Greenwich Village is the neighborhood that invented bohemian New York and refuses to let you forget it. Bob Dylan played here. The Stonewall uprising started here. The comedy clubs still launch careers here. Yes, NYU took over half of it and the rents are obscene, but walk down any block south of Washington Square and the ghosts of every counterculture movement in American history are still hanging around.
Greenwich Village is where Beat poets argued in coffee shops and folk singers launched careers in basement clubs. Today, NYU students flood the streets, jazz still plays in historic venues, and Washington Square Park remains the neighborhood's living room. Bleecker Street offers endless dining options. MacDougal Street has comedy clubs and bars. The Village maintains its artistic soul while embracing modern dining—Michelin-starred restaurants sit next to 50-year-old pizza joints. It's crowded, expensive, and absolutely worth it.