I often stay in the West Village when I visit New York. This means I’ve eaten at A LOT of the local restaurants. So, this week, I thought it was high time I share a list of my favourite West Village restaurants I return to over an over again, from cheap eats to splurgy venues. It goes without saying I’ll be updating this post after every trip to the New York so you can always guarantee its fresh.
1. Palma
Set along what I call New York’s hidden restaurant row is this pretty gem. Small, cosy, romantic, with rustic decor in honour of all those little trattorias you imagine in the Italian countryside and a hit with European-loving New Yorkers. It’s good for a laid-back lunch or mid-week dinner in the dining room, or if you’ve something to celebrate, there are tables in a private carriage house you can book. Tables under string lights in the courtyard garden are perfect for a romantic dinner. Someone pass me a glass of rose.
Find Palma at 28 Cornelia Street
2. Malaparte
This is my latest discovery, although it’s not new. It’s a cool little pizza place on Hudson Street and has a buzzy atmosphere and friendly staff. It goes without saying that the pizza is delicious. Bonus point: It’s one of the few West Village restaurants I know about that takes reservations for two!
Find Malaparte Restaurant at 753 Washington Street
3. Barbuto
Located inside an airy old Rolls Royce garage built in 1939, eating out here is a must-have West Village restaurant experience. The atmosphere is buzzy – in summer the garage doors roll up and tables spill onto the pavement. The food is modern Italian so light and delicious – the chicken with salsa verde is amazing and talked about all over New York. No reservations are taken, so if you don’t snag a seat at 6 o’clock, be prepared to put your name down.
Find Barbuto NYC at 775 Washington Street
4. Taim Falafel and Smoothie Bar
Pronounced ‘tah-eem’, this is the perfect little lunch spot when shopping and wandering around the West Village. They have pittas packed with falafels and delicious houmous, as well as salads and platters (my favourite is the traditional pitta). It’s so tiny you either perch on bar stools in the window or sit outside on the bench.
Find Taim Falafel and Smoothie Bar, 222 Waverly Place
5. Tartine
This postage-stamp-sized French restaurant on a tree-lined street in the West Village serves simple, inexpensive dishes, including the world’s best spicy chicken and fries. You queue up outside on the pavement for a table (which is actually nice on a breezy evening); and it’s BYOB so bring along your favourite cheap wine.
Find Tartine NYC at 253 West 11th Street
6. Café Cluny
I know I’ve said it before (here) but Café Cluny might be my favourite restaurant in New York City. I love it for breakfast, brunch, lunch and cosy evening date nights. The food is a mix of French and American; try the corn-and-crab fritters and burger. Side note: it’s likely you’ll spot celebrities here. Last time I went, I was sitting next to Bradley Cooper!
Find Cafe Cluny at 284 West 12th Street
7. Corner Bistro
Walking into this perma-packed bar you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time – with its old mahogany décor and ceiling from the 20s, maybe even earlier. Foodwise, it serves cheap beer and delicious burgers (hotly debated as the best in New York). The grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken burger and chips are also good. Tip: Unless you come late afternoon, expect to wait for a table.
Find Corner Bistro at 331 West 4th Street
8. Hudson Clearwater
This is referred to as New York’s ‘secret’ restaurant, since it looks like a boarded-up storefront. But if you walk around the corner and down the street, you’ll discover an unmarked green door in a brick wall. Push open the door, walk through a lovely little garden and you’ll find a beautiful hidden restaurant. The sparkling dining room and friendly staff welcomes you, and you can settle in for a perfect cocktail and rustic American food (like grilled hangar steak, followed by strawberry and blueberry shortcake).
Find Hudson Clearwater at 447 Hudson Street
9. The Little Owl
This miniature Mediterranean restaurant in the West Village has only 10-tables and possibly the cosiest dining room in New York! The dishes are intricately created and everything tastes beautiful – I highly recommend the corn soup with bacon cheddar croutons, meatball sliders, marinated steak tacos and sauted kale. I could go on! And don’t forget to look up – it has the most amazing ceiling made from antique stamped tin and painted gold.
Find The Little Owl at 90 Bedford Street
