Introducing Greenwich Village

With a past as storied as the tomes penned by literary giants who once walked its cobblestone streets, Greenwich Village is quite possibly New York’s most intriguing neighbourhood.

Over time, the Village has dramatically transformed from a quiet rural hamlet to a bohemian fount of alternative culture and finally, to the highly affluent and immensely sought-after neighborhood it is today.

Exempt from Manhattan’s no-nonsense city grid, its warren of tree-shaded streets is a delight to get lost in: flowerbox-decorated Greek revival row houses give way to charming sidewalk cafes and fetching independent boutiques, as well as lovely little outposts of designer brands.

Trend-setting rather than trendy, here farm-to-table restaurants coexist with wonderfully inventive dim sum and new-wave sushi eateries.

With New York University and The New School nearby, students comprise a significant part of the population, which adds preternaturally fun pubs, live music venues, and comedy clubs to the mix.

Washington Square Park remains the verdant heart of the neighborhood, wonderful for watching an impromptu art performance, observing a game of chess or simply sitting on a park bench for a conversation, as Mark Twain and Robert Louis Stevenson were once wont to do.