Houston Street (1)

It’s pronounced “How-ston,” and it’s a great one-stop date, with food, entertainment, drinks, and vibes. But, you might not think so right as you pop out of the station, surrounded by the Taco Bell and elevated McDonald’s. You have to get off the main drag and into the side streets.

The subway will bring you here, to Varick/Houston. I prefer the smaller streets north of the station, like Bedford, Carmine, Leroy, etc. 

North & East

Go northeast from the station for chic-cute restaurants around the Bedford-Carmine intersection, including one of Ronny Chieng’s (and my) favorite restaurants, Nami Nori. Then grab a drink at Little Branch, a jazzy speakeasy off 7th Ave (which becomes Varick St near the station).

Or, try an oatmeal griddle cake at one of my all-time favorite breakfast spots: Breakfast by Salt’s Cure.

Go east on Houston for an indie arts fix at the Film Forum, or a big beery youth vibe at Houston Hall.

South & West

Go south and the area starts calling itself “SoHo,” which, ok, sure, technically SoHo = South of Houston, but this far west off the 1 train it feels like a different neighborhood. I digress. The point is, go south and get tickets for a show at SoHo Playhouse.

Southwest, towards Greenwich St, you’ll find a lot of fast-casual restaurants, big hotels, one very fancy seafood restaurant, and the vibe is more … tall glassy building. Far out west enough you’ll get some more cool bars and restaurants, like Ear Inn (New York’s oldest bar continuously serving alcohol since 1817) and Kana Soho Bar & Restaurant.

South & East

Ok, now it starts to feel like SoHo, especially if you hit Spring St and walk east. But, that’s better covered in Spring (C E).

North & West

Brownstones you can’t afford, and the restaurant scene picks up on Hudson St.

What did I miss? Let me know in the comments.