Greenwich Village (also called West Village or simply “The Village”), located in the Manhattan district of New York, is one of the best neighborhoods in the city to lose yourself on a Saturday afternoon. Escaping the formal grid structure that dominates north 14th Street, wandering the streets of Greenwich Village will make you feel like you’ve left New York and landed in a small European city. Many streets are lined with shops and while the major chain stores can be found here, there are still plenty of independently owned shops and restaurants for you to discover.
When you’ve had your fill of Manhattan’s tall buildings and bustling crowds, you’ll love that Greenwich Village offers a great respite with a calmer, more manageable feel, plus the neighborhood’s shorter buildings allow more sun to hit the streets. There are many secret courtyards and small gardens located between houses in the residential blocks of the neighborhood. From the poet Dylan Thomas, who infamously drank to death at the White Horse Tavern, to the musician Bob Dylan, who refers to Greenwich Village in many songs, the neighborhood is known to be home to many artists, writers, and musicians.
Greenwich Village was also the home of many Beat Generation writers such as Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William S. Burroughs.
Although there are many great guided tours you can do around the neighborhood, give yourself plenty of time to wander and ‘get lost’ here. Don’t worry – your cell phone map (or a friendly local) will help you find your way again when you’re ready to return to the real world. You can also navigate with this map of Greenwich Village – West Village.
Metro de Greenwich Village – West Village
- A, C, E y B, D, F, V
- – West Fourth Street
- 1
- – Christopher Street – Sheridan Square
- – calle Houston
Greenwich Village Neighborhood Boundaries – West Village
The neighborhood encompasses the area between 14th and West Houston streets and from the Hudson River to Broadway.
Arquitectura de Greenwich Village – West Village
The neighborhood is separated from the uptown grid structure with smaller streets that stretch at a variety of angles. Its small winding streets, smaller buildings, and unique single-family homes give the Greenwich Village neighborhood a European feel.
Things to do in Greenwich Village
- Jane : This casual bistro on Houston Street offers brunch, happy hour, and seasonal American cuisine.
- John’s Pizzeria – Founded in 1929, John’s serves authentic New York-style pizza from its charcoal oven on Bleecker Street.
- Blue Note Jazz Club – Established in 1981, this world-renowned music venue and restaurant on Third Street has featured legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, and Dave Brubeck.
- Greenwich Village Food and Culture Original Walking Tour – Specialty family food shops are the highlight of this tour that also covers the history, architecture, entertainment and culture of this Italian neighborhood.
- Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl – On this walking tour, local actors cover history and literature while you relax with a drink at bars frequented by many famous authors.
- Washington Square Park – Located in the heart of Greenwich Village (Fifth Avenue between MacDougal Street and University Place), this 10-acre green space is home to the marble Washington Square Arch and is a great place for people-watching.
- Murray’s Cheese : This Greenwich Village tradition on Bleecker Street was founded in 1940 and searches around the world to bring the best cheeses to New Yorkers. Sign up for your Cheese 101 or Boot Camp classes.
- The Stonewall Inn – This gay bar is a National Historic Landmark and was the site of the 1969 riots that led to the start of the gay rights movement.
- Village Vanguard – This jazz club on Seventh Avenue South, established in 1935, has been the recording location for more than 100 albums by greats like John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Barbra Streisand, and Bill Frisell.
- One If By Land, Two If By Sea – This beautiful upscale restaurant housed in a 1767 garage on Barrow Street is considered one of the most romantic restaurants in New York.
