A College Kid’s Guide to New York City
With an approximate two full years of New York City living in my repertoire, giving out advice about New York does not seem like something I—or most NYU students for that matter—are best equipped to do. Being an undergraduate in NYC is an extremely unique and unparalleled experience, not to be conflated with the experience of becoming a true New Yorker. Though I may not be qualified to give advice about being a real New Yorker, I am overqualified in doling out advice about being an NYU student. It would be both ridiculous and impossible to try and give a guide to New York City as a whole here, or even downtown Manhattan in general. There is more to see and experience in one city block in NYC than in the entirety of most American college campuses. That being said, I do have my favorite spots around NYU’s campus.
A word on NYU’s ‘Campus’
The way I would describe NYU’s campus or location for that matter is a series of concentric circles, the first one surrounding Greenwich Village’s Washington Square Park. The de facto quad of NYU and focal point for the bulk of campus buildings, Washington Square Park is the crux of NYU’s ‘campus.’ It is in and around this storied park that one can find the highest concentration of NYU buildings, students, and community members at any given time. A wider circle cast from the West Village to the west, Union Square to the north, the East Village to the east, and Nolita/Soho to the south encompasses more school buildings and dorms. NYU also has a campus in Brooklyn, which is where many NYU students call home. Granted, NYU students or communities can be found in almost any area in the city. NYU’s aggressive real estate acquisition practices are in many ways a colonization of downtown that has resulted in massive cultural and neighborhood changes in all the areas it touches. It goes without saying that NYU askews the traditional college campus in favor of satellite buildings scattered across downtown Manhattan—and the world for that matter (one of NYU’s most unique qualities, that sadly has come to be near worthless during the pandemic, is we have dozens of campuses across the world).
Washington Square Park
NYU actually owns most of the buildings in this area, which may be the reason why worthwhile coffee shops, shopping, and eating is a bit more scarce here than in other nearby areas. There are some great picks that I love around the park though. But my favorite part of WSP is, of course, the park! Whether it is 1pm or 1am, the energy and vibrancy of the park is unmatched to anything else in the world. I could, and have, spend my entire day just sitting on a bench in the park, coffee in hand simply listening and looking. NYU wifi works well in the park, so on a nice day it’s a great study spot.
Where to Eat: Pomme Frites is a famous little eatery over on Macdougal street that literally only serves fries and an abundance of sauces. Do I need to say any more? I credit my friend Caroline for showing me this little cafe. Brigadeiro Bakery is a super cute and cheery Brazilian bakery that serves authentic Brigadeiro pastries, great coffee, and overall good vibes super conducive to both studying and hanging out with friends. Irving Farm is my favorite cafe right near WSP. Usually crowded, Irving Farm has everything a good coffee shop should: ample seating, delicious breakfast served all day, and strong coffee. Oh, except for one thing: wifi! I like to come here to unplug and focus on reading without distractions. It’s also a good place to stop after or before a long day on campus (touring or going to class). Being from the midwest, something about the Grey Dog feels extremely familiar to me. Despite it being on a super busy street in manhattan, the inside feels like it could be found in any small town on Lake Michigan. The Grey Dog has a few locations, but I am partial to the one on University Place, in between Washington and Union Square Park. The Grey Dog is an NYU classic and just about everything on the menu is delicious. Don’t forget to try one of their baked goods from the counter too! My friend Jen introduced me to Amelie, a French wine bar that is a fun place to come and order a cheap but delightful flight of wine and pretend you’re in Paris. They cheekily serve the check in a French book and it is a great place to engage in meaningful conversation for hours.
What to Do: The Kimmel Center, located on Washington Square Park south, is NYU’s student center. It is also home to some of the best views of Manhattan (Alec Baldwin got married here, the views are that spectacular). Kimmel has tons of places to sit and chill out in between classes, grab a bite to eat, or catch up on homework. It is also attached to the NYU Skirball center, which is a venue that regularly hosts famous artists, entrepreneurs, and academics for talks and presentations: most of which are free to NYU students but open to the public. I’ve seen some amazing speakers here (from Esther Perel, to Glossier’s Emily Weiss) and probably would have bought tickets to these events if I wasn’t an NYU student. I definitely recommend checking out what’s on at Skirball during your stay at NYU. Angelika Film Center is more on the Soho side of things, located right on Houston Street. Still, it’s a pretty straight shot from WSP and neighbors Washington Square Village (a housing development where a lot of NYU faculty and graduate students live). Angelika is an amazing movie theater that shows independent films and it’s one of the places I have been longing for most during quarantine.
East Village
Directly east of WSP is the East Village: a neighborhood known for its grunge, stylishness, and energy. My freshman year dorm, Third North, was in the East Village so I got to know the area well. The East Village is also one of the most popular neighborhoods for off-campus living.
Where to Eat: Ruby’s Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole city. They have locations all over Manhattan but the East Village one, located right across from Third North on East 11th Street, is the newest and biggest. My favorite things to get are the avocado toast, ricotta hotcakes, and crispy grain bowl. The mimosas are also great. Oh, The Bean. A slightly gritty, always exciting cafe with a really large menu. The East Village location was another one of my staples freshman year. They have since opened up a new outpost a little closer to campus and have a few more scattered throughout downtown, but I am partial to the Astor Place location. It’s a nice place to get some work done or just pick up a coffee and breakfast on the way to class. They have printers as a helpful, student-minded touch. Don’t use the bathroom here though, if you can avoid it…Sort of like a lot of aspects of NYU, this restaurant feels a bit cliché, though that doesn’t detract from its allure and worthiness. Panna II Garden (as well as the neighboring Milon) is a BYOB Indian restaurant known not so much for the food but for the explosion of colored christmas lights that engulfs the entire interior. It is a fun place to come with friends or loved ones, but definitely not a place I would go until the pandemic is over, unfortunately (it’s super tight inside, which is part of the fun, but not worth going to unless you can experience this). Photos with the vomit of LED in the background are a great addition to any Instagram feed.
My favorite restaurant in the East Village, Momofuku Noodle Bar doesn’t take reservations so get there early to put your name in, and just wait patiently to experience the most decadent, heart-warming ramen noodle dishes ever. This is a really fun place to take just about anyone. I especially enjoy the Ginger Scallion Noodles.
Where to Shop: I couldn’t write an NYU student guide, let alone one to the East Village without mentioning L-Train. L Train, also known as Metropolis, is THE thrifting spot for NYU students. Again, a little cliché but there are great finds nonetheless. Everything is relatively inexpensive compared to other thrift stores in the area, you just have to be ready to dig. If you’re in the mood for further thrifting, check out Tokio 7, Buffalo Exchange, and Flamingo’s by the pound (all just a few blocks away).
Union Square
Union Square is one of the major junctions of the subway line, so there are always people coming and going from all over the city just beneath you. Though it is bordered by massive commercial real estate, within the confines of the park it feels incredibly community minded.
Where to Eat: Joe’s Pizza is no frills; just order a slice and leave, letting the grease from the cheese and sauce drip all over you as you walk through the city late at night is as quintessential NYU as it gets. Bite is a takeaway restaurant that serves Mediterranean inspired sandwiches and salads. They have big portions and cheap prices: a rarity for Manhattan which makes it a necessity for students. I would recommend fueling up here in the morning before heading to the New School Library for an all day study session.
What to Do: The Union Square Greenmarket takes place during the warm (and warm-ish) months and when I talk to former Manhattanites this is often the thing they claim to miss the most. A massive farmers market that happens multiple times a week, one can find the most gorgeous apples in spectacular, surreal colors in the fall and amazing fresh squashes and tomatoes in the summer. There are also always outposts to pick up fresh bread and pastries, flowers, artisanal honey and basically anything else. I love coming here as often as I can because not only is it fun and relaxing, it tends to be a good financial decision too (groceries and produce in the city can get expensive quickly, especially if you impulse purchase frequently like I do at little markets in and around NYU buildings where prices are marked up). In the winter, the Greenmarket is replaced by the boastful and cheery Holiday Market. Here, one can find all sorts of handmade gifts and snacks. When you think of what NYC at holiday time is like, this is it. A little NYU secret, a lot of us don’t really like our library, Bobst. Though Bobst has great overviews of the park and the most amazing special collections and reserves, the overall feeling and energy is very--- grey. In contrast, the New School library which is located at Union Square is extremely modern and bright inside. NYU, New School, and Cooper Union library are in a consortium, so students get easy access inside to not only study but check out books as well. I’ve sometimes had better luck finding more obscure art and design books here than at Bobst. If you come early enough, you can basically sit anywhere you want which is nice compared to Bobst, which always seems to be packed.
Where to Shop: The Strand is one of many famous NYC bookstores, but it’s definitely somewhere that embodies a spirit and essence of NYU. There are so many books and other goodies here, it’s impossible to leave without finding something.
This guide is not even close to being exhaustive. I guarantee that every single NYU student could produce a completely different version of a guide to our campus; this speaks not only to the diverse experiences and sights our campus has to offer but also to the diverse backgrounds, interests, and passions of our student body. If you let it, your experience at NYU can be your key to exploring all aspects of New York City, never being confined to gates or limits of a campus. Through classes and extracurricular opportunities provided by NYU I have found myself in places I didn’t even know exist, like St. John the Divine Cathedral (where there is a full fledged peacock garden, just in the middle of a city block on the Upper West Side), hearing my favorite writers read at the Symphony Space, the Modern Art Foundry in Queens (where some of the most famous bronze sculptures are cast and restored). My advice for touring and exploring New York as an NYU student does is to leave any expectations you have for the city, school, and yourself behind. Instead, flaneuse your way through the streets of the most magical, tenacious, and magnificent city that you are getting the opportunity to live and study in.
