Guidebook for New York
Shopping
Great independent bookstore with incredible selection, signed copies, knowledgeable staff, fun to browse. Check out excellent table of sale books in the back. Open till midnight 7 days/week.
19 locals recommend
St. Mark's Bookshop
136 East 3rd StreetGreat independent bookstore with incredible selection, signed copies, knowledgeable staff, fun to browse. Check out excellent table of sale books in the back. Open till midnight 7 days/week.
Odin New York
328 E 11th StStylish East Village men's clothing boutique.
Reasonably-priced second-hand clothing... all in good condition, chosen by young hipster staff. Some of the stuff has never been worn.
146 locals recommend
Buffalo Exchange
504 Driggs AveReasonably-priced second-hand clothing... all in good condition, chosen by young hipster staff. Some of the stuff has never been worn.
Art supply store has it all, including great little moleskin notebooks for recording your plans and ideas and reviews and brainstorms during your NYC visit...
6 locals recommend
New York Central Art Supply
62 3rd AvenueArt supply store has it all, including great little moleskin notebooks for recording your plans and ideas and reviews and brainstorms during your NYC visit...
God's Gifts Inc
322 E 11th StAmazing little shop with thousands of rubber stamps of every conceivable image...
Reciprocal skateboards
402 E 11th StAwesome skateboard shop with classic pinball machines.
Legendary punk rock boutique, famous for supplying people like The Ramones, Debbie Harry of Blondie, and other CBGB stalwarts with clothing during the golden age of punk rock in the 70s & 80s.
10 locals recommend
Trash and Vaudeville
96 E 7th StLegendary punk rock boutique, famous for supplying people like The Ramones, Debbie Harry of Blondie, and other CBGB stalwarts with clothing during the golden age of punk rock in the 70s & 80s.
Arts & Culture
Webster Hall is a first-rate music & entertainment venue. It's been around forever (and has a fascinating history) and still hosts great concerts and events.
107 locals recommend
Webster Hall
125 E 11th StWebster Hall is a first-rate music & entertainment venue. It's been around forever (and has a fascinating history) and still hosts great concerts and events.
Award-winning alternative, avant-garde, and off-off Broadway theater with dozens of great productions each year and a vibrant theater community supporting it.
11 locals recommend
Theater for the New City
155 1st Ave.Award-winning alternative, avant-garde, and off-off Broadway theater with dozens of great productions each year and a vibrant theater community supporting it.
Awesome neighborhood movie theater featuring art-house, foreign, and independent film. Part of the Angelika Film chain of indy cinemas.
57 locals recommend
Village East Cinema
181-189 2nd AveAwesome neighborhood movie theater featuring art-house, foreign, and independent film. Part of the Angelika Film chain of indy cinemas.
The historic 'St. Mark's Church on the Bowery' is home to a renowned poetry series that's seen readings by a huge roster of illustrious poets over the years. Check the schedule: www.poetryproject.org
Poetry Project
131 E 10th StThe historic 'St. Mark's Church on the Bowery' is home to a renowned poetry series that's seen readings by a huge roster of illustrious poets over the years. Check the schedule: www.poetryproject.org
Food Scene
Veniero's
342 E 11th StWorld-renowned classic Italian pastry and dessert cafe.
Ever had Tibetan food? Try it here - I recommend the thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup) and momos (dumplings). Warm atmosphere, yummy food.
6 locals recommend
Tsampa
212 E 9th StEver had Tibetan food? Try it here - I recommend the thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup) and momos (dumplings). Warm atmosphere, yummy food.
Legendary vegetarian restaurant with warm and friendly atmosphere. Some may find the food bland but if you enjoy healthy, organic, seasonal veg food, you'll love it. FYI: BYOB & cash only.
48 locals recommend
Angelica Kitchen
Legendary vegetarian restaurant with warm and friendly atmosphere. Some may find the food bland but if you enjoy healthy, organic, seasonal veg food, you'll love it. FYI: BYOB & cash only.
Classic family Italian restaurant. Been around since Lucky Luciano and friends schemed in the back room over plates of spaghetti. Family and vegan-friendly!
18 locals recommend
John's of 12th Street
302 E 12th StClassic family Italian restaurant. Been around since Lucky Luciano and friends schemed in the back room over plates of spaghetti. Family and vegan-friendly!
The first of David Chang's legendary neighborhood restaurants, serving ramen, pork buns, and seasonal dishes.
271 locals recommend
Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave.The first of David Chang's legendary neighborhood restaurants, serving ramen, pork buns, and seasonal dishes.
Opened in '06, the 2nd of David Chang's renowned restaurants (3 of 'em right around the corner). Ssam is #40 on San Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list.
112 locals recommend
Momofuku Ssäm Bar
89 South StreetOpened in '06, the 2nd of David Chang's renowned restaurants (3 of 'em right around the corner). Ssam is #40 on San Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list.
Sake Bar Decibel
240 E 9th StGreat little subterranean sake and Japanese whisky bar.
Legendary Ukrainian "soul food" restaurant. Open 24 hrs., it's great for late-night dining on pierogis, potato pancakes, blintzes, borscht, etc.
13 locals recommend
Veselka Bowery
9 E 1st StLegendary Ukrainian "soul food" restaurant. Open 24 hrs., it's great for late-night dining on pierogis, potato pancakes, blintzes, borscht, etc.
Essentials
Great, inexpensive 'Asian' grocery (specializes in Asian foods but has everything)... fresh produce, packaged foods, beer, sushi and noodle bar, etc. Open morning to midnight (M2M).
12 locals recommend
M2M
55 3rd AveGreat, inexpensive 'Asian' grocery (specializes in Asian foods but has everything)... fresh produce, packaged foods, beer, sushi and noodle bar, etc. Open morning to midnight (M2M).
Open 24 hrs, this excellent neighborhood bodega grocery has everything: produce, flowers, beer, bulk foods, cheese, vegetarian & vegan options, etc. They even deliver for free ($5 tip): 212-475-7521
22 locals recommend
Village Farm Grocery
146 2nd AveOpen 24 hrs, this excellent neighborhood bodega grocery has everything: produce, flowers, beer, bulk foods, cheese, vegetarian & vegan options, etc. They even deliver for free ($5 tip): 212-475-7521
Everything Else
United States Government: COOPER
Post Office to send your postcards and packages...
NYPL - Ottendorfer
135 2nd AveOpened in 1884 as New York City's first free public library.
Drinks & Nightlife
Lovely, quiet, romantic cocktail lounge, hidden behind a big wooden door in 'Village Yokocho' sushi restaurant (up stairs, to the left). Go on a weekday--long wait sometimes, no standing room.
172 locals recommend
Angel's Share
45 Stuyvesant StLovely, quiet, romantic cocktail lounge, hidden behind a big wooden door in 'Village Yokocho' sushi restaurant (up stairs, to the left). Go on a weekday--long wait sometimes, no standing room.
Intimate little wine bar... a lovely place for a couple to get a bottle of wine and maybe a cheese and fruit plate and relax. Gets a little busy (and less relaxing) on weekends.
51 locals recommend
The Immigrants
341 East 9th StreetIntimate little wine bar... a lovely place for a couple to get a bottle of wine and maybe a cheese and fruit plate and relax. Gets a little busy (and less relaxing) on weekends.
Sightseeing
Great little green oasis in the heart of Alphabet City, along the Eastern edge of the East Village. Great playground for kids, good people watching (and dog-watching in the 'dog run').
538 locals recommend
Tompkins Square Park
East 10th StreetGreat little green oasis in the heart of Alphabet City, along the Eastern edge of the East Village. Great playground for kids, good people watching (and dog-watching in the 'dog run').
A vibrant urban square in the heart of Greenwich Village... buskers, jugglers, students, chess-playin' hustlers. Great for people-watching and loads of history around the square.
33 locals recommend
Washington Square Arch
Washington Square NorthA vibrant urban square in the heart of Greenwich Village... buskers, jugglers, students, chess-playin' hustlers. Great for people-watching and loads of history around the square.
One of those convergence spots in Manhattan where all the subways stop, the crowds mingle, the energy pulses. Lots of history, and more stores and restaurants and stuff around it than I could list.
987 locals recommend
Union Square
One of those convergence spots in Manhattan where all the subways stop, the crowds mingle, the energy pulses. Lots of history, and more stores and restaurants and stuff around it than I could list.
The tuition-free arts & science college... hosts many cultural events. Also, where Abraham Lincoln gave the speech that likely made him President: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Union_speech
13 locals recommend
The Cooper Union
30 Cooper SqThe tuition-free arts & science college... hosts many cultural events. Also, where Abraham Lincoln gave the speech that likely made him President: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper_Union_speech
Tour old tenements as they used to be & explore fascinating history of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and the immigrant families that built it. Great for history buffs. www.tenement.org
91 Orchard St
91 Orchard StreetTour old tenements as they used to be & explore fascinating history of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and the immigrant families that built it. Great for history buffs. www.tenement.org