Bob Dylan famously got his start in New York City—more specifically, in Greenwich Village. The then-epicenter of the 1960s folk scene, Greenwich Village was a natural fit for a boy from Minnesota named Robert Zimmerman to reinvent himself as the Bob Dylan we know today. For diehard fans, the neighborhood has always been so closely associated with the singer’s lore, that it’s hard to walk a single street without finding some kind of historical significance.

But for those of you who may be newly acquainted with Dylan’s NYC mythology (thank you, A Complete Unknown), let us walk you through some of the most notable spots you can still visit today—through Greenwich Village and beyond.

Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo captured on Jones Street for the cover of The Freewheelin’.

Jones Street

The one-block-long Jones Street was instantly immortalized when it was featured on the cover for Dylan’s 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Featuring a young Dylan and his girlfriend Suze Rotolo walking down the street on a snowy February day, the image has become iconic in its association with Dylan’s Greenwich Village roots. Today, the street doesn’t look so different—save for the addition of a few trees.

Bob Dylan’s First NYC Apartment

And the reason for the Jones Street photo? Well, its proximity to Dylan’s apartment, of course. 

A mere two-minute walk will take you to Dylan’s first NYC apartment—one he shared with Rotolo. And though the interior has been gutted (it was painstakingly reassembled as a set for A Complete Unknown), the exterior is still intact. So, while your visit may be more of a slow roll, the location itself was a pivotal one in Dylan’s earliest years. 

161 W 4th Street

Bob Dylan played his first show at Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village on January 24, 1961.

Cafe Wha?

Just a five-minute walk from Dylan’s former doorstep, you’ll find the still-operating Cafe Wha? Notable for being Dylan’s very first stop upon arrival in New York City, the venue was also the first to host Dylan the performer, a feat he accomplished on his very first day. 

Having opened in 1959, Cafe Wha? was a popular folk club in Dylan’s time—one that also hosted comedy in addition to musical acts. On any given night, you may find an early-career Joan Rivers or Woody Allen performing stand up. On another, you’d find Jimi Hendrix… or even a young Bob Dylan playing harmonica for singer Fred Neil in between his own performances. 

Today, Cafe Wha? is still going. And while it may not cater to the same folk scene it once did, its success in longevity and historical significance undoubtedly make it worth a visit. 

115 MacDougal St.

Fat Black Pussycat (formerly Kettle of Fish)

Kettle of Fish originally sat above The Gaslight Cafe—a basement coffeehouse and music venue once dominated by the beatnik scene. In between poetry readings, poets like Allen Ginsberg and Gregory Corso would drink upstairs. Understandable that—given Dylan’s admiration of these artists—he, too, would gravitate toward this favorite old literary haunt. Once the folk movement took over, Kettle of Fish quickly became a standby in the burgeoning new musician scene.

Today, Kettle of Fish has become the front room for Fat Black Pussycat, a comedy venue and sister showroom to the world-famous Comedy Cellar. As for the Fat Black Pussycat, the original location of its namesake is just around the corner at what is now a Greek restaurant called Pappas New York. Though the current space bears little similarity to the coffeehouse where Bob Dylan supposedly wrote “Blowin’ in the Wind”, the location itself is another that was once at the very heart of a scene that birthed some of the folk era’s most important music. 

130 W 3rd St

Bob Dylan was a regular at the White Horse Tavern.

White Horse Tavern

A New York institution, the White Horse Tavern first opened in 1880—making it the city’s second oldest bar. Another establishment adopted by the Beat Generation, the White Horse was also a favorite of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas—and was famously the bar he had been drinking at the night before his death. 

For someone like Bob Dylan—who adopted the stage name of Dylan in Thomas’ honor—it’s no wonder he took a liking to the White Horse himself. He was a regular at the bar, alongside other folk legends like Joan Baez and the Clancy Brothers. 

567 Hudson St

Timothée Chalamet in front of the Chelsea hotel in A Complete Unknown. Photo: Searchlight Pictures

The Hotel Chelsea

The historic Hotel Chelsea has hosted many legendary artists over the years—and yes, of course, Dylan is one of them. In 1966, he stayed at the hotel while writing Blonde on Blonde. Apparently, it was in room 211 that he wrote “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” for his wife Sara—something he explicitly references himself in his song “Sara” with the lyrics: stayin’ up for days in the Chelsea Hotel, writing’ Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands for you.

In recent years, the hotel has undergone quite the transformation with recent renovations including two chic restaurants and a cocktail bar—the first to open on this historic property. 

222 W 23rd St

WORDS Hillary Sproul