East Village

The East Village offers alternative culture, diverse dining, and energetic nightlife, but requires more caution than other Manhattan neighborhoods, especially on quieter streets at night.

The East Village has great energy and culture, but you need to be smart about which part you're in. The area around St. Mark's Place and closer to NYU is lively and safe, with lots of young people and good foot traffic even late at night. But as you head east toward the alphabet avenues (A, B, C, D), it gets quieter and more residential - Avenue A is fine, but you probably don't want to be wandering around Avenue D alone after dark. Tompkins Square Park is nice during the day but avoid it at night. The neighborhood has amazing food and dive bars, and during the day you'll see plenty of artists, students, and creative types. Just use common sense about timing and location.