One Of New York's Liveliest Neighborhoods Is An Artsy, Foodie Paradise Well-Served By Public Transit

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New York City can be overwhelming for visitors with many things to see and its large crowds of people. A great way to approach a visit is by exploring one neighborhood at a time. One of the Big Apple's prettiest and liveliest areas is Greenwich Village, with brownstones along tree-lined streets where you'll find fabulous little restaurants, jazz clubs, and one-of-a-kind boutiques. No wonder it's one of the most likely places to spot celebrities in New York City. During the day, you'll see New York University students in coffee shops, chess players in Washington Square Park, and parents walking their kids to school. When night falls, world-class musicians take the stage at intimate music venues, couples walk off a fantastic meal with a stroll, and the bars are packed with young people.

Bounded by 14th Street, Houston Street, Mercer Street/4th Avenue, and Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Village is renowned for its bohemian legacy of beatniks and poets, iconic landmarks like the Washington Square Arch and the Stonewall Inn, and music venues where legends such as Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix once performed. It's well served by public transit, with numerous subway lines like the A, C, E, B, D, F, and M trains linking Greenwich Village with Midtown, Lower Manhattan, and beyond. Hub stations include West 4th Street, Christopher Street, and 14th Street. Additionally, MTA buses traverse the Village, and New Jersey Transit trains travel to the 'burbs.

Greenwich Village doesn't follow a grid, so directions can be confusing. A walking tour is a fantastic way to see famous sights, learn about the people who made history, and not worry about directions. The Artistic, Alternative Greenwich Village Walking Tour is an immersive exploration of this storied neighborhood's bohemian heritage. ​Over two hours, you'll see the "Friends" apartment and other TV locations and learn about the writers, musicians, artists, and activists who have left their mark. You'll also hear how the Stonewall Inn — now a National Historic Landmark — became a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. 

Foodies will want to book the three-hour Greenwich Village Food Tour, which combines samplings from six eateries with seeing historic locations and current pop culture sights. Ignore the carb content and try an iconic New York City bagel and pizza slice, plus falafel, tacos, and an Italian treat topped off by an award-winning cupcake. A walk through this charming neighborhood will burn off some of the calories as you are transported back 130 years by the Washington Mews' cobblestone street and the marble Stanford White-designed Washington Square Arch that dates to 1895. Another New York City neighborhood that's a foodie paradise is Harlem, where you can find dishes like smothered chicken and shrimp and grits.

After the tour, rest your feet and have a pick-me-up at Caffe Reggio, the first place in the U.S. to serve cappuccino. Literary fans should book a table at Minetta Tavern and soak in the French bistro atmosphere where Hemingway and O'Neill spent many evenings. Unique shops to seek out include the Evolution Store, known for natural history collectibles like geodes and taxidermy, and Air Mail, with gift items curated by the former editor of Vanity Fair. Speaking of magazines, peruse 2,500 titles at Casa Magazines, an Instagram-famous shop that's the last of its kind. Village Revival Records is a store where music lovers can get lost for hours. Just make sure to look up every now and then, as you might be in the company of Bella Hadid or Carlos Santana.

Catch a set at The Village Vanguard, which opened in 1935 and was a venue primarily for Beat poetry and folk music before evolving into New York City's oldest jazz club. Some of the world's most famous jazz musicians have played here, including Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. The Blue Note is another renowned jazz club where celebrities like Stevie Wonder and Tony Bennett have taken the stage. Greenwich Village has iconic rock clubs, too. Cafe Wha? is where Bob Dylan first performed in New York City in 1961, and audiences at The Bitter End have been lucky enough to see artists like Lady Gaga and Neil Diamond in this small space.