Guide to Greenwich Village restaurants, shops & bars
Contents
New York City’s Greenwich Village is a must-visit. Here’s a quick tour through Greenwich Ave packed with delicious restaurants, bars, and alternative 9/11 history.
Practical Info
Greenwich Village, also known as the West Village, is the popular and quaint area between 14th and Houston Streets, separated from the East Village by 5th Avenue. The West Village keeps its neighborhood feeling with beautiful old townhomes and tree-lined streets. And because it is also a historic district, building heights are restricted and protected by law. But because of the historic designation it also retains original crisscrossing streets that can be confusing. One of the nicest of these diagonal running streets is Greenwich Ave. A visit to the West Village should definitely include a quick stroll down this quaint and historic street.
Where is it?
Greenwich Avenue, not to be confused with Greenwich Street, runs diagonal starting at Sixth Avenue and W 8th St, crosses over Seventh Avenue, and ends at Eighth Avenue and W 13th St.
This tour starts at 6th Ave and 8th St. and ends at W 13th St.
The Jefferson Market Library is a beautiful historic building with a clock tower that is right on the crossroads of Greenwich Ave and 6th Ave. A former courthouse, it was co-designed by Calvert Vaux who also co-designed Central Park. There is also a lovely flower garden adjacent to the library.
Across the street from the library at 21 Greenwich Ave is Italian restaurant Grano Trattoria. Brick oven pizzas and delicious Italian dishes can be enjoyed at this low-key restaurant.
Walk north over 10th St and cross over to the right side of Greenwich Ave and there are some more great restaurants right next to each other. At 24 Greenwich Ave is the sushi restaurant Funayama. At 28 Greenwich Ave are the Indian restaurant’s Thali and Lassi.
For a sweet treat try the Lafayette Bakery at 26 Greenwich Ave.
Further up the avenue at number 46 is coffee house Greenwich Treehouse. It occupies the space of the late Caffe Dell Artista.
Irish Pub Fiddlesticks is at 54-58 Greenwich Ave. This bar is the unofficial home of FDNY Squad 18 whose firehouse is located on 10th St near Grano Trattoria. Squad 18 were first responders during the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks and several of the men were killed. Also, worth noting is the building housing this bar has a strange-looking roof molding, cross the street to see the artistic interpretation of the traditional silhouette.
Also on this side of the ave is tapas restaurant Matador at number 57.
Cross back over the avenue and at 68 is Elephant & Castle which serves homey comfort food.
You are now at the crossroads of 7th Ave and will see St. Vincent’s Hospital. Many people injured during the Sept. 11th attacks were sent to this hospital for treatment. Because of the close proximity to Ground Zero, many firefighters initially treated here went back down to the site only to be killed when the WTC towers collapsed. Across Greenwich Ave before 11th St. is a fence with ceramic tiles placed in remembrance of victims of the Sept. 11th attacks.
After crossing over 7th Ave you’ll come across bbq restaurant Bone Lick Park at number 75 Greenwich Ave.
At 96 Greenwich Ave is the funky flight accessory store Flight 001.
Next door at 108 and 112 are British food places Tea & Sympathy and A Salt & Battery.
Cross the Ave for soy restaurant Soy Luck Club located at 115 Greenwich Ave.
You are now at W 13th street and Greenwich Ave pretty much ends. You can continue walking to the official end of the avenue past a parking lot and small triangular park to 14th St.
Continue onto West 4th Street, Bleeker Street and Bedford Street
Getting there
Take the subway lines A/C/E or B/D/F/V to W 4th St. stop, exit the north exit onto 8th St and 6th Ave, make sure you are on the west side of 6th Ave.