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, Gramercy, Midtown and NoHo neighbourhood guides.

A bit of East Village history

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.

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

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! 

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.

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.

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 pioneers of the modern speakeasy craze. 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 or Mother of Pearl while you wait.

Mother of Pearl

One of my favourite low key bars in East Village, Mother of Pearl is a pretty, Polynesian-inspired cocktail bar. In summer, I love sitting on their patio and watching the world go by – East Village is great for people watching.

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.

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