ Burp Castle ✵

41 E 7th St [2nd Ave]

212-982-4576

Belgian ales and hushed voices.

✵ Carroll Place ✵

157 Bleecker St [Thompson St]

212-260-1700

Multi-level brunch, dinner, wine bar, live music destination.

✵ Central Bar ✵ 109 E 9th St [4th Ave]

212-529-5333

Student-filled yet spicy dance party.

✵ The Cock ✵

93 2nd Ave [5th Ave]

In spot formerly known as The Hole; so there’s that.

✵ Comedy Cellar ✵

117 MacDougal St [Minetta Ln]

212-254-3480

Big names make surprise appearances.

✵ Continental ✵

25 3rd Ave [Stuyvesant St]

212-529-6924

Now only featuring punk memories.

✵ Corkbuzz ✵

13 E 13th St [5th Ave]

646-873-6071

Outstanding wine selection in a classy setting.

✵ The Daily ✵ 210 Elizabeth St [Prince St]

212-343-7011

Tasty handcrafted cocktails, try the daily special for two.

✵ Fanelli’s Cafe ✵

94 Prince St [Mercer St]

212-226-9412

Old-time SoHo haunt. Nice tiles.

✵ The Fat Black Pussycat ✵

130 W 3rd St [MacDougal St]

212-533-4790

Average rock venue.

✵ Grassroots Tavern ✵

20 St Marks Pl [2nd Ave]

212-475-9443

That mass of fur in the corner is a cat.

McSorley's Old Ale House has been in operation 1854, and has a great old-school barroom atmosphere; weekend nights are insane. For a great beer selection, seek out Peculier Pub in Greenwich Village or if you're on the other side of Broadway Jimmy's 43 or Burp Castle, the latter of which is great for Belgian beer and quiet conversation.

✵ Home Sweet Home ✵

131 Chrystie St [Broome St]

212-226-5709

Non-descript taxidermy hang out.

✵ The Immigrant ✵ 341 E 9th St [1st Ave]

646-308-1724

Wine and snacks in a sexy tenement.

✵ Jadis Wine Bar ✵

42 Rivington St [Eldridge St]

212-254-1675

Perfect date spot for poor NFT employees.

✵ Jimmy’s No. 43 ✵

43 E 7th St [2nd Ave]

212-982-3006

Basement bar that knows its beer.

✵ Joe’s Pub ✵

425 Lafayette St [Astor Pl]

212-967-7555

Excellent range of acts in intimate space.

✵ KGB Bar ✵

85 E 4th St [2nd Ave]

212-505-3360

Former CP HQ. Meet your comrades. Readings, too.

✵ Le Poisson Rouge ✵

158 Bleecker St [Sullivan St]

212-505-3474

Seductive and strangely fun eclectic live music.

✵ Lit ✵

93 2nd Ave [E 5th St]

212-777-7987

Live rock and cavernous dancing.

✵ Lobby Bar ✵

335 Bowery [E 2nd St]

212-505-9100

Great spot for a night cap.

✵ Loreley ✵

7 Rivington St [Bowery]

212-253-7077

Tons of beer, individual pitchers optional.

✵ Mad River Bar & Grill ✵

1442 3rd Ave [E 82nd St]

212-988-1832

Miss college? Start chugging cheap beer here.

✵ Madam Geneva ✵

212 Bleecker St [MacDougal St]

212-254-0350

Hidden cocktail den adjacent to Double Crown.

✵ Marshall Stack ✵

66 Rivington St [Allen St]

212-228-4667

Winner for best bar that seemed like it would be awful.

✵ Mayahuel ✵

304 E 6th St [2nd Ave]

212-253-5888

Tequila and mezcal den with awesome old Mexico decor.

✵ McSorley’s Old Ale House ✵

15 E 7th St [3rd Ave]

212-474-9148

Lights or darks?

✵ Milano’s ✵

51 E Houston St [Mott St]

212-226-8844

Grungy, narrow, awesome, narrow, grungy.

✵ Mother Ruin ✵ 18 Spring St [Elizabeth St]

212-219-0942

Handcrafted cocktails and small plates.

✵ Nevada Smith’s ✵

100 3rd Ave [E 13th St]

212-982-2591

GooooaaaaaalllllLLL!

✵ Peasant ✵

194 Elizabeth St [Spring St]

212-965-9511

For ambience, head down to the dark cave o’ wine.

✵ Peculier Pub ✵

145 Bleecker St [LaGuardia Pl]

212-353-1327

Large beer selection. NYU hangout.

✵ Pegu Club ✵

77 W Houston St [Wooster St]

212-473-7348

There’s a reason the classic cocktails are famous.

✵ Pravda ✵ 281 Lafayette St [Prince St]

212-226-4944

Sophisticated lounge serving up inventive martinis.

✵ Puck Fair ✵

298 Lafayette St [E Houston St]

212-431-1200

Good enough Irish pub.

✵ Reservoir ✵

70 University Pl [E 10th St]

212-475-0770

Surprisingly good food, lots of sports.

✵ Rockwood Music Hall ✵

196 Allen St [E Houston St]

212-477-4155

Live music nightly.

✵ Sake Bar Decibel ✵

240 E 9th St [2nd Ave]

212-979-2733

Hip, underground sake bar.

✵ Sapphire Lounge ✵

249 Eldridge St [Stanton St]

212-777-5153

Intimate dance floor.

✵ Scratcher ✵

209 E 5th St [Bowery]

212-477-0030

Low-key port for you and your Guinness.

✵ Sly Fox ✵

140 2nd Ave [St Marks Pl]

212 - 614-3283

Bring your own space heater.

✵ Spring Street Lounge ✵

48 Spring St [Mulberry St]

212-965-1774

All-ESPN-watchin’ post-college moochers.

✵ Standings ✵

43 E 7th St [2nd Ave]

212-420-0671

Hardest working (and smallest) sports bar in New York.

✵ Sweet & Vicious ✵ 5 Spring St [Bowery]

212-334-7915

Great outdoor space.

✵ Swift Hibernian Lounge ✵

34 E 4th St [Bowery]

212-260-3600

Irish bar that tries more than most.

✵ Terra Blues ✵

149 Bleecker St [Thompson St]

212-777-7776

Live blues. If you’re into that.

✵ Tom & Jerry’s ✵

288 Elizabeth St [E Houston St]

212-260-5045

Low key and friendly place for a drink.

✵ The Uncommons ✵

230 Thompson St [W 3rd St]

646-543-9215

Board game cafe in former Village Chess spot.

✵ V Bar ✵ 225 Sullivan St [W 3rd Ave]

212-253-5740

Sleepy coffeeshop by day, laidback bar by night.

✵ Von ✵

3 Bleecker St [Bowery]

212-473-3039

Great vibe. Great bar.

✵ Webster Hall ✵

125 E 11th St [4th Ave]

212-353-1600

Feel the music through the floor.

✵ 12 Chairs ✵

56 MacDougal St [King St]

212-254-8640 ✵ $

Rough around the edges. Fantabulous blintzes and pierogies.

✵ ACME ✵

9 Great Jones St [Lafayette St]

212-203-2121 ✵ $$$$

Nordic hotspot for the chic and loaded.

✵ Alidoro ✵

105 Sullivan St [Prince St]

212-334-5179 ✵ $$

High-end Italian sandwiches.

✵ Alta ✵

64 W 10th St [Ave of the Americas]

212-505-7777 ✵ $$$

Unique tapas. Good date place.

✵ Amelie Wine Bar ✵

22 W 8th St [Macdougal St]

212-533-2962 ✵ $$$

French wine bar with delish foie gras, escargot, etc. Bon ap’!

✵ Angelica Kitchen ✵

300 E 12th St [2nd Ave]

212-228-2909 ✵ $$$

Vegan/macrobiotic heaven.

✵ Aroma ✵

36 E 4th St [Bowery]

212-375-0100 ✵ $$$$

Quaint, lovely Italian place with excellent service.

✵ Artichoke Basille’s Pizza ✵

328 E 14th St [2nd Ave]

212-228-2004 ✵ $$

Stand in line for amazing Sicilian slices.

✵ Artichoke Basille’s Pizza ✵

111 MacDougal St [Minetta Ln]

646-278-6100 ✵ $$

Gut-busting artichoke slices.

✵ Arturo’s ✵

106 W Houston St [Thompson St]

212-677-3820 ✵ $$

Classic NYC pizza joint with live jazz. NFT favorite.

✵ Aurora Soho ✵

510 Broome St [Watts St]

212-334-9020 ✵ $$$

Hip Williamsburg Italian opens on the big island.

✵ Awash ✵

338 E 6th St [2nd Ave]

212-982-9589 ✵ $$

Ethiopian. It’s ok to eat with your hands.

It's probably unfair for one neighborhood to claim all the glory, but this one's tops for restaurants too, from wallet-busting upscale (Babbo and Strip House), to awesome street carts (NY Dosas in Washington Square Park). We like Frank for Italian, Zabb Elee for Thai, Num Pang for sandwiches, and Ssam Bar for everything. Out late? Veselka and Blue Ribbon have your back.

✵ B Bar & Grill ✵

40 E 4th St [Bowery]

212-475-2220 ✵ $$

Bordering on cheesy.

✵ B&H Dairy ✵

127 2nd Ave [St Mark’s Pl]

212-505-8065 ✵ $

Eat mushroom barley soup and homemade challah at the counter.

✵ Babbo ✵

110 Waverly Pl [MacDougal St]

212-777-0303 ✵ $$$$

Super Mario: Go for the pasta tasting menu.

✵ Balthazar ✵

80 Spring St [Crosby St]

212-965-1414 ✵ $$$$$

Simultaneously pretentious and amazing.

✵ Bar Primi ✵

325 Bowery [E 2nd St]

212-220-9100 ✵ $$$$

Pasta-forward Italian with daily specials.

✵ Ben’s Pizza ✵

123 MacDougal St [W 3rd St]

212-677-0976 ✵ $

Top NYC slices; unusual cheese taste.

✵ Biang! ✵ 157 2nd Ave [E 10th St]

212-786-2068 ✵ $$

Flushing’s Xi’an Famous Foods empire expands to East Village.

✵ Blue 9 Burger ✵

92 3rd Ave [E 12th St]

212-979-0053 ✵ $

Fresh burgers and shakes made from actual milk.

✵ Blue Hill ✵

75 Washington Pl [MacDougal St]

212-539-1776 ✵ $$$$$

Wonderful food in an unexpected location.

✵ Blue Ribbon Brasserie ✵

97 Sullivan St [Spring St]

212-274-0404 ✵ $$$$$

Open ‘til 4am. Everything’s great.

✵ Blue Ribbon Sushi ✵

119 Sullivan St [Prince St]

212-786-0808 ✵ $$$$$

Great sushi.

✵ Bohemian Restaurant ✵

57 Great Jones St [Broadway]

$$$$$

Haute Japanese referral-only speakeasy cuisine.

✵ Boukies ✵

29 E 2nd St [2nd Ave]

212-777-2502 ✵ $$

Contemporary Greek small plates look and taste good.

✵ Bruno ✵

204 E 13th St [3rd Ave]

212-598-3080 ✵ $$$

Inspired, schizoid-chic pizzeria.

✵ Café Gitane ✵

242 Mott St [Prince St]

212-334-9552 ✵ $$

Can be busy, but worth the wait. Delicious food, beautiful people.

✵ Café Habana ✵

17 Prince St [Elizabeth St]

212-625-2001 ✵ $$

Grilled corn + beautiful staff = amazing Cuban joint.

✵ Café Rakka ✵ 81 St Marks Pl [1st Ave]

212-982-9166 ✵ $

Kebabolicious.

✵ Calexico Carne Asada ✵

Prince St & Wooster St

$

Taco truck run by hipsters. Tasty!

✵ Carroll Place ✵

157 Bleecker St [Thompson St]

212-260-1700 ✵ $$$

Brunch. And wood-fired rosemary wings. And brunch. Again.

✵ Cha-An Japanese Tea House ✵

230 E 9th St [Stuyvesant St]

212-228-8030 ✵ $$

Japanese tea ceremonies Fridays and Sundays. Must reserve.

✵ Chick-fil-A Express ✵

5 University Pl [Washington Sq N]

$

Boneless chicken delights tucked away in NYU’s Weinstein Hall.

✵ Chickpea ✵

210 E 14th St [3rd Ave]

212-228-3445 ✵ $

Tasty falafel, though NYU students swarm.

✵ ChikaLicious ✵

203 E 10th St [2nd Ave]

212-995-9511 ✵ $$

Dessert for dinner? We vote yes.

✵ Claudette ✵

24 5th Ave [9th St]

212-868-2424 ✵ $$$$

Seasonal Provençal comfort cuisine.

✵ Cocoron 37 ✵

37 Kenmare St [Elizabeth St]

212-960-0800 ✵ $$$

Soba for you, me, and the jerk talking on his cell phone.

✵ Colors ✵

417 Lafayette St [E 4th St]

212-777-8443 ✵ $$$$$

Owned by former staff of Windows on the World (WTC).

✵ Cones ✵ 272 Bleecker St [Morton St]

212-414-1795 ✵ $

Putting butterfat to use in flavors you never imagined.

✵ Cozy Soup ‘n’ Burger ✵

739 Broadway [Astor Pl]

212-477-5566 ✵ $

Big cheap greasy burgers; i.e., Heaven.

✵ Cuba ✵

222 Thompson St [W 3rd St]

212-420-7878 ✵ $$

Authentic Cuban, bar, live music, etc.

✵ Degustation ✵

239 E 5th St [2nd Ave]

212-979-1012 ✵ $$$$

Open kitchen, wine pairings, and sushi smells from sister restaurant.

✵ Dos Toros Taqueria ✵

137 4th Ave [E 13th St]

212-677-7300 ✵ $

Solid Mission-style burritos.

✵ Downtown Bakery ✵

69 1st Ave [E 4th St]

212-254-1757 ✵ $

Authentic hole-in-the-wall Mexican. Awesome breakfast sandwiches.

✵ Duane Park ✵

308 Bowery [Hudson St]

212-732-5555 ✵ $$$$$

Underrated New American.

✵ El Idolo ✵

244 E 14th St [8th Ave]

$

Almost East LA worthy tamales & cemitas.

✵ Epistrophy ✵

200 Mott St [Spring St]

212-966-0904 ✵ $$

Genuine Italian coffee spot with light dishes and heavenly pasta.

✵ Estela ✵

47 E Houston St [Mulberry St]

212-219-7693 ✵ $$$

Shareable diverting/diverse dishes and great wine program.

✵ Famous Ben’s Pizza ✵

177 Spring St [Thompson St]

212-966-4494 ✵ $

Good slice pizza.

✵ Fetch Bar and Grill ✵

1649 3rd Ave [92nd St]

212-289-2700 ✵ $$

Dog-friendly spot serves comfort food including killer mac & cheese.

✵ Francois Payard Bakery NYC ✵

116 W Houston St [Sullivan St]

212-995-0888 ✵ $

Famed pastries and cakes, elevated sandwiches, actually affordable with seating.

✵ Frank ✵

88 2nd Ave [E 5th St]

212-420-0106 ✵ $$

Good food, great breakfast.

✵ Freemans ✵

Freeman Alley [Rivington St]

212-420-0012 ✵ $$$

Taxidermy-filled hideaway with fab cocktails and delicious, rustic fare.

✵ Freud ✵

506 Laguardia Pl [Bleecker St]

212-777-0327 ✵ $$$

Upscale Austrian from Edi & the Wolf folks.

✵ Goemon ✵

29 Kenmare St [Elizabeth St]

212-226-1262 ✵ $$$

Cocoron’s inventive soup-curry hybrid sister restaurant.

✵ Gotham Bar & Grill ✵ 12 E 12th St [5th Ave]

212-620-4020 ✵ $$$$$

Excellent New American—one of the best.

✵ Great Jones Café ✵

54 Great Jones St [Bowery]

212-674-9304 ✵ $$$

Classic soul food. Sort of.

✵ Hampton Chutney Co. ✵

68 Prince St [Crosby St]

212-226-9996 ✵ $

Good take-out dosas.

✵ Hecho En Dumbo ✵

354 Bowery [Great Jones St]

212-937-4245 ✵ $$

Authentic Mexican restaurant with great margaritas.

✵ II Buco ✵

47 Bond St [Bowery]

212-533-1932 ✵ $$$$$

Lovely Italian food. Great wines by the glass. Uber-hip scene.

✵ Il Mulino ✵

86 W 3rd St [Thompson St]

212-673-3783 ✵ $$$$

Fine Italian dining at fine Italian dining prices.

✵ Indochine ✵

430 Lafayette St [Astor Pl]

212-505-5111 ✵ $$$

You can do better.

✵ Ippudo ✵

65 4th Ave [E 10th St]

212-388-0088 ✵ $$$

People waiting hours for a bowl of ramen? Yes, it’s that good.

✵ Jane ✵

100 W Houston St [Thompson St]

212-254-7000 ✵ $$$$

Good all-around; perfect location for pre-post Angelica movie.

✵ Japonica ✵

100 University Pl [E 12th St]

212-243-7752 ✵ $$$

Madonna went here once.

✵ John’s of 12th Street ✵

302 E 12th St [2nd Ave]

212-475-9531 ✵ $$

Classic Italian. Get the rollatini.

✵ Jules Bistro ✵

65 St Marks Pl [1st Ave]

212-477-5560 ✵ $$$

Small French bistro with live unimposing jazz.

There is no shortage of top-notch pizza around these parts. Lombardi's was the first pizzeria in the US, and still puts its coal oven to good use. For an upscale pie, try the exquisite creations at Mario Batali's Otto. For great pizza along with live jazz, check out Arturo's on Houston Street. And you can get great slices at Artichoke Basille's Pizza.

✵ Kelley and Ping ✵

127 Greene St [Prince St]

212-228-1212 ✵ $$

Noodles and killer tea selection.

✵ Kenka ✵ 25 St Marks Pl [2nd Ave]

212-254-6363 ✵ $

Step into rural Japan for a dirt cheap feast of traditional grub. Don’t expect sushi.

✵ Khyber Pass ✵

34 St Marks Pl [Second Ave]

212-473-0989 ✵ $$

Good Afghani.

✵ Korilla BBQ ✵

23 3rd Ave [St Marks Pl]

646-823-9423 ✵ $

Addictive Korean BBQ burritos, tacos at

their food truck.

✵ L’asso ✵

192 Mott St [Kenmare St]

212-219-2353 ✵ $$

This “ace” is a winner in the game of NYC pizza.

✵ La Esquina ✵

114 Kenmare St [Cleveland Pl]

646-613-7100 ✵ $

Taqueria trifecta: taco stand, corner cantina, and secret subterranean abode.

✵ Lahore Deli ✵

132 Crosby St [E Houston St]

212-965-1777 ✵ $

Indo-Pak deli popular with cabbies.

✵ Le Turtle ✵

177 Chrystie St [Rivington St]

646-918-7189 ✵ $$$

Stylish, vegetable-forward French cuisine.

✵ Little Poland ✵

200 2nd Ave [E 12th St]

212-777-9728 ✵ $$

Best breakfast special in the city.

✵ Lombardi’s ✵

32 Spring St [Mott St]

212-941-7994 ✵ $$$

Said to be the first pizzeria in the US, circa 1905.

✵ Love Mamak ✵

174 2nd Ave [11th St]

212-254-5370 ✵ $$$

Viet-Thai-Malay mashup goodness.

✵ Lucien ✵ 14 E 1st St [2nd Ave]

212-260-6481 ✵ $$$

Solid brasserie, small and cozy.

✵ Maman ✵

211 West Broadway [Franklin St]

646-882-8682 ✵ $$$

High-end all-day café channeling the South of France.

✵ Mango Street Vendor ✵

14th St & University Pl

$

Mango. On a stick.

✵ Manousheh ✵

193 Bleecker St [Macdougal St]

347-971-5778 ✵ $

Lebanese-style flatbreads for the win.

✵ Max Brenner Chocolate by the Bald Man ✵

841 Broadway [E 13th St]

212-380-0030 ✵ $$

For tourists who like chocolate for dinner.

✵ Mercer Kitchen ✵

99 Prince St [Mercer St]

212-966-5454 ✵ $$$$

Psuedo-famous New American with a French accent.

✵ Mexican Radio ✵

19 Cleveland Pl [Kenmare St]

212-343-0140 ✵ $$

Try the Plantain Rellenos.

✵ Mighty Quinn’s ✵

103 2nd Ave [E 7th St]

212-677-3733 ✵ $$

Wood smoked meats with a Texas and Carolina twang.

✵ Mile End Deli ✵

53 Bond St [Bowery]

212-529-2990 ✵ $$

Upscale Jewish deli with Canadian inspiration.

✵ Miss Lily’s ✵

132 W Houston St [Sullivan St]

646-588-5375 ✵ $$$

Jamaican plates with a dub beat from a resident DJ.

✵ Momofuku Ko ✵ 8 Extra Pl [E 1st St]

$$$

Spectacular tasting menu. Online reservations only.

✵ Momofuku Noodle Bar ✵

171 1st Ave [E 10th St]

212-777-7773 ✵ $$$$

Because who can get into M. Ko?

✵ Momofuku Ssam Bar ✵

207 2nd Ave [E 13th St]

212-254-2296 ✵ $$

Pork. Pork. Other stuff. Pork. Yum.

✵ Motorino ✵

349 E 12th St [1st Ave]

212-777-2644 ✵

Excellent pies via Napoli via Brooklyn.

✵ Noho Star ✵

330 Lafayette St [Bleecker St]

212-925-0070 ✵ $$$

Brunch it up. Been there for-ev-er.

✵ Nomad ✵

78 2nd Ave [E 4th St]

212-253-5410 ✵ $$

Funky North African food and funkier atmoshere.

✵ Num Pang ✵

28 E 12th St [University Pl]

212-255-3271 ✵ $

Tasty Cambodian sandwiches.

✵ NY Dosas ✵

Washington Sq S at Thompson St

$

Cheap and yummy Indian lunch cart.

✵ Olive’s ✵

120 Prince St [Wooster St]

212-941-0111 ✵ $

Killer soups/sandwiches. A top take-out option.

✵ Otafuku ✵

230 E 9th St [Stuyvesant St]

646-998-3438 ✵ $$

Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it counter has the best Japanese street food.

✵ Otto ✵ 1 5th Ave [Washington Mews]

212-995-9559 ✵ $$$$

Batali’s lardo, and everyone’s beautiful.

✵ Parm ✵

248 Mulberry St [Prince St]

212-993-7189 ✵ $$

Chicken, eggplant, and meatball hero heaven is only an hour wait away.

✵ Paul’s Da Burger Joint ✵

131 2nd Ave [St Marks Pl]

212-529-3097 ✵ $

Burger heaven.

✵ Peanut Butter & Co ✵

240 Sullivan St [W 3rd St]

212-677-3995 ✵ $$

Peanut butter every way you can imagine (and beyond)!

✵ Peep ✵

177 Prince St [Sullivan St]

212-254-7337 ✵ $$$

Stylin’ Thai. See-through bathroom mirrors.

✵ Pepe Rosso ✵

149 Sullivan St [W Houston St]

212-677-4555 ✵ $

Italy on a budget. Fast.

✵ Prune ✵

54 E 1st St [1st Ave]

212-677-6221 ✵ $$$

Get there early for brunch if you don’t want to wait. Like, 8 am.

✵ Rai Rai Ken ✵

214 E 10th St [2nd Ave]

212-477-7030 ✵ $

Tiny and tasty ramen shop.

✵ Raoul’s ✵

180 Prince St [Sullivan St]

212-966-3518 ✵ $$$$

A Soho institution. You may like the steak frites more than your date.

✵ Red Bamboo Soul Café ✵

140 W 4th St [Ave of the Americas]

212-260-1212 ✵ $$

Vegetarian soul food. Killer lunch special.

✵ Redhead ✵ 349 E 13th St [1st Ave]

212-533-6212 ✵ $$

Bacon peanut brittle. Oh yeah.

✵ Rice to Riches ✵

37 Spring St [Mott St]

212-274-0008 ✵ $

24 kinds of rice pudding in a bright fishbowl.

✵ Robotaya ✵

231 E 9th St [2nd Ave]

212-979-9674 ✵ $$$

Sit at the counter and watch them grill.

✵ Rosario’s Pizza ✵

173 Orchard St [Stanton St]

212-777-9813 ✵ $

Top drunken slice in the LES.

✵ Ruby’s ✵

219 Mulberry St [Spring St]

212-925-5755 ✵ $$

Down under delights for the downtown scene.

✵ S’mac ✵

345 E 12th St [1st Ave]

212-358-7912 ✵ $$

Classic comfort cuisine achieves more cheesy goodness.

✵ Sacred Chow ✵

227 Sullivan St [W 3rd St]

212-337-0863 ✵ $$

Heavenly vegan tapas. The brownie is a wheat-free revelation.

✵ Saigon Shack ✵

114 MacDougal St [Bleecker St]

212-228-0588 ✵ $$

Modern Vietnamese on a NYU-friendly budget.

✵ Sammy’s Roumanian ✵

157 Chrystie St [Delancey St]

212-673-0330 ✵ $$$$

An experience not to be missed. Chopped liver which will instantly kill you.

✵ Saxon + Parole ✵

316 Bowery [Bleecker St]

212-254-0350 ✵ $$$

Nice choice for a night out along the New Bowery.

✵ Semsom ✵ 2 Astor Pl [Broadway]

212-979-2363 ✵ $$$

Multinational healthy Lebanese goodness w/ seasonal choices.

✵ Senza Gluten ✵

206 Sullivan St [Bleecker St]

212-475-7775 ✵ $$$

Elegantly crafted gluten-free Italian (!).

✵ Shuko ✵

47 E 12th St [Broadway]

212-228-6088 ✵ $$$$$

Stylish, scrumptious, ‘spensive sushi tasting menus.

✵ Siggy’s Good Food ✵

292 Elizabeth St [E Houston St]

212-226-5775 ✵ $$

Delicious, filling vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, plus juice bar.

✵ The Smile ✵

26 Bond St [Lafayette St]

646-329-5836 ✵ $$$

Mediterranean-inflected bistro fare; breakfast & lunch, too.

✵ Snack ✵

105 Thompson St [Prince St]

212-925-1040 ✵ $

Homemade Greek delicacies. Very cozy.

✵ Soba-ya ✵

229 E 9th St [3rd Ave]

212-533-6966 ✵ $$$

Japanese noodle perfection to the highest level.

✵ Souen ✵

28 E 13th St [University Pl]

212-627-7150 ✵ $$

Macrobiotic and delicious.

✵ Spice ✵

39 E 13th St [University Pl]

212-982-3758 ✵ $$

Trendy Thai. Always packed.

This 'hood is definitely over-represented when it comes to general buzz. Biang! is a muy autentico Flushing export serving up Chinese dishes from unfamiliar regions. Sadelle's is an all-day joint elevating traditional deli food higher than an 80-pound bat mitzvah. And if you're burned out on the umpteenth iteration of pad thai, try the inventive menu at Uncle Boons.

✵ Strip House ✵

13 E 12th St [5th Ave]

212-328-0000 ✵ $$$$$

Super downtown steakhouse. NFT favorite.

✵ Taj Restaurant ✵ 310 E 6th St [2nd Ave]

212-505-8056 ✵ $$

Rich sauces, fresh naan, and live music half underground.

✵ Thiru Kumar’s Vegetarian Indian Cart ✵

Washington Sq South

$

City-renowned Indian Vegetarian food cart.

✵ Tomoe Sushi ✵

172 Thompson St [W Houston St]

212-777-9346 ✵ $$$$

Good sushi, long line.

✵ Tuck Shop ✵

68 E 1st St [1st Ave]

212-979-5200 ✵ $

Savory Australian pies, vegemite, and lamingtons.

✵ Ukrainian East Village Restaurant ✵

140 2nd Ave [E 9th St]

212-614-3283 ✵ $

Pierogies, borscht, blintzes, goulash.

Comfort food.

✵ Uncle Boons ✵

7 Spring St [Bowery]

646-370-6650 ✵ $$$

If Thai no longer excites you, try this inventive menu.

✵ Upstate ✵

95 1st Ave [6th St]

212-460-5293 ✵ $$$

Curated fresh seafood, craft beer, and oysters.

✵ Vanessa’s Dumplings ✵

220 E 14th St [3rd Ave]

212-529-1329 ✵ $

Sesame pancake sandwiches are to die for.

✵ Vegetarian’s Paradise 2 ✵

144 W 4th St [Ave of the Americas]

212-260-7130 ✵ $$

Tastes like chicken.

✵ Veselka ✵

144 2nd Ave [E 9th St]

212-228-9682 ✵ $

Pierogies absorb beer. At 4 am that’s all you need to know.

✵ Vic’s ✵ 31 Great Jones St [Lafayette St]

212-253-5700 ✵ $$$$

Italo-New American comfort food.

✵ Yakitori Taisho ✵

5 St Marks Pl [3rd Ave]

212-228-5086 ✵ $

Skewered chicken and pan-fried noodles washed down with Asahi.

✵ Zabb Elee ✵

75 2nd Ave [E 4th St]

212-505-9533 ✵ $$

Authentic Thai by way of Queens. Keep the water coming.

✵ Alabaster Bookshop ✵

122 4th Ave [E 12th St]

212-982-3550

Quintessential overstuffed used book shop.

✵ Anna Sui ✵

113 Greene St [Prince St]

212-941-8406

High fashion, somehow slightly more accessible than others in SoHo.

✵ Apple Store (SoHo) ✵

103 Prince St [Greene St]

212-226-3126

Don’t come looking for produce.

✵ Astor Wines & Spirits ✵

399 Lafayette St [E 4th St]

212-674-7500

NFT fav. The king of all NYC liquor stores.

✵ Balenciaga ✵

148 Mercer St [Prince St]

212-206-0872

Gorgeous, super high-end clothes and accessories.

✵ Bfold ✵

224 E 13th St [3rd Ave]

212-529-7247

Folding bikes.

✵ Bicycle Habitat ✵

244 Lafayette St [Spring St]

212-431-3315

Full-time mechanics and sales, too.

✵ Blick Art Materials ✵

1 Bond St [Lafayette St]

212-533-2444

Huge, super organized, recommended.

✵ BoConcept ✵

69 Greene St [Spring St]

212-966-8188

Sleek furniture that doesn’t match your dreary studio apartment.

✵ Bond Street Chocolate ✵

63 E 4th St [Bowery]

212-677-5103

The hippest chocolate this side of Belgium. Get the skulls.

✵ Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks ✵

28 E 2nd St [2nd Ave]

212-989-8962

Specializing in cookbooks; great out-of-print finds.

✵ Chess Forum ✵

219 Thompson St [W 3rd St]

212-475-2369

Ornate, themed, and traditional chess sets, play ‘til midnight.

✵ Dashwood Books ✵

33 Bond St [Lafayette Ave]

212-387-8520

Photography.

✵ Dominique Ansel Bakery ✵

189 Spring St [Sullivan St]

212-219-2773

Home of the Cronut.

✵ Dual Specialty Store ✵

91 1st Ave [E 6th St]

212-979-6045

Indian grocery store stocked with every spice imaginable.

✵ East Village Cheese ✵

40 3rd Ave [E 10th St]

212-477-2601

Super cheap cheeses, olives, and meats. No samples!

✵ The Evolution Store ✵

120 Spring St [Greene St]

212-343-1114

It’s like a shopable natural history museum.

✵ Fialka ✵

324 E 9th St [2nd Ave]

212-460-8615

Cute ladies’ vintage finds and a cheap sale rack.

✵ Forbidden Planet ✵

832 Broadway [E 13th St]

212-473-1576

Let your inner sci-fi/fantasy nerd run wild.

✵ The Frye Company ✵

113 Spring St [Mercer St]

212-226-3793

Flagship store for the revered boot brand.

✵ Gem Spa ✵

131 2nd Ave [St Marks Pl]

212-995-1866

Magazine stand that serves fantastic egg creams.

✵ Global Table ✵

107 Sullivan St [Spring St]

212-431-5839

Quietly elegant tableware.

✵ H&M ✵

515 Broadway [Spring St]

855-466-7467

Cheap, hip clothes raining from the ceiling.

✵ Happy Bones Publications ✵

7 Bond St [Broadway]

212-673-3754

Tiny book shop with an under-the-radar espresso shop.

✵ Honest Chops ✵

319 E 9th St [2nd Ave]

212-388-0762

Upscale halal whole animal butchery.

✵ INA ✵

15 Bleecker St [Elizabeth St]

212-228-8511

Upscale consignment chain for labels straight out of Vogue.

✵ John Derian ✵

6 E 2nd St [Bowery]

212-677-3917

Whimsical découpage plates and curios for the home.

✵ Kiehl’s ✵

109 3rd Ave [E 13th St]

212-677-3171

Great creams, lotions, and unguents; laughably good service.

✵ Lighting by Gregory ✵

158 Bowery [Delancey St]

212-226-1276

Bowery lighting mecca. Good ceiling fans.

✵ Lighting Studio II ✵

150 Bowery [Broome St]

212-219-3361

Dazzling explosion of chandeliers; a walk-through is a must.

✵ MakerBot Store ✵

298 Mulberry St [Houston St]

347-457-5758

3D printers and a photo booth.

✵ Marc Jacobs ✵

163 Mercer St [Houston St]

212-343-1490

Salivate over clothing you can’t afford.

✵ The Market NYC ✵

159 Bleecker St [Sullivan St]

Hip, unique designs by local designers. Open Saturdays & Sundays.

✵ McNally Jackson ✵

52 Prince St [Mulberry St]

212-274-1160

General Interest books.

✵ MoMA Design Store ✵

81 Spring St [Crosby St]

646-613-1367

Cutting-edge, minimalist, ergonomic, offbeat, and funky everything.

✵ New Beer Distributors ✵

167 Chrystie St [Rivington St]

212-473-8757

Enormous beer selection.

✵ New York Central Art Supply ✵

62 3rd Ave [E 11th St]

212-473-7705

Great selection of art, papers, and supplies.

Outside SoHo's glorified mall, the city's most eclectic shopping waits. Sample lotions at Kiehl's, and browse for housewares at John Derian, designer shoes at Coclico, trendy threads at Odin, books at The Strand, music at Other Music, old prints at Pageant Print Shop, and cool gifts at MoMA Design Store. The selections at Astor Wines & Spirits and New Beer Distributors remind us why we live here.

✵ NYC Velo ✵

64 2nd Ave [E 4th St]

212-253-7771

This shop has a special place in our heart. Good clothing!

✵ Odin New York ✵

199 Lafayette St [Broome St]

212-966-0026

Boutique with stylish street clothes.

✵ Other Music ✵

15 E 4th St [Lafayette St]

212-477-8150

Underground, experimental CD’s, LP’s, imports, and out-of-print obscurities.

✵ Pageant Print Shop ✵

69 E 4th St [2nd Ave]

212-674-5296

Just prints, really. But really great prints.

✵ Pino’s Prime Meats ✵

149 Sullivan St [Prince St]

212-475-8134

Old-world Italian butcher. Pino’s tips are priceless.

✵ Prada ✵

575 Broadway [Prince St]

212-334-8888

Rem Koolhaas-designed store that you can only afford to look at.

✵ Raffetto’s ✵

144 W Houston St [MacDougal St]

212-777-1261

Take-home Italian foods. Ravioli like mamma used to make.

✵ REI ✵

295 Lafayette St [E Houston St]

212-680-1938

Outdoor gear superstore in the Puck Building.

✵ Room & Board ✵

105 Wooster St [Prince St]

212-334-4343

Modern furniture for Ikea graduates.

✵ Stereo Exchange ✵

627 Broadway [Bleecker St]

212-505-1111

Just-under-obscenely-priced audiophile equipment. Good for male depression.

✵ Strand Book Store ✵

828 Broadway [E 12th St]

212-473-1452

Used mecca; world’s messiest and best bookstore.

✵ Sullivan Street Tea & Spice Company ✵

208 Sullivan St [Bleecker St]

212-387-8702

Worldly herbs, spices, salts, and teas.

✵ Sunrise Mart ✵

494 Broome St [W Broadway]

212-219-0033

Japanese specialties and an affordable lunch counter in back.

✵ Sunrise Mart ✵

4 Stuyvesant St [3rd Ave]

212-598-3040

Japanese mini-market comes to Third Avenue.

✵ T2 Tea ✵

67 Prince St [Crosby St]

212-219-1956

Super colorful Aussie tea shop with pots and accessories.

✵ Taschen ✵

107 Greene St [Prince St]

212-226-2212

God (and the Devil’s) gift to publishing.

✵ TKettle ✵

26 St Marks Pl [2nd Ave]

212-982-9782

Bubble tea and great dumplings, too.

✵ Tokio 7 ✵

83 E 7th St [1st Ave]

212-353-8443

Designer consignment. Great for lucky finds.

✵ Trader Joe’s ✵

142 E 14th St [Irving Pl]

212-529-4612

Legendary bargain food chain with legendary long lines.

✵ Trash & Vaudeville ✵

4 St Marks Pl [3rd Ave]

212-982-3590

Decades-old NYC HQ for punk and goth gear.

✵ Uniqlo ✵

546 Broadway [Spring St]

917-237-8811

Cashmere, cashmere, and more cashemere—in every color!

✵ Warby Parker ✵

161 Ave of the Americas [Spring St]

646-517-5223

Where everyone shops for their $95 retro eyeglasses.

✵ Whole Foods ✵

4 Union Sq E [University Pl]

212-673-5388

Always natural. Always crowded. Tons of NYU kids.

✵ Whole Foods ✵

95 E Houston St [2nd Ave]

212-420-1320

Beautiful produce for beautiful people. Surprisingly uncrowded.