Would you like to experience the East Village of Manhattan like a local?

NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, announces Manhattan’s East Village as the next global spotlight in its NYCGO Insider Guides.

The East Village is a bustling and edgy Manhattan neighborhood full of history—from the concentration of Polish and Ukrainian immigrants to punk-rock culture—and NYC & Company is promoting the neighborhood’s shops, restaurants and attractions in an effort to encourage exploration in must-see neighborhoods and areas beyond traditional tourist locations.

“We’re pleased to place a global spotlight on the East Village—from its ever-evolving restaurant and nightlife scene to the varied and lively theater and culture offerings,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. “By working with locals, we’re able to promote what truly makes the East Village a favorite neighborhood of so many New Yorkers and visitors from around the world, and we encourage everyoneto explore the authentic attractions for an only in NYC experience.”

“The East Village captures the lively and dynamic essence of New York City,” said Marty Markowitz, NYC & Company’s vice president of borough promotion and engagement. “With its variety of restaurants and shops, the East Village represents the diversity of cultures in New York City, offering something for everyone whether they are visiting or native New Yorkers.”

Experience the East Village Like a Local

Conveniently accessible by the 4, 5, 6, F, L, N, Q and R subway lines, the East Village is a must-visitdestination. As part of the neighborhood promotion, the East Village is highlighted in thedocumentary series NYCGOInsider Guides, featuring locals who recommend shops, restaurants and attractions that make the East Village distinctive. The documentary and the following places, venues and more are recommended by neighborhood insiders and featured on nycgo.com/insiderguides.

Historic Sites: 

Through the years, the East Village has seen significant transformations, and visitors and New Yorkers can learn about its past at Merchant’s House Museum, a National Historic Landmark and the only 19th-century home in NYC in which both the interiors and exteriors have been preserved, orat St. Mark’s Church-in-the Bowery, a Georgian-style church built in 1799.

Nightlife: 

There is no shortage of bars, music venues and clubs in the high-energy East Village. Recommendations include Bowery Electric, Manitoba’s, Pyramid Club and Webster Hall.

Restaurants and Cafés: 

From burgers and oysters at Black Market to pasta and pizza at Lil’ Frankies to ramen and fried chicken at Momofuku Noodle Bar, there are several delicious eats in the East Village. Insider favorites also include the pioneering vegan restaurantAngelicaKitchen; CaféMogador, a Moroccan and Mediterranean restaurant that opened in 1983; Veniero’s Pastry, a New York City institution, serves over 200 types of Italian baked goods; and Veselka, a 24-hour, 60-year-old Ukrainian restaurant.

Shops:

For punk-rock styles, Trash and Vaudevillecarries leather, studs, animal prints, chains and platform shoes and Screaming Mimi’soffers one-of-a-kind vintage clothes and accessories. Another neighborhood favorite,St. Mark’s Bookshop is an independent store that also hosts reading series.

Theater and Entertainment: 

The East Village is home to a wide range of theater and entertainment, includinglow-cost comedy shows at UCB East, unique Off-Broadway performances likeBlue Man Group and STOMP, and productions from the classics to experiential pieces at The Public Theater.

Stay near the neighborhood’s attractions at the Hyatt Union Square, a vibrant hotel with 178 luxe guestrooms and suites; the GEM Hotel SoHo, an intimate boutique hotel, which provides guests with a complimentary iPod walking tour; or the Sixty LES, a luxury lifestyle hotel,home to 141 spacious guestrooms and an array of dining options. Also nearby, the W New York Union Squareis a contemporary 270-room hotel located in a glamorous Beaux-Arts building,and the full-service Holiday Inn Lower East Side provides high-speed Internet and an on-site restaurant.

NYCGOInsider Guides: Get to know our neighborhoods

New York City is made up of five distinct boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Formerly Neighborhood x Neighborhood, NYCGO Insider Guides, debuting this month,spotlight a new neighborhood each month. The video documentary series and editorial content takes New Yorkers and visitors behind the scenes to introduce them to the character and characters that define some of New York City’s most fascinating neighborhoods.