What to Know About Living in the East Village (Video)

The East Village is arguably one of the city’s most electric neighborhoods and should definitely be on your radar if you’re into an artsy vibe and a bustling restaurant and nightlife scene. If there’s a set of words that best describes the area, quirky, cool, eclectic, and edgy are undoubtedly among them. 

The neighborhood’s rich cultural history remains a large influence over the present-day streetscape and continues to welcome creative expressions of all kinds. The East Village is credited as the birthplace of punk rock and even today, is beloved for its grit and spunk that’s displayed in the form of dive bars, tattoo parlors, and funky vintage shops. 

On the real estate front, a lot has changed over the years, but you won’t find a ton of high-rise buildings here. The housing stock remains mostly prewar apartments in low-rise walkup buildings; however, there have been some new developments offering amenities that rival what’s offered in other parts of the city. According to the StreetEasy Data Dashboard, the median asking price in the East Village was $1.5 million as of May 2024, and the median asking rent was $4,500.

Be sure to check out StreetEasy’s search page to see what’s currently for rent and for sale in the East Village. And read on to learn more about this vibrant neighborhood.

Where is the East Village?

The East Village starts at 14th Street (to the north) and spans southward to Houston Street. Its western boundary is the Bowery and Third Avenue, and its eastern boundary is the East River.

The neighborhood is bordered by Gramercy to the north, NoHo to the west, and the Lower East Side to the south.

There are many ways to get to the East Village by subway. You can take the 6 to Astor Place, the R to 8th Street-NYU, the L to Third Avenue or First Avenue, the B/D/F/M to Broadway-Lafayette Street, or the F to Second Avenue. The N/Q/W and 4/5 are also nearby at Union Square.

History of the East Village

Unlike the corporate feel of Midtown or the upscale ambience of the Upper East Side, the East Village has a bohemian spirit that harkens back to its days as a haven for artists, musicians, and counterculture movements. Its storied past stretches as far back as the late 1800s, when it began to distinguish itself as its own neighborhood and no longer part of the Lower East Side, as it once was. 

Over the course of its existence, the East Village has served as a home to immigrants of many nationalities, a hub for the social movements of the 1960s and beyond, the birthplace of punk rock, and a home for all things alternative and avant-garde. 

Iconic figures like poet Allen Ginsberg, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry were prominent in the East Village’s art scene during the rise of their respective careers. While the neighborhood was less desirable in the 1960s and ‘70s, its growing arts scene quickly changed that and kicked off a heavy wave of gentrification that eventually resulted in tension and riots.

The East Village continued to evolve amid gentrification during the 1980s and ‘90s but managed to hold on to much of its beloved arts scene and historical significance. In the 2010s, landmark efforts to preserve the neighborhood’s architecture and distinct culture resulted in two historic districts and several individual buildings being designated as landmarks. 

Why is the East Village a Great Place to Live?

From its wide variety of restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and community gardens to its welcoming vibes and bustling streetscape, the East Village oozes character and there’s something for everyone. This makes people from all walks of life feel like they belong, and regular local events help foster a sense of community. You’ll also find that many residents have been around for decades and take pride in being a part of the neighborhood’s fascinating history.

One of the best places to experience the vibes of the East Village is St. Mark’s Place, which is the neighborhood’s famed Bohemian street and one of its hubs of activity. A wide range of restaurants, bars, eccentric shops, and small entertainment venues populate the three-block-long strip of East 8th Street.

The esteemed Cooper Union private college calls the East Village home, as does part of the NYU campus.

During the day, the neighborhood slows down and has a tranquil feel before coming alive in the night time as its bars and restaurants open up shop. With that said, don’t be surprised by the noise and foot traffic, as it’s all part of what makes the neighborhood electric.

Buying in the East Village

The East Village offers a mix of brownstones on beautiful tree-lined streets, prewar apartments in old tenement buildings, and newly developed condos with modern conveniences. The bulk of its homes for sale are in older buildings, which is something to consider if you’re not keen on walk-ups. 

“The inventory mix is very skewed towards a lower price point, but you can also find luxury without it being seven figures,” noted Compass real estate broker and StreetEasy Expert Heather Domi. “With mostly older tenement-style buildings, the East Village doesn’t necessarily lend itself inventory-wise, but it’s a great first-time homebuyer’s market and people tend to be drawn to the neighborhood because of its value.”

The Christodora House on Avenue B is one of the neighborhood’s best-known historic buildings and one of its oldest, dating back to the 1920s. The building is the tallest on its street at 16 stories high, and its detailed past as everything from a settlement house to the national headquarters of the Black Panthers earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Christodra houses a diverse group of residents and community organizations.  
Newer buildings include the Stefano Pasqualetti-designed 75 First Ave, which offers 22 spacious homes; 14 Second Avenue where 10 full-floor residences are adorned with high-end finishes; and the five-residence boutique condo building La Botanica, located on East 6th Street.

Renting in the East Village

Although rents have been on the rise, the neighborhood still has median rents that are at or just below Manhattan’s averages, and with so many older buildings still around, there’s opportunity to snag a prewar apartment for less. 

“There’s a lot of rent-stabilized and rent-controlled apartments in the East Village, which is a large reason why the area has retained so much of its character,” said Domi. 

Parks and Green Spaces

Tompkins Square Park sits at the center of the East Village and has served as one of its most important cultural hubs for decades. Locals and visitors alike head to Tompkins Square Park to do yoga, catch an impromptu jazz quartet, people watch, or shop at the Sunday farmer’s market on Avenue A and East 7th Street. The park is also home to the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival and the annual Halloween Dog Parade, which is always a hit and always adorable. 

Lesser known green spaces in the East Village are the beautifully preserved community gardens hidden among the neighborhood. Tucked away between Avenue B and 6th Ave, and between East 5th and 6th Streets, is 6BC, a small community botanical garden with hundreds of native and immigrant plants. The garden is free, open year-round, and everyone is welcome.

What to Eat, Drink, and Do

Food lovers will find a paradise in the East Village as it boasts an incredible range of dining options. You’ll find trendy restaurants, decades-old eateries, hidden speakeasies, sophisticated cocktail lounges, and no-frills dive bars. Here are some notable spots:

• Boris & Horton: 195 Avenue A. Locals say: Only in this neighborhood would you expect to find a cafe that welcomes both dogs and their human owners (and the pastries are fab, too)!
• Café Mogador: 101 St. Marks Place. Locals say: Brunch is a delight, and picks such as the Middle Eastern breakfast or a stack of banana pancakes are definite winners.
• Veniero: 342 East 11th Street. Locals say: Since 1894, this has been the place to stop in for gelato, cakes, and biscotti.
• Veselka: 144 Second Avenue. Locals say: You can’t go wrong with the borscht and blintzes made from scratch at this Ukrainian diner, serving locals since 1954.
• Miss Lily’s 7A: 109 Avenue A. Locals say: Go for the Caribbean fare and tropical drinks, like the jerk chicken and rum punch. Stay for the laid-back beach shack vibes and the amazing island-inspired playlists.

Additional attractions include The Bowery Ballroom, The Russian & Turkish Baths, Theatre for the New City, and Nuyorican Poets Café.