West Village in New York

West Village in New York is a neighbourhood in Manhattan. It’s a residential area, but one full of nice shops and restaurants – and lots of celebrities as well! To give you an idea: the neighbourhood is south of Chelsea, north of Hudson Square and South Village, east of the Hudson River and west of Greenwich Village.

West Village and Little Bohemia

West Village actually is the western part of Greenwich Village. It was founded in 1916 and was quickly nicknamed “Little Bohemia”, due to the bohemian lifestyle of its residents. You’ll see artists’ houses, adding to the neighbourhood’s charm. Another unique neighbourhood speciality is the fact that its streets don’t follow New York’s grid system. This is not only confusing for you as a tourist – even for New Yorkers, it can be quite a challenge. You really do need a map here. Or not, because West Village is actually the perfect area to wander around aimlessly. You will come across great places doing so! Visit for example the famous cupcake bakery: Magnolia Bakery and High Line Park that connects West Village to Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and Hudson Yards. In northern West Village, you’ll find the popular Meatpacking District.

Jefferson Market Library

Originally, the Jefferson Market Library was a courthouse, with a jail and a market. From 1945, the building was no longer used as a courthouse and it was in danger of being torn down. This was until 1961, when the New York Public Library agreed to renovate the building into a library. Nowadays you can walk around the old police court, which is now the Children’s Reading Room, or see the Civil Court where you now can find the Adult Reading Room.

A Dynamic and European Neighbourhood

Broad, quiet, tree-lined streets – like Commerce Street – go hand in hand with cute cobblestone streets. This specific streetscape gives West Village its ‘European’ appearance. Looking beyond this cutesy impression, you’ll find a huge dynamic district though, trendsetting and stylish. It’s busy, without the rushed feeling. People enjoy their drinks in fancy restaurants and there’s a typical, village-like atmosphere. In addition to the celebrities who live here, loads of bachelors populate West Village as well. People living in the area are young and highly educated creatives, and you won’t find many children or the elderly.

Restaurants in West Village

If you’re in the ‘wild’ west, it’s great to eat accordingly. Cowgirl is a restaurant located at 519 Hudson Street. The food isn’t anything spectacular, just some good Tex Mex/South American food. The kitschy appearance adds to the experience and the ‘baked potato’ dessert is worth a try! If you want to keep the ‘cowboy vibe’ White Horse Tavern is also worth a visit. In this restaurant time has stood still, you almost expect some visitors to start a fight over a stolen horse. Which of course doesn’t happen, but there is still plenty to see, from the characteristic visitors at the bar to the many images and artefacts on the walls. Another nice place to grab a bite is the Bus Stop Cafe; a very local place without any tourists, that serves simple but good food. If you’d like to sample local bites of several family businesses in the neighbourhood, you can do the West Village Food Tour.

Hotels in West Village

There are very few hotels in West Village, but if you’d like to stay in this area you can book a room at The Jane. Another option is the Victorian-style inn Incentra Village. This guesthouse offers rooms, all with a working fireplace, in a great location in the neighbourhood. Staying here makes you feel like you went back to the 19th century, a very special experience.