Guidebook for New York
Shopping
Brix Wines
170 Avenue BWe love this wine shop!!! The owner Beatrice rocks.
Exit9 Gift Emporium
51 Avenue AGreat knick-knacks and gifts.
Drinks & Nightlife
Happy hour is great here. Go Monday through Friday 5-7 for the $1 oysters
189 abantu bendawo batusa
The Wayland
700 E 9th StHappy hour is great here. Go Monday through Friday 5-7 for the $1 oysters
A friendly bar with good cocktails. Plus if you smoke they allow that in the back patio
102 abantu bendawo batusa
The Summit Bar
133 Loisaida AveA friendly bar with good cocktails. Plus if you smoke they allow that in the back patio
The Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey StGreat venue for bands.
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston StLots of local bands.
Entertainment & Activities
This Crossfit location is just around the corner. A great place to exercise and meet locals.
9 abantu bendawo batusa
CrossFit East River
647 E 9th StThis Crossfit location is just around the corner. A great place to exercise and meet locals.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston StI do most of my grocery shopping at this Trader Joe's on 14th street near Avenue A.
1296 abantu bendawo batusa
Trader Joe's
130 Court StI do most of my grocery shopping at this Trader Joe's on 14th street near Avenue A.
Arts & Culture
IMuziyamu wezobuciko wezokwakha okuphela
235 BoweryDefinitely worth a visit.
Parks & Nature
This is the community garden around the corner from the house. Many of the neighbors have plots of land that they keep up. There are even chickens in the garden.
10 abantu bendawo batusa
La Plaza Cultural
This is the community garden around the corner from the house. Many of the neighbors have plots of land that they keep up. There are even chickens in the garden.
Food scene
Love the food here and it’s been in the neighborhood for ages. Great date spot!
55 abantu bendawo batusa
Lavagna
545 E 5th StLove the food here and it’s been in the neighborhood for ages. Great date spot!
This is my absolute favorite date spot and it’s just around the corner. Great orange wines. It’s Italian but also vegan. It also just was awarded a Michelin star!
Soda Club
This is my absolute favorite date spot and it’s just around the corner. Great orange wines. It’s Italian but also vegan. It also just was awarded a Michelin star!
Great Mexican and cool ambiance. If you sit at the bar in the center of the restaurant you can watch them make tortillas.
50 abantu bendawo batusa
Rosie's
29 E 2nd StGreat Mexican and cool ambiance. If you sit at the bar in the center of the restaurant you can watch them make tortillas.
Pylos
128 E 7th StAbsolutely best Greek food in the east village.
Hands down best affordable sushi in the east village. They do not do delivery.
94 abantu bendawo batusa
Takahachi
85 Avenue AHands down best affordable sushi in the east village. They do not do delivery.
More expensive than Takahatchi which is usually my go-to for sushi, but this place is definitely top notch.
23 abantu bendawo batusa
Hasaki
210 E 9th StMore expensive than Takahatchi which is usually my go-to for sushi, but this place is definitely top notch.
Dirt Candy
86 Allen StHands down best vegetarian restaurant in New York City.
Gruppo Thin Crust Pizza
98 Avenue BGreat pizza and salads. Good place to bring family.
This place has been around forever. The owner Gian Luca is a great guy and they do delicious pizza and pasta. Cute enclosed garden in the back.
42 abantu bendawo batusa
Gnocco
337 E 10th StThis place has been around forever. The owner Gian Luca is a great guy and they do delicious pizza and pasta. Cute enclosed garden in the back.
I personally don’t eat chicken but I hear they have the best chicken sandwiches ever.
86 abantu bendawo batusa
Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter
94 Loisaida AveI personally don’t eat chicken but I hear they have the best chicken sandwiches ever.
This place is classic east village. Loved by locals and visitors alike. Perfect for brunch or inexpensive dinner.
Cafe Mogador
This place is classic east village. Loved by locals and visitors alike. Perfect for brunch or inexpensive dinner.
Two Boots Pizza East Village
A fun place to grab a slice!
This place is actually known for being one of the best coffee places in NYC - coffee snobs take note! They don’t have much in the way of pastries, but they get the coffee right so it doesn’t matter. Right around the corner!
236 abantu bendawo batusa
Ninth Street Espresso
700 E 9th StThis place is actually known for being one of the best coffee places in NYC - coffee snobs take note! They don’t have much in the way of pastries, but they get the coffee right so it doesn’t matter. Right around the corner!
Great place both to go for lunch (tons of options) or pick up great fish etc at the market. They also have a bowling alley and VR. They did an amazing job with Essex Market when they rebuilt it a few years back. The photo in my guidebook is from the old Essex Market. New one looks very different!
341 abantu bendawo batusa
Essex Market
88 Essex StGreat place both to go for lunch (tons of options) or pick up great fish etc at the market. They also have a bowling alley and VR. They did an amazing job with Essex Market when they rebuilt it a few years back. The photo in my guidebook is from the old Essex Market. New one looks very different!