The Village After Dark: Pizza, Cocktails, Blues

Start on Carmine Street at Joe's Pizza, the classic New York slice shop that has fed the Village since 1975. There is rarely a seat, so this is a stand-and-eat first stop by design. Order a plain slice and fold it, do not overthink it. The crust is thin, the sauce is bright, and the line moves quickly even when it wraps the corner. Eat one, maybe two, and let this cheap, perfect bite set the tone before the night turns to cocktails and music.

Walk around to Cornelia Street and Sip & Guzzle, a two-level bar where the upstairs leans playful and the downstairs turns serious about cocktails. Come for the technique-driven drinks below if you want a proper sit-down. Head downstairs to Sip for the serious cocktails. Prices step up here, so treat it as the considered middle of the night rather than a quick round. Take a seat at the bar, tell the bartender what you like, and let them build the evening's centerpiece drink.

End on Bleecker Street at Terra Blues, an upstairs club that has kept live blues alive in the Village for decades. Shows run most nights, early and late sets, so this is where the walk becomes an event. Take the later set for the grittier, electric acts. There is usually a cover and a drink minimum, which is fair for the room. Grab a small table near the stage, order a drink, and let a couple of hours of live music close the night out right.

Terra Blues can end the night, but the Village keeps humming within a few short blocks. There is a serious Italian dining room for a bigger meal, a raucous dive bar if you want one more round, and a late ramen counter to soak it all up. Save the ramen for the very end of the night. Everything sits close enough to fold into the same walk, so read the hour and your own energy, then pick the last door yourself.