NYC Neighborhood Guide: East Village

Filled with fun bars and trendy restaurants, the East Village is known for its nightlife. During the day, it’s a rather quiet residential neighborhood with pretty tree-lined streets, great coffee shops, and lots to explore.

Restaurants

Ama Raw Bar
An Asian/seafood restaurant, Ama Raw Bar has an impressive menu from appetizers to entrees to cocktails. Putting an Asian spin on a Mediterranean dish, the edamame hummus comes with a side of wontons to dip in it. The vegetarian ramen — made with mushrooms, tofu, bok choy, a soft egg, and a creamy broth — will satisfy even the hungriest of carnivores. Or you can splurge on the lobster ramen for $26. Their Vietnamese espresso martini is amazing, and is made with your choice of rum or vodka. And for all my Miami people looking for a good lychee martini in NYC, you’ve come to the right place.
190 Avenue B

Café Standard
Inside of The Standard, Café Standard is more than just a restaurant inside of a hotel. It hosts happy hour (including a raw bar happy hour with $2 oysters), brunch (both regular and drag), and events. A waitress there swears by the burger, made with a special sauce, and I’m a big fan of the chicken club. You can’t go wrong either way because they both come with Café Standard’s crispy French fries. And there’s a cute courtyard where you can eat when the weather is warm.
25 Cooper Square

Cooper’s Craft & Kitchen
Cooper’s is like an elevated sports bar. While they have TVs showing the game, they offer so much more food than burgers and chicken wings. After dining here several times, I can attest that there is truly no bad dish — or drink — on the menu. Okay, I know I said the food is better than just burgers and chicken wings, but their burgers and chicken wings are pretty darn good, too. The Smash Burger reminds me of a Shake Shack’s: it’s a pretty small burger and is only topped with the basic red onions, cheese, and pickles. The Russian dressing makes it taste like a Shake Shack’s too. If you want a thiccc burger, get the Classic Cooper Burger. Also worth ordering are the fish tacos, made with beer-battered white fish, cabbage, chipotle mayo, cilantro, and lime. They’re in the “for the table” section on the menu, but one order comes with three tacos, so it’s definitely enough for an entree. And their Brussels sprouts are top notch. The best thing about Cooper’s is that they have happy hour from noon to 7 p.m. on weekdays; that’s right people, SEVEN hours of $5 beers and $7 well drinks and glasses of wine.
87 2nd Ave.

Cutlets Sandwich Co.
While not a sit-down restaurant, Cutlets is a great spot when you need to grab a quick meal that’s both delicious and filling. They have 20 sandwiches on the menu, like the #3 — chicken cutlet, fresh mozzarella, broccoli rabe, balsamic vinegar, and pesto — and the #9 — grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, arugula, roasted red peppers, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil, or you can create your own. All sandwiches come either on a roll or a hero (a roll is $2 cheaper and is still more than enough food).
99 3rd Ave.

East Village Pizza
Even if you’ve never been to East Village Pizza, you may already know about insanely cheesy garlic knots from Instagram. The cheesy garlic knots parm come with six garlic knots in a layer of cheese and marinara sauce; for $2 extra, you can add in pepperoni. They’re so delicious and the leftovers make for a great hungover breakfast. Their pizza is good too and they have specialty slices like bbq chicken and baked ziti.
145 1st Ave.

Ippudo
Ippudo is on basically all of the lists for best ramen in New York, and now it’s on mine too. They offer five different ramen options, all of which come with pork, chicken, or tofu. The Akamaru Shinaji ramen is made with noodles, scallions, seasoned bamboo shoots, garlic oil, and Ippudo’s secret “umami dama” paste, all sitting in a warm pork broth. It’s the perfect dish for a cold winter evening. You can even add on toppings like corn, scallions and a poached egg. They also have three separate vegetarian options. And for all my Miami people looking for a good lychee martini in NYC, you’ve come to the right place.
65 4th Ave.

Luzzo’s
Not like there’s any shortage of good Italian food and New York, but Luzzo’s is realllllly good. It’s owned by the same people as Gnoccheria, so you know their gnocchi is going to be good. In fact, they have five different types of it: pesto, four cheese, tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella, mushrooms and sausage, and cherry tomatoes, garlic, arugula and burrata. Pick your poison. They also have a dish called the stuffed cono, which takes whichever gnocchi you prefer and puts it in a cheesy bread. For $3 extra, it’s unquestionably worth it.
211 1st Ave.

Marufuku Ramen
If the name didn’t already give it away, Marufuku Ramen is a ramen restaurant in the East Village. They have eight different styles of the Japanese dish including spicy miso, vegetable and Hakata Tonkotsu. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of them; they’re all delicious. For appetizers, the gyoza and spicy chicken wings made with Japanese Aonori Sriracha are so good.
92 2nd Ave.

Raiz
Raiz is a relatively new vegan Mexican restaurant. From the second you walk in, the smells are amazing. On Tuesdays, you can get two tacos for $7, which is awesome if you want a quick, cheap, and yummy lunch. I’m not even vegan, but I absolutely love this spot. One of the popular items on the menu is the birria tacos, which has slow-cooked jack fruit topped with onions and cilantro served with salsa verde and birria dipping sauce on the side. Do I know what jack fruit is? Absolutely not. Do I like it? Hell yes. Also, I would literally eat the birria broth with a spoon if I hadn’t already drenched my tacos in it.
120 1st Ave.

Rosie’s
While Manhattan may not be known for having the best Mexican restaurants, Rosie’s is excellent. There’s loads of seating indoors and especially outside where they have sidewalk structures on both E 2nd Street and 2nd Avenue. Chips and guac are a must, and the al pastor, camaron (shrimp), and pollo asado tacos did not dissappoint. Now let’s talk about the real reason you’re going to a Mexican restaurant: margaritas. As a spicy marg lover myself, the picante hits the spot; it’s made with chile-infused tequila, lime juice, and fresh chiles.
29 E 2nd St.

Sidney’s Five
Sidney’s Five has good drinks, great food, and even better happy hour deals. From 5 – 7 p.m. (even on weekends!), oysters and shrimp are $2/piece, select beers are $4, wines are 20 percent off, and martinis are $10. They also have a deal for a burger and a beer for just $20; AND you get to choose between their smash burger or the lamb burger.
103 1st Ave.

Taqueria Diana
Taqueria Diana is a hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. There are a couple tables on the street, but it’s primarily a takeout restaurant. They offer all the Mexican classics: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos. Their chips are pretty bland, but the quesadillas — made with cheese, salsa, and meat of your choosing — are amazing. I like to add guac and you can also add beans or crema.
129 2nd Ave.

The Gray Mare
The Gray Mare is one of the few places in the East Village where happy hour goes until 8 p.m., making it an easy choice for that post-work cocktail. It’s also an easy choice because their food and drink options are amazing. On weekdays from 3 to 8 p.m., draft beers are $6, wines are $8, and cocktails like espresso martinis, Moscow mules, and old fashioneds are $10. They also serve buffalo cauliflower, sweet potato tots, Brussels sprouts, artichoke dip, and shishito peppers for just $5.
61 2nd Ave.

The Smith
A casual American bistro, The Smith has lots of great options from pasta to steak to seafood. For appetizers, you can’t go wrong with the potato chips, duck wings or Brussels sprouts. Their ricotta gnocchi entree is heavenly and what would a bistro be without a good burger? Theirs is topped with bacon shallot jam, American cheese, pickles, crispy onions and a special sauce made in-house. The Smith also has locations in Lincoln Square, Midtown East, and NoMad.
55 Third Ave.

Van Da
Van Da is the definition of a hole in the wall: A super obscure restaurant that has amazing food. The entrance is so easy to miss; I don’t think there’s even a sign. The main floor is small with a handful of tables, but once you go downstairs there’s so much more space. The menu is modern Vietnamese cuisine with dishes like short rib grilled cheese with pho and stir fried pho noodles. The desserts change daily and when I went they had a guava panna cotta that was tart and creamy and delicious.
234 E 4th St.

Bars

11th St. Bar
The good thing about this bar is that you’ll never forget which street it’s on. Even better is it doesn’t get so crazy crowded that you can’t get to the bar and order a drink. It’s open until 4 a.m. for my fellow night owls and have live music five nights a week. It’s also the official home of the New York Liverpool Supporters Club, so this is a great place to go on game days for soccer fans.
510 E 11th St.

Blind Barber
Blind Barber is a hair salon by day and a speakeasy by night. Walk past the barber chairs into a large back room with a bar and tables. It’s even worth the trip during the daytime, as a free drink is included with a haircut.
339 E 10th St.

Bowery Electric
If you’re looking for a bar in the East Village where you can dance, go to Bowery Electric. There’s no cover, although it does cost $10 to get into the downstairs area. There’s a bar and music playing on the main floor, but downstairs there’s another bar, a dance floor, good music, and much more of a party vibe. It’s worth it in my opinion.
327 Bowery

Coyote Ugly
After closing its original location in 2020, Coyote Ugly reopened on East 14th Street last year. They have staff members called “Coyotes” who literally get paid to dance and perform on the bar. Guests are not only allowed, but encouraged to dance on the bar as well. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Coyote Ugly,” yes, it’s based off this bar.
233 E 14th St.

O’Hanlon’s
Every neighborhood needs a good Irish pub and in the East Village, it’s O’Hanlon’s. The bartenders are friendly and the beer options are endless. The space is also HUGE. Past the bar there’s a darts area and a bunch of pool tables, making it a great casual hang out spot to spend a few hours — or, you know, stay until 4 a.m. and shut it down.
349 E 14th St.

Ruffian
I wasn’t sure if I should put Ruffian in the bar or restaurant section because it is a far cry from the other East Village bars. Ruffian is a cozy wine bar and is a great spot for a date night or a girls night. They do have a small menu and even have a Michelin star. Note: it is definitely on the pricier side and most glasses of wine are around $20. Welcome to New York.
125 E 7th St.

Solas
Solas has a few different rooms with different vibes. The first-floor bar area of the downstairs gets pretty crowded, but there’s also a back room with a DJ and dancing. Upstairs, there’s a smaller, but less crowded, lounge with a bar and another DJ.
232 E 9th St.

The Penny Farthing
The Penny Farthing is both a sports bar and a going out bar. The demographic here is on the younger side, so it’s a fun spot if you’ve recently graduated college. Since it’s a sports bar, they have a full-fledged menu with all of the game day favorites like chicken wings, nachos, sliders, quesadillas, etc. And on Wednesdays, espresso martinis are just $5 all day.
103 3rd Ave.

Coffee Shops

787 Coffee
A local New York chain, 787 Coffee has two locations in the East Village. They offer a “farm to cup” experience, growing the beans on their farm in Puerto Rico. The menu consists of very Puerto Rican flavors like a coquito latte and rum-infused espresso. On the food side, they have a ton of empanadas and the beef and the black bean ones are delicious (hint: get hot sauce with them).
101 2nd Ave.
131 E 7th St.

Cinnamon Girl
Cinnamon Girl recently opened in the East Village during summer 2021. They sell coffee, cakes, pastries, and, of course, cinnamon rolls. It’s a tiny little shop on 2nd Avenue and there are no tables inside, so it’s definitely meant for grab-and-go.
73 2nd Ave.

Coffee Project New York
Coffee Project NY’s East Village location is a small cafe on East 5th Street. They serve all the coffee classics like lattes, macchiatos, and flat whites, as well as some non-coffee drinks like chai and matcha lattes. They also sell bags of coffee beans, coffee brewing kits and single-serve canned coffee. If you’re also looking for something to eat, the ham and cheese croissant is melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
239 E 5th St.

Kona Coffee & Company
Kona Coffee and Company brings a piece of Hawaii to NYC. Their flagship store is in the East Village and they just opened a second location in Chelsea in January 2022. The Hawaiian latte, infused with macadamia and coconut, is their most popular signature drink and now I know why. While not the typical coffee flavors, the result is a nutty and not-too-sweet brew. It will transport you to the tropics even on the coldest of winter mornings (the temperature was 1 degree F when I first tried this, so I’m not lying). I can’t wait to drink this iced in the summer.
57 2nd Ave.

Mud
You’ll see people all over the East Village walking with Mud’s signature orange cups in hand. During the week, it is THE spot to get coffee to-go but on the weekends it is a popping sit-down brunch joint. Their coffee is also served at Astor Plate, a small coffee stand in Astor Place
307 E 9th St.

The Bean
With two locations in the East Village, The Bean serves breakfast items, sandwiches, juices and smoothies, and lots of different coffees. The Nutella Fitzgerald is their version of a Nutella latte and will satisfy any caffeine headache or sweet tooth. The Mother Theresa is a savory drink that you won’t find at most coffee shops: a peanut butter cup latte. The peanut butter flavor was actually subtle and mixed well with the coffee and chocolate. At $6 for a medium, it’s a little pricey, but definitely worth the occasional treat. To eat, they have lots of options like quiches, bagels and a breakfast burrito. The burrito wasn’t the best I’ve had, as it was pre-made and heated up and also pretty small, but it’ll do the trick if you’re on the go and need something to fill you up.
54 2nd Ave.
31 3rd Ave.

Bagel Shops

Black Seed Bagels
Black Seed Bagels opened its first location in 2014 and now has nearly 10 locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. While bagels at any NYC establishment is almost guaranteed to be good, Black Seed is is led by a James Beard-nominated executive chef and head baker, giving them a leg up on the competition. Unlike some other notable bagel shops in the city, there’s not a crazy long line (especially if you sleep late and don’t eat breakfast until 1 p.m. on weekends).
176 First Ave.

Davidovich Bakery
While most Davidovich Bakery locations are in the Lower East Side, there is also one in the East Village. They don’t serve regular bacon, but their turkey bacon is a good substitution for a BEC. They also offer baked goods, salads, and sandwiches.
36 Avenue A

Tompkins Square Bagels
Tompkins Square Bagels now has two locations in the East Village, but the one on Avenue A, which is right across the street from Tompkins Square Park, is the OG. Any good bagel shop in the city is going to have a line on the weekends, and this is definitely one of them. They at least speed up the process by taking your order while in line. My go-to is an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese, partly because it’s delicious and partly because it’s quick and will be ready by the time I get to the counter (anything that has to be made in the kitchen takes longer). Get there early or carve out an extra 30 minutes of waiting time.
165 Avenue A
184 2nd Ave.

Things to Do

Hang Out in Tompkins Square Park
Now that the weather is finally nicer, we can actually spend time outside and not in the overpriced shoeboxes we call apartments. Tompkins Square Park is a great place if you have nowhere to go and nothing to do but just want to be outside. Bring a book, listen to a podcast, people watch, you could easily kill a few hours here.

Record Shopping
For anyone who owns a record player, or is thinking of getting one, there are several record stores in the East Village with endless bins full of vinyls. Stranded Records feels like a more upscale store and most of their records are new and upwards of $20. A-1 Record Shop also has new vinyls, but most of them are used and you can find a lot of albums for $5 or less.
Stranded Records, 218 E 5th St.
A-1 Record Shop, 439 E 6th St.

See a Stand-Up Show at the New York Comedy Club
There are so many comedy clubs in the city, but fortunately the New York Comedy Club opened its second location right in the East Village in 2018. The venue is super intimate, making it easy for comedians to interact with the crowd. Seeing stand-up is such a fun way to spend a night, and they have a lineup for literally every day of the week.
85 E 4th St.

Thrift Shopping
New York is super expensive, so do your wallet a favor and take your next shopping spree to any of the East Village’s thrift shops. East Village Thrift has everything you can think of: clothes, shoes, hats, scarves, books, jewelry, bags, etc. There’s a LOT of stuff and it’s not the most organized, so be prepared to set aside some time to go through everything. On the other hand, L Train Vintage is a very large store that’s actually pretty well organized, especially for a thrift store. They have a nice selection of jeans, hoodies, denim jackets and some sports jerseys. There are even fitting rooms in the back. REVMPD has a rather small collection, but they do have a good amount of designer brands like Versace, Gucci, and Givenchy if you want to sport that designer label without breaking the bank. Cure Thrift has a huge selection that includes a lot of home goods and glassware. You could spend a lot of time here just wandering through the store because there’s a lot of cool stuff, even if it’s just their massive buckets of stickers for $0.50. Plus, their net proceeds to go diabetes research.
Cure Thrift, 91 3rd Ave.
East Village Thrift, 186 2nd Ave.
L Train Vintage, 204 1st Ave.
REVMPD, 178 1st Ave.