VIBE

Though the artists, Beatniks, and anarchists moved elsewhere as gentrification gathered steam, the crooked streets of the West Village have retained their color and character with quaintly charming architecture and quirky finds like Three Lives and Co., a self-proclaimed “anachronism” of a bookstore, and the White Horse Tavern, one of the oldest pubs in town and the spot where Dylan Thomas drank his days away. Added to the mix is a collection of chichi boutiques along Bleecker Street, where fashion world heavy hitters like Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren dominate. Smaller boutiques like cult fave C.O. Bigelow Chemists, California import James Perse, and hip fragrance house Bond No. 9 are sprinkled throughout the neighborhood.

USE A PURCHASE FROM HERE FOR

A high-fashion ensemble to dazzle; offbeat gifts and accessories

WHY WE LIKE IT

The mix of high-fashion labels and funky finds makes for delightful browsing. While many New Yorkers bemoan the loss of the West Village’s distinctive character as a result of encroaching gentrification, there’s no doubt that the area still retains many of its original charms. It’s well worth a wander, even if you’re only window shopping.

GOOD TO KNOW

The West Village is one of the few areas of Manhattan that wasn’t realigned on the grid system in the 19th century, so its streets can be tricky to navigate. Bring a map and a sense of adventure for wandering the twisting lanes.

CLOSEST COMPS

Marylebone (London); Notting Hill (London); Le Marais (Paris)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to New York City.