Best of the West Village
Ten West Village institutions, verified open as of July 2026, from Via Carota's line to a tavern pouring drinks since 1880.
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- 1West Village · $$ · 51 Grove St
A rustic Italian gastroteca from Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, serving seasonal small plates, pastas, and the famous insalata verde.
Because it is still run by the same two chefs who opened it, Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, and its Michelin Guide listing was confirmed live in July 2026.
Order The insalata verde, the green salad that built the restaurant's reputation
Arrive right at opening, 11am on weekdays or 10am on weekends, since small tables are walk-in only and the wait grows fast after that.
- 2West Village · $$ · 314 Bleecker St
An understated Tuscan trattoria from Rita Sodi, known for its lasagna bolognese and a line that rarely lets up.
Because it is Rita Sodi's original solo restaurant on Bleecker Street, and The Infatuation called its lasagna bolognese "some of the most impressive, understated Italian food in New York."
Order Lasagna bolognese
Book on Resy several weeks out for dinner, since the room is small and walk-in seats are rare.
- 3West Village · $$$ · 42 Grove St
Also No. 2 on Best Brunch in Manhattan → · No. 8 on Best French in Manhattan →
Map ↗verified 7w agoA tiny French gastrothèque, part wine bar and part café, serving tartines, terrines, and steamed eggs since 2011.
Because it has poured wine and served steamed eggs from the same Grove Street corner since 2011, and it is still open daily from 8am to midnight.
Order Oeufs en cocotte, the steamed eggs, with a glass of Muscadet
Go on a weekday morning for breakfast if you want a seat without a wait, since weekend brunch lines stretch down the block.
From @buvettenyc on Instagram, shown through Instagram's own embed player.
- 4West Village · $ · 7 Carmine St
Also No. 1 on Best Pizza in Manhattan → · No. 3 on Best Pizza in NYC →
A classic thin-crust NYC slice shop, open since 1975, the walk-up pizza counter every Village night ends near.
Because New York Magazine named it Best Slice in New York, and it has been serving cheese slices from the same Carmine Street corner since 1975.
Order A plain cheese slice
Grab a slice to go rather than waiting for a table, it stays open past 3am most nights for a late one.
Photo: Rob Young, CC BY 2.0 Photo: Rob Young, CC BY 2.0 - 5West Village · $$ · 567 Hudson St
Also No. 6 on Best Historic Bars in NYC →
A landmarked 1880 tavern, the second-oldest continuously run bar in New York City, with its original tin ceiling still overhead.
Because it opened in 1880 and still pours drinks under its original tin ceiling, the same room where Dylan Thomas reportedly had his last drink.
Order A draft beer at the bar under the original tin ceiling
Confirm you are heading to Hudson Street in the West Village, since a different bar in the Financial District shares the name.
From @whitehorsetavern1880 on Instagram, shown through Instagram's own embed player.
- 6West Village · $$ · 17 Barrow St
A prix-fixe fine-dining restaurant inside a 1767 carriage house once owned by Aaron Burr, with a fireplace, garden views, and live piano.
Because the dining room sits inside an actual 1767 carriage house once owned by Aaron Burr, with a working fireplace and a pianist most nights.
Order The prix-fixe dinner, timed for a table near the fireplace
Book through Resy a few weeks ahead for a weekend table, since this is one of the first rooms in the neighborhood that fills up for anniversaries.
- 7West Village · $$ · 401 Bleecker St
The original 1996 Magnolia Bakery storefront on the corner of Bleecker and West 11th, known for banana pudding and red velvet cupcakes.
Because this is the actual 1996 storefront that appeared in Sex and the City and helped start the modern cupcake craze, still on the same Bleecker Street corner.
Order Banana pudding
Order the banana pudding to go, since seating inside is limited to a handful of small tables.
- 8West Village · $$ · 90 Bedford St
A tiny Mediterranean-American bistro, about ten tables, from chef Joey Campanaro, in the corner building shown in the Friends opening credits.
Because it occupies the same Bedford and Grove corner building shown in the Friends opening credits, and it is still serving the bacon cheeseburger that built its name.
Order The bacon cheeseburger
Reserve ahead, since the ten-table room rarely has walk-in seats free on weekend nights.
- 9West Village · $$ · 344 W 11th St
An elegant Austrian restaurant from chef Kurt Gutenbrunner, serving schnitzel, spätzle, and Sachertorte in an art-filled townhouse dining room.
Because it held a Michelin star continuously from 2006 to 2022 and still serves the same Wiener schnitzel in the same West 11th Street townhouse.
Order Wiener schnitzel, with a glass of Gruner Veltliner
Go on a weeknight for a quieter table, since the small dining room fills up fast on weekends.
- 10West Village · $$$ · 510 Hudson St
Also No. 3 on Best Late-Night Eats in NYC → · No. 6 on Best Cocktail Bars in Manhattan →
A speakeasy-style craft cocktail bar and kitchen behind an unmarked storefront with a palm reader out front, open since 2004.
Because it was ranked No. 45 on North America's 50 Best Bars 2026, and you still have to walk past a palm reader's neon sign to find the door.
Order A classic cocktail off the late-night menu
Look for the Psychic sign on Hudson Street, that is the entrance, and go later in the evening once the bar settles in.
From @employeesonlyny on Instagram, shown through Instagram's own embed player.