This neighborhood guide is curated by one of our New York City–based editors who calls it home.
Even if my gas bill doesn’t list it, I consider the West Village to be home. I’ve been all over New York City As a gay New Yorker I have felt a strong pull towards this part of Manhattan for the past 12 years. LGBTQ+ history It is also anchored in other places, such as the Stonewall InnThe Crisis of Julius and Marie. There’s more than gay bars in the West Village. The neighborhood includes taverns, theaters, chic shops, trendy restaurants, etc. The West Village is a great place because of its queer history and culture. This perfect-day itinerary will allow me to share a small part of that history with you.
Matt Ortile
Matt Ortile, an editor of Condé Nast TravelerHe also writes about ethical tourism and LGBTQ+ travel. He is also the author of The Groom will Keep his Name A memoir about the gay Filipino immigrant’s journey to the US. He has been living in New York City since 2014.
Note: I am defining this area geographically. The West Village is bordered by the Hudson River on the west, and 14th Street on the north. It ends, depending on whom you ask, at Greenwich Avenue, Seventh Avenue or Sixth Avenue towards the east and Houston Street, Christopher Street, or Christopher Street towards the south. I think the larger the West Village the better. In this guide I will extend the southern and eastern boundary to Houston and Sixth respectively. There are many other popular museums and restaurants like Pastis You can also find out more about the Whitney Both are great and I recommend you visit them.
These timestamps can be used as a guide. This is really just an extensive list of the cafés, restaurants, shops, bars, theaters, and businesses in the West Village that I dearly love and recommend to one and all, whether visitor or local. It’s not necessary to make reservations everywhere (some places only accept walk-ins), however, making an appointment in a town like this is recommended. And do what you can to support the folks you meet here—it’s thanks to the artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs who keep the West Village local and cool, at once trendy and classic. Here’s a slice of West Village.
9 a.m. Wake up with the village at a café
I love watching the West Village awaken. I love seeing the shop owners open up, the servers bring tables out to the street, the kids playing with their nannies, and the couples who drag themselves out of bed in order to get a coffee and a bagel. Blackstone Hudson. There are plenty of takeaway options, but you should treat yourself to a quiet moment before a long day by parking at one of the cafés in the neighborhood and observing the morning scenes unfold.
Grab a window seat in charming Paquita Order a pistachio nut financier and one of the many teas, tisanes or coffees; then sit outside on West 10th. Fellini on Seventh with an espresso and give your best impression of a Roman flâneur; or grab a matcha and a fresh bouquet of flowers at Rosecrans Greenwich. All three are open until at least 8 pm, making them ideal pit stops any time. You can get all your breakfast carbs and eggs at Café Cluny West 4th Bistro, a Parisian restaurant with a fantastic brunch. Spot your favorite stars in the dining room – either in their caricatures that are hung on walls or as real people; ad hoc : cafeIt is located in the basement of a building between Christopher and Gay Streets. They serve coffee, hot sandwiches and sell twee household goods.
Learn about the history of the village at 11 a.m.
The West Village is a quintessential Manhattan neighborhood, thanks to the many movies and television shows that have been filmed there. Carrie Bradshaw lived in the apartment building shown onscreen. Sex and the City Perry Street and the one from Friends Corner of Bedford and Grove. It’s impossible to miss either location; tourists will be lining up the sidewalks for selfies. This is much to residents’ dismay. These streets are filled with so much history that give the West Village it’s unique New York character.
When I visit friends, I always bring them here. Christopher ParkA tiny triangle of green is formed by Christopher, Grove and West 4th Streets. It’s woo-woo but I feel the weight and history of LGBTQ+ every time I pass through this area. The Stonewall Rebellion began here on June 27, 1969, which is a cornerstone of the gay liberation movements. The park is located directly across from the Stonewall Inn The relatively young Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. Then, there is the latter. opened in 2024 With a compact gallery and a calendar with cultural events, the former is perfect for pre and post dinner drinks.
