NYC is my favorite city and I like to hang out in Manhattan the most. If I had to pick a spot in Manhattan it would definitely be the East Village. The party scene here is just terrific and finding something interesting to do is never a problem. The crowd is mostly hip and young.
In this one neighborhood you can get food from all over the world. If you want steaming hot Ramen noodles try Ippudo. You might have to wait but it’s all worth it. If you want to taste what Iron Chef food tastes like, go to Graffiti. The chef here, Jehangir Mehta, was one of the contestants on The Next Iron Chef last season. It’s a quaint little place with delicious food. If you are craving Tapas you can try Degustation. It’s a busy place with some of the best food in NYC. I also frequent Grand Sichuan for some spicy Chinese food, and Taureau for French food.
The bars here are quite awesome too. I usually frequent Manitoba’s which is a dive bar, very unpretentious and happening. If you are a soccer fan like me the best place to go to is Nevada Smith’s, but be careful who you root for on a match night… The atmosphere here is simply crazy with soccer fans from all over the world gathered in this place. When I need my fix of NYC yuppies and high decibels, I go to Whiskey Town. You could end your night at the coffee bar Ost Café. It is one of those places that only locals frequent and is not busy during the week.
As someone who needs my intellectual fix from time to time, I visit the Bowery Poetry Club on occasion. It is really interesting, the kind of music and the poetry you hear. Some of the performers are newbies while others are well established. With an entry fee of $6, it is totally worth it.
So those are all reasons why I love the East Village!
