Unlike the picturesque West Village, populated with tons of restaurants and shops, the slightly grittier, arguably cooler East Village has always been a drinking destination. You’ll find incredible restaurants here too, though they might be sandwiched between bars.
The diversity of cuisine options in the neighborhood is staggering. You’ll find restaurants serving Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Korean, Filipino, and Italian fare,among others. There is, quite literally, something for everyone in the East Village, whether you’re hungry or thirsty or both.
Spanning the area north of Houston Street, south of 14th Street, and east of Third Avenue. Picking the best place to start can be hard, so to help we rounded up 10 ways to experience the legendary, historic neighborhood through food and drink.
Ippudo
Before ramen shops proliferated all over the city in the mid-2000s, there were just a handful of excellent places to find ramen in the city. One was and still is Ippudo, a Japanese chain which opened its first overseas restaurant in the East Village back in 2008.
In the nearly two decades since, the popular chain has expanded across the city and the country, but the 4th Avenue location is the flagship. It serves as the hub of these warm bowls of rich tonkotsu broth and noodles, along with buns, chips, and cocktails, served from an open kitchen. 65 4th Ave., East Village, ippudous.com
Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe
Neither a bar nor a restaurant, Veniero’s is an East Village institution nonetheless given it’s been owned and operated by the Veniero family since 1894. Just off 1st Avenue on 11th Street, the bake shop, or pasticceria, is a temple of Italian pastries. Think cookies, biscotti, pastries, cakes, and tiramisù all for sale.
The adjoining cafe allows guests and neighbors a place to sit and relax with a cappuccino, cannoli, and slice of New York cheesecake. 342 E. 11th St., East Village, venieros.com
Veselka
The much beloved Ukrainian diner on 2nd Avenue has been around since 1954. It’s so iconic, it’s actually hard to find a New Yorker who hasn’t heard of it, who hasn’t dined there, or, frankly, who doesn’t love it. Veselka might be filled with tourists, but it’s just a matter of time until the regulars and locals roll in for pierogis, borscht, blintzes, and the like.
While there’s now a kiosk in Grand Central Station, the OG East Village location is the place to be. Bonus, it’s open until midnight on weekdays, and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 144 Second Ave., East Village, veselka.com
Hearth
For over 20 years, chef Marco Canora (formerly of Craft and Brodo) has been serving rustic Italian-American dishes in his casual, warm, farmhouse-looking restaurant off of 1st Avenue. Back in 2013, Pete Wells awarded Hearth two stars and praised its longevity, likely not knowing it would last another decade-plus on the block.
With an extensive wine list, there’s something for everyone at Hearth (especially the classic veal and ricotta meatballs), and we can only hope they’re here for years to come. 403 East 12th St., East Village, restauranthearth.com
Casa Adela
For 50 years Casa Adela has been serving authentic Puerto Rican food to New Yorkers from a Loisada storefront, even after the death of renowned and beloved restauranteur Adela Fargas in 2018 at the age of 81. Fortunately for New Yorkers, the legendary, perfectly-seasoned rotisserie chicken, rice and beans, tostones, pernil asado, and mofongo live on though Adela. We’re lucky the restaurant stayed in the family and remains open. 66 Avenue C, East Village, casa-adela.placejoys.com
Royale
Known for a classic and extremely popular “Royal with Cheese” burger and a beautiful back garden, it’s hard to find a better place to hang on the Loisasada. But, while the burger garners most of the attention, the Royale is actually touted as a bar on the quiet stretch of Avenue C.
Besides the burgers and a full bar menu, there’s also beer, wine, chicken fingers, salads, and sandwiches on the menu, and happy hour all week long from 4 to 7 p.m. 157 Avenue C, East Village, royalenyc.com
McSorley’s Old Ale House
A classic Manhattan watering hole established in 1854, McSorley’s Old Ale House remains the city’s oldest and continuously operated saloon. According to the bar’s website, John Lennon and Abe Lincoln have been inside, and women were not permitted entry until 1970.
These days, the cash-only landmark is as busy as ever, serving McSorley’s Ale and burgers with fries to regulars, locals, and tourists alike. Keep in mind, kids are not allowed in after 6 p.m. 15 East 7th St., East Village, mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc
SuperBueno
As a Mexican-American cocktail bar also serving food, SuperBueno is always a good time. With a playful party vibe and possibly the best vodka soda in the city, it’s no wonder owner Ignacio “Nacho” Jimenez (from Ghost Donkey and Saxon + Parole) has collected a slew of accolades and awards from the James Beard Foundation to Tales of the Cocktail since opening just three years ago.
Cocktail nerds love it, neighborhood regulars can’t get enough of the crispy pork belly tacos, and when asked where they like to drink, NYC bartenders inevitably mention SuperBueno. Plus, the non-alcoholic options are some of the best around. 13 1st Ave., East Village, superbuenonyc.com
Crif Dogs and PDT
For late night drinkers, it’s only a matter of when you end up at Crif Dogs, not if. Open until 3 a.m. on the weekends and 2 a.m. during the week, the popular hot dog spot on Saint Mark’s Place is adjacent to PDT, the excellent and not-so-under-the-radar cocktail bar next door. In fact, guests enter PDT through a phone booth in the restaurant. You’ll want the signature bacon-wrapped dogs, which come with plenty of toppings and the East Village tots with cheese sauce and pickled jalapenos. 113 Saint Marks Pl., East Village, crifdogs.com
Superiority Burger
Over a decade ago, word got out of insanely good veggie burgers at a tiny 9th Street spot called Superiority Burger. Here we find chef Brooks Headley, who indeed does delicious things with vegetables. The small restaurant closed in 2021 and relocated to a bigger East Village space on Avenue A in 2023, across from Tompkins Square Park. Once there, the food menu expanded and now serves the best French fries in the city, along with dessert (don’t miss the gelatos), and great cocktails. Plus, it’s open late. 119 Avenue A, East Village, superiorityburger.com
