FOR DECADES, THE WEST VILLAGE has served as a breeding ground for some of our country’s beloved creative minds including Jack Kerouac, Edgar Allen Poe and EE Cummings to current masters like Annie Leibovitz and Julian Schnabel. Beyond that, thanks to its quaint, small town vibe, it’s also a mecca for independent businesses and mom-and-pop shops, which have in this day and age become a dying breed. Not so on the West Side! From a neighborhood health food institution to a slew of fair trade coffee shops serving fresh juice and almond milk lattes, health comes first and foremost west of Sixth Avenue.

 

JUICE

The Juice Press – The mega-chain’s largest location finds itself in the West Village, a stone’s throw from Equinox Gym and Integral Yoga. 122 Greenwich Avenue

 

 

CAFES

West 11th Street Cafe – Hugh Jackman and Julianne Moore frequent this neighborhood joint for fresh vegetable juices, vegetarian soups and a plethora of fresh salads and “eggs in a cup”. We love their Crudite Sandwich, a garden of greens and avocado on fresh multigrain bread from Bakehouse. Bonus: They’re one of the few cafes that serve almond milk. 327 West 11th Street, (212) 924-3804

Mojo Coffee – It’s hard to rival the medium-acidic iced coffee brewed on premises but one way would be to order the Country Chop salad, which is served heaping full of fresh veggies in a giant wooden bowl. 128 Charles Street

Nourish Kitchen & Table – This newcomer is the brainchild of nutritionist Marissa Lippert and offers fresh local eats to takeaway. It’s hard not to love the basics she offers from creamy cauliflower soup to harvest quinoa. 95 Greenwich Avenue

Press T For when you’re “quitting coffee,” this former gelato shop offers an endless range of teas in formats vaguely familiar like the Carmael Capetown Latte, a velvety blend of rooibos leaves with steamed almond milk and a drizzle of caramel. 167 Seventh Avenue

 

SPECIALTY GOODS/MARKETS

Lifethyme – Here, the mission is “to provide the best wonderfully natural products so New Yorkers can feel better, look better and ultimately live a longer, healthier life.” To that end, a fresh juice bar provides medicinal goodness, one cup at a time and the endless prepared foods section boasts both raw and vegan goods. 410 Sixth Avenue

 

Integral Yoga Natural Foods   – Raw foodies, yogis and health nuts flock to this West Village institution tucked below Integral Yoga Institute on 13th Street. Their fresh juice bar offers up unparalleled green elixers and smoothies while their market stocks any and every hard-to-find natural good from Exotic Superfoods frozen coconut to Kollar oat and fruit preserve thumbprint cookies to their homemade raw almond butter. 229 West 13th Street

 

RESTAURANTS

Rosemary’s – Farm-to-table is all but ubiquitous in New York, but this Italian-inspired eatery took it to the next level with its own rooftop farm. Featuring dishes using many of their homegrown ingredients, we love the Minestrone soup and market sides. Even if you don’t have your own garden, eating at this trattoria will feel like you do. 18 Greenwich Avenue

Red Farm – Proving Chinese night does not mean “cheat” night, Red Farm blends dim sum master Joe Ng and Ed Schoenfeld’s love of Asian cusine with the finest Greenmarket ingredients. Not convinced? Order the arugula/mango salad, bok choy dumplings and Thai eggplant curry and call us in the morning. Bonus: The chef is happy to tailor any gluten-free or vegetarian restrictions. 529 Hudson Street

 

Wild (Formerly Known As Slice Perfect) – Whoever said gluten-phobics and vegans need to give up pizza never came to this beloved West Village joint that not only serves delivious thin-crust pizzas on gluten-free crusts but offer plenty of vegan options as well like mushroom with truffled vegan ricotta cheese. 535 Hudson Street

Ellary’s Greens – It’s hard not to fall in love with this new health joint that seems to please everyone from die-hard vegans to paleo-leaning foodies. The menu, which is divided into salads, vegetables, grains and proteins is designed to mix and match, which in this day and age where everyone has a restriction, seems to be exactly what we want. 33 Carmine Street

 

ACTIVITIES 

Modo Yoga – Formerly known as Moksha Yoga, this airy studio has everything typical hot yoga studios don’t: large windows, a stellar heating system, ceiling fans, clean floors and clean showers. Featuring a variety of classes from flow to the relaxing yin sessions, this studio offers vigorous, not militant workouts. Prepare to sweat! 434 Sixth Avenue, 2nd Floor

Yamuna Body Rolling – Founded by Yamuna Zake, this revolutionary method helps athletes, dancers, even nine-to-fivers realign their bodies as well as strengthen and lengthen their way to proper alignment. Using her patented Body Rolling, classes target specific muscle areas from the jaw and collarbone to the soles of your feet, all of  which is said to improve posture, flexibility and even organ function. 132 Perry Street

 

SPAS/SELF-CARE TREATMENTS

Okuyama – Tui Na spots in the city may be ubiquitous, but the truth is you never know what you’re going to get. Here, you are all but guaranteed to get one of the deepest, most therapeutic shiatsu massages in the city. Tip: If you’re looking for a barely-there treatment, look elsewhere. 25 Charles Street, (212) 675-8801

Savor Spa & Boutique – This neighborhood gem specializes in treatments and beauty products using all organic ingredients. Stop by for a power facial peel that uses enzymes from mangoes and cherries or book a mani/pedi at the nail bar stocked with a rainbow of non-toxic enamels. 327 West 11th Street

 

SWEET TREATS

Victory Garden – This jewel box of an ice cream shop serves soft-serve and sweet treats made exclusively from goat’s milk. Their flavors change daily from classic tangy yogurt to the more adventurous like rose petals and mastic, a woody plant resin. Our favorite? Sea salt caramel with carob chips. 31 Carmine Street

 

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