West Village – Dining

Like the neighborhood in general, the West Village dining scene is wonderfully diverse. You can enjoy a French bistro brunch at Bobo or Tartine, an omakasa dinner at Michelin-starred Kosaka, and a classic New York slice of pizza in between—and that’s only a sampling. If you’re hungry for a bit of history, stop by White Horse Tavern (founded in 1880 and a favorite of Dylan Thomas and Jack Kerouac, among others) or Dante (known as Caffe Dante when it was founded in 1915 and, decades later, when it was frequented by Ernest Hemingway and Bob Dylan). Prefer to check out the latest West Village restaurants? Try the ones below.

 

San Sabino

Dishes such as octopus carpaccio, made with spicy capocollo and served atop a garlicky potato purée, and farfalle stuffed with smoked chili crab indicate that San Sabino isn’t your typical Italian restaurant. Having opened in March 2024, it’s a recent addition to the West Village dining scene, but the duo behind it, Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli, aren’t: This husband-and-wife team are also co-founders of the acclaimed Don Angie next door. San Sabino focuses largely on seafood, but it also offers the likes of chicken savoy and spiedini made with Don Angie’s famed meatballs. Margarita aficionados will want to try the Benny, which incorporates prickly pear, bergamot, and chilis.

 

Savta

Savta, which opened in February 2024, describes itself as “West Coast inspired with a French twist.” There’s a definite Italian flavor as well, as evidenced by the nine pizzas on its menu. Then again, it’s unlikely that you’ll find the smoked salmon pizza, which includes lemon cream, fior di latte, and burrata, on many pizzeria menus. Other offerings add to the California fusion mindset, particularly the numerous vegetable dishes (grilled avocado with grapefruit, red pepper flakes, and roasted sesame; Japanese eggplant with agrodolce, tahini, and sumac). There’s plenty for meat eaters too, such as the skirt steak with chimichurri. And let’s not overlook the weekend brunch, which includes an omelet topped with fresh sliced black truffle.

 

Demo

During the day, Demo is a coffee shop with pastries and fresh-baked cookies. Come the evening, and it transforms into a wine bar that also serves a curated assortment of dishes. The selection is eclectic, to say the least: a tortilla with saffron aioli and trout roe, lobster au poivre with miso-seasoned fries, chopped radicchio with tahini and za’atar crumble. The wine selection is also full of surprises, which no doubt helps explain why Demo has been generating major buzz since its February 2024 opening.

 

Sappe

If your knowledge of Thai cuisine is limited to pad thai and chicken satay, Sappe will be an epiphany. This tribute to Thailand’s night markets opened in January 2024 with a robustly flavored offering that includes skewers (marinated okra, fried pork belly, ox tongue); grilled spare ribs, quail, and pork sausage; sweat-inducing hot pots; fried rice; flash-fried squid; and much more. Yes, you can also get pad thai, but once you see (and smell!) your options, you just might change your mind.

 

Kazumi Omakase

Affordable omakase eateries are all the rage, and in December 2023 this one joined the ranks. The 13-course meal typically includes hand rolls and nigiri featuring caviar-topped otori, prawns with uni, and king salmon with miso, wrapping up with green tea cheesecake. You can accompany your feast with your choice of a dozen sakes (including the refreshing Yuki Nigori Cantaloupe), several beers, and sparkling waters and juices.