East Village, NYC neighborhood guide
Famed for its punk glory days, East Village, NYC abounds with no-frills dives, grungy tattoo shops and record stores
East Village, NYC is considered the birthplace of punk, and while the downtown nabe has undergone many changes over the years, the area is still loaded with dives, grungy tattoo shops, old-school record stores and more. Whether you frequent the neighborhood to have a picnic in Tompkins Square Park, slurp drinks at tiki bars, or scoop up sweet throwbacks at vintage clothing stores, the East Village has so much to offer.
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Things to do in the East Village, NYC
Best East Village restaurants
Chef Jeremy Spector's polished East Village eatery provides a refreshing change of pace from the comfort-food trend. From a selection of small plates we enjoyed an inspired take on poutine: fries topped with duck gravy, cheese curds, shredded duck confit and crackly skin, a great match for local beers like Keegan's malty Mother's Milk. A cod entre offered a neat rectangle of flaky fish over verdant vegetables—fava beans, asparagus, green onion. With chefs dumbing down all over town, Brindle Room offers something audacious: well-executed international fare that's mature and refined without being stuffy. 277 E 10th St between First Ave and Ave A (212-529-9702, brindleroom.com) DBGB Even in a city awash in unruly menus, the one at DBGB—chef Daniel Boulud's most populist venture—stands out for its kitchen-sink scope. There's high-end junk food in the form of sausages (the best of the bunch is the Beaujolaise, infused with red wine, bacon and mushrooms). And there's haute bistro fare like pink duck breast with boozy cherries and marcona almonds. The best way to get your head around the schizophrenic enterprise is to bring a large group and sample the range—including a sundae, layered with cherry-flavored kriek-beer ice cream and speculoos cookies, for dessert. 299 Bowery at E Houston St (212-933-5300, www.danielnyc.com) Hearth The East Village needed a Hearth—an upscale yet relaxed place that wasn't just another surprisingly good ethnic hole-in-the-wall. Skirting the sm
The best East Village bars you’ve got to try
The dive bars are still there, sure, but the best East Village bars have expanded to include acclaimed cocktail dens, on-tap wine bars and relaxed beer halls and beer gardens. Whether you’re craving a beer-and-shot combo or a composed cocktail, these are the neighborhood’s best drinking spots to try right now. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in NYC
The best shops in the East Village
The East Village has a growing number of great shops, which reflect the neighborhood’s young and hip demographic. Vintage shops and resale emporiums are the heavy hitters, but scour the streets and you'll find standout home decor stores, bookstores and sunglass emporiums that won't disappoint. Use our guide to discover the best shops in the nabe and you’ll be one step closer to finding the best fashion as well as one-offs that sell everything from lingerie to eco-conscious goods. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the East Village in NYC
The best East Village hotels
Once the seedy underbelly of Manhattan, known for its radical thinkers, artists, beatniks, and other ‘unsavory’ personalities, the East Village, NYC has transformed from macabre to a sought-after, almost bougie, gem. Walking distance from Union Square, the Lower East Side and SoHo, the East River-adjacent area is tucked far enough away to harbor a host of local secrets but is still mainstream, warranting a handful of hotels ideal for the traveler who want to do as the locals do. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to best hotels in NYC
Restaurants in East Village, NYC
Momofuku Ko
David Chang's 22-seat chef's counter is the most expensive restaurant of the Momofuku empire (and the best)
Hearth
The East Village needed a Hearth—an upscale yet relaxed place that wasn’t just another surprisingly good ethnic hole-in-the-wall
Jewel Bako
The East Village’s first real destination sushi bar remains one of the top spots in the neighborhood for pristine raw fish
Bars in East Village, NYC
Mother of Pearl
Like the menu, the cozy teal-and-white den is rife with time-warp nod
Hotels in East Village, NYC
The Standard East Village
The 21-story tenement-style East Village iteration of the iconic Meatpacking District hotel features a fair amount of original amenities
East Village Hotel
Situated above local coffee joint, The Bean, the East Village Hotel is reminiscent of a studio apartment
The Bowery Hotel
The Bowery’s namesake hotel embodies the ethos of the neighborhood: classic, stylish, and a little bit cooler than you
Hotel 17
Shabby chic is the best way to describe this hotel, located a few blocks from Union Square
