Local City
This guide is only the tip of the iceberg. It focuses on places that have been favorites with our law students in recent years and are located, for the most part, within our neighborhood. We hope that you find this guide helpful as you explore and familiarize yourself with our area. Should you find a place that is not mentioned in the guide and one that you think others would like to know about please send an e-mail to Student Affairs, at law.studentaffairs@nyu.edu.
Our thanks to Chad Atlas (’06) for getting this guide off the ground and to Kenneth Butler for his editorial skills.
Places to Eat
| Pizza | Mexican Cuisine | Spanish |
| Sandwiches | Italian | Diners |
| Chinese Cuisine | Japanese | Brunch |
| Thai Cuisine | American | Dessert |
| Indian Cuisine | Vietnamese | Coffee |
| Burgers | Middle Eastern |
For more comprehensive restaurant guides to New York City, please visit:
Menu Pages
http://www.menupages.com/
Gotham Menu
http://www.gotham2go.com/
NYC Nightlife
Places to Listen
Places to Play
NYC Attractions
John’s of Bleecker St.
278 Bleecker St.
For a restaurant that serves whole pies, the best option is here.
Arturo’s
106 W.Houston St.
Arturo’s bakes pies with one of the few remaining coal ovens in New York City.
The Pizzeria
111 MacDougal St.
The Pizzeria has unbeatable weekday lunch specials.
Famous Ray’s
465 6th. Ave at 11th St.
The slices at Ray’s are large and cheap.
Lombardi’s
32 Spring St. (near Mott Street)
Lombardi’s first opened in 1905.
Abbondanza’s
193 Bleecker St.
Abbondanza’s is a small space with limited seating that serves both cold and hot sandwiches.
Bite
335 Lafayette St. (b/w Houston St. and Bleecker St.)
Bite serves gourmet sandwiches for $5 - $8 a piece.
Bully’s
786 Broadway (at 8th St.)
Like most NYC delis, Bully’s staff is willing to make any sandwich you can imagine out of its endless selection of fixings.
Grey Dog Coffee Shop
33 Carmine St.
Though it was voted CitySearch.com’s “Best Coffee Shop in the City”, this restaurant serves much more and is very popular.
BB Sandwich Bar
120 West 3rd St.
BB Sandwich Bar specializes in cheese steak sandwiches, either Philly style or prepared to customers’ tastes.
Jamaican Flavors
240 Sullivan St.
Tasty Jamaican beef, chicken, and vegetable patties available to go.
‘Wichcraft
60 E. 8th St (at Broadway)
New to the city, ‘Wichcraft offers trendy twists on traditional sandwiches for a price. This is one of several branches around town.
Susie’s
149 Bleecker St.
Take-out and dine-in options offer a variety of cheap combination plates and noodle dishes.
Dragonfly
47 7th. Ave.
Dragonfly patrons can try Filipino, Malaysian, or Thai dishes, or mix-and-match all three.
The best Chinese food is in Chinatown, here are some student favorites…
Hsin Wong
72 Bayard St.
Directions: Take the N, Q, or R train to Mott. St., walk south to Bayard St..
This is authentic Chinese food for a great price.
Dim Sum
66 Bayard St. (b/w Mott St. & Elizabeth St.)
Directions: Take the N, R, Q, 4, 5, or 6 train to Canal St.
The dumplings offered at Dim Sum are examples of superlative Shanghai-style cooking.
Vegetarian Dim Sum House
24 Pell St. (b/w Mott St. and Bowery)
This is a great option for vegetarians. The Vegetarian Dim Sum House offers a variety of creative interpretations of common dim sum featuring mock chicken, mock pork and mock beef. Cash only!
Bang Thai Eatery
210 Thompson St. (b/w 3rd and Bleecker Sts.)
Bang Thai offers all the Thai food classics but at the cheapest prices the city has to offer.
Highline Thai Restaurant
835 Washington St. (@ Little W. 12th St.)
Great Thai food for cheap: $10-12 a plate.
Spice
60 University Pl.
Good food, reasonable prices, pleasant atmosphere.
Village Ma
107 MacDougal St. (b/w 3rd and Bleecker St.)
212-529-3808
Village Ma is a popular stop nearly all the time. Be prepared to make reservations.
Baluchi’s
90 West 3rd St.
Baluchi’s has several branches around the city but this one is most convenient for students at the Law School. Lunch specials are unbeatable.
Surya
302 Bleecker St.
Attractive garden for outside dining.
Corner Bistro
331 West 4th St.
Burger’s here are just five dollars, add fries for $1.50.
Paul’s
131 2nd Ave, between 7th St. and St. Marks St.
Paul’s offers delicious burgers.
Blue 9
92 Third Ave, between 12th and 13th Streets
Blue 9 offers burgers, fries, and milkshakes all for about six dollars.
Tennessee Mountain
143 Spring St.
I In addition to burgers, this southern-style venue touts BBQ ribs and other cook-out style fare.
Mary Ann's
80 Second Ave. (at 5th St.)
Make sure to bring cash to this low-key restaurant, because there are no credit cards accepted.
Rosa Mexicano
9 E. 18th St. (b/w 5th Ave and Broadway at Union Square)
Rosa Mexicano offers modern Mexican food at moderate to immoderate prices.
Pepe Rosso To Go
149 Sullivan St
You’re in for a treat with one of their pasta dishes.
Monte’s
97 MacDougal St., between West 3rd and Bleecker Sts.
A Village landmark. Generations of law students have been dining here over the years.
Vento
675 Hudson St.
Vento is a well-priced, brick-walled Italian eating house with good brick-oven pizzas plus a lot more.
Dojo West
14 W 4th St.
Cheap food with Japanese accents and many vegetarian options.
Sushi Samba
87 7th Ave. (at Barrow St.)
Sushi Samba makes the largest sushi rolls below 14th St.
Blue Water Grill
31 Union Sq. W. (16th St.)
The seafood at this sophisticated restaurant meets all expectations, and the service is prompt and friendly.
Knickerbocker Bar and Grill
33 University Pl. (between 8th & 9th Sts.)
Knickerbocker serves a host of American fare including lamb, lobster, and steak.
Reservoir
70 University Pl. (b/w 10th and 11th Sts.)
Reservoir, part bar and part restaurant, offers traditional American fare such as chicken wings, burgers, nachos, sandwiches, and salads.
L’Annam
121 University Pl. (13th St.)
This is the only hub for affordable Vietnamese food in the village.
Mamoun’s
119 MacDougal St.
This tiny middle eastern eatery is both a NYU and NYC cheap dining staple. Falafels are only $2
Café Espanol
172 Bleecker St.
Good Spanish food in a pretty setting.
Tio Pepe
168 West Fourth St., west of Cornelia St.
A long-time favorite with the NYU community.
Washington Square Diner
150 West 4th St., just east of Sixth Ave.
Almost everyone from the Law School is there at one time or another.
Sullivan Diner
169 Sullivan St.
Innovative food and interesting décor at a price.
The Silver Spurs
490 Laguardia Pl.
The Silver Spurs specializes in burgers that range from the standard cheese to a patty with all the fixings.
Jane
100 W. Houston St.
Reservations are sometimes needed.
The Cupping Room Café
359 West Broadway
A favorite for brunch with fantastic service as a bonus. `
Old Devil Moon
East Village at 511 East 12th St., between Ave A and B.
Old Devil Moon is a southern style restaurant known for just as much for it’s pastries as it is the homestyle fare that it serves.
Rocco’s
243 Bleecker St.
Another Village landmark. This one has Italian pastries that are as good to look at as they are to eat.
Veniero
342 East 11th St., between 1st and 2nd Ave.
Veniero’s is a classic Italian pastry shop full of cannoli, cheesecakes, tarts, and a variety of coffee.
Ben & Jerry’s
154 Bleecker St., b/w Thompson and LaGuardia Sts.
Who hasn’t heard of Ben & Jerry’s!
Cones.
272 Bleecker St.
Cones, which serves ice cream Argentinean style, is often voted the best parlor in Manhattan.
Emack & Bolio’s
73 W. Houston St.
This ice cream chain began in Beantown but has since spread east to New York and south to…Texas?
Magnolia Bakery
Address: 410 Bleecker St. (cross street 11th)
From cookbooks to celebrity talk shows to being featured in prominent television shows like “Sex and the City” the cupcakes at Magnolia have garnered national attention.
Porto Rico Coffee Importing
201 Bleecker St.
Porto Rico has been family run since 1907 and contains a small coffee bar in the rear.
Caffe Reggio
119 MacDougal St. (b/w 3rd and Bleecker Sts.)
Excellent coffee with an atmosphere dating back to another time.
Grey Dog’s Coffee
33 Carmine St.
Grey Dog’s Coffee is a Bay Area-style coffeehouse with an extensive menu of soups, sandwiches, and salads.
Places to Listen
Blue Note
131 W. 3rd St. (at Thompson)
212-475-8592
The Blue Note is one of the city’s most famous jazz clubs; it’s stage has been graced by everyone from Ray Charles to Dizzy Gillespie.
Pianos
158 Ludlow St. (b/w Stanton and Rivington Sts.)
212-505-3733
Directions: Take the F train downtown to the Delancey St. stop. Walk West on Delancey St. to Ludlow St. Turn right and continue walking north for a block and a half.
This popular Lower East Side bar has something for everyone. The upstairs lounge features DJs and the lower level has a performance area for bands.
Small’s
183 W 10th St. (at 7th Ave.)
212-929-7565
Small’s is a cozy jazz venue with a living room-like setting that typically features the best local jazz talent.
Tonic
107 Norfolk St. (b/w Delancey and Rivington Sts.)
Directions: Take the F train downtown to the Delancey St. stop. Walk one block east to Norfolk, then turn left and walk north half a block.
212-358-7501
A bar / lounge / performance space showcasing the finest avant-garde jazz, rock and electronic acts.
Village Vanguard
178 7th Ave. (at 11th St.)
212-255-4037
Village Vanguard has been a lynchpin in the NYC jazz scene for more than 70 years.
Places to Play
Bowl-Mor Lanes
90 University Pl. btw. 11th & 12th Sts.
212-255-8188
Bowl-Mor offers bowling, drinks, and a club-like atmosphere all rolled into an old manufacturing site just below Union Square.
Corner Billiards
110 E 11th St. (between 3rd and 4th Ave.)
212-995-1314
The premiere pool hall of the East Village, Corner Billiards is filled with NYU students and local sharks alike.
Finding the perfect venue for a night on the town with classmates or a place to relax after exams can be difficult. We’ve provided a few starters but for a wider scope of the city look to these sites for help with your nightlife plans.
Timeout NY Magazine
http://www.timeoutny.com/
City Search: New York
http://www.citysearch.com/
Places to See and Do
Please call to confirm hours of operationand admission costs since such information is always subject to change.
Angelika Film Center
18 W Houston St. (at Mercer St.)
212-995-2000
Angelika is one of the best places in town to catch independent and artistic movies before they open in other cities.
Broadway
Don’t forget about Broadway! Keeping up with the Manhattan theater scene can be a real financial challenge. Here are a few helpful websites for discount Broadway tickets that will help the average law school student score a show on a budget.
NYTIX offers great student discounts on Broadway shows
http://www.nytix.com/Broadway
TKTS
http://www.entertainment-link.com/tkts
City Hall, Gracie Mansion, and Tweed Courthouse
Directions: Take the 6 downtown to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall.
City Hall, the residence of the Mayor, and the city’s first courthouse, are almost 200 years old. The architecture is really impressive and the tours discuss the history of the buildings through the Civil War and Tammany Hall political corruption through to the modern day.
Ellis Island Immigrant Museum
Ellis Island
Direections: 6 to Brooklyn Bridge, transfer to 4, 5 to Bowling Green, Ferry at Battery Park.
Hours of Operation: 9:30-5:00 daily
Between 1892 and 1954 more than 12 million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island. This highly regarded museum memorializes the history and the immigrants’ experience. Among the museum’s many features is the opportunity to trace one’s own ancestry through ship records.
Empire State Building
350 5th Avenue (at 34th St.)
212-736-3100
The tallest building in New York lets you view the city from its observatory for a King Kong’s eye view. $16 will get you up to the 86th floor of this iconic building. If you go at the right time (or are willing to pay a bit more), the wait is not terrible, and the view is unforgettable. Dress warm!
Jewish Museum
1109 5th Ave. (at 92nd St.)
Hours of Operation: Sunday through Wednesday, 11:00 A.M.– 5:45 P.M., Thursday, 11:00 A.M.– 8:00 P.M., Friday, 11:00 A.M.– 3:00 P.M.
Established in 1904, the Jewish Museum features four art galleries dedicated to Jewish heritage. The collection includes more than 28,000 objects including painting, sculpture, works on paper, photographs, archaeological artifacts, ceremonial objects, and broadcast media. The Museum’s collection demonstrates Jewish identity and its evolution through visual art. It is one of the largest, most extensive collections of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.
Lower East Side Tenement Museum
108 Orchard St. (at Delancey St.)
Directions: Take the B or D train to Grand St.
Hours of Operation:: Monday 11:00A.M.– 5:30 P.M., Tuesday through Friday, 11:00A.M.– 6 P.M., Saturday and Sunday, 10:45 A.M.– 6:00 P.M.
The museum provides tours of a tenement located at 97 Orchard St. Visitors will learn about the Lower East Side’s rich history as a predominantly immigrant neighborhood. Ticket prices vary by method of purchase. Check them out at: http://www.tenement.org/tickets.html
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Ave
Directions: Take the C train to 86th St. then M86 Bus east across central park to 5th Ave. or the 6 train to 86th St. and walk 3 blocks west to 5th Ave.
Hours of Operation: Closed Mondays, Tues-Thurs open 9:30 A.M.-5:30 P.M., open until 9 P.M. Friday and Saturday.
Visit the Met and you’ll see an Ancient Egyptian temple and sarcophagus, ancient Roman and Greek sculpture, and classic works of art from Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Also Asian art, early American Art, and far more than can be described here. $10 recommended donation for students.
Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
9 West 53rd St (at 5th Ave)
Directions: E/V to 5th ave/53rd St.
Hours of Operation: Sat-Mon, Wed-Thu- 10:30am-5:30pm; Fri- 10:30am-8pm; Closed Tuesdays
The museum is newly renovated, with about double previous space. One of the most recognized museums of modern art in the world, includes a wide range of exhibits, including 150,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, architectural models and drawings, and design objects. Admission is $12 for students, you can save cash by buying in advance from their website www.moma.org.
El Museo del Barrio
Heckscher Building, 1230 5th Ave. (at 104th Street)
Directions: Take the 6 train to 103rd St station, walk one block north to 104th St. then two blocks west to Fifth Ave. or that the?2 or 3 train to 110th St. and Lenox Ave., walk one block east to Fifth Ave., then south to 104th St.
Hours of Operation: 11:00A.M. – 5:00 pm Wed. through Sun., CLOSED Monday and Tuesday
New York City’s only Latino museum dedicated to Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and
Latin American art. El Museo del Barrio continues to have a significant impact on the cultural life of New York City and is now a major stop on Manhattan’s Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue.
Museum of Chinese in the Americas
70 Mulberry Street, 2nd Fl. (at Bayard St.)
Hours of Operation: Tues. – Fri. Noon – 6:00 P.M., Saturday and Sunday noon – 6:00 P.M.
“Hailed by the Smithsonian Magazine as "a cultural rescue mission to save a little-known immigrant heritage," MoCA documents an immigrant community that arrived in the Americas with few possessions but very big dreams.” Student admission is just $1. Permanent exhibits include photo histories of the neighborhood, a look at the impact of 9-11 on the neighborhood while exhibitions often focus on pop culture.
Museum of Jewish Heritage
36 Battery Place (at 1st Pl.)
Hours of Operation: 10:00 A.M.– 5:45 P.M. Sunday through Tuesday, 10:00 A.M.– 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, 10:00 A.M.– 5:45 P.M. Thursday and, 10:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. Friday
The Museum of Jewish Heritage’s mission is to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about the broad tapestry of Jewish life over the past century – before, during, and after the Holocaust. The exhibition is drawn from a collection of more than 15,000 artifacts, photographs, documents, and archival films that have been gathered for nearly two decades.
New York Public Library
455 Fifth Avenue
Directions: Take the 4,5, or 6 trains to Grand Central and walk three blocks west along 42nd St.
Hours of Operation: Mon.-Wed. 9 A.M.-9 P.M., Thur.-Sat. 10 A.M.-6 P.M. and closed Sundays
It was built with a bequest by NYU Law Alum Samuel Tilden and is featured in the movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Visitors can see the famous stone lions that guard the lions and an authentic Gutenberg Bible.
South Street Seaport
12 Fulton Street
Directions: Take the 2, 3, J, M, or Z trains to Fulton St. or the A or C trains to Broadway-Nassau St. and walk south to the Seaport.
212-748-8600
Hours of Operation: Open 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. Friday-Monday with $6 admission
Take the A or C downtown to Broadway-Nassau, walk east on Fulton St to Water St.
This is a historic seaport in New York that today is home to a
convenient shopping/dining area, a performance venue for concerts and local performers, and a museum detailing the heritage of New York harbor and
the seaport.
Statue of Liberty
Liberty State Park
212-782-8834
Directions: 6 to Brooklyn Bridge, transfer to 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green. The ferry is at Battery Park.
Hours of Operation:: 8:30-5:00 daily
You can save time by reserving tickets by phone or online at (http://statuereservations.com/index1.html), but you can also purchase tickets at the ferry station. The cost is $11.50 for the ferry ride from Manhattan to Liberty Island and the tour is free. The ferry also goes to Ellis Island at no additional cost.
United Nations Headquarters
1st Ave. @ E. 46 St.
212-963-8687
Directions: 4, 5, 6 to Grand Central, walk east.
Hours of Operation: Tours every half-hour from 9:30-4:00 daily. Cost: $6.50 for students
Home to over 200 Member States, the U.N. Headquarters consists of the General Assembly, the Conference Building, the 39-Floor Secretariat Building, and the Dag Hammarskjold Library. If you have extra time the U.N. has a garden with great views of the East River, a great place to relax for a bit.
Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Ave. (at 75th St.)
Hours of Operation: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, open 11:00A.M. – 6:00 pm Wed. – Thur.; Fri open 1:00 – 9:00 pm, Sat. and Sun. open 11:00A.M. – 6:00 pm.
The Whitney Museum houses one of the world’s foremost collections of twentieth-century American art. The Permanent Collection of some 12,000 works encompasses paintings, sculptures, multimedia installations, drawings, prints, and photographs. Don’t miss the pay-what-you-wish admission from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.
More attractions and activities of interest can be found by visiting
The New York Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
Their website is:
http://www.nycvisit.com/home/index.cfm
For more information on NYC museums, check out:
http://www.ny.com/museums/all.museums.html