The West Village is one of NYC’s most beloved neighbourhoods, known for its cobblestoned streets outfitted with classic brownstones, charming cafés, and beautiful boutiques. Its dining scene is also diverse, with many acclaimed restaurants by stellar chefs – there are starred sushi spots, hard-to-get-into steakhouses, adored Italian eateries, and upscale Thai restaurants all on hand. Here’s our top 10.
234 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014
Fairfax
Restaurateur Gabe Stulman is king of the West Village dining scene – especially when it comes to vibrant and welcoming, all-day cafés. Fairfax is his ode to California that could double as your stylish friend’s living room, and yes, it’s open all day. In the morning there’s coffee, pastries, porridge, and egg dishes, whilst lunch brings cheese plates, anchovies on toast, and a very good chicken leg. Later on, it morphs into a wine bar with a concise dinner menu.
Semma
Indian food has had a major facelift in New York City. Which is mostly thanks to Unapologetic Foods – the Indian-owned restaurant group behind Dhamaka, Masalawala & Sons, Naks, Rowdy Rooster, Adda Indian Canteen, and Semma, its South Indian restaurant. The only spot in the group to have been awarded a Michelin star, Semma is both fun and fancy; menu highlights include gunpowder dosa, Goanese oxtail, and nathai pirattal made with local Peconic snails cooked with ginger and tamarind.
60 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011
570 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
Anton’s
It’s easy to feel like you’re at grandma’s table at this cosy corner spot by Nick Anderer: it’s designed as an homage to New York and his and his wife’s family ancestry. The menu includes a version of the creamed spinach with mushroom velouté that was once made at Delmonico's, a steak named after his great-grandfather who was a butcher in the Meatpacking District, a handmade pasta inspired by a dish at Gene’s (a favourite restaurant of the couple that’s been open since 1919), and Anderer’s mum’s apple crisp recipe.
The Noortwyck
This West Village spot from a few Eleven Madison Park alums features a minimalist modern room with green and earthy tones – it’s ideal for date night. The menu changes with the seasons and uses locally sourced ingredients as much as possible. Foodies flock here for seeded parker rolls with homemade cultured butter, fluke crudo, and whole roasted chicken for two. They’re also open for brunch (with excellent pastries) and offer a series of wine dinners featuring makers from around the world.
289 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014
103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014
Don Angie
Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli met in a restaurant kitchen and dreamed of opening their own place to share their Italian-American heritage (they also got married along the way). In 2017, they opened Don Angie, which has been slinging cult favourites like lasagna rolls, stuffed garlic bread, and buffalo milk caramelle pasta ever since. The Art Deco dining room is always lively, and the pair also now own the spot next door, San Sabino, which focuses on Italian seafood.
Buvette
Every neighbourhood should have a French bistro and Jody Williams’ Buvette is it in the West Village. Full of rustic French appeal, perfect omelettes, and rows of wine bottles, it’s impossible not to think of Paris whilst you’re here. Ideal for any meal of the day, dishes include the aforementioned omelette as well as croque madame, roasted beets with horseradish crème, salmon rilletes, and a variety of open-face tartines. It’s so authentic that a second location opened in Paris itself in 2012.
42 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
23 Commerce St, New York, NY 10014
Sushi Nakazawa
An essential inclusion in any list of New York City’s best sushi restaurants, Sushi Nakazawa is where you’ll find chef Daisuke Nakazawa from the beloved documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi serving his top-quality sushi. The 21-piece omakase is a must-try experience; the fish changes nightly, but there’s often chum salmon, mature yellowtail, and fatty tuna on the menu.
Via Carota
After having success with their individual West Village restaurants (I Sodi and Buvette), chefs and life partners Jody Williams and Rita Sodi teamed up professionally with the opening of Via Carota. It’s now the place to go for simple, delicious Italian fare; the menu focuses on seasonal vegetables, handmade pastas, and locally sourced meats and fish. It’s a charming neighbourhood spot that has almost come to define the West Village dining scene, attracting diners from far and wide.
51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
641 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
Bangkok Supper Club
Bangkok Supper Club is the ambitious follow-up restaurant from the team behind Fish Cheeks, presenting inventive, contemporary Thai cuisine in a sophisticated, 1960s-inspired setting. Dishes include Hokkaido scallop ceviche with pickled watermelon rind and watermelon; uni and crab tartlets topped with caviar; whole grilled branzino with Nam Jim seafood sauce; beef cheek massaman curry; and the crying tiger, a 32-ounce bone-in grilled ribeye served with Thai herb salad.
SHMONÉ
SHMONÉ is Eyal Shani’s only restaurant with a Michelin star, perhaps owing to the highly seasonal and locally sourced fare – a veritable what’s what at the farmer’s market. The ever-changing menu, presented somewhat ironically in Comic Sans font, might contain dishes like a white eggplant steak with sheep’s milk yoghurt, grilled Brussels sprouts with Stracciatella and honey, and lamb spare ribs with grapes. Almost always on is the excellent Hamachi sashimi, Sasso chicken, and Jerusalem bagel with preserved lemon and za’atar.
