Downtown NYC throwdown: The best of the East and West Villages

The East and West Village of Manhattan have been captured in books and movies and by artists and musicians. The West Village, bordering Greenwich Village, used to be a haven for eccentric artists, but these days, it’s where the trendsetters go with money to burn, seeking sophisticated surprises. 

The East Village is still a mixture of bohemian lifestyles next to Gen Z professionals. The streets feel different from one block to the next and are constantly reinventing themselves. Culture is on the rise down here, but one can still explore its deep roots in immigrant history.

Downtown neighborhood boundaries are loosely delineated and hotly debated. So, while I may say the West Village, someone might correct me and say it’s the Meatpacking District. The East Village and Alphabet City neighborhoods are sometimes mentioned as one and the same.

Following is a round-up of not-to-be-missed spots on the East and West sides below 14th Street and North of Canal (Chinatown). Take it from a woman who has lived in New York for the past 40 years and her two twenty-something kids who have vetted the list as residents of each neighborhood. 

West Village hit list: Where to eat, sip and stay

The Whitney Museum’s new-ish (2015) building in the Meatpacking District and the opening of the High Line walking paths catapulted this neighborhood into a fabulously buzzing local of glamour, fashion, and art. At The Whitney, the focus is on modern American art. The permanent collection holds some 23,000 works, including greats by Cy Twombly and Jasper Johns. But even if contemporary art isn’t your thing, the building alone is worth a visit. By Architect Renzo Piano, the outdoor terraces give views uptown and down, overlooking both the High Line and the Hudson River. It’s a modern-industrial masterpiece with pine floors and oversized windows that fill the vast galleries with light. 

There are so many fine restaurants and cocktail bars in the West Village, but right now, my favorite is the Lavaux Wine Bar. You’ve taken a trip to the Lake Geneva Region of Switzerland when you step into this blue jewel box of a restaurant. Try their Chasselas wine. This is probably one of the few places in the States you can! My favorite fondue on the menu is The Three Cheeses, a velvety mix of Gruyère, Vacherin, and Val de Bagnes. On Tuesday nights, join the Secret Message Party, send a note to another table via the “messenger,” and see what happens. 

Treat yourself to a coffee and pastry at St. George Coffee on Barrow Street. This chic, light-filled coffee shop makes you forget you’re on 7th Ave, which can be busy! They also serve affordable wine, fresh bread, and yummy bites. 

Sip&Guzzle was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award, Best New Bar 2025. They take cocktailing seriously with artful pours in fancy glasses. From dusted rims to designer ice cubes, the drinks are so pretty you won’t want to touch them! The vibe is pure swank but friendly, too!  

West Side stays: Sleep in style

It’s a toss-up between The Standard and The Gansevoort hotels in the Meatpacking neighborhood. The Standard does have spectacular views and outdoor spaces. Like most of the brand’s hotels, The Standard High Line caters to a non-traditional crowd. It’s an “Anything can happen,” kind of place. The Gansevoort skews more business-like, private clubby, and adult. It also has swanky outdoor space, including a rooftop pool with views of the Freedom Tower downtown. 

The East Village cheat sheet

You may have visited the Tenement Museum if you’ve raised children in or near New York City. The museum’s founders discovered a dilapidated building at 97 Orchard Street that was shuttered and virtually unchanged for 50 years. The building and the artifacts found there told the story of regular families who had lived in its apartments from the 1860s to the 1930s. 

Today, through guided tours, visitors journey through the eyes of immigrant families by seeing just how they lived. The museum’s mandate is to provide an immersive experience that explores American identity, “One with moments of both inclusion and exclusion.”  

As far as comedy clubs go, the New York Comedy Club on East 4th Street is underrated. They feature new talent and established “surprise guests” on a simple, bare-bones brick wall stage. It’s all about the laugh–a classic NYC LES (Lower East Side) spot. 

A legendary East Village watering hole is McSorley’s Old Ale House. With good reason, this is on most tourism guides, but residents and regulars of the East Village love the place. There are two drink options–light and dark beer, no music, no frills. It’s an Irish pub dating back to the mid-1800s. They don’t need to impress you. 

My guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Ukrainian coffee shop standby Veselka. Since 1954 Veselka has been serving up pierogies (crispy fried or boiled chewy), pancakes, and more to club kids and grannies alike. It’s an East Village institution. Support Ukrainian relief efforts by ordering the Stand With Ukraine Bowl – two potato, two braised beef, and two sauerkraut-mushroom pierogi, topped with caramelized onion, grilled kielbasa, and a slab of bacon. 

Of course, fine dining can be had in the East Village, too. Michelin-starred restaurant Tuome on East 5th Street will surprise any stalwart foodie. Its mind-bending, yummy, creative dishes are the likes of which only a Chinese-American native New Yorker trained at Eleven Madison Park chef could do! Chef Thomas Chen is to thank for Tuome, pronounced: “tow-me.” He has held on to his Michelin Star for the past six years. Also, Tuome has received a 2-star review from the notoriously stingy-with-stars New York Times. 

Where to sleep (and recover) on the East Side

The Ludlow is smack in the middle of NYC’s Eastside downtown club and bar scene, but it offers a cozy-cool escape from the hubbub. Think big club chairs, roaring fire, Keith Haring art. There are several room categories to choose from–sleep like a rockstar or a studio musician. Have a cocktail in the Garden, a misnomer since it’s more like an enclosed Moroccan-inspired patio–dreamy, all the same.

From suits to soundtracks

In the early 80s, I purchased my first business suit in this part of town. It was considered a Jewish neighborhood with fine European suiting, fabric stores, home goods, Kosher eateries, and synagogues. Rents were affordable, and the neighborhood turned hip. Enter music venues, art galleries, and vintage clothing shops. Now, it’s mostly gentrified, but many 19th-century buildings populate the neighborhood.

Whatever brings you downtown to the Lower East or West Side neighborhoods, you’re in for some fun. Both neighborhoods are great just to bop around! And you’ll be hanging with the hipsters of every age in New York City.  

Cathie Arquilla

Cathie Arquilla is a travel writer from New York City. When she’s not traveling, she helps women look their best as a NYC fashion stylist.