Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Authentic Mexican Food. They don't use mix for their margaritas! Great daily happy hour at the bar.
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La Palapa
77 St Marks PlAuthentic Mexican Food. They don't use mix for their margaritas! Great daily happy hour at the bar.
Small place with a few stools facing the window. The best coffee. The best savory and sweet pastries. Hands down. Get something and walk to Tompkins Square Park.
Patisserie Florentine
280 East 10th StreetSmall place with a few stools facing the window. The best coffee. The best savory and sweet pastries. Hands down. Get something and walk to Tompkins Square Park.
Iconic Italian joint. Also serves pleanty of vegetarian dishes. Stick to the mains, get a basket of garlic bread, and sit in the back room. You will not reget it.
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John's of 12th Street
302 E 12th StIconic Italian joint. Also serves pleanty of vegetarian dishes. Stick to the mains, get a basket of garlic bread, and sit in the back room. You will not reget it.
1800s Italian bakery still going strong. A NY tradition. In addition to the bakery up front, there is interior seating in a traditionally gaudy Italian interior. Also a gelato stand inside.
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Veniero's
342 E 11th St1800s Italian bakery still going strong. A NY tradition. In addition to the bakery up front, there is interior seating in a traditionally gaudy Italian interior. Also a gelato stand inside.
Traditional market for italian food of all sorts. Small and iconic. I go here for olives, artichoke, and the take-home frozen pasta. They also make sandwiches at the counter.
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Russo's Mozzarella & Pasta
363 7th AveTraditional market for italian food of all sorts. Small and iconic. I go here for olives, artichoke, and the take-home frozen pasta. They also make sandwiches at the counter.
Get a slice or two here. They're all good. Warning - the artichoke slice is super, super rich.
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Artichoke Basille's Pizza
321 E 14th StGet a slice or two here. They're all good. Warning - the artichoke slice is super, super rich.
This spot has absolutely amazing pizza and sides. No joke, probably one of the best in the city. I take family here when they are in town since seating is usually available (their big business is delivery.) I would even recommend it over Artichoke. I've never had anything mediocre here. They deliver fast, too!
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Nicoletta Pizzeria
218 Lafayette StreetThis spot has absolutely amazing pizza and sides. No joke, probably one of the best in the city. I take family here when they are in town since seating is usually available (their big business is delivery.) I would even recommend it over Artichoke. I've never had anything mediocre here. They deliver fast, too!
Another great East Village noodle spot. And much, much easier to get into than Momofuku.
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Num Pang Sandwich Shop
148 W 48th StAnother great East Village noodle spot. And much, much easier to get into than Momofuku.
BAGELS. This place does it right. I get an everything bagel scooped (they take out all the bread inside the bagel and leave the crust) with scrambled eggs, American cheese and tomato. They also have a location right across from Tomkins Square Park, but if you're at that one on any weekend / holiday, expect a line. This one seems to be less crowded.
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Tompkins Square Bagels
165 Avenue ABAGELS. This place does it right. I get an everything bagel scooped (they take out all the bread inside the bagel and leave the crust) with scrambled eggs, American cheese and tomato. They also have a location right across from Tomkins Square Park, but if you're at that one on any weekend / holiday, expect a line. This one seems to be less crowded.
Ray's Deli is an East Village landmark at this point. Ray still works there (in his late 80s.) One of my friends helps out from time to time, and says get the fries. Maybe a malt. I agree. The fries are not frozen - they are fresh made in store from real potatoes. A good late-night stop after drinking.
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Ray's Candy Store
113 Avenue ARay's Deli is an East Village landmark at this point. Ray still works there (in his late 80s.) One of my friends helps out from time to time, and says get the fries. Maybe a malt. I agree. The fries are not frozen - they are fresh made in store from real potatoes. A good late-night stop after drinking.
Trust me on this. Everything is good. Hummus. Spicy Carrots. The mint tea. The couscous. The main dishes. The halloumi cheese. EVERYTHING.
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Cafe Mogador
133 Wythe AveTrust me on this. Everything is good. Hummus. Spicy Carrots. The mint tea. The couscous. The main dishes. The halloumi cheese. EVERYTHING.
Sandwiches made to order, plus cheese and other good stuff to bring home. Stop by for picnic stuff to bring to the park.
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Barnyard Cheese Shop
168 Avenue BSandwiches made to order, plus cheese and other good stuff to bring home. Stop by for picnic stuff to bring to the park.
Go here if you want to see the original Russ store. Not the one on Orchard st. They make awesome smoked salmon bagels here. Also crazy good sweets, and excellent dried fruits and nuts.
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Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston StGo here if you want to see the original Russ store. Not the one on Orchard st. They make awesome smoked salmon bagels here. Also crazy good sweets, and excellent dried fruits and nuts.
Excellent, world-renown noodle bar. Expect crowds going to the sidewalk.
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Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave.Excellent, world-renown noodle bar. Expect crowds going to the sidewalk.
Drinks & Nightlife
Niagara
112 Avenue AFantastic old-school bar right across from Tompkins Sq. Park
Nowhere
322 E 14th StLowkey mixed / gay neighborhood bar with happy hour.
I know. The name. But it's owned by Alan Cumming, and I have not been disappointed once. Good drinks. Live acts. Art salons. Obscure movie premieres. Usually never a cover. Usually not too crowded.
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Club Cumming
505 E 6th StI know. The name. But it's owned by Alan Cumming, and I have not been disappointed once. Good drinks. Live acts. Art salons. Obscure movie premieres. Usually never a cover. Usually not too crowded.
You can't go wrong here. It's a reincarnation of the 1970's Regal Beagle, but with a nautical theme. Get a frozen mojito. The bar food is THE BEST, too. FYI they have a FREE Tito's Vodka happy hour - don't arrive then - it will be too crowded. Go before or after, and get a seat at the bar or in a booth.
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The Rusty Knot
425 West StYou can't go wrong here. It's a reincarnation of the 1970's Regal Beagle, but with a nautical theme. Get a frozen mojito. The bar food is THE BEST, too. FYI they have a FREE Tito's Vodka happy hour - don't arrive then - it will be too crowded. Go before or after, and get a seat at the bar or in a booth.
Fantastic spot with cold beer, darts, etc. Go during off-hours when its not crowded.
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Ace Bar
531 E 5th StFantastic spot with cold beer, darts, etc. Go during off-hours when its not crowded.
Parks & Nature
Your quintessential Sunday newspaper reading, listening to saxophone playing, kids laughing, dog-run watching NYC park.
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Tompkins Square Park
East 10th StreetYour quintessential Sunday newspaper reading, listening to saxophone playing, kids laughing, dog-run watching NYC park.
You can get to the east river park by walking east on 7th street all the way to the east river, where pedestrian bridges located every few blocks go to the other side of the highway. There are tennis courts here, tracks, soccer and baseball fields, places to BBQ, etc. From the park you can bike / hike all the way up to Harlem, or down to Wall St. and around to the west side.
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John V. Lindsay East River Park
1234 East 6th StreetYou can get to the east river park by walking east on 7th street all the way to the east river, where pedestrian bridges located every few blocks go to the other side of the highway. There are tennis courts here, tracks, soccer and baseball fields, places to BBQ, etc. From the park you can bike / hike all the way up to Harlem, or down to Wall St. and around to the west side.
It's a park, but it's also a stunning museum, brought piece-by-piece from Italy to NYC. You will not feel like you're in Manhattan. Take the A train express to get up here cheap.
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The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin DrIt's a park, but it's also a stunning museum, brought piece-by-piece from Italy to NYC. You will not feel like you're in Manhattan. Take the A train express to get up here cheap.
Shopping
More high end consignment clothing. An East Village mainstay along Tokyo Joe (they used to work together years ago - then split up.)
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Tokio 7
83 E 7th StMore high end consignment clothing. An East Village mainstay along Tokyo Joe (they used to work together years ago - then split up.)
Excellent collection of high-end men's and women's consignment clothing.
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INA
21 Prince StExcellent collection of high-end men's and women's consignment clothing.
Go here, buy lots and lots of candy, then put it in a Dylan's Candy bag and give it to your nieces and nephews. Buy something for yourself with all the money you save.
Seriously, this store is an Only-in-NY place to see.
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Economy Candy
108 Rivington StGo here, buy lots and lots of candy, then put it in a Dylan's Candy bag and give it to your nieces and nephews. Buy something for yourself with all the money you save.
Seriously, this store is an Only-in-NY place to see.
VINTAGE FURNITURE. A small but cool place to stop by when you're on your way to brunch or just want to kill some time. There used to be lots more places like this in the neighborhood. Check if they're open first!
White Trash
304 E 5th StVINTAGE FURNITURE. A small but cool place to stop by when you're on your way to brunch or just want to kill some time. There used to be lots more places like this in the neighborhood. Check if they're open first!
Rare breed bookstore and Bonnie is a very sweet lady. These spots are getting hard to find. A must visit place. Grab a gift for someone. The cookbooks and pamphlets on top of my fridge are all from Bonnie.
Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks
28 E 2nd StRare breed bookstore and Bonnie is a very sweet lady. These spots are getting hard to find. A must visit place. Grab a gift for someone. The cookbooks and pamphlets on top of my fridge are all from Bonnie.
Socks and panty hose. That's it. If you live in the East Village, this is where you buy your socks. It's worth a visit, and right next to Mogador Cafe so you can browse for socks while you wait for a table.
The Sock Man
99 St Marks PlSocks and panty hose. That's it. If you live in the East Village, this is where you buy your socks. It's worth a visit, and right next to Mogador Cafe so you can browse for socks while you wait for a table.
Essentials
Small natural foods store. Been in the neighborhood forever. If you need baking supplies, or bulk nuts and dried fruit, this is the place to go.
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Commodities Health Food
165 1st Ave.Small natural foods store. Been in the neighborhood forever. If you need baking supplies, or bulk nuts and dried fruit, this is the place to go.
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston StPretty Explanitory.
Just around the corner. They'll do dry cleaning or wash and fold, or you can use the machines yourself.
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Quick Coin Ave B Laundromat
46 Avenue BJust around the corner. They'll do dry cleaning or wash and fold, or you can use the machines yourself.
Yes. Kmart. It used to be called the Big K. They just shrank by one floor this year to accommodate Facebook offices in the floors above. Still, if you need typical home stuff or a cheap pair of swimming trunks, this just might be your place.
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Kmart
770 BroadwayYes. Kmart. It used to be called the Big K. They just shrank by one floor this year to accommodate Facebook offices in the floors above. Still, if you need typical home stuff or a cheap pair of swimming trunks, this just might be your place.
Old School EVillage grocery store. They have what you need without the Whole Foods pricing (or ambiance.)
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Key Food Supermarkets
492 Myrtle AveOld School EVillage grocery store. They have what you need without the Whole Foods pricing (or ambiance.)
$25-a-month, brand-new East Village gym owned by Equinox. No frills (bring your own towel - the only ones they have are for sale) but they have most equipment you'll ever need. Be sure to get the entire picture on pricing (I believe if you go month-to-month, you'll end up paying about $75 total since there is a fee upon closing your account and you must give XX days notice.)
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Blink Fitness
1002 Gates Ave$25-a-month, brand-new East Village gym owned by Equinox. No frills (bring your own towel - the only ones they have are for sale) but they have most equipment you'll ever need. Be sure to get the entire picture on pricing (I believe if you go month-to-month, you'll end up paying about $75 total since there is a fee upon closing your account and you must give XX days notice.)
Entertainment & Activities
They play all sorts of things here. You'll see this theater in lots of movies, because it still has the old 'analog' movie marquee awning outside.
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Village East Cinema
181-189 2nd AveThey play all sorts of things here. You'll see this theater in lots of movies, because it still has the old 'analog' movie marquee awning outside.
Everything Else
Public Baths used to be a fairly common thing in NYC in the 1800s. Not anymore. And this is one of the most authentic. Very Russian. It is mostly co-ed, but has a few men or women-only times as well. All kinds come, lots of young urbans / techies during the weekend, mixed with yoga folks and old regulars. They serve juices and food up front. Towels, robes and flip flops are provided if you don't have your own. If you want a sterile lab-like environment, this place is not for you. That said, I highly recommend it. You have a few rooms to choose from - sauna, steam, eucalyptus, and one so hot you'll feel like your hair is melting. There's also a cold pool and small outdoor patio in back.
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Russian & Turkish Baths
268 E 10th StPublic Baths used to be a fairly common thing in NYC in the 1800s. Not anymore. And this is one of the most authentic. Very Russian. It is mostly co-ed, but has a few men or women-only times as well. All kinds come, lots of young urbans / techies during the weekend, mixed with yoga folks and old regulars. They serve juices and food up front. Towels, robes and flip flops are provided if you don't have your own. If you want a sterile lab-like environment, this place is not for you. That said, I highly recommend it. You have a few rooms to choose from - sauna, steam, eucalyptus, and one so hot you'll feel like your hair is melting. There's also a cold pool and small outdoor patio in back.