Although the trendy locales of the West Village and Greenwich Village are better known for their laid-back college bars and dives, don't be fooled. If you look hard enough these nabes also boast a handful of upbeat nightspots for those itching to bust out the dance moves. So you don’t waste your time agonizing over which velvet ropes are worth trying to get past, we’ve done all the painstaking research for you and assembled a handy little list of the West Village and Greenwich Village’s best-rated night clubs, in no particular order.
First on the list is the luxurious 49 Grove, an establishment that 'takes decadence to the next level' (Time Out New York) and consequently, has earned its position sitting comfortably lofty perch atop the West Village nightlife scene. And it's no surprise either: with its ridiculously plush velvet couches lining their stone walls, shiny chrome sconces and oversized silver-framed mirrors, it's the ideal spot for people-watching and cocktail-sipping. 49 Grove is also huge, separated into four distinct rooms (two main and two VIP), all of which boast state-of-the-art audio-visual systems (an interesting contrast against the club's tall bookshelves filled with gorgeous, leather-bound books, and large faux fireplaces we are very much in love with). New York Magazine says that come nightfall, the club fills with 'uptown Ivy Leaguers and moneyed cohorts,' as well as the usual celebrity suspects (recently spotted stars include designer Narcisco Rodriguez, Sean Lennon, Keith Richards' daughters and the routine bevy of supermodels). But don't be dissuaded by the elite crowd - Clubplanet promises that the club is versatile enough to accommodate all species of partygoer, from the 20-something hipster to the Wall Street executive, and even Shecky's Nightlife concedes that despite the prestigue, there's still 'something excitingly nightclubby' about 49 Grove.
If you're looking for a spot that's a little more low-key and down-to-earth but still equally high-energy, then look no further than NearSay Staff Pick and the 'best' gay bar-club in the West Village, Boots and Saddle. Whether you're gay or not, you're guaranteed to have a great time at this lovable kooky Christopher Street bar-club, where 'eclectic is the order of the day,' according to Citysearch rave reviews. Don't be dissuaded by its humble, dirty dive-esque exteriors, Clubplanet says you'll be pleasantly 'surprised by who ambles into' this 'vaguely macho' space - sentiments echoed by our West Village guru and Newsdesk member Stephanie, who swears that Boots' crowd is as colorful and diverse as its resident DJ, the quirky-cool DJ 'Baby' Natazu (who dressed up as a baby and a unicorn this Halloween; we strongly urge you to visit his blog). Additionally, New York Magazine is impressed by the club's blond-wood wainscoting, pale brown walls, and new, streamline furnishings (which include brand-new flat-screen TVs and a 240,000-song jukebox that careens wildly between genres). Personally? We love their noon - 8 p.m. daily happy hours (noon - 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) their $3 beers, their 'naked' karaoke nights, their amazing go-go dancers (you can enjoy a preview here) their flaming shots... yeah, you get the idea, we're a big fan. Steph sums it up perfectly: "It's an experience. You can never leave." Ever.
Next on the list, Love on West 8th and Macdougal Street, is a great hidden gem tucked between tattoo parlors and thrift stores. Famous for its black-light dance floor and some of the city's best dirty-house mixes, Love is a 'place where you can wear anything and be anyone... it's about the music, not about what you are wearing or who you are dancing with' (Citysearch). Clubplanet proclaims the Greenwich Village club radiates a refreshingly 'positive vibe,' boasting 'promoters that have an honest appreciation for innovative new music, and a crowd that's a nice mix of 'downtown hipsters, hip hop kids, and the occasional celeb,' and Shecky's Nightlife is equally impressed, lamenting: 'Love could be the most underrated club in NYC... it's what Manhattan [nightlife] used to be: an incredibly varied, eclectic mix of Manchester '80s, indie rock, acid house, an actual dance floor where people don't care about seeing and being seen... if everyone would just go here, there'd be no need for the Meatpacking District or West Chelsea.' It's also a rare Time Out New York 'Critic's Pick' for it's impressive DJ lineup and stunning sound system.
To wrap up is another NearSay fave (just check out our archive covering their events) the infamous Le Poisson Rouge. An 1,100 person-capacity club that's hosted everyone from 'Baby Got Bach's' Orli Shaham to indie rockers The Autumn Defense, our beloved LPR gets rave reviews from the club experts at Shecky's Nightlife ('just when you thought all artistic integrity had been sucked out of NYC’s cookie-cutter nightlife, Greenwich Village gets a space fit for orchestras and punk rockers alike'), Time Out New York ('no other joint in town books such a wide range of great music'), The Village Voice (the club is 'classy but non-garish,' boasting 'relentless and delightful eclecticism') and The Daily Swarm (it's 'the coolest place to hear contemporary music in New York'). Why we love them? Awesome free events like 'Le Bingo!' and their infamous 'Nasty Mondays' dance party featuring international DJs Max and Sören at the turntables, $5 well drinks (and $3 Rolling Rock cans!) during their recurring 'Crooked Disco' soiree, and a beautiful, genuinely mixed crowd.
The Best Night Clubs in the West Village and Greenwich Village
49 Grove is located at 49 Grove Street, near West 4th Street.
Boots and Saddle is located at 76 Christopher Street, near West 4th Street.
Love is located at 40 West 8th Street, and Macdougal Street.
Le Poisson Rouge is located at 158 Bleecker Street, near Thompson Street.
