NYC: The Top French Food Spots in the West Village

🍽️ French Restaurants 

Buvette 

Founded in 2011 by Chef Jody Williams, Buvette pays homage to the beloved all-day café culture of Europe. Perched on Grove Street, the spot is open from “sunlight to candlelight,” offering freshly baked pastries and a variety of croques in the morning / afternoon, along with classic bistro-inspired favorites for lunch and dinner—think steak tartare, ratatouille, and brandade de morue prepared with olive oil, cream, and garlic. Best of all, Buvette boasts one of the most fun (and underrated) wine lists in the city, featuring dozens of Grower Champagnes, top names from the Loire Valley and the Jura, along with an Ageworthy Rosé section with bottles from Sylvain Pataille, Clos Cibonne, Domaine Tempier, and more. 

📍 42 Grove St. 

Le Chêne 

For old school French cooking in a brand new location, look no further than Le Chêne. Spearheaded by husband-and-wife duo Alexia Duchêne and Ronan Duchêne Le May, this cozy French restaurant serves up some of the city’s most well-executed French dishes, including foie gras terrine, grilled leeks, and the spot’s signature (and Instagram famous) Pithiviers Terre & Mer, prepared with potato gratin, pork farce, smoked eel, and beetroot condiment. Le Chêne’s bible-like wine list features an impressive selection of Grower Champagnes and coveted Burgundy. Fair warning, the meal—and wine—can be a bit pricey, but according to some of the city’s top critics, well worth the splurge. 

📍 76 Carmine St. 

Le Gigot 

Craving a taste of the south of France? Then Le Gigot is the spot for you. Known for its authentic Provençal cuisine, this traditional French restaurant is known for its bouillabaisse, steak au poivre, and sweetbreads, which are prepared daily with fresh vegetables. Overseen by chef Fernando Bravo, Le Gigot first opened its doors in 1996 and instantly captivated the neighborhood with its eye-catching zinc bar and charming wooden interior, which promise to instantly transport guests back to their best French memories. The spot’s wine list, in true bistro format, is simple yet satisfying, featuring offerings from Muscadet, Touraine, Beaujolais, and Bordeaux all available by the glass or bottle.  

📍 18 Cornelia St. #1 

Boucherie 

Set in one of New York’s most breathtaking dining rooms, Boucherie West Village has become a neighborhood staple for fans of delicious French food and eye-catching decor. As the name implies, this carnivore’s paradise excels at all things meat, including steak frites, entrecôte grillée, and filet de boeuf—though non-red meat eaters, worry not. Boucherie’s classic coq au vin and coquilles St. Jacques served with wild mushrooms, Gruyère, fine herbs, and mushroom velouté offer an equally satisfying reprieve, and the charcuterie / fromage opens never disappoint. A selection of French wines are offered by the glass and bottle, as are a number of Absinthe-focused cocktails, including the Fraise Cremeuse prepared with coconut and strawberry-infused Hendrick’s, Pernod, szechuan pepper, and egg white. 

📍 99 7th Ave S.  

La Ripaille 

Founded in 1980 by Alain Laurent, La Ripaille has been a neighborhood staple for over 45 years. Titled after the 18th century expression ‘faire la rapaille,’ meaning to feast, this aptly named restaurant features a number of signature dishes, including mousse de broccoli served with a velvety lemon butter sauce, saumon au fenouil, steak au poivre, and paillarde de poulet prepared with rosemary, lemon, and arugula. In typical bistro manner, the restaurant’s simple wine offerings lack most producer specifics, though reliable options from Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, and the Rhône are all regularly available.  

📍 605 Hudson St. 

🍷 Wine Bars (Bars à Vin) 

St. Tropez 

Now approaching its 10th year in business, St. Tropez has become a reliable neighborhood staple for those seeking a quick glass (or bottle) paired with shareable bites. The spot’s small, all-French list is centered around wines from Provence, Burgundy, and Bordeaux, with Kronenbourg beer and Duval Blonde cider available for those looking for an alternative. Shareable favorites include oeufs mimosa, crevettes aioli (grilled shrimp with herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic aioli), and escargots à la provençale, with larger items à la carte (and also available as a prix-fixé menu) also served. The cherry on top? Happy hour takes place from Tuesday to Friday from 4:30 to 6pm and includes a drink of choice + food option for just $22. 

📍 304 W 4th St.  

Amélie 

Originally opened in San Francisco, Amélie made its New York debut in the West Village, followed by an uptown location on the Upper West Side in 2017. Known for its hearty salads, petits plats, and cheese and charcuterie boards, this cozy wine bar is the perfect place for date night or catching up with friends, as well as grabbing a glass solo and posting up with a good book. Amélie’s wine list covers the majority of French viticultural regions—including a variety of biodynamic and low-intervention wines—with go-to picks from Beaujolais (Thévenet, Dominique Piron) and the Rhône Valley (Texier, Matthieu Barret, Famille Perrin).  

📍 22 W 8th St.  

Vin Sur Vingt 

Vin Sur Vingt is the brainchild of Sébastien Auvet, whose mission was to create local wine havens across New York and Washington D.C. Now with eight locations across both cities, Auvet has kept the concept true to its founding principles, featuring a number of shareable French plates (la raclette, Camembert rôti au miel, and tarte flambée), tartines, and salads. Vin Sur Vingt’s diverse wine list features selections from all of France’s major viticultural regions, including two epic happy hour specials: selected $10 glasses from opening until 6pm, as well as 25% off on all bottles of wine from 10pm to close. 

📍 192 7th Ave S. 

🥐 Boulangerie / Pâtisserie 

L'Appartement 4F  

L’Appartement 4F began in—you guessed it, the apartment—of Ashley Coiffard and her husband, Gautier Coiffard. The duo started by crafting miniscule amounts of sourdough bread, eventually opening a brick-and-mortar location in their Brooklyn Heights neighborhood in 2022. Three years later, L’Appartement 4F opened its second location in the West Village, and has quickly captured the hearts of bread and pastry lovers abound. Known for their rustic breads and expertly crafted croissants, the bakery delivers authentic, well-made expressions of France’s most famous boulangerie items. While you may not be able to hop the next flight to Paris, a trip to L’Appartement 4F promises a solid reprieve.  

📍 119 W 10th St. 

🗺️ On the search for authentic French products near you? Check out our map of restaurants and stores offering a wide range of French products.