The charming, tree-lined streets of the Village are beloved by New Yorkers (whether they can afford to live there or not) for their cozy restaurants and cafés, chic cocktail bars, and inviting boutiques.
Long the home of writers, artists, bohemians, and bon vivants, "the Village" is made up of Greenwich Village proper (the area surrounding Washington Square Park) and the West Village, from around 7th Avenue to the Hudson River. Greenwich Village, in prime New York University (NYU) territory, has lots of young people, while the West Village is primarily residential, with lots of well-to-do couples and families and a substantial community of older gay men and some lesbians. Both sections have a relaxed, downtown vibe and a distinctly New York style in their stores, corner bars, and trendy restaurants.
