Washington Mews

For a glimpse into earlier Greenwich Village life depicted in 19th-century novels like Henry James' Washington Square, step inside the historic red-brick gates of Washington Mews. Originally designated as private farmland, the street housed horse stables until the early 1900s, when they were converted into open and airy studios for the area's thriving art community (painter Edward Hopper lived here until his death in 1967). Located a half-block north of Washington Square between Fifth Avenue and University Place, the street retains its original character, with homes draped in ivy and wisteria, weathered cobblestoned streets and historic blue street signs. The gates to Washington Mews are unlocked during the daytime, making a stroll down it feel like a delicious escape into the perfectly preserved past.