This week’s adventure started late afternoon at my neighborhood coffee shop, Sit & Wonder, where caffeine met planning. Around 2PM, I made my way toward the C train en route to the West Village. But first, a detour: Bearded Lady was unexpectedly empty—an ideal photo op I couldn’t pass up. On my way past Finn’s Corner, I remembered I had a backlog of photos from there too (mental note: post those soon). The train ride was smooth and uneventful—always a small New York victory.

My first West Village stop: The Four Faced Liar. This Irish pub has been around since 2003 and feels like the kind of place you don’t just visit—you join. It’s blue and gold facade carries through inside, where leather bench seating shows just enough wear to feel authentic, not tired. A few locals watched soccer on one of the many TVs as I sipped a non-alcoholic beer and jotted notes. The lamps, photos, and cozy backroom gave the space a dose of old-school NYC charm you don’t find much anymore.

Next, I snapped photos of a few bars that weren’t open yet—Down the Hatch and The Monster—and peeked into Stonewall Inn and Kettle of Fish, which were both too busy to shoot. I did, however, stop for lunch at The Beer Garage, which was bustling. It wasn’t ideal for photos until I found a surprise—an empty backyard, small but well laid out. With 27 taps, 7 TVs, and a lunchtime crowd locked into soccer games, the space had its own character. I wrapped up my meal and headed to Wilfie & Nell.

At Wilfie & Nell, I got lucky—it had just opened and was mostly empty. I quickly took some photos before the crowd rolled in and grabbed another non-alcoholic beer. The bartender was friendly (though I forgot their name—note to self: write those down). The space is gorgeous, with exposed brick, velvet, and dark wood benches. The menu looked solid too. It feels like the kind of spot where you linger with friends over drinks and small plates.

Due West was next. Sleek and polished, it has a design language of dark wood, leather, steel, and blue velvet. The portraits of Biggie, Iggy Pop, the Beastie Boys, and ODB contrast the upscale vibe in a way that’s both jarring and weirdly fitting. It had the glossy cool of ’90s Meatpacking but planted in the heart of the West Village. That contrast led me to seek out the exact opposite—Johnny’s Bar.

Johnny’s is dive bar royalty. It’s tiny, unapologetic, and packed with character—and stickers. To my surprise, they had a solid non-alcoholic selection. The decor leans heavily into what could only be described as lovingly cluttered. A metal cover of Stuff magazine featuring Brooke Shields hangs on the ceiling, and the graffiti-coated bathroom is practically its own attraction. The bar was originally just known as “Bar” until the upstairs neighbor Johnny passed away, and the name stuck.

As daylight faded, I made one last stop at WXOU Radio, a cash-only, no-frills dive with a strong neighborhood vibe—and, happily, NA Guinness. It was getting late, and I didn’t have the time to give this bar the attention it deserved, so a return trip is already on the list.

No trip to the West Village is complete without a stop at Mamoun’s Falafel. I wrapped the night with a classic falafel, eaten stoop-side as tradition demands. There’s still much ground to cover, but this felt like a strong first round. More West Village bars are on the horizon—NYCThirst is just getting started.

In the meantime, four new bar profiles have just been added to the site. Head over to NYCThirst to explore Cookies, C’mon Everybody, Moot Bar, and The Holler—each one now live and ready for you to discover.

Be sure to check out NYCThirst in the coming week as these bar pages go live on the site—each one packed with photos, updates, and all the details you need to plan your next Bed-Stuy outing!

— Sean Pisano, Founder & CEO of NYCThirst