Guidebook for New York

Alex
Guidebook for New York

Food Scene

Best espresso drinks. Best chocolate. Best croissant. Closest. Go for simple breakfast pastries.
19 8th Ave
19 8th Avenue
Best espresso drinks. Best chocolate. Best croissant. Closest. Go for simple breakfast pastries.
This is my CHEERS. Vegan coffee shop. My home away from home. Great sandwiches. Great espresso. Best cupcakes in the city. Period. Try Vanilla vanilla. Try PB&J cookie. Bagels.
45 8th Ave
45 8th Avenue
This is my CHEERS. Vegan coffee shop. My home away from home. Great sandwiches. Great espresso. Best cupcakes in the city. Period. Try Vanilla vanilla. Try PB&J cookie. Bagels.
Grounded is the other coffee shop. It might have better coffee than Snice but it's a bit more backpacky. Still great though for breakfast. Def try it for brek, lunch.
28 Jane St
28 Jane Street
Grounded is the other coffee shop. It might have better coffee than Snice but it's a bit more backpacky. Still great though for breakfast. Def try it for brek, lunch.
Old school NY Cuban diner. Best cafe con leche. Great eggs breakfast. Fantastic lively family. This is old New York from when Chelsea was a dockworkers hood. Great rice and beans.
96 8th Ave
96 8th Avenue
Old school NY Cuban diner. Best cafe con leche. Great eggs breakfast. Fantastic lively family. This is old New York from when Chelsea was a dockworkers hood. Great rice and beans.
Best neighborhood Italian hands down. Family style no bs old school NY Italian. Gnochi pesto. Meatballs. Lively and cozy. Such a great warm family. Reserve gets crowded on weekends. 212-229-9177
621 Hudson St
621 Hudson Street
Best neighborhood Italian hands down. Family style no bs old school NY Italian. Gnochi pesto. Meatballs. Lively and cozy. Such a great warm family. Reserve gets crowded on weekends. 212-229-9177
Best greasy spoon breakfast. During Sandy they had the only generator and worked around the clock serving food. Great folks. Best blueberry pancakes. Good eggs.
28 8th Ave
28 8th Avenue
Best greasy spoon breakfast. During Sandy they had the only generator and worked around the clock serving food. Great folks. Best blueberry pancakes. Good eggs.
Best burger in town. Best fries. Best vegetables. Best turkey burger. I order from here 3 nights a week. Great breakfast too. Gets crowded. Sturdy delivery. 212-741-7971
71 locals recommend
Westville West
210 W 10th St
71 locals recommend
Best burger in town. Best fries. Best vegetables. Best turkey burger. I order from here 3 nights a week. Great breakfast too. Gets crowded. Sturdy delivery. 212-741-7971
If the other Westville is full this Chelsea location is bigger and newer but a bit less quaint.
109 locals recommend
Westville Chelsea
88 W 18th St
109 locals recommend
If the other Westville is full this Chelsea location is bigger and newer but a bit less quaint.
Great sandwich, burger, salad, collegiate style place. Great turkey burger. Great tofu salad. Great fish tacos. Great coffee, beer, wine, cookies. Try raspberry mustard. Will deliver: 212-229-2345
84 locals recommend
The Grey Dog Chelsea
242 W 16th St
84 locals recommend
Great sandwich, burger, salad, collegiate style place. Great turkey burger. Great tofu salad. Great fish tacos. Great coffee, beer, wine, cookies. Try raspberry mustard. Will deliver: 212-229-2345
Great gourmet snacks and to go breakfast, lunch, food. The food's great if you want something to go or to eat in the park or on the bench out front.
17 locals recommend
Bonsignour
35 Jane St
17 locals recommend
Great gourmet snacks and to go breakfast, lunch, food. The food's great if you want something to go or to eat in the park or on the bench out front.
Sex and the City tourbusses jockey for position here. Crack like cupcakes. The east village used to have drug lines now the West has cupcake lines. Great cookies and cakes too...
401 locals recommend
Magnolia Bakery
401 Bleecker St
401 locals recommend
Sex and the City tourbusses jockey for position here. Crack like cupcakes. The east village used to have drug lines now the West has cupcake lines. Great cookies and cakes too...
I"m from Texas and this is the only Mex food I like in NYC. Great fish tacos, great margaritas, great chicken burrito, great salads, great pork tacos and guacamole. Cozy to say the least.
Mexicana Mama
525 Hudson Street
I"m from Texas and this is the only Mex food I like in NYC. Great fish tacos, great margaritas, great chicken burrito, great salads, great pork tacos and guacamole. Cozy to say the least.
I worked here at a low point in my life. The breakfast is great if it's empty. It's gotten a bit corporate. Pretty douchey nightime scene...
50 locals recommend
Pastis
52 Gansevoort St
50 locals recommend
I worked here at a low point in my life. The breakfast is great if it's empty. It's gotten a bit corporate. Pretty douchey nightime scene...
I haven't eaten here. But it looks ok. The bar is beautiful and hideously expensive.
213 locals recommend
The Standard Grill
848 Washington St
213 locals recommend
I haven't eaten here. But it looks ok. The bar is beautiful and hideously expensive.
I like this place for day drinking and descent city Mexican food. Kind of fun. At night it gets pretty hornery and fun and wasted if a bit fratty. Cool staff.
10 locals recommend
Tortilla Flats
767 Washington Street
10 locals recommend
I like this place for day drinking and descent city Mexican food. Kind of fun. At night it gets pretty hornery and fun and wasted if a bit fratty. Cool staff.
If you want the best Veggie Junk food go here or Red Bamboo. Deee-Lish and I'm not even a vegetarian. Great soul nuggets and wings and fajitas burgers, beer wine...
Vegetarian Paradise 2
144 West 4th Street
If you want the best Veggie Junk food go here or Red Bamboo. Deee-Lish and I'm not even a vegetarian. Great soul nuggets and wings and fajitas burgers, beer wine...
If you want the best Veggie Junk food go here or Veg Paradise 2. Deee-Lish and I'm not even a vegetarian. Great soul nuggets and wings and fajitas burgers, beer wine...
14 locals recommend
Red Bamboo
140 West 4th Street
14 locals recommend
If you want the best Veggie Junk food go here or Veg Paradise 2. Deee-Lish and I'm not even a vegetarian. Great soul nuggets and wings and fajitas burgers, beer wine...
Best Israeli Falafel in City. Great carrots. To go only. Delivery is fine but better hot.
116 locals recommend
Taïm
45 Spring St
116 locals recommend
Best Israeli Falafel in City. Great carrots. To go only. Delivery is fine but better hot.
My fave Middle Eastern in the city. Fantastic and on a beautiful street. Great great food. One of my faves.
17 locals recommend
Moustache Pitza
29 Bedford St
17 locals recommend
My fave Middle Eastern in the city. Fantastic and on a beautiful street. Great great food. One of my faves.
Best Steel oven slice in the neighborhood. Village staple. Looks like a dump but Julianne Moore eats here. Good delivery. 212-243-4367
Village Pizza
65 8th Ave
Best Steel oven slice in the neighborhood. Village staple. Looks like a dump but Julianne Moore eats here. Good delivery. 212-243-4367
My fave neighborhood pizza. Not standard NY Pie though. Swampy hippy pizza. Amazing. Try it. Will Deliver: 212-633-9096
65 locals recommend
Two Boots
201 W 11th St
65 locals recommend
My fave neighborhood pizza. Not standard NY Pie though. Swampy hippy pizza. Amazing. Try it. Will Deliver: 212-633-9096
Damn fine Thai. Eat in or delivery. 212-741-1732
6 locals recommend
Royal Siam
240 8th Ave
6 locals recommend
Damn fine Thai. Eat in or delivery. 212-741-1732
My fave new Restaurant. Go for lunch or early dinner to avoid crowds. try rosemary focaccia, pasta with lemon zest and breadcrumbs, olive oil cake for dessert. Amazing.
138 locals recommend
Rosemary's
18 Greenwich Ave
138 locals recommend
My fave new Restaurant. Go for lunch or early dinner to avoid crowds. try rosemary focaccia, pasta with lemon zest and breadcrumbs, olive oil cake for dessert. Amazing.
Sweet dainty tea shop for the Anglophile in you. Have a scone and space out.
31 locals recommend
Tea & Sympathy
108 Greenwich Ave
31 locals recommend
Sweet dainty tea shop for the Anglophile in you. Have a scone and space out.
Next door to Tea and Sympathy you can get your fish and chip on here.
19 locals recommend
A Salt & Battery
112 Greenwich Ave
19 locals recommend
Next door to Tea and Sympathy you can get your fish and chip on here.
Ok I didn't go here for my first decade in the hood, but it's a fun place to have a great frozen margarita outside. The tofu tacos are really good. But that's not Mexican food.
23 locals recommend
Benny's Burritos
113 Greenwich Ave
23 locals recommend
Ok I didn't go here for my first decade in the hood, but it's a fun place to have a great frozen margarita outside. The tofu tacos are really good. But that's not Mexican food.
Best fancy Vegan food in NYC. Delicious. Make a reserve.
24 locals recommend
Blossom on Ninth
72 University Place
24 locals recommend
Best fancy Vegan food in NYC. Delicious. Make a reserve.
Take the F train to Carroll and Walk across the BQE for city's best Sicilian Italian. Over 100 years old Manhattan Special on tap, pannelle special, eggplant caponatina, seafood with garlic and oil.
7 locals recommend
Ferdinando's Focacceria
151 Union Street
7 locals recommend
Take the F train to Carroll and Walk across the BQE for city's best Sicilian Italian. Over 100 years old Manhattan Special on tap, pannelle special, eggplant caponatina, seafood with garlic and oil.
Great great food. Great Great Wine. Steaks, wild game, pasta, fish, this place is the best restaurant In Bklyn Heights and a cozy secret.
17 locals recommend
Henry's End
72 Henry St
17 locals recommend
Great great food. Great Great Wine. Steaks, wild game, pasta, fish, this place is the best restaurant In Bklyn Heights and a cozy secret.
Everyone loves this neighborhood Italian in Brooklyn Heights. Walk the promenade and eat here or Henry's End.
39 locals recommend
Noodle Pudding
38 Henry St
39 locals recommend
Everyone loves this neighborhood Italian in Brooklyn Heights. Walk the promenade and eat here or Henry's End.
If you walked the promenade, walk around DUMBO and eat this Chocolate. Or catch a show at St. Anne's.
34 locals recommend
Jacques Torres Chocolate - DUMBO
66 Water St
34 locals recommend
If you walked the promenade, walk around DUMBO and eat this Chocolate. Or catch a show at St. Anne's.
I like this family style Italian. It's unpretentious and has really good cheesecake. If you happen to be around Park Slope.
Aunt Suzie's Restaurant
247 5th Ave
I like this family style Italian. It's unpretentious and has really good cheesecake. If you happen to be around Park Slope.
East village staple. Even after they remodeled using Starbucks color scheme. Go here. Great soups, blintzes, mushroom barley, pancakes, whatever. 24 hour Ukranian diner.
235 locals recommend
Veselka
144 2nd Ave
235 locals recommend
East village staple. Even after they remodeled using Starbucks color scheme. Go here. Great soups, blintzes, mushroom barley, pancakes, whatever. 24 hour Ukranian diner.
Secret sushi. Solid. Chill. Cool.
Natori
58 Saint Marks Place
Secret sushi. Solid. Chill. Cool.
Best neighborhood sushi. Run by Floyd. Tell him you're a friend of Alex, he'll hook you up. Has a fun back room with Karaoke. Great toro tartar. Great spicy eel roll. even has cocaine roll, dick roll
Sakura Hana
615 Hudson St
Best neighborhood sushi. Run by Floyd. Tell him you're a friend of Alex, he'll hook you up. Has a fun back room with Karaoke. Great toro tartar. Great spicy eel roll. even has cocaine roll, dick roll
Great coffee. Best new Italian in the immediate hood. Great lemon pasta. Casual.
31 locals recommend
Cafe Minerva
302 West 4th Street
31 locals recommend
Great coffee. Best new Italian in the immediate hood. Great lemon pasta. Casual.
Good asian fusion. I hate those two words together.
16 locals recommend
Cafe Asean
117 W 10th St
16 locals recommend
Good asian fusion. I hate those two words together.
My fave brunch in the East Village. Try the pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon yogurt. Insane.
89 locals recommend
Cafe Orlin
89 locals recommend
My fave brunch in the East Village. Try the pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon yogurt. Insane.
This restaurant is delicious AND has the widest selection of GLUTEN FREE foods around the village. I love the panninis. I misspelled that.
8 locals recommend
Risotteria bleecker street
270 Bleecker St
8 locals recommend
This restaurant is delicious AND has the widest selection of GLUTEN FREE foods around the village. I love the panninis. I misspelled that.
This place is pretty good Italian. It's popular too.
156 locals recommend
Supper
156 E 2nd St
156 locals recommend
This place is pretty good Italian. It's popular too.
SOlid Italian in the East Village. I like this better than the cramped flagship one on 2nd ave.
150 locals recommend
Lil Charlie's NYC
19 Kenmare St
150 locals recommend
SOlid Italian in the East Village. I like this better than the cramped flagship one on 2nd ave.
Great sushi. Can get a bit pricey for the East Village.
26 locals recommend
Kanoyama
175 2nd Ave
26 locals recommend
Great sushi. Can get a bit pricey for the East Village.
Yogis and yoginis rub shakras with celebutantes and trustafarians. Great food unless you want to eat animals.
7 locals recommend
Jivamuktea Cafe
841 Broadway
7 locals recommend
Yogis and yoginis rub shakras with celebutantes and trustafarians. Great food unless you want to eat animals.
Go get cookies here. They are amazing and it's a chill little place on a beautiful street in the West Village. Walk over to Cherry Lane Theatre.
9 locals recommend
Milk & Cookies Bakery
19 Commerce St
9 locals recommend
Go get cookies here. They are amazing and it's a chill little place on a beautiful street in the West Village. Walk over to Cherry Lane Theatre.
This place is older than Vaselka. Get a grilled cheese. Or an egg cream. Or an omelette. Or soup. Chill at the counter. Yup the whole East Village used to be like this.
24 locals recommend
B&H Dairy
127 2nd Ave
24 locals recommend
This place is older than Vaselka. Get a grilled cheese. Or an egg cream. Or an omelette. Or soup. Chill at the counter. Yup the whole East Village used to be like this.
Solid Thai in the East Village. Never crowded. Happy hour.
9 locals recommend
Hub Thai
50 Avenue A
9 locals recommend
Solid Thai in the East Village. Never crowded. Happy hour.
Pricey famous and delicious. If you go late you can get in. Be prepared to hemorrhage cash.
67 locals recommend
Babbo
110 Waverly Pl
67 locals recommend
Pricey famous and delicious. If you go late you can get in. Be prepared to hemorrhage cash.
Great coffee. Lunch and phenomenal cookies. Pretzel croissants are my fave too.
39 locals recommend
The City Bakery
3 W 18th St
39 locals recommend
Great coffee. Lunch and phenomenal cookies. Pretzel croissants are my fave too.
Pricey, pretentious Tuscan Italian. Delicious though.
9 locals recommend
Da Silvano
260 6th Ave
9 locals recommend
Pricey, pretentious Tuscan Italian. Delicious though.
I love this restaurant. There's also one on 3rd ave around 37th. Just great fresh food. Tuna burger great. Spag with turkey meatballs. IF you're on the upper West side go here.
25 locals recommend
Josie's
300 Amsterdam Ave
25 locals recommend
I love this restaurant. There's also one on 3rd ave around 37th. Just great fresh food. Tuna burger great. Spag with turkey meatballs. IF you're on the upper West side go here.
If you want Indian this is way better than most fare on 6th Street. I haven't eaten at this one but the one in Queens was worth the trek.
Jackson Diner
72 University Pl
If you want Indian this is way better than most fare on 6th Street. I haven't eaten at this one but the one in Queens was worth the trek.

Drinks & Nightlife

Great bar. Greater hamburgers. Some of the city's best. They serve late. Famous old village dive. Can get banky.
331 West 4th Street
331 West 4th Street
Great bar. Greater hamburgers. Some of the city's best. They serve late. Famous old village dive. Can get banky.
Supposedly Dylan Thomas died at the bar here. If you go in you'll see why. Great old bar. Lame crowd.
58 locals recommend
White Horse Tavern
567 Hudson Street
58 locals recommend
Supposedly Dylan Thomas died at the bar here. If you go in you'll see why. Great old bar. Lame crowd.
An air bubble in the increasingly annoying meatpacking scene. Chill storefront wine bar.
Ara Coffee & Wine Bar
24 9th Avenue
An air bubble in the increasingly annoying meatpacking scene. Chill storefront wine bar.

Everything Else

Best steak in NYC. Oldest steakhouse in NYC. Nuff said. Best Cheesecake in Manhattan. Get Strip Steak au Poivre, (sauce on side) and mash. Pays to reserve. 212-242-9040
56 9th Ave
56 9th Avenue
Best steak in NYC. Oldest steakhouse in NYC. Nuff said. Best Cheesecake in Manhattan. Get Strip Steak au Poivre, (sauce on side) and mash. Pays to reserve. 212-242-9040
My fave late night soho eatery. They have a DJ yeah, and sure Keith McNally technically owns it, but the food is awesome. Bistro french. Great burgers, steaks, pasta, salads, BREAD PUDDING!
45 locals recommend
Lucky Strike
59 Grand St
45 locals recommend
My fave late night soho eatery. They have a DJ yeah, and sure Keith McNally technically owns it, but the food is awesome. Bistro french. Great burgers, steaks, pasta, salads, BREAD PUDDING!
Have to go. Hit the sculpture garden, walk in the park after.
2653 locals recommend
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Ave
2653 locals recommend
Have to go. Hit the sculpture garden, walk in the park after.
Have to go. Walk in the park after.
2114 locals recommend
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Street
2114 locals recommend
Have to go. Walk in the park after.
My favorite NY Pizza since the 70's. Beastie Boys shot an album cover here. Open late. Now has beer on tap.
15 locals recommend
Stromboli Pizza
83 St Marks Pl
15 locals recommend
My favorite NY Pizza since the 70's. Beastie Boys shot an album cover here. Open late. Now has beer on tap.
Fastest dry cleaners in the hood. They also know me and will deliver to the doorman.
Van Gogh Cleaners & Tailors
48 8th Ave
Fastest dry cleaners in the hood. They also know me and will deliver to the doorman.

Shopping

Our very own City Lights style bookstore.
Left Bank Books
17 8th Ave
Our very own City Lights style bookstore.
Best news stand in the Village owned by two lively Pakistani men.
22 8th Ave
22 8th Avenue
Best news stand in the Village owned by two lively Pakistani men.
Everyone goes here eventually. There's like 4 of them in a 4 block radius. Even one for kids.
12 locals recommend
Marc Jacobs Beauty
385 Bleecker St
12 locals recommend
Everyone goes here eventually. There's like 4 of them in a 4 block radius. Even one for kids.
Guys will love to shop here. Unless you want to go to Bleeker Street...
7 locals recommend
Dave's New york
581 6th Ave
7 locals recommend
Guys will love to shop here. Unless you want to go to Bleeker Street...
Best men's vintage boot selection. This place can be pricey but not as pricey as when Ralph Lauren sends his minions from the Country Store to cart it across town and double the price.
Stock Vintage
143 E 13th St
Best men's vintage boot selection. This place can be pricey but not as pricey as when Ralph Lauren sends his minions from the Country Store to cart it across town and double the price.

Sightseeing

You have to walk the high line. You just do. It's so beautiful. Look up at the Standard Hotel and see people getting nasty in the windows. Free live show.
2323 locals recommend
The High Line Park
2323 locals recommend
You have to walk the high line. You just do. It's so beautiful. Look up at the Standard Hotel and see people getting nasty in the windows. Free live show.
Go here and you'll see where a lot of films were shot. Prizzi's Honor. Part of the Godfather, Once upon a Time in America. Walk around then eat at Henry's End or Noodle Pudding.
407 locals recommend
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Pierrepont Place
407 locals recommend
Go here and you'll see where a lot of films were shot. Prizzi's Honor. Part of the Godfather, Once upon a Time in America. Walk around then eat at Henry's End or Noodle Pudding.

Arts & Culture

Beautiful nightclub if you're into that sort of thing. I'm not but I've been to some parties here that were amazing and I fantasized about coming back.
221 locals recommend
Le Bain
848 Washington St
221 locals recommend
Beautiful nightclub if you're into that sort of thing. I'm not but I've been to some parties here that were amazing and I fantasized about coming back.
Might be the most interesting Performing Arts Venue in the City. Check out who's here. Beautiful hood.
52 locals recommend
St. Ann's Warehouse
45 Water St
52 locals recommend
Might be the most interesting Performing Arts Venue in the City. Check out who's here. Beautiful hood.
Scott Morfee programs the best commercial Off-Bway fare in the city. Check out Buyer and Cellar.
8 locals recommend
Barrow Street Theatricals
131 W 55th St
8 locals recommend
Scott Morfee programs the best commercial Off-Bway fare in the city. Check out Buyer and Cellar.
One of my favorite Off-Bway gems in the city.
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
224 Waverly Pl
One of my favorite Off-Bway gems in the city.
Oldest Off Bway Theatre in the city. Beautiful street. Now go to Milk and Cookies.
27 locals recommend
Cherry Lane Theatre
38 Commerce St
27 locals recommend
Oldest Off Bway Theatre in the city. Beautiful street. Now go to Milk and Cookies.

Essentials

Closest best supermarket
151 locals recommend
D'Agostino
528 3rd Ave
151 locals recommend
Closest best supermarket
I mostly do all my shopping here because I'm lazy and I love the family that owns it.
Spyros Food Mart
11 8th Ave
I mostly do all my shopping here because I'm lazy and I love the family that owns it.