Places to Pause
Explore the art community’s most beloved bookstores, bakeries, bars, and more.
Last updated Dec 17, 2025
We asked art locals where they go to eat, shop, drink, and relax in the neighborhood.
These are their responses. From the neighborhood’s daily bread to the watering holes to have chance encounters with tapped-in locals. All just steps away from museums and galleries on the Beholdr map.
Places to Pause
10 Venues
BakeryEast Village
From Lucie
For a little pick-me-up, there’s nothing we want more than one of Lucie’s cakes adorned with real flowers. Follow your nose to the butter-coloured yellow doorway.
263 East 10th Street
New York, NY 10009
Coffee ShopEast Village
Abraço
Echoing the old school coffee bars of Spain and Italy, this place has been serving the neighborhood since 2007. Go for the olive oil cake and coffee in classic NYC cups.
81 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10002
ShopEast Village
Enchantments
NYC’s ‘oldest witchcraft store’. Swoop into all things occult with magic books, tarot cards, oils blends, ritual supplies and all the spells. Or get a candle made to help you through a big life moment.
165 Avenue B
New York, NY 10009
Coffee ShopLower East Side
Bungee Space
Come for the great coffee, stay for the walls lined with books by independent publishers, with a focus on image studies and image criticism. Super friendly staff, too.
13 Stanton Street
New York, NY 10002
RestaurantLower East Side
Factory Tamal
Small shop, big soul. Great tamales served from a super local hole in the wall on Ludlow. Barely any seats, so take them for a stroll.
34 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002
RestaurantChinatown
Dim Sum Palace
Dates and family diners hunker down in this old-world meets new-world Cantonese parlour, with 200+ seats. Gallerists sometimes host opening dinners here.
27 Division Street
New York, NY 10002
BookstoreLower East Side
Aeon Books
Get lost in thought and play your favourite vinyls at this dream bookstore. Sift through the smart and soulful collections of art, spirituality, philosophy, and fiction.
151 East Broadway
New York, NY 10002
RestaurantLower East Side
Betty
One of the few (good) places you can actually get a seat on a weekend. Fill up on French Onion Soup, Grilled Cheese or a really good cheeseburger. Stay for happy hour.
193 Henry Street
New York, NY 10002
Coffee ShopChinatown
Dreamers Coffee House
Perfect matcha and coffee at this neighborhood spot folded between galleries on the west end of Henry Street. It’s where the locals drink and art is much-discussed.
54W Henry Street
New York, NY 10002
BakeryChinatown
Bánh by Lauren
Flock to this corner store bakery for the signature bánh bò nướng, the heavenly, bright green sticky pandan honeycomb cake topped with pandan custard. OMG!
42 Market Street
New York, NY 10002
We asked art locals where they go to eat, shop, drink, and relax in the neighborhood.
These are their responses. From the neighborhood’s daily bread to the watering holes to have chance encounters with tapped-in locals. All just steps away from museums and galleries on the Beholdr map.
Places to Pause
10 VenuesBakeryEast Village
From Lucie
For a little pick-me-up, there’s nothing we want more than one of Lucie’s cakes adorned with real flowers. Follow your nose to the butter-coloured yellow doorway.
263 East 10th Street
New York, NY 10009
Coffee ShopEast Village
Abraço
Echoing the old school coffee bars of Spain and Italy, this place has been serving the neighborhood since 2007. Go for the olive oil cake and coffee in classic NYC cups.
81 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10002
ShopEast Village
Enchantments
NYC’s ‘oldest witchcraft store’. Swoop into all things occult with magic books, tarot cards, oils blends, ritual supplies and all the spells. Or get a candle made to help you through a big life moment.
165 Avenue B
New York, NY 10009
Coffee ShopLower East Side
Bungee Space
Come for the great coffee, stay for the walls lined with books by independent publishers, with a focus on image studies and image criticism. Super friendly staff, too.
13 Stanton Street
New York, NY 10002
RestaurantLower East Side
Factory Tamal
Small shop, big soul. Great tamales served from a super local hole in the wall on Ludlow. Barely any seats, so take them for a stroll.
34 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002
RestaurantChinatown
Dim Sum Palace
Dates and family diners hunker down in this old-world meets new-world Cantonese parlour, with 200+ seats. Gallerists sometimes host opening dinners here.
27 Division Street
New York, NY 10002
BookstoreLower East Side
Aeon Books
Get lost in thought and play your favourite vinyls at this dream bookstore. Sift through the smart and soulful collections of art, spirituality, philosophy, and fiction.
151 East Broadway
New York, NY 10002
RestaurantLower East Side
Betty
One of the few (good) places you can actually get a seat on a weekend. Fill up on French Onion Soup, Grilled Cheese or a really good cheeseburger. Stay for happy hour.
193 Henry Street
New York, NY 10002
Coffee ShopChinatown
Dreamers Coffee House
Perfect matcha and coffee at this neighborhood spot folded between galleries on the west end of Henry Street. It’s where the locals drink and art is much-discussed.
54W Henry Street
New York, NY 10002
BakeryChinatown
Bánh by Lauren
Flock to this corner store bakery for the signature bánh bò nướng, the heavenly, bright green sticky pandan honeycomb cake topped with pandan custard. OMG!
42 Market Street
New York, NY 10002
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The Specialists
The art spaces where distinct ideas, subcultures, or communities are championed.