New York - West Village
I’m totally biased, but I feel like West Village is the best neighborhood. The streets are beautiful, it’s close to the Hudson, and has some of the best restaurants in Manhattan. Every restaurant I go to in the area, I say, “this is so cute!” then eat so much it hurts to walk home.
Here’s a few of my favorites in the West Village.
Coffee Shops
Blackstone Coffee Roasters
There’s usually a line, but it moves quick. Their menu is full of breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, pastries and even smoothies. Great bagels, great coffee.
Merriweather Coffee + Kitchen
Cute and cool Australian coffee spot. Don’t skip on the Merriweather Morning Sandwich. Or any of the food items.
The Elk
Also doubling as a little market, The Elk has wonderful selections of coffee in a cute environment.
Brunch
Grey Dog
There’s a very good chance you can find my roommate and I at the Grey Dog on Carmine Street on a Sunday. Always great service, always great food, and the Cold Brew Oat Milk Chai is all the things I love in a glass. I have to stop myself from taking multiple to go.
The Butcher’s Daughter
A classic. Vegan and vegetarian options, for when your body is asking for a vegetable, but trendy.
Buvette
My roommate has been to this little French restaurant about a hundred times and I finally got to try it out with her. It did not disappoint. Delicious coffee, fresh squeezed juice, soft, fluffy eggs piled high, and the most wonderful almond croissant I’ve ever had.
Sandwiches
Sanpanino
All you have to do is walk by this place to know it’s going to be delicious. It makes the street smell like a wonderful tomato burrata sandwich, which if isn’t enough to draw you in, I’m not sure what would. (Pro tip - grab a sandwich and go sit on Pier 45 or 46)
Dinner
Tacombi
Being from Texas, finding my go-to tacos spots in the city was one of my first orders of business. Tacombi has become that for me, and I have yet to meet a better Avocado Tostada. It’s casual, it’s delicious.
Suprema Provisions
An issue I have with eating out in New York is the fact that a lot of places require you to have booked a reservation about a month out in order to enjoy a meal there. Suprema is not one of those places. I’ve always been able to get a table at Suprema and am consistently blown away by their pasta. They’re famous for their burger, but I really can’t get myself to stop ordering the Burrata Carbonara. It’s completely indulgent and utterly delicious. If you’re looking for great Italian that you can become a regular at, this is your place.
Tartine
It’s cozy, it’s delicious, it’s French. It’s also BYOB. A neighborhood sweetheart, and a great way to get into French food if you’re like me and had never tried it before.
Olio e Piu
Couldn’t leave out Olio e Piu. It’s one of those places that get everything right. The outdoor dining section is large and inviting. The food is great. The service is great. If you’re eating with someone else, order the Carbonara and Nostrana (Bianca) pizza. Trust me.
Dante West Village
Dante has two locations now - West Village and MacDougal. They’ve recently opened up a West Village location on the corner of Perry and Hudson, and it’s everything you love about the original location, just with a greater opportunity of you getting a table (maybe). The Fire Roasted Chicken tastes like it was made with love. The drinks are always top notch. It’s just a special place to me.
Drinks
Dante
Dante was the first restaurant I really fell in love with in New York. The original location on MacDougal is technically not in West Village, but it’s close enough. If you can go to either location, go. They’ve been rated the Best Bar in the World, and once you order a drink, you’ll know why. They’re famous for their Negroni, but you really can’t go wrong with anything you order. Seriously.
Bar Pisellino
Arguably one of the best storefronts in West Village, this Italian bar is so inviting and always serving great drinks. Personally the Espresso Martini is a favorite, but I’ve never had a bad experience here.
Employees Only
Now not-so-secretive due to outdoor dining, this iconic bar really delivers. Not only with great drinks, but with a wonderful staff that is helpful and attentive.
Lelabar
A cozy little wine bar on Hudson, Lelabar has a wonderful assortment of meats, cheeses, and wine. This is the kind of place you could stay and sit for hours just chatting. Not to mention they have mulled wine for the cold months, which is like a liquid hug.
These are just a few of my favorite places, but you truly can’t go wrong when you’re in the area. Follow my food Instagram for more restaurants and food pics.
Enjoy!
