13 West 13th Street, 4-HS

Quick Profile

Known for its high-end shopping on Bleecker Street, the elegant brownstones dating back to colonial times that have been depicted in films and television, the abundance of cafes, and its celebrity residents, the West Village neighborhood is what springs to mind when you think of the essence of New York City. This is a neighborhood where the pace of life is less hurried, and harried, than in other neighborhoods, exuding an understated elegance and naturally beautiful sophistication and charm. 

The West Village has something to offer everyone, whether your taste runs to designer goods and trend-setting restaurants, or you are happier browsing thrift stores and whiling away the hours in conversation with friends at a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop. There are public green spaces dotted throughout this neighborhood, where you can stop and commune with nature, or grab a bite to eat from a local deli or cafe and have a picnic. The Hudson River Park offers recreational opportunities and events for all ages.

There is a tradition of bohemian non-conformity attached to the West Village. Even the intimate, tree-lined, and sometimes cobblestoned, streets refuse to conform to the grid layout of the rest of Manhattan. Activism and social consciousness have always been hallmarks of this neighborhood. The neighborhood is diverse and accepting of all. You will find artistic venues and experimental theater, together with a broad spectrum of bars, including speakeasies, and restaurants featuring myriad cuisines.

The West Village is primarily residential, conspicuously lacking the high-rise office buildings that characterize other neighborhoods. This lends an air of quiet sophistication during the day. At night, the area becomes more lively, as residents frequent their favorite restaurants, theaters, cafes, and gastropubs. Housing consists of brownstones dating back to the 18th century, low-rise walk-ups, townhouses, artists lofts, and condos in renovated buildings. Newer high-rise residential buildings are cropping up along the Hudson River. Always popular with celebrities and artistic types, the West Village is now attracting families and young professionals in the tech and financial fields.