Welcome to West Village
Hip urban neighborhood with a unique off-grid layout.
West Village is a hip urban neighborhood nestled alongside the Hudson River on the west side of Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan. West Village has a vibe unlike anywhere else in Manhattan, with streets that eschew the NYC grid system and instead curve and intersect at odd angles.
The culture of West Village has similarly historically set itself apart from the rest of the city. The neighborhood was a haven for the Beats and bohemians in the mid-20th century, as well as an important location in the struggle for LGBTQ rights. This perennially trendy neighborhood’s enchanting streets are lined with boutiques and vintage stores, cool wine bars and cocktail lounges, chic restaurants, and legendary jazz venues.
In keeping with West Village’s idiosyncratic character, the neighborhood offers an eclectic array of housing options. Gorgeous 19th-century brownstone townhouses share the neighborhood with stylish contemporary apartments and condos in gleaming high-rise towers overlooking the Hudson.
What to Love
- Hip urban neighborhood
- Unique off-grid street layout
- Eclectic housing options
- Trendy neighborhood businesses
People & Lifestyle
West Village is delightfully eccentric and impeccably liveable. Famous names have always been drawn to this off-beat corner of Manhattan, from the influential authors of the 20th century to Hollywood A-listers in the 21st. Packed with hidden gems and welcoming neighborhood spots, West Village is one of Manhattan’s most enchanting neighborhoods.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
West Village’s leafy off-grid streets feature an eclectic array of unique places to dine, drink, and shop.
St. Tropez is a stylish wine bar pairing elegant Provencal cuisine with an extensive French wine list. This chic eatery is perfect for dates, with its romantically rustic wood panel décor and candlelit tables.
Anton’s is another standout among West Village’s array of chic wine bars. This cozy neighborhood spot pairs seasonal European and American dishes and family recipe desserts with old school cocktails and imported wines.
Pastis has attracted a glittering list of celebrity diners with its artfully executed traditional French bistro dishes and theatrical Parisian atmosphere. Pastis is one of the latest ventures from famed restaurateurs Keith McNally and Stephen Starr, whose resumes include a string of hits across NYC.
Dubbed “the future of the New York steakhouse” by Eater and one of the best restaurants in the West Village by Zagat,
Quality Eats updates the classic steakhouse experience for the 21st century. The spot lives up to its name with mouthwatering signature steaks from famed butchers Smith & Wollensky. Steaks are served alongside a range of playful sides, such as grilled Nueske’s bacon topped with peanut butter and jalapeno jelly.
Mary’s Fish Camp is a fine choice for seafood, with a menu of New England specialties including lobster rolls and clam chowder. Mary’s also offers plenty of raw items and classic American desserts.
Things to Do
The Whitney Museum of American Art features a vast array of American artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries housed in a striking modern building designed by Renzo Piano. Originally established by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in the 1910s to promote avant-garde and underappreciated American artists, the Whitney moved to its stylish new space in 2015. Inside, you’ll discover a collection spanning tens of thousands of paintings, sculptures, and new media artifacts from more than 3,500 different artists. Highlights of The Whitney’s collection include works from Georgia O’Keefe, Keith Haring, Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Andy Warhol.
The Village Vanguard opened in West Village in the 1930s and had become NYC’s most happening jazz club by the late 1950s. Some of the finest jazz musicians in the world still regularly perform on the same stage made famous by luminaries such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
The Cherry Lane Theatre holds a similarly special place in the history of NYC’s off-Broadway theater scene. Since it opened in the 1920s, the theater has staged performances from playwrights ranging from F. Scott Fitzgerald, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, and Tennessee Williams to Sam Shepard and David Mamet. This intimate theater retains its reputation as one of Manhattan’s best spots to see innovative and experimental works.
Schools
Schools in West Village are operated by the New York City Department of Education.
