Good morning to all of you wandering through the West Village. If you haven’t discovered While We Were Young, consider this your official invitation. This underrated, airy restaurant belongs on your weekly brunch list if you live in New York City and on your NYC travel itinerary if you are just visiting.

Every time I am on this side of town, I find myself back here for brunch or dinner. Sometimes it’s nice to venture out, but some spots feel like home. While We Were Young is exactly that kind of place.

Why While We Were Young Feels Like a Secret NYC Gem

The restaurant is small, but you hardly notice once you are seated. You feel like you have stepped into a world of your own. The ambiance balances effortless West Village style with cozy energy, making it perfect for brunch, dinner, or even a solo cocktail adventure.

Their menu features Prix Fixe two-course meals for brunch and dinner. The portions are generous, the plating is beautiful, and the pricing is surprisingly competitive considering the quality.

Standout dishes include the Kale Salad and Grilled Wild Salmon. Both are simple yet elevated, exactly the kind of food you want when you want comfort without compromising sophistication.

Cocktails That Make Brunch Worth It

If cocktails are your priority, you are in luck. While We Were Young cocktails are small works of art. My go-to is the Coffee in the Morning, which is basically caffeinated alcohol and exactly what the doctor ordered after a long day of adulting. Every cocktail feels deliberate, Instagram-ready, and surprisingly potent.

Insider Tips for Visiting While We Were Young

Reservations are highly recommended for both brunch and dinner. Taking your time is part of the experience. This is a spot to linger, to relax, to soak in West Village vibes and savor every sip and bite.

Don’t miss the neon wall sign that reads, We were together. I forget the rest. This nod to Walt Whitman’s poem Once I Pass’d Through a Populous City is the kind of literary Easter egg that makes this spot feel magical for lit nerds like me.

Why While We Were Young Should Be on Your NYC Map

While We Were Young is more than a restaurant. It is an experience for locals and travelers alike. From brunch to dinner to cocktails, this West Village hidden gem delivers style, flavor, and ambiance. It is perfect for those looking to combine classic NYC charm with something fresh and under-the-radar.

Whether you are in the neighborhood for a weekend brunch, an evening dinner, or just to sip cocktails with friends, While We Were Young West Village is a spot you will want to revisit again and again.

The quote is a nod to Walt Whitman’s poem Once I Pass’d Through a Populous City which reads:

ONCE I pass’d through a populous city, imprinting my brain, for future use, with its shows, architecture, customs, and traditions; Yet now, of all that city, I remember only a woman I casually met there, who detain’d me for love of me; Day by day and night by night we were together,— All else has long been forgotten by me; I remember, I say, only that woman who passionately clung to me; Again we wander — we love — we separate again; Again she holds me by the hand — I must not go! I see her close beside me, with silent lips, sad and tremulous.

Walt Whitman