Insider Reviews: Greenwich Village's Hidden Gems


Infatuation
The AYCD Boozy Baseball Saturday On summer Saturdays, The Brooklyn Cyclones offer a very special all-you-can-drink ticket option. Things get rowdy—and to add to the madness, some nights are themed (Margaritaville, Harry Potter, and Seinfeld are on the lineup). After the ninth inning, take a ride on the Wonder Wheel and feast on the vodka sauce square slice at L&B Spumoni Gardens.


Infatuation
Where To Hang Out By The Water? When you want a reminder that it’s summer, head to the Brooklyn Crab! Look out at the water from Brooklyn Crab, and you’ll see giant container ships sitting on water that’ll remind you Brooklyn is certainly not a beach town. Even still, this Red Hook spot definitely feels summery—maybe it’s the fake sand or crab traps, which will take your mind off the fact that you’re next to warehouse parking lots. Order crab legs, popcorn shrimp, and a few pitchers of beer, and then take off your bib and play some cornhole. It’s also on the same block as Hometown Bar-B-Que, if you’re looking for surf and turf.


Crown | NYC
Escape to a beautiful urban oasis in the middle of New York City. Greenacre Park is a 6,000-square foot oasis nestled among tall towers in midtown Manhattan. Inside the park a 25-foot tall waterfall cools the air and mutes the noise from the surrounding traffic, creating a perfect and refreshing space to enjoy a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere. Park opens daily from 8:00am - 6:00pm.


Jamie
Let's try to walk in the city in early morning... You can make amazingly unique pictures and feel unforgettable!


katya ann
MUST TRY spot for MATCHA in nyc 🍵🫶✨ Fellini Coffee: cutest corner cafe in the west village + locations in SoHo/chelsea. Perfect grab & go spot at all locations 💯


katya ann
Palma: MUST TRY ITALIAN restaurant in The West Village, NYC 🍝🤌🇮🇹 An absolute favorite of ours with the coziest interior patio ambiance & insane cacio e Pepe ravioli 💯 also have separate spaces to reserve for large parties! A hidden garden blooming with fresh flowers, nested on quaint Cornelia Street, offering a taste of Italian clean cuisine since 2001✨🌿🌷


Secret NYC
Escape to another (& more colorful) dimension at Bubble Planet! Surround yourself with hundreds of bubbles through 10 mesmerizing bubble-themed rooms at Bubble Planet. Voyage through fantastical, pastel landscapes designed to appeal to all 5 senses. After touring cities like Milan, London, and LA, Bubble Planet has floated its way towards NYC to help you unleash your inner child, and you don’t want to miss out!
See also
Dining in Willowbrook: Explore Local Dining Experiences & Foodie Favorites Near NYC


katya ann
GRAND BANKS in Tribeca to your NYC summer bucket list 😍 The PERFECT happy hour spot for oysters & cocktails on a boat with the most gorg waterfront sunset views ✨ Tke the scallops & spritz which is the perfect combo + fries & cocktail shrimp for the table 🫶


ResX
Located inside the Mercer Hotel, Sartiano’s at HOTEL (THE MERCER) has taken over the iconic space of the former Mercer Kitchen. Italian heritage modern fine dining experience in the heart of SoHo. While it may not be the best Italian in NYC, the food is solid, and it offers a stylish setting that attracts a lively crowd. Perfect for a night out in SoHo!


ResX
Antidote Chinese Restaurant is a place where the food is designed in order to please all palates🍚 🥢 This Williamsburg Chinese restaurant is a favorite! Antidote‘s menu draws influence from Sichuan and Shanghai. It’s a great spot for a group dinner!


THE ROOFTOP GUIDE
Bar 54 is the tallest rooftop bar in Times Square! And also among the highest in the city. Located at the Hyatt Centric Times Square, Bar 54 offers a really superb river-to-river view, including the Chrysler Building and all of lower Manhattan. The bar serves an impressive drink menu, including a large set of well crafted cocktails, beers, wines in both glass and by bottle, a wide section of whiskey and also some tasty bar bites. The rooftop is open year-round, thanks to a chic and intimate indoor space.


Secret NYC
Take a dip in an NYC pool! On the weekends, The James Hotel opens their rooftop pool to all for free! With unobstructed views of the city, it’s the go-to spot to grab a drink and lounge by the pool. Note: The pool is reserved exclusively for hotel guests Monday – Friday until 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday until 2 p.m. The outdoor pool deck is open to JIMMY patrons after 5 pm Monday – Friday and Saturday and Sunday after 3 p.m.


Crown | NYC
Movie night at Bryant Park. See 2024 movie lineup below: 🍿 July 8 - Old School (2003) 🍿 July 15 - Funny Face (1957) 🍿 July 22 - Cinema Paradiso (1988) 🍿 July 29 - How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) 🍿 August 5 - Arrival (2016) 🍿 August 12 - Titanic (1997) Bring a blanket, invite a friend, and snag your spot on the lawn to watch a feature film on the big screen under the stars. Lawn opens at 5pm and movie starts at 8pm.


Infatuation
Where To Eat Hot Dogs In NYC? Plentiful, relatively cheap, and easy to eat as you jaywalk or wait for a bus, hot dogs are an essential part of New York City cuisine. And Chicago Dogs are officially part of New York City’s hot dog ecosystem, and the ones at Dog Day Afternoon in Windsor Terrace are some of the best. This kitschy little shop keeps a Vienna Beef diagram next to the register, so you can cross-check your dog and make sure it matches up. The poppyseed bun is especially soft and flavorful, and the combination of a Chicago dog with an orange whip on the sidewalk outside the restaurant is one of our favorite meals on a warm day.
See also
Discover the Vibrant Local Community in Willowbrook Near NYC - Engage in Trending Discussions & Anonymous Posts


Infatuation
If you’re looking for an impressive place to get a table when you didn’t plan weeks in advance, here is a great option. Noho’s C As In Charlie is one of those places that should be harder to get into, but we're grateful that it's not. The neon-red space can make even a Tuesday feel sexy and all of their Korean-Southern dishes cost $16 or less. The next time you need a little weekend energy on a weeknight without having to refresh the reservation page at exactly 9am, plan to come here—especially if you're into the idea of ox bone cream pasta, glaze fried chicken, and seoul'sbury steak with galbi jus and gruyére grits.


newyorkcity.explore
Astoria, Queens is hosting a free Community Cookout Movie Night Series this summer, bringing together local businesses Tikkun BBQ, Astoria Horror Club, and the 31st Avenue Open Street Collective. For three weekends in June, July, and August, the 31st Avenue Open Street will feature free horror movie screenings starting at 8 pm, along with free food like hot dogs and BBQ chicken provided by Tikkun BBQ. The series kicks off this Saturday, June 29th with a showing of the classic vampire film The Lost Boys. Organizers will also be handing out free harm-reduction supplies like Naloxone and fentanyl test strips. Attendees are encouraged to bring their chairs and blankets to enjoy the outdoor movie nights.


THE ROOFTOP GUIDE
Nothing says 'summer' like roof pools NYC. The perfect way to make the most out of a weekend in the big city, is to combine street-level fun with swimming and views at a chic NYC rooftop pool. What used to be Gansevoort Park is now Royalton Park Avenue. The rooftop pool is however the same, and this 2oth floor terrace can boast with one of the best rooftop pools NYC has available. One floor above the Rooftop at Royalton Park Avenue you’ll find this gem. Located in the middle of Manhattan (on Park Avenue, as the name suggests) with mighty views over the skyline with Empire State Building as a cool backdrop.


Secret NYC
Take in an enchanting concert by flickering candlelight ⭐ Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in New York. Fever’s popular Candlelight Concerts are better than ever this summer! Take a trip to Long Island and enjoy a Candlelight Summer in picturesque venues such as Guild Hall and With tons of dazzling concerts.


Secret NYC
Catch the year’s last Manhattanhenge Manhattanhenge is when the setting sun aligns with the street grid of Manhattan, illuminating every cross street on the north and south sides of the borough, and the year’s final Manhattanhenge will be on Thursday, July 11th, with the half sun version on Friday, July 12th.


katya ann
Fresh & AFFORDABLE AUSSIE STYLE hand rolls in the West Village 🍣💯✨ for just $12 you can get 3 rolls 😍 8 flavors to choose from with a monthly special! 📍Save this spot for your next takeout night in NYC!!


katya ann
Cha Cha Matcha: another FAVE in the city with multiple locations! The most fun & cute interior design and all whisked on the spot. Minimal food options but tons of fun specialty drinks + matcha soft serve. Make sure to grab a matcha to go before your next train ride in Moynihan station!
See also
Local Networking Events & Trending Gatherings in Willowbrook Near NYC


ResX
BuvetteNYC The perfect place to brunch in the West Village ☕️ Our server insisted that we get the last order of Pain Perdu (brioche bread with berries & crème) and it did not disappoint!🤤 ✨Pain Perdu ✨Crq Monsieur ✨Jambon Cru ✨Belgian Waffle


Infatuation
A vegan and a meat-eater enter a plant-based Ethiopian restaurant. A couple of hours later, they both leave completely satisfied—and with the newfound knowledge that vegan nacho cheese is far superior to the real (fake) stuff. Such miracles can happen at the second location of Ras Plant Based in Greenwich Village. The menu here is essentially the same as their original spot in Crown Heights, except for the injera nachos, which you must order, because that’s where that melty vegan cheese comes into play. Add on a few cocktails and a mercato platter, with lots of spongy injera for scooping up creamy ground chickpeas, and you’ve got a feast for friends who love legumes, and those who'd normally rather be eating meat.


Infatuation
Carnitas Ramirez has us feeling as elated as we did after watching Dune: Part Two. The small East Village spot from Taqueria Ramirez specializes in carnitas, and they're worth the line you’ll have to wait in. The whole pig is cooked snout-to-tail in big steel vats just behind the counter, and you can pick which parts you want on each $5 taco. Grab at least a few surtida tacos—a multi-textural adventure with bits from the entire pig. For a more focused taco, we like the tender lengua and the savory chamorro. Get a $3 side of chicharron to crumble on top, and load up on the salsa verde at the salsa station.


Crown | NYC
Have you gone for the kiss on a NYC Ferry ride?


newyorkcity.explore
Discover the vibrant umbrella installation at Hillel Place Plaza! 🌂🌈✨ 💡 Located in the heart of Brooklyn, the colorful umbrellas at Hillel Place Plaza create a stunning and whimsical canopy that transforms the space into a lively and artistic oasis. This installation not only adds a splash of color to the urban landscape but also provides a unique backdrop for photos and a joyful atmosphere for visitors. Whether you're strolling through the plaza, relaxing under the umbrellas, or enjoying the surrounding shops and cafes, this installation brings a sense of fun and creativity to the neighborhood.


nycity__ig
BIRDMEN staying hydrated at Lincoln Center 💦 “Birdmen” by Close-Act Theatre are three gigantic, stilt-walking puppets that roam the campus as part of the BigUmbrella Festival today and tomorrow, July 6 and 7, 2024. These clips were captured this morning. They will perform again today at 5 PM and tomorrow, July 7 at 4 pm and 7 pm. Stay hydrated like the Birdmen!


Infatuation
The Best Late Night Food In NYC: Love Korean BBQ Is it lame to say that the name of this Koreatown restaurant is exactly how we feel about it? Yeah, but it’s too late now. Open until 4am on Friday and Saturday, this fun three-story place has spinning rainbow-colored lights, a bar in the basement, and DJs every weekend after 6pm. They have several combos ($109 to $229) to choose from, which come with a cornucopia of vegetables to throw on the grill. Our favorite is the one with both beef and pork. Add some smoky, peppery japchae and their custardy truffled steamed egg—we’d come here just for those two things.
See also
Discover the Best Cocktails in Willowbrook: Local Bars & Rooftop Nightlife Near NYC


Infatuation
Lucia Pizza of Soho This is New York, which means you don’t have to settle for a mediocre slice of pizza late at night—instead, you can get one of the best slices. Lucia Pizza's Soho location is open until 3am, Thursday through Saturday (1am during the winter months), and even if you're stumbling and bleary-eyed, you’ll appreciate the moment they take to shower your pizza with basil and parm. There are a lot of standout slices here, so we recommend getting a few—something with red sauce, then also the vodka sauce slice, or the creamed spinach one. It's 350 feet from the A/C at Canal Street, in case that's your next move.


ResX
If pasta is your love language, you’ll want to try the Ricotta Gemelli with chili oil by Saint Theo’s Restaurant 🌶️ This dish is back on the dinner & brunch menu everyday by popular demand! Recs☑️ 🍋Ricotta Gemelli 🍋Lemon Linguine 🍋Branzino 🍋Fusilli Calabrese 🍋Chicken Milanese
Discover Local Secrets: Honest Reviews About Greenwich Village
Welcome to Kikihub's treasure trove of local secrets and real opinions for Greenwich Village! Straddling the heart of NYC, this eclectic neighborhood is a bustling melting pot, famed for its artistic flair, bohemian roots, and vibrant culture. Whether it's anonymous opinions on trendy spots, or the best-kept secrets unveiling the true essence of this charming enclave, Kikihub has got you covered.
Restaurants to Savor in Greenwich Village
Curious about the best places to dine in Greenwich Village? Look no further! Our local reviews reveal underrated gems and popular hotspots alike. For an authentic Italian experience, “Il Cantinori” garners high praise with its classic dishes and romantic ambiance. However, don’t miss out on “Bleecker Street Pizza,” where locals rave about the Nonna Maria Slice. According to trending discussions, “Minetta Tavern” remains an enduring favorite for its mouthwatering Black Label Burger.
But it’s not all high-end eateries; street food enthusiasts suggest trying “Mamoun’s Falafel” for an authentic, budget-friendly bite. For those who crave a fusion of flavors, “Taco Mahal” blends traditional Mexican and Indian cuisines, offering a unique twist to your palate.
Nightlife Hotspots Under the Radar
Greenwich Village is synonymous with vibrant nightlife that caters to various tastes. “The Garret,” perched above Five Guys, is a hidden speakeasy where New Yorkers share tales of its intimate setting and creative cocktails. More adventurous night owls flock to “The Village Vanguard” for unforgettable jazz performances that embody the neighborhood’s artistic soul.
For a taste of the bohemian spirit, “The Bitter End” holds the title as one of the longest-running music venues, famed for its historic performances by legendary artists. On the other hand, “Fat Cat” combines live music, games, and a welcoming atmosphere, making it a favorite spot for both locals and tourists.
Unforgettable Local Events and Festivals
Hosting an array of captivating events, Greenwich Village always has something to intrigue. According to community recommendations, the annual “Village Halloween Parade” is not to be missed—its vibrant costumes and lively atmosphere bring an electric energy to the streets. Furthermore, the “Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit” showcases the work of talented artists and has become a beloved local tradition.
The community also buzzes about the “Hudson River Park Blues BBQ Festival,” a delightful blend of savory BBQ and soulful blues music set against the picturesque backdrop of the Hudson River. Additionally, the “New York Comedy Festival” frequently features shows at local venues in the area, providing plenty of laughs and entertainment.
Offbeat Attractions and Hidden Gems
Besides well-known attractions, Greenwich Village is rich in hidden gems. The “Jefferson Market Library” is not only an architectural marvel but also whispers stories of its past as a courthouse and women’s prison. Anonymous opinions suggest visiting the “Stonewall Inn,” a significant landmark in LGBTQ+ history, where you can feel the spirit of the 1969 riots that ignited the modern gay rights movement.
For book lovers, “Three Lives & Company” is frequently highlighted in local reviews as a quaint bookstore that perfectly captures the neighborhood’s literary charm. As the discussions indicate, “The Church of St. Luke in the Fields” offers a peaceful garden oasis amidst the urban hustle, ideal for quiet reflection.
In The Know Recommendations
The Kikihub community prides itself on sharing the nuanced, in-the-know recommendations that make living or visiting Greenwich Village truly special. When it comes to coffee, “Third Rail Coffee” is revered for its artisanal brews and cozy ambiance. For those looking to unwind, "The Uncommons" offers an engaging experience with board games and a friendly vibe.
Locals also swear by the “Weekly Farmers Market at Abingdon Square,” where you can indulge in fresh produce and handcrafted goods. Meanwhile, fitness enthusiasts recommend “Physique 57,” a boutique barre studio that promises a challenging yet rewarding workout.
Greenwich Village is a neighborhood of endless possibilities, where secrets are best shared through whispered recommendations and heartfelt reviews. From dining delights and hidden nightlife gems to fascinating local events and cherished attractions, explore Greenwich Village like a true insider with Kikihub's local wisdom and anonymous insights.