Greenwich Village / West Village Neighborhood Guide

Greenwich Village (also referred to as the West Village and simply, the Village) is my favorite place to get lost on a Saturday afternoon. Escaping from the formal grid structure that dominates north of 14th Street, wandering the streets of Greenwich Village makes me feel as though I've escaped from New York City into some small European city. Many streets are lined with shops, and while the Gap and Virgin Records can still be found, there are many independently owned stores and restaurants to discover. When you've had enough of Manhattan's tall buildings and bustling crowds, Greenwich Village offers a great respite with its calmer, more manageable feel, and the area's shorter buildings allow more sunshine to reach the streets. There are many secret courtyards and small gardens nestled between townhouses on the neighborhood's residential blocks. From Dylan Thomas who infamously drank himself to death at the White Horse Tavern to Bob Dylan who refers to Greenwich Village in many songs, the neighborhood is well known for being home to many artists, writers and musicians. Greenwich Village was the theater for many Beat writers such Allen Ginsberg, Jack Keruouac, and William Burroughs.

Greenwich Village / West Village Map

Greenwich Village / West Village Subways:

• A, C, E and B, D, F, V
  - West 4th Street
• 1
  - Christopher Street/Sheriden Square
  - Houston Street

Greenwich Village / West Village Neighborhood Boundaries

• between 14th Street and West Houston
• from Hudson River to Broadway

Greenwich Village / West Village Architecture

• Breaks from the uptown grid structure with smaller streets that run at a variety of angles.
• Small winding streets, smaller buildings, and unique townhouses give Greenwich Village a European feel.

Greenwich Village Restaurants

• One If By Land, Two If By Sea
• John's Pizzeria
• Magnolia Bakery

Greenwich Village / West Village Attractions

• New York University
• Washington Square Park
• Greenwich Village / West Village Museums
• Bleecker Street
• Greenwich Village Halloween Parade

Greenwich Village / West Village Tours

• Original Greenwich Village Food and Culture Walking Tour
• Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl
• Self-Guided Gourmet Walking Tour of Bleecker Street

Greenwich Village / West Village Shopping

• Bleecker Street
• Bleecker Bob's Records
• Murray's Cheese Shop
• Matt Umanov Guitars