Now one of the trendiest and most expensive areas of Manhattan, Greenwich Village has long been known as a haven for artists, a center for Bohemian culture, the East Coast center for the Beat Generation movement, and the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ movement.

Most people can agree that it extends geographically from the Hudson River east to Broadway and is bordered by 14th St in the north and Houston St in the south.

Since Greenwich Village began as a rural, isolated hamlet, its street layout is more organic than the planned grid pattern of the rest of the city. While that makes it much harder to navigate, it also gives it its charm - along with the quaint tree-lined streets and brownstone walk-ups.

In the early to mid-20th century, the Village was a mecca for the Bohemia culture and filled with eclectic and artistic residents, including Mark Twain, Jackson Pollock, Salvador Dali, Walt Whitman, and Andy Warhol. Due to its inhabitants, it became a haven for progressive thought and was thriving with alternative theatre, art galleries, and controversial publications.

In the 1950s, Greenwich Village became the East Coast center for the Beat Generation when a collection of writers, poets, artists, and students known as The Beatniks made their home here to flee social conformity.

In the 1960s and 70s, countless folk, jazz, and cabaret musicians got their start in the many clubs and cafes of Greenwich Village, including Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, and many more.

And of course, in 1969, the famous Stonewall Riots began the modern-day fight for LGBTQ rights and equality, while Washington Square Park has been the staging grounds for many political protests and rallies.

Thanks to this colorful history, you can find almost everything here today. From jazz clubs, gay bars, stand-up comedy, and live theatre to national historical monuments, art galleries and museums.

Perhaps most importantly for our journey today, Greenwich Village is widely known as a gastronomic capital of the world, boasting over 800 food and beverage establishments and a whopping 11 Michelin-star restaurants.