East Village

The Basics

The hip and sometimes grungy East Village is a prime destination for food and drinks. Culinary walking tours offer foodies the option of exploring the mainstays, including Japanese restaurants in Little Tokyo and old-school Italian eateries (often called "red-sauce" restaurants by locals). To get the most out of the Village's drinking establishments, try a guided tour through the burgeoning cocktail scene to taste top-notch libations and locally produced spirits. Beer drinkers can opt for brewery tours, which not only introduce travelers to the village's best ale houses and craft beer but also typically include transportation so you can explore without hopping on the subway. Other options include pub crawls, activist history walking tours, and ghost tours.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The East Village is a perfect destination for urban adventurers, foodies, and fashionistas.

• Walking tours are an efficient way to see all the sights, since the neighborhood is best explored on foot.

How to Get There

Located east of Broadway between 14th and Houston streets, the East Village is best accessed by subway. Hop the 4/5 train to Union Square, the 6 to Bleeker Street, or the F to the 2 Avenue Station. Alternatively, the M14 bus runs crosstown on 14th street, and the M15 bus runs uptown on 1st Avenue and downtown on 2nd Avenue.

When to Get There

The East Village is a fantastic year-round destination, though spring and autumn bring perfect light-sweater weather and blue skies. Summer can be hot and humid, while winter is often windy, snowy, and cold. You’ll want to arrive early in the day for sightseeing and shopping. Plan a weekend evening visit for a night on the town, but show up early, as many restaurants don't take reservations.

Where to Take a Break

Take a few minutes to rest in the centrally located Tompkins Square Park. An East Village icon situated in Alphabet City, Tompkins Square is central to the neighborhood's social activism and culture. The park’s benches, playgrounds, and chess tables are situated beneath leafy, American elm trees and offer a perfect place for relaxation.

What is East Village famous for?

The East Village is renowned for being the heart of New York's counterculture movement, which flourished in the 1960s and 1970s. It was the birthplace of many artistic, musical, and literary movements, including punk rock and the Nuyorican literary movement. This neighborhood also boasts an eclectic mix of bars, eateries, and shopping spots.

Which celebrities live in the East Village?

Known for its celebrity sightings, the East Village has been the home of many famous faces over the years. Movie stars who have called it home include Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Similarly, the East Village has also had famous musician residents like Cher and Britney Spears.

Is the East Village nice to live in?

Yes, the East Village is a gorgeous neighborhood to live in. It has one of the country's largest concentrations of community gardens and is frequently listed as one of New York’s best places to live. It’s also got above-average schools and many superb bars, coffee shops, and restaurants.

What is East Village's reputation?

The East Village has a reputation for being an eclectic, artistic, and bohemian neighborhood that draws in artists and professionals alike. Known for its diverse nightlife—from dive bars to cocktail lounges—it offers something for all tastes. It’s also a superb place to shop by day, with indie bookshops and vintage stores aplenty.

Why is it called the East Village?

The East Village, which was initially part of Greenwich Village, was rebranded in the 1960s to disassociate itself from the Lower East Side's less favorable image. Real estate brokers promoted this new identity, reinforced by media, until a weekly newspaper was released in 1966 called The East Village Other.

What streets are in the East Village?

The East Village borders 14th Street, Houston Street, Third Avenue, and the East River. Some of its most famous roads include the eclectic bar and dining hot spot of St. Mark’s Place and First Avenue, which also hosts a diverse mix of shops and cafes.

Ways to explore

Set aside at least a couple of hours for exploring the East Village, as there’s a lot to see, do, and eat. Don’t miss St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, the second-oldest church building in Manhattan, and the two green oases in the middle of the city—Tompkins Square Park and Washington Square Park. Guided walking tours show you the highlights, an ideal option if you have limited time. Otherwise, the neighborhood is made for unscripted wandering. Catch a concert at the legendary Bowery Ballroom, browse second-hand paperbacks in the Strand bookshop, or taste your way around the world on a food crawl.

Accessibility

Many establishments in the neighborhood are wheelchair-accessible, including Bowery Ballroom, but check in advance.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Cash for cash-only purchases, portable phone charger, refillable water bottle

What to wear

Vintage band tee, distressed leather jacket, comfortable sneakers

Not allowed

Loudly complaining that the East Village “isn’t what it used to be”

Amenities

You’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants in the neighborhood, ranging from low-end to high-end.

Address

The East Village is bordered by Greenwich Village to the west, the Lower East Side to the south, and Gramercy and Stuytown to the north. NYC borders can be porous, but the neighborhood is considered anything between 14th Street and East Houston Street and Bowery and Fourth Avenue.

Driving

While it’s possible to reach the East Village by car, parking can be hard to find, and public transportation is usually more convenient. A good compromise is getting dropped off in a taxi or a rideshare.

Public transportation

Depending on where you’re headed, the best subway stations for accessing the East Village are Astor Pl via the 6 train (which also stops at Grand Central Station and Union Square), Broadway-Lafayette St on the B, D, F, or M, or the L train to 1 Ave, 3 Ave or 14 St-Union Sq.

Best times to visit

In the late afternoon for window shopping, and stick around for dinner and drinks.

Best days to visit

For a quieter experience, head here on a weekday. Otherwise, weekends are usually busiest.

Best months to visit

The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are when New York City is most pleasant.

Special events

The East Village hosts street festivals and special pop-up events throughout the year, everything from Ukrainian cultural festivals to poetry and dance performances, especially in summer. In June, you’ll find events happening in the area to celebrate Pride Month, while the Village Halloween Parade happens in October.