The East Village is New York City‘s original counterculture neighborhood, and one of the most iconic New York City neighbourhoods to visit. As the birthplace of punk rock, dozens of major musicians launched their careers here, such as Madonna, Blondie, Talking Heads, Pink Floyd and The Strokes to name a few. Despite the changes that have swept the neighborhood over the last thirty years, East Village clings to it’s alternative past and longtime residents still march to the beat of their own drum.
In this East Village neighborhood guide I’ve rounded up the most beautiful spots, and the best bars, restaurants and cafes in East Village. I lived in New York City for nearly two years, and loved spending weekends in East Village. I love the neighbourhood’s character, vintage shopping, cocktail bars & excellent bagels!
Check out my New York City Travel Guide for more tips & ideas on visiting the city, as well as my SoHo, Nolita, West Village, Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Gramercy, Midtown and NoHo neighbourhood guides.
A brief history of East Village
East Village was once part of the Lower East Side, which was known for it’s slums, crime and dilapidated tenement housing. The Beatniks made East Village cool, and as waves of artists, students and hippies started to move in in the 1960s, the area was named East Village, to differentiate it from the Lower East Side to the south. In the 80s, art galleries in the East Village were among the first to exhibit the work of artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring.
The easiest way to get to East Village is to catch the 6 to Astor Place.
Planning a trip to New York City? Check out my New York City Travel Guide.
Is East Village a good place to stay in NYC?
Yes, East Village can be a great place to stay in New York City, providing you stay in the right areas. Staying close to the Astor Place or 3rd Avenue subway station will make it easy to get around.
Avoid “Alphabet City” which is Avenue A, B, C & D, which has poor public transport options and in my opinion, feels a bit sketchy. Staying in the western half of East Village, around 1st, 2nd and 3rd avenue, closer to neighbourhoods like Union Square and NoHo would be my recommendation. I would avoid staying on Houston St or potentially even E 1st St, as when I lived in New York this area could feel a bit less safe.
Read the reviews of your accommodation to get a better idea of the safety of that area or particular block.
Best hotels in East Village
The Standard East Village $$$ – The Standard East Village is in a perfect East Village location, on the border of East Village and trendy NoHo. The Standard is one of my favourite US hotel brands, and I’ve stayed with them twice, at The Standard High Line in the Meatpacking District and (now closed) LA hotels. An onsite Cafe Standard and award-winning New American restaurant, Narcissa, also mean you’ve got some easy dining options at your fingertips.
The Bowery $$$ – At the intersection of East Village and the Lower East Side, The Bowery is an ultra glam East Village hotel. While I wouldn’t recommend this particular location for families, it’s in the heart of New York City’s nightlife.
Things to do in East Village
Hang out in Tompkins Square Park
East Village’s green spaces are small but charming, and always teeming with life. Tompkins Square Park is the main park in East Village, and is always a nice spot to stop.
Shop at The Strand bookstore
The Strand is one of the most famous and beloved book stores in New York City, and is reportedly one of the largest in the world. In addition to new and noteworthy titles, there’s also a huge second hand section, making it easy to pick up a bargain.
Photograph Stuyvesant Place
One of the prettiest buildings in East Village is on the end of Stuyevsant Place. There’s often a few photographers hanging around, capturing the pretty vine-covered building as it changes through the seasons. It’s an iconic spot in the East Village.
The best places to eat in East Village
Veselka
The East Village has a large Ukrainian population, and a number of Eastern European restaurants as a result. Veselka is a 24-hour Ukrainian diner which has been open since 1954. This East Village institution is cheap and cheerful, and EXACTLY what you need on a chilly day in New York City. The Matzo Ball Soup is a classic and the Banana Cream Pie is delicious!
Thursday Kitchen
Thursday Kitchen is a Korean-American small plates restaurant that is firmly off the tourist trail. Owner-Chef Kyungmin Kay Hyun loves to take inspiration from cuisines all over the world, but it’s never gimmicky. This is a great spot for an affordable, inventive and delicious dinner. Plus they’ve got glow in the dark sochu cocktails, served in plastic pouches.
Tompkins Square Bagels
I don’t know why Tompkins Square Bagels isn’t famous, but I’m not complaining – it’s one of my favourite bagel shops in New York City and unlike so many of my other favourites, there’s never a crazy queue. Grab a bagel and take it across to Tompkins Square Park, if the weather is nice.
Milk Bar
New York City’s modern dessert queen Christina Tosi has opened her famous Milk Bar dessert kiosks all over the city, but the original is in East Village. While working as a pastry chef at Momofuku Noodle Bar, Christina opened a standalone dessert window beside Momofuku to bring her junk-food inspired baked goods to the world. You can see the whole story on Chef’s Table on Netflix, which has an episode featuring Tosi and Milk Bar. I love her famous Cereal Milk ice cream and cornflake cookies!
Ippudo
Ippudo is one of the most popular ramen spots in East Village, which is no small feat given the neighborhood’s abundance of great Asian food. The cavernous restaurant is always busy, and naturally, they’ve got an extensive ramen menu which will suit just about any tastebuds.
The best bars in East Village
Death & Co
Death & Co is one of the most famous bars in the world, and one of the very best cocktail bars in New York City. Unlike many imitators, Death & Co is the real deal, and is well worth a visit when you’re in New York. Be prepared for a wait to get in, and check out nearby Amor y Amargo while you wait.
Miss Lily’s
There’s always a party in full swing at Miss Lily’s, a lively Caribbean bar that is well known for it’s weekend brunch parties. The decor is Jamaica meets 1980s East Village diner, and it’s ALWAYS packed. The menu is full of Caribbean comfort food, with plenty of jerk spices.
McSorley’s Old Ale House
McSorley’s Old Ale House is one of the oldest bars in America, and it looks every bit of it’s 150+ years. The bar has barely changed in decades, and is often used in period films and television shows as a result. The menu hasn’t changed either – you’ve got a choice of light or dark beer, or if you’re a non beer drinker like me, you’re getting ginger ale. It’s cheap, cheerful and like stepping back in time.
Further Reading
Essential NYC Travel Guides
NYC Neighbourhood Guides
- West Village Neighbourhood Guide
- SoHo Neighbourhood Guide
- Meatpacking District Neighbourhood Guide
- Midtown Manhattan Neighbourhood Guide
- Flatiron, Gramercy & NoMad Neighbourhood Guide
- Nolita Neighbourhood Guide
- Upper East Side Neighbourhood Guide
- Upper West Side Neighbourhood Guide
- Lower East Side Neighbourhood Guide
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived in New York City and now live back in Australia, in Melbourne.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
The Wanderbug is reader supported. This site may contain links to affiliate websites, which means when you buy through links on this site I may receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
9 thoughts on “East Village: NYC Neighborhood Guide”