Fall in New York City: A Curated West Village Guide and Itinerary

In a travel essay published on Trove, lifestyle writer Chrissy Hunter explores New York City during the autumn season, detailing a curated list of neighborhood dining spots, hotels, and specialty shops that capture what she describes as nostalgic romantic comedy aesthetics. Hunter writes that October remains her favorite time to visit the city, highlighting seasonal changes in the West Village, such as pumpkin-lined stoops and crisp air, despite her travel schedule preventing a trip for the current season.

West Village Dining Staples and Neighborhood Favorites

Hunter focuses a significant portion of her travel itinerary on the West Village, characterizing the neighborhood by its charming streets and downstairs restaurants. She identifies several specific venues she visits repeatedly during her trips. For dinner, she recommends the martini and chicken pot pie at The Waverly Inn, alongside Joseph Leonard, describing both locations as cozy staples for food, drinks, and atmosphere in October.

Her dining recommendations span multiple neighborhoods and meal times. For breakfast, she highlights Cafe Cluny. Additional dining and drinking establishments listed in her travel notes include Fairfax, Boucherie, Petite Boucherie on Christopher Street, Via Carota, Dante, Little Owl, I Sodi, Jack’s Wife Freda in the West Village and Soho, Il Buco, The Commerce Inn, Bar Pitti, Tartine, Minetta Tavern, Carbone, La Mercerie, Llama San, The Odeon, Laconda Verde, La Contenta, Friend Of A Farmer, Eataly, Rubirosa, The Polo Bar, Monkey Bar, Uva, Lilia in Brooklyn, and DeKalb Market Hall in Brooklyn.

Cocktail Lounges and Evening Venues across Manhattan

For evening drinks and nightlife, Hunter outlines a separate selection of bars and lounges across the city. Her itinerary includes the Central Park Boathouse, Weather Up in Tribeca, Titsou Bar inside Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s, Laconda Verde, Smith and Mills, Tiny’s, Little Branch, Dante Aperitivo Bar, Dante, White Horse Tavern, The Golden Swan, The Dead Rabbit, and Marie’s Crisis, which she notes is suitable specifically for visitors who enjoy show tunes and loud group singing.

The list continues with Bar Pisellino, Bandits, The Bowery Hotel lobby and bar, McSorley’s, Melody’s Piano Bar, Bemelmans, The Champagne Bar at The Plaza, Please Don’t Tell, Grand Banks, and Harriet’s Rooftop in Brooklyn. Hunter singles out the lobby and bar area at The Bowery Hotel as one of her favorite spots to spend time during an NYC visit.

Specialty Retail Shops and Holiday Displays

Although Hunter states that she does limited shopping due to her short stays of less than a week, she highlights a few distinct retail locations. She points to John Derian as a mandatory stop, noting that while the Christopher Street location closed, the larger East Village store remains open and features elaborate fall and holiday displays. Adjacent to John Derian is Il Buco Vita, another retail stop on her itinerary.

Other shops mentioned in her guide include Nickey Kehoe, Fishs Eddy, Salter House, the Ralph Lauren Flagship on the Upper East Side, KRB, Stella Tribeca, La Mercerie, Bleecker Street Shop Quarters, Porta in Brooklyn, and The Six Bells in Brooklyn. Hunter describes the multi-level Ralph Lauren flagship as resembling a museum rather than a retail store, while characterizing the menswear store across the street as reminiscent of a Scottish hunting lodge.

Hotel Recommendations and Seasonal Travel Timing

For lodging, Hunter highlights The Marlton Hotel as a personal favorite, noting that its rooms are small but feature strong character and a central location. She also references Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s and The Bowery Hotel as notable properties within her broader travel notes.

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