No trip to New York is complete without a lazy day spent in the West Village, where all you’re required to do is eat, stop yourself having to re-mortgage at Diptyque and top it off with a glass of wine. Funnily enough, for me the West Village feels like a small pocket of respite in the middle of such a hectic city, with leafy streets and gorgeous ivy-covered brownstones. Just make sure to take a map with you, the grid layout you’ll have come to love North of 14th becomes a tangle of gorgeous, and yet bewildering, streets.
Get there
Take the A, C or E trains to 8th Avenue and 14th streets, which lands you in the north of the west village, from where you can easily make your way to Bleeker streets and begin your wandering.
See
The key to an amazing day in the West Village is to wander, finding all those cosy corners that make it interesting and delightful. We started on Bleeker Street, took a left at Christopher Street and wandered down until we got to Grove Street then walked back up Hudson, branching off to check out the side streets as we saw fit. Just get lost I say! Make sure end up at gorgeous Washington Square Park!
Shop
The major stores in the area are located on the top half of Bleeker Street where you’ll find a heap of high end fashion boutiques, Book Marc, Diptyque and lots of others to get excited about. Once you’ve had your fill of the more recognisable stores, wander a bit more to find
- Greenwich Letter Press: Gorgeous stationary to remind you of your NY trip, we went ker-razy here!
- Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks: we loved all the vintage cookbooks here, but sadly didn’t have any room to bring them back.
- Aedes De Venutas: Candles and fragrances
- Bleeker St Records: An institution
- Goorin Hat Shop: Best panamas around, they have another store on Bedford Ave in Williamsburg
Eat & Drink
- Jeffreys Grocery:
- Hamilton’s: Gorgeous new soda shoppe (open til midnight!)
- Tartine: Very cute brunch spot, but just as perfect for a glass of wine
- Magnolia Bakery: I’m sure I don’t have to tell you anything about Magnolia, one thing to know is that the Banana pudding is the BEST thing on the menu.
- Mary’s Fish Camp: lobster roll goodness.
- Frankie’s Sputino 570: The perfect place for an evening drink.
- Sockerbit Candy: Oh so minimal Swedish candy store.
Wearing: Club Monaco jacket, top and shorts
Brunch at Tartine…
The ubiquitous white box
I have this thing with floors
Soda fountain shops that take me back to my days of reading Archie comics
It’s not possible to choose just one!
Addicted to the facades of the West Village
One of each please
Taking a load off
Sockerbit Treats
Make sure you take a friend along with you for your day off
Mini-liscious
Soda shoppe love
More perfect brunch spots
Lunch?
