Lower Manhattan guidebook
Food Scene
Small but filling plates. You can tell the food is made by a real, Italian family. Cozy interior.
6 locals recommend
Perbacco
234 E 4th StSmall but filling plates. You can tell the food is made by a real, Italian family. Cozy interior.
Good italian food with a good reputation. Can sit indoors or outdoors but the place does get crowded.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/supper-restaurant-new-york#query:alphabet%20city%20restaurant
156 locals recommend
Supper
156 E 2nd StGood italian food with a good reputation. Can sit indoors or outdoors but the place does get crowded.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/supper-restaurant-new-york#query:alphabet%20city%20restaurant
Good sangria and vaca frita. Pricey for mexican food, but a decent value for NYC standards.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-cortadito-new-york#query:alphabet%20city%20restaurant
18 locals recommend
Café Cortadito
210 East 3rd StreetGood sangria and vaca frita. Pricey for mexican food, but a decent value for NYC standards.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-cortadito-new-york#query:alphabet%20city%20restaurant
A favorite ramen restaurant. Has quite a few Ramen options. A favorite of locals.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/minca-new-york#query:alphabet%20city%20restaurant
103 locals recommend
Minca
536 E 5th StA favorite ramen restaurant. Has quite a few Ramen options. A favorite of locals.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/minca-new-york#query:alphabet%20city%20restaurant
Great authentic french cuisine (not overpriced or highbrow). Dim lit, coy atmosphere. If you use Foursquare you can sometimes find deals (currently 50% off up to $25 - can cover one entree).
66 locals recommend
Pardon My French
103 Avenue BGreat authentic french cuisine (not overpriced or highbrow). Dim lit, coy atmosphere. If you use Foursquare you can sometimes find deals (currently 50% off up to $25 - can cover one entree).
Great brunch place. Show up early and put in your name.
365 locals recommend
Clinton St. Baking Company
4 Clinton StGreat brunch place. Show up early and put in your name.
Fresh tapas-style Chinese dishes. Good ambiance. The tofu ribbon salad is unique.
16 locals recommend
Yunnan BBQ
79 Clinton StreetFresh tapas-style Chinese dishes. Good ambiance. The tofu ribbon salad is unique.
"High-end" Mexican restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. The venue has a speakeasy, underground feel. It's located on Doyers St., infamous in 1900s Chinatown lore.
11 Doyers St
11 Doyers Street"High-end" Mexican restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. The venue has a speakeasy, underground feel. It's located on Doyers St., infamous in 1900s Chinatown lore.
Freemans
Freeman AlleyGood brunch with eclectic decor and quiet ambiance.
Pylos
128 E 7th StGreat authentic greek food. Nice date or small group ambiance.
French-Vietnamese in exotic ambiance. Famous 80s Greenwich Village hang-out for NYC artists.
25 locals recommend
Indochine
430 Lafayette StFrench-Vietnamese in exotic ambiance. Famous 80s Greenwich Village hang-out for NYC artists.
Known for brunch but good for all meals. Cozy environment. Typical west village vibe.
96 locals recommend
Joseph Leonard
170 Waverly PlKnown for brunch but good for all meals. Cozy environment. Typical west village vibe.
Hip, bi-level spot with Italian-accented American fare, a broad wine list & art featuring boomboxes.
37 locals recommend
Charlie Bird
5 King StHip, bi-level spot with Italian-accented American fare, a broad wine list & art featuring boomboxes.
No-reservations Village eatery drawing throngs for European-inspired meals & celebrity sightings.
264 locals recommend
The Spotted Dog
1154 1st Ave.No-reservations Village eatery drawing throngs for European-inspired meals & celebrity sightings.
Spacious, casually chic brasserie with hearty dishes featuring Californian & Italian influences. -
36 locals recommend
Upland
345 Park Avenue SouthSpacious, casually chic brasserie with hearty dishes featuring Californian & Italian influences. -
Celeb chef David Chang's Asian-accented American fare comes with an open kitchen, spare decor & dinner crowds.
271 locals recommend
Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave.Celeb chef David Chang's Asian-accented American fare comes with an open kitchen, spare decor & dinner crowds.
Drinks & Nightlife
Amazing cocktails and great bar snacks. $10-$12. Small place. Clientele is artsy professionals in early 30s.
http://thewaylandnyc.com/sample-page/
189 locals recommend
The Wayland
700 E 9th StAmazing cocktails and great bar snacks. $10-$12. Small place. Clientele is artsy professionals in early 30s.
http://thewaylandnyc.com/sample-page/
Boozy brunch spot, especially on a nice day. The place gets lines if you don't get there before noon.
39 locals recommend
Poco
33 Avenue BBoozy brunch spot, especially on a nice day. The place gets lines if you don't get there before noon.
Love the ambiance - place feels like the inside of a ship. You wouldn't know how nice and big it is inside from the outside. Great happy hour with $1 oysters and $3 beers. Love this place.
Preserve 24
177 E Houston StLove the ambiance - place feels like the inside of a ship. You wouldn't know how nice and big it is inside from the outside. Great happy hour with $1 oysters and $3 beers. Love this place.
Mulberry Project
149 Mulberry StreetUnderground lounge
No frills bar with attentive service, quality happy hour cocktails and some of the best $1 oysters around.
17 locals recommend
Black Crescent
76 Clinton StNo frills bar with attentive service, quality happy hour cocktails and some of the best $1 oysters around.
What you imagine the East Village being like in the 80s...grungy, crowded dark underground bar. People go here until late-night to dance and forget things.
11 locals recommend
Lit Lounge
93 2nd AveWhat you imagine the East Village being like in the 80s...grungy, crowded dark underground bar. People go here until late-night to dance and forget things.
Artistic feel and great ambiance. On a slightly less-frequented but very nice Williamsburg street.
109 locals recommend
Donna
7 BroadwayArtistic feel and great ambiance. On a slightly less-frequented but very nice Williamsburg street.
Retro railcar environs & seasonal New American eats draw cool sorts to this funky spin on the diner.
482 locals recommend
Diner
85 BroadwayRetro railcar environs & seasonal New American eats draw cool sorts to this funky spin on the diner.
Small, speakeasy-style bar. No cocktail menu - bartender will ask you type of spirit around which to base your drink.
102 locals recommend
Attaboy
134 Eldridge StSmall, speakeasy-style bar. No cocktail menu - bartender will ask you type of spirit around which to base your drink.
Cozy, historic building. Go there on a cold day, order a cocktail, and sit around the bar's fireplace.
18 locals recommend
The Marlton Hotel
5 W 8th StCozy, historic building. Go there on a cold day, order a cocktail, and sit around the bar's fireplace.
Essentials
Very authentic NY Jewish deli where you can buy any fish product from caviar to smoked trout to salmon and fish spreads. Worth a visit.
251 locals recommend
Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston StVery authentic NY Jewish deli where you can buy any fish product from caviar to smoked trout to salmon and fish spreads. Worth a visit.
Very authentic market that has been around many decades. You'll find butchers, fish and cheese-mongers, produce, bakeries, even a barbershop in this lively environment.
341 locals recommend
Essex Market
88 Essex StVery authentic market that has been around many decades. You'll find butchers, fish and cheese-mongers, produce, bakeries, even a barbershop in this lively environment.
My go-to grocery store. A bit pricey but good produce, meats, cheese, and free samples of cheese, olives, and more as you roam the isles listening to jazz music.
522 locals recommend
Union Market
240 E Houston StMy go-to grocery store. A bit pricey but good produce, meats, cheese, and free samples of cheese, olives, and more as you roam the isles listening to jazz music.
Arts & Culture
One of New York's pre-eminent poetry slam venues. Go on a Friday night and buy your tickets in advance.
83 locals recommend
Nuyorican Poet's Cafe
236 E 3rd StOne of New York's pre-eminent poetry slam venues. Go on a Friday night and buy your tickets in advance.
Comedy Cellar
117 MacDougal StGo on almost any night and see well-known comics perform.
Go here on almost any night to hear bands play that you'll see written about on Pitchfork in a couple years. Great venue with bar. Cheap tickets. Sister venues are Bowery Ballroom and Terminal 5.
95 locals recommend
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston StGo here on almost any night to hear bands play that you'll see written about on Pitchfork in a couple years. Great venue with bar. Cheap tickets. Sister venues are Bowery Ballroom and Terminal 5.
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey StGreat venue with solid line-up of indie-oriented shows.
The Stone
55 West 13th StreetUnmarked experimental jazz venue founded by John Zorn.
Best collection of eclectic, collectible books in the East Village. Richard Brautigan poems hang on the wall.
30 locals recommend
Mast Books
72 Avenue ABest collection of eclectic, collectible books in the East Village. Richard Brautigan poems hang on the wall.
St. Mark's Bookshop
136 East 3rd StreetAmazing collection of contemporary books.
Sightseeing
A pedestrian friendly walk to Williamsburg. Also great for Citibikes (docks near my apartment and at the end of the bridge), although the slope at the beginning of the bridge can be strenuous.
387 locals recommend
Williamsburg Bridge
70 Williamsburg Bridge Bicycle PathA pedestrian friendly walk to Williamsburg. Also great for Citibikes (docks near my apartment and at the end of the bridge), although the slope at the beginning of the bridge can be strenuous.
The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long New York City linear park built in Manhattan on an elevated section of a disused New York Central Railroad spur called the West Side Line.
2323 locals recommend
The High Line Park
The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long New York City linear park built in Manhattan on an elevated section of a disused New York Central Railroad spur called the West Side Line.