Spend the day like a local in West Village, NYC. People-watch, enjoy a meal, here is a list of 9 things to do in West Village, one of the most desirable residential areas in New York City.
There are few neighborhoods in New York City I can actually see myself living in. The West Village is one of them, and I'm sure every other New Yorker agrees. West Village is the less touristy of all the New York villages, which is what makes it so special. Most things to do in West Village cater to locals, with a few exceptions like famous TV show brownstones. West Village is where old townhouses on narrow, diagonal streets are mixed with high-rise apartment buildings along the avenues. It's the type of neighborhood you walk through to escape the noise of the city, admire at the historic brownstones and architecture, or grab a bite to eat or a coffee.
See my quick TikTok recap of the West Village for a glimpse of the experience in motion:
How to Get to The West Village, NYC?
Super easy—like most of New York, aside from 1st Ave! Take any subway to 14th Street and head toward West 4th Street. Lines 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, L, F, and M all drop you nearby.
1. West 4th Street
Pat and I got off at 14th Street and immediately headed for West 4th Street. Things to do in West Village are endless—but so are the food options. West 4th Street is lined with cute restaurants and cafés: Blenheim, Black Derby, Extra Virgin, Sevilla Restaurant, Sant Ambroeus, Tartine, Cafe Cluny, St. Tropez West Village…you really can’t go wrong. Most have outdoor seating, perfect for people-watching.
2. The Historic Brownstones
West Village properties rank among the most expensive in the U.S. While walking the streets, admire the historic brownstones architecture and attention to detail. The area is a historic district, and renovations are carefully regulated to preserve its charm.
3. Petite Pasta Joint (PPJ)
I once found myself twirling tagliatelle and sipping wine beneath the glow of string lights at a holiday party hosted by one of my old companies—and it wasn’t just any dinner. It was a private event inside the legendary Raffetto’s Fresh Pasta, a century-old Greenwich Village institution that’s been slinging fresh pasta since 1906. Whether you’re celebrating something big or just want to soak up real-deal New York food history while drowning in carbs, Petite Pasta Joint (PPJ) is your golden ticket. They throw public dinners about once a month—no set schedule, no frills—just sign up for their mailing list and you’ll be the first to know when the next round of tickets drops.
Picture this: wooden shelves stacked with vintage pasta tools, the scent of garlic and browned butter wafting through the air, laughter echoing off the old tiled walls, and two fabulous, fizzing-with-energy hostesses guiding the evening like culinary fairy godmothers. It’s the kind of party where strangers become friends over second helpings and someone inevitably says, “This feels like a movie.”
4. Carrie Bradshaw's Apartment from Sex and The City
One of the more touristy things to do in West Village is visit the famous TV show brownstones. While you're walking in an out of streets and admiring the brownstone houses...keep an eye out on Perry Street. This is where Sarah Jessica Parker's role as Carrie Bradshaw had some of her most iconic moments. It is her home in the West Village as seen on Sex and The City. The address to keep an eye out for? 64 Perry Street.
5. Bar Pisellino
Tucked into a sun-dappled corner of the West Village, Bar Pisellino feels like a love letter to Italy. The kind of place where time slows down and the clink of espresso cups is its own kind of music. In the quiet hum of a New York morning, there’s nowhere I’d rather be for a creamy cappuccino and a buttery brioche—warm, delicate, dusted with just enough sugar to feel indulgent but never over the top. On gray, rain-slicked days, I trade in the coffee for a rich, velvety hot chocolate, thick enough to coat the spoon, and a sugar-dusted bombolone that oozes joy (and pastry cream) with every bite. It’s not just a café—it’s a portal straight to the streets of Rome or Milan, without ever leaving Bleecker.
6. West 11th Street
Another beautiful brownstone caught my eye and Pat and I took a right onto West 11th Street. As you walk towards Hudson River, you'll notice a bubblegum pink building inspired by Chupa Chups lollipops. The designer, Schnabel, used Chupi as a nickname for his second wife, so decided to call the building Palazzo Chupi. In the past it had been a stable, a perfume factory, and a water-sampling plant. Now? A lavish condo with art gallery space, pool, and parking. Its whimsical contrast to classic brownstones is striking. A whole article can be written on this building and its history and the why's of how it looks. FYI: I'm not a big fan of Venetian architecture in the West Village.
7. Pier 46 at Hudson River Park
This is definitely more a local thing to do in West Village...We crossed over West St and headed for the Hudson River Greenway. Here there are a ton of piers and NYC parks where you can lay on the grass and watch the skyline by the river. Or, if you're a local, participate in your weekly workouts. You'll never know who you spot out on the green doing their ab set.
8. Christopher Street
We walked back towards the center of West Village on Christopher Street, which is technically the oldest street in West Village. You'll notice as soon as you step foot on the street that it very much may be considered the heart of gay pride in New York. The Stonewall Inn is famous for the police raid that started the 1969 Stonewall riots for the gay liberation movement.
If you keep walking down Christopher Street you'll come across more cute restaurants include Malatesta Trattoria. I personally had to snap a picture of this one because I loved the name. In Italian Malatesta means headache! Another great Italian restaurant with beautiful décor is Gaetana's. Frank Saponara's grandparents moved to Greenwich Village from Italy. As a young boy his mother Gaetana taught him how to cook his favorite Sicilian dishes. Today, he shares them with the rest of New York in his interesting restaurant filled with Frank Sinatra memorabilia and hess trucks.
Your nose will take you all the way to McNulty's Tea & Coffee, which has been an establishment in Greenwich Village since 1895. The smell of coffee beans will drag you down the street and into David's store where you can purchase teas from China, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and any type of coffee blend imaginable. David is even so thoughtful as to have handwritten cards with everyones coffee blend on them, since he knows we all forget what we got "last time."
9. Palma
If you’re hunting for a cozy pasta spot that feels like a warm hug, Palma is it. Tucked behind ivy-draped walls and soft white curtains, this little West Village gem turns even the grayest, most bone-chilling day into a sun-drenched Italian afternoon. The kind where the air smells faintly of fresh basil and slow-simmered tomato sauce, and the pasta arrives like poetry on a plate. Whether it’s raining or snowing, stepping inside feels like spring just bloomed around your table—terracotta warmth, flickering candlelight, and handmade tagliatelle that tastes like it was crafted by someone’s nonna just for you.
10. FRIENDS Apartment
Right off of Christopher Street is the spot where another famous TV show, FRIENDS apartment resides. The apartment can be found at 90 Bedford St, at the corner of Bedford and Grove St. Funny enough, although Monica paid $200 in rent a month for this apartment (like what?), realistically this apartment is worth from $4.2K to $8K a month. But if like me, Friends is one of our favorite TV shows of all time, then you'll appreciate this stop.
11. Hudson Street
I like to think of Hudson Street as another Main Street parallel to West 4th and Bleeker Street that could be considered restaurant row. A ton of cute outdoor restaurants, cafés, and shop line the street.
>> Next: NYC Food Bucket List for Any Time of Day: 44 Places To Add To Your List
4 comments
Makes me feel so much more ready for traveling with my dog and know how great it is for her!
thats wonderful and concise , thanks for taking the time and I just want to grab a camera and go there and adventure !!
I suggest you also go to see Bob Dylan’s old apArtment ob MacDougal just north of Bleecker. Nice iron gate and a few steps down to the door. A coff shop used to be right across the street. Bob
Great recommendation! I’ll add it to the list 🙂