New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [119]
GREENWICH VILLAGE
Terra Blues.
A true charmer, this second-story haven for blues lovers is a cozy Greenwich Village club surprisingly short on NYU students (unlike other places in this neighborhood). Everyone from great national acts like Buddy Guy to local R&B’ers graces the stage year-round. | 149 Bleecker St., between Thompson St. and LaGuardia Pl., Greenwich Village | 10012 | 212/777–7776 | www.terrablues.com | Subway: A, C, E, B, D, F, M to W. 4th St.; 4, 6 to Bleecker St.
Bars
Cornelia Street Café.
Share a bottle of merlot at a street-side table on this quiet West Village lane. Downstairs you can catch live jazz or a poetry reading, or take in the superb monthly Entertaining Science evenings hosted by the Nobel laureate chemist Roald Hoffmann. | 29 Cornelia St., between W. 4th and Bleecker Sts., Greenwich Village | 10014 | 212/989–9319 | www.corneliastreetcafe.com | Subway: A, B, C, D, E, F, M to W. 4th St./Washington Sq.
Corner Bistro.
Opened in 1961, this neighborhood saloon serves what many think are the best hamburgers in town. Once you actually get a seat, the space feels nice and cozy, but until then, be prepared to drink a beer amid loud and hungry patrons. | 331 W. 4th St., at 8th Ave., Greenwich Village | 10014 | 212/242–9502 | Subway: A, C, E to 14th St.; L to 8th Ave.
Little Branch.
The owners of the secretive, hard-to-access lounge Milk & Honey (now closed) created this open-to-everyone cousin, the site of N.Y.’s legendary ’80s Milk Bar, with the same simple yet high-quality cocktails. The dim lighting and snug booths make it the ideal spot for you to hide from creditors or share a romantic first kiss in equal measure. | 20 7th Ave., at Leroy St., Greenwich Village | 10014 | 212/929–4360 | Subway: 1 to Houston St.
Madame X.
“Red in tooth and claw” might be the motto of this crimson-colored hangout, which attracts a stylish-without-too-much-attitude crowd with its bordello atmosphere. And the garden in back is open year-round, thanks to the miracle of outdoor heaters. | 94 W. Houston St., between LaGuardia Pl. and Thompson St., Greenwich Village | 10012 | 212/539–0808 | www.madamex.com | Subway: 1 to Houston St.
Tortilla Flats.
The back room of this Mexican eatery is a tribute to the stars of Las Vegas, from Martin and Lewis to Siegfried and Roy, but the real action is in the main room, where rambunctious customers pack the tight quarters for games like bingo (on Monday and Tuesday), Hula-Hooping (on Wednesday), trivia (on Sunday), and whatever other sports may result from the plentiful tequila on sale. (Note: Flats is a prime bachelorette-party destination, but no male strippers have been spotted there recently—not even on Hula-Hoop Night.) | 767 Washington St., at W. 12th St., Greenwich Village | 10014 | 212/243–1053 | www.tortillaflatsnyc.com | Subway: A, C, E to 14th St.; L to 8th Ave.
Vol de Nuit.
Tucked away from the street, the “Belgian Beer Bar” (as everybody calls it) features a European-style, enclosed outdoor courtyard and a cozy interior, all red light and shadows. NYU grad-student types come for the mammoth selection of beers on tap as well as for the fries, which are served with a Belgian flair, in a paper cone with an array of sauces on the side. | 148 W. 4th St., at 6th Ave., Greenwich Village | 10014 | 212/982–3388 | www.voldenuitbar.com | Subway: A, B, C, D, E, F, M to W. 4th St./Washington Sq.
White Horse Tavern.
According to New York legend, Dylan Thomas drank himself to death in this historic and quintessential West Village tavern founded in 1880. The Horse remains perpetually popular with literary types, but thankfully it’s lacking more death-by-alcohol-poisoning cases of late. When the weather’s nice, try to snag a seat at one of the sidewalk tables for prime—and, given the neighborhood, we do mean prime—people-watching.