Little Italy NYC Guide

Pizza, Pasta, Chianti, Churches

Little Italy NYC is just a few blocks, with tons of outdoor restaurants and owners promising free wine and sangria to lure you in. Puglia is a favorite restaurant for families with their live singing and kids standing on their chairs waving napkins.

Visit the new Italian American Museum, which tells the story "from Columbus to Cuomo," the original Old St. Patrick’s Church and NYC Police Headquarters. For another NYC Italian experience, many consider Arthur Avenue in the Bronx a more authentic Little Italy these days.

Little Italy NYC Things to Do

The heart of Little Italy is Mulberry Street, b/w Broome and Canal  (2 blocks)

National Shrine of San Gennaro (113 Baxter, Canal) – replica of the grotto at Lourdes church, and sponsor of the Annual Feast of San Gennaro

DiPalo’s Fine Foods – amazing market for fine meats and cheeses, make sure to ask for samples.

Old St. Patrick’s Church (263 Mulberry St, Mott/Prince) –  beautiful Gothic revival church from 1809, as seen in the Godfather in the Baptism scene and the original home to new diocese of New York before the larger St. Patrick’s on 5th Ave.  Note: Prince St. is 2 blocks north of Broome

Italian American Museum (155 Mulberry) – "Preserves, promotes, and celebrates the culture and history of Italian Americans, serving as living record of their contributions to America and a bridge between the remarkable past and the evolving future of the community. We seek to tell our whole story from Columbus to Cuomo"

NYC Police Headquarters Building (240 Centre St, Broome/Grand) – beautiful white building with copper dome, was headquarters until 1973, and also seen in Gangs of New York. Today it is apartments.

Annual Feast of San Gennaro

If you’re looking to compare every slice of Pizza in NYC, or have a ‘sausage, onion and pepper’ sandwich, San Gennaro, held every September, is the festival for you! Although it is an annual celebration of faith, the Feast of San Gennaro has a huge variety of ethnic food delicacies, charming restaurants and cafes and even a world-famous cannoli-eating competition!

Chinatown, Little Italy & SoHo Tours

Ahoy New York Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest Tours

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Little Italy NYC Sightseeing Passes

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Little Italy NYC Recommended Restaurants

I hate to say this, but Little Italy is “not what it used to be” and many better Italian restaurants are now found in other neighborhoods. Most of the restaurants (many run by Albanians, not Italians) are good (not great), have vibrant atmospheres and outdoor cafes, are all family-friendly and offer prix-fixe meals. These are some of our favorites still frequented by NYC locals.

Puglia (189 Hester, Mulberry) – family-style Italian with live singing. Kids stand on the chairs and twirl their napkins.

Rubirosa (235 Mulberry) – this is an artisan pizza/italian/wine bar with a sophisticated vibe and a great place to meet up with friends or as a couple. Sit at a table or the bar – you can’t go wrong either way.

Umberto’s Clam House (132 Mulberry Street) – known for baked clams, lobster ravioli and their red sauce, offering both old-school traditional dishes, as well those with a modern Italian flair. Though it is now at a new location, Umberto’s is also known as the restaurant where mobster Joey Gallo was shot in 1972, as featured in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman (2019).

Il Cortile (125 Mulberry, Hester St) – Northern Italian

Vincent’s (119 Mott St @ Hester St) – 100+ year old institution. Tomato sauce comes 3 ways: sweet, medium, and hot.  Baked clams and fried calamari are recommended.

Best Restaurants Near Little Italy

Here are some top picks within steps of Little Italy considered local favorites:

Lombardi’s (32 Spring St at Mott St) – a block north of Little Italy, but many New Yorkers think it’s the best pizza in NYC

Emilio’s Ballato (55 E Houston St, Green & Mulberry) – this tiny, no reservations allowed NYC classic attracts celebs and New Yorkers of all kinds and the food consistently earns rave reviews. Chef Emilio can often be seen chatting with guests and for the most part, the service is great. If you’re willing to wait for a table, maybe you’ll spot Pres Obama, Justin Bieber, Billy Joel or Lenny Kravitz.

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Little Italy NYC Neighborhood Guide Shopping

E. Rossi & Co (Mulberry and Grand) – Italian kitchen and house wares, such as espresso makers, mostly Italian-American kitsch.

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Little Italy NYC Hotels

Little Italy is a such a small area, there are not many hotels. To stay near here, you’ll find a much better selection of hotels nearby on the Lower East Side, in SoHo, Tribeca and Chinatown.

I believe the only 2 hotels in Little Italy are the Solita Soho Hotel @ 159 Grand St and the NobleDEN Hotel @ 196 Grand St.

Here are some of our top Chinatown hotel picks:

Hotel 50 Bowery

50 Bowery, opened in 2017, is a 229-room boutique hotel with incredible views of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and the World Trade Center from many of their rooms, as well as for all guests from their 21st floor Rooftop, The Crown. Situated right in the heart of Chinatown, Little Italy and the Lower East Side, 50 Bowery puts you within 5-10 minutes of at least 400 restaurants (I’m underestimating) from every ethnicity and for every price range you can imagine. Within the hotel, you’ll find luxury linens, flat screen TVs, complimentary WiFi and most pets are welcomed!

• Discount Rates: 50 Bowery
• 50 Bowery, NY, NY 10013

The Wyndham Garden Chinatown is a bargain hunters dream hotel. The real allure are the rooms and suites with floor to ceiling windows with stunning views of the city. Enjoy the The Bowery Beer Garden (street level) and Rooftop 93 (18th Floor) with indoor/outdoor seating and sweeping skyline views. Be in the heart of everything, easily walk anywhere south of 14th St in NYC, spend your time around real New Yorkers and pay half of what the "Times Square" crowd does!

• Wyndham Garden Chinatown
• 93 Bowery

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Little Italy NYC Subways

• J/M/Z to Canal
• N/R/Q/W to Canal
• 6 to Canal
• General Address: 263 Mulberry St, NY, NY 10012

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Little Italy NYC Printable Map

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NYC Neighborhood Guides

Harlem

Our Harlem neighborhood guide will show you the wonderful cultural, food, music and historic value of this landmark area, which has long, strong and proud NYC roots. The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s began the golden age of African-American culture, literature, music, artists, theater and art, which continues to strengthen today. If you want to eat authentic soul food, hear mind-blowing jazz and gospel and clothing shop with Alicia Keys and Jay-Z, then Harlem is on your bucket list!

• Explore: Harlem Neighborhood Guide
• To Do: Apollo Theater, Striver's Row, National Jazz Museum

Upper West Side

The Upper West Side is a residential neighborhood filled with young professionals and families. It is a great place to stay if you are looking to avoid the heavy crowds of Midtown, explore Central Park, The Museum of Natural History, the Beacon Theatre, Lincoln Center, the West Side Highway and still be about 20 minutes from most of Manhattan.

• Explore: Upper West Side Guide
• To Do: American Museum of Natural History & Planetarium, Beacon Theatre, Lincoln Center, Time Warner Center

Central Park

Central Park offers 843 gorgeous acres to explore and 100s of things to do, which is why we consider it an unofficial neighborhood. Central Park draws 38 million visits a year and is home to the Central Park Film Festival, SummerStage, Shakespeare in the Park, Ice Skating, Central Park Zoo, Bow Bridge, biking, playgrounds, the Carousel and much more.

• Explore: Central Park Guide
• To Do: Central Park Zoo, Carousel, TV and Movie Sites, Ice Skating, Loeb Boathouse

Times Square & Broadway

Times Square New York and the Theater District are some of New York City's most popular tourist attractions. Of course, Broadway, also known as the Great White Way, is most definitely for locals as well. Spend a bit of time here and make sure to see the lights at night, the Hershey's and M&M Stores, as well as catch a great Broadway Show.

• Explore: Times Square & Broadway NYC Guide
• To Do: Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Broadway Shows NYC, Ripleys Believe it or Not!, M&M World & Hersheys Chocolate World

Midtown West, Koreatown, Hell's Kitchen

Midtown West is a huge tourist area with great neighborhoods like NYC's famous Diamond District, Hell's Kitchen and Koreatown. Hell's Kitchen, is the most western section and an "up-and-coming" residential area of New York City with new shops and restaurants opening often. Koreatown, just a block from the Empire State Building, is known for their restaurants and karaoke bars and clubs.

• Explore: Midtown West NYC Guide
• To Do: Empire State Building, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Madison Square Garden, Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Javits Center

Garment District / Fashion Center

The Garment District, also called the Fashion District or Fashion Center, is home to many of the world's most famous fashion designers and showrooms. The area is an amazing resource for fabrics, beads and trims, however, unless you are trade, don't expect to walk in off the street to designer showrooms. The best way to possibly get access to private showrooms is through a private tour or a NYC Sample Sale.

• Explore: Garment District Guide
• To Do: Fashion Walk of Fame, Museum at FIT, Parsons School of Design

Chelsea & Hudson Yards

Chelsea NY is known for art galleries, nightlife and gay-friendly culture. It is a lively, vibrant neighborhood with some of New York City's top restaurants, clubs, art and things to do outdoors and along the Hudson River. While Chelsea boundaries are West 14th-34th Streets, from 7th Ave to the Hudson River, the new Hudson Yards occupies it's most North and West streets, West 30th to 34th Streets between 10th and 12th Avenues.

• Explore: Chelsea & Hudson Yards Guide
• To Do: The Highline, Art Galleries, Chelsea Market, Chelsea Piers, Little Island, Edge, The Vessel, The Shops at Hudson Yards

Meatpacking District

The Meatpacking District, also known as the Gansevoort Market, is only a few blocks, so you cannot get lost, but it is packed with upscale restaurants, night clubs and designer shopping. Like many NY neighborhoods, the MP District retains it's historical architecture, as it is lined with cobblestone streets and old warehouses, but, today, these same buildings house very modern shopping and dining. The heart of the Meatpacking District is Little West 12th Street.

• Explore: Meatpacking District Guide
• To Do: The Highline, Restaurants, Clubs & Rooftops, Little Island, Upscale Shopping

Greenwich Village & NoHo

Our Greenwich Village NYC Guide provides insight into one of NYC's most cherished neighborhoods. The Village is full of history, celebrity, politics, landmarks and so much more. The NYU campus, Washington Square Park, gorgeous brownstones and cobble stone streets, amazing restaurants, tons of trees and much more make this area a local favorite.

• Explore: Greenwich Village & NoHo Guide
• To Do: Washington Square Park, NYU Campus, Astor Place, Shopping, Restaurants

West Village

The West Village is filled with tree-lined streets, beautiful old brownstones and hundreds of shops, restaurants and cafés. It is truly a quintessential NYC neighborhood, inhabited by locals and celebrities who can afford to live anywhere they choose. If you're a Friends or Sex and the City fan, then you are already quite familiar with the West Village...now it's time to come experience it!

• Explore: West Village Guide
• To Do: Restaurants, boutique shopping, gorgeous brownstones

SoHo

SoHo (SOuth of HOuston - pronounced How-ston) is another NYC neighborhood filled with the best shopping and restaurants. Traditionally known as a haven for artists and their lofts, it has become more upscale over the years and a much sought-after place for New Yorkers to live.

• Explore: SoHo Guide
• To Do: New York Fire Museum, Shopping, Art Galleries, Brunch & Restaurants, Broken Kilometer & Earth Room

Tribeca & The Battery

Tribeca Tribeca (TRI-angle BE-low CA-nal) NYC, is home of the namesake Film Festival, Robert De Niro’s pet project, created to promote commerce downtown after 9/11. He also owns several hotels and restaurants in the area and is spotted quite frequently. Tribeca was also the home of JFK Jr and Caroline Bessette Kennedy before their tragic death in 1999 and is filled with old warehouses, now converted into lofts, beautiful views of the Hudson River and Statue of Liberty along the West Side Highway, excellent restaurants, families, parks and NYC history.

• Explore: Tribeca & The Battery
• To Do: Hudson River Park and River Promenade, Statue of Liberty Views, Upscale & Casual Dining

Financial District and Wall Street

The Financial District (FiDi), at the southern tip of NYC, is one of NYC's most bustling business and tourist areas, from Monday to Friday and is near dead on the weekends. Sights include the 9-11 Memorial & Museum, Wall Street, One World Observatory, The American Stock Exchange, the Charging Bull, the Fearless Girl and views of the Statue of Liberty.

• Explore: Financial District Guide
• To Do: One World Observatory, Staten Island Ferry, 9-11 Museum, 9-11 Memorial, Charging Bull & Fearless Girl, American Stock Exchange, The Oculus, Brooklyn Bridge, South Street Seaport and much more.

Upper East Side NYC

The Upper East Side is an upscale, residential neighborhood and home to Museum Mile, some uber-upscale shopping and Gracie Mansion. The homes on Fifth Avenue, along Central Park, are some of the most exclusive in all of Manhattan. You've likely seen the Upper East Side on Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, The Real Housewives of New York, I Love Lucy, Breakfast at Tiffany's and dozens of other times on your screens.

• Explore: Upper East Side
• To Do: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Museum Mile, Central Park, Gracie Mansion, Upscale Shopping

Midtown East

Midtown East is a huge tourist, commercial and residential area. Around 5th Ave, the neighborhood is home to many tourist attractions, such as St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock and Radio City Music Hall. Bryant Park, the New York Public Library and Grand Central Station are close together just south. Moving towards 3rd Ave and further east, the area is more residential, and generally, the restaurants are better and more affordable, with the UN being the only attraction in that part of the neighborhood.

• Explore: Midtown East Guide
• To Do: The Plaza Hotel, Upscale Shopping, Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock, Radio City Music Hall, Bryant Park, Grand Central Station, New York Public Library, United Nations

Union Square, Flatiron, NoMad, Gramercy

Union Square (my hood!), the Flatiron District and NoMad all have a mix of residence and business tenants. Additionally, colleges such as NYU, The New School and FIT dominate the area, making it very fun and lively. It is one of the best dining and nightlife areas in Manhattan, with something for every palate and budget and offers fabulous hotels of all kinds.

• Explore: Union Square, Flatiron, NoMad, Gramercy
• To Do: Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, Eataly, Union Square Park & Greenmarket, Harry Potter Wizarding World

East Village

While originally part of the Lower East Side, an immigrant neighborhood, the East Village, has separated itself and become home to some of the City’s best restaurants, shops and nightlife. It is full of character, diversity, fine dining, shops and live music, and includes a subsection named “Alphabet City.” East Village culture ranges from tattoo parlors and “dive bars” to some of New York City’s nicest hip and trendy hotels.

• Explore: East Village
• To Do: Blue Man Group & Stomp, St. Mark's Place, Nightlife, Speakeasies, Curry Lane

Lower East Side NYC

Traditionally, the Lower East Side was a working class immigrant neighborhood (think “Gangs of New York”). Today it is a wonderfully ethnic and diverse neighborhood and serves as a shopping, dining and nightlife destination for many NYC locals. Even with all its modern upgrades, the LES retains a large amount of its history, especially it’s Jewish, Polish, Irish and Italian cultures. The LES also has one of the best selections of hotels in NYC - tons of boutique hotels with amenities, rooftops, skyline views and seconds from 1000s of cool restaurants and hot spots.

• Explore: Lower East Side
• To Do: Tenement Museum, Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue, Food Tours, Nightlife, great Hotel selection

Chinatown NYC

Chinatown NYC is a small, but very densely packed area of shops and restaurants. It is really fun to walk around, enjoy the culture, pick up some souvenirs, and most definitely, eat some delicious and affordable Dim Sum, dumplings, pork buns and other amazing Chinese cuisines.

• Explore: Chinatown NYC Guide Guide
• To Do: Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), Mahayana Buddhist Temple, Dim Sum & Dumplings

Little Italy NYC

Little Italy NYC Guide is a just a few blocks, with tons of outdoor restaurants and owners promising free wine and sangria to lure you in. Puglia is a favorite restaurant for families with their live singing and kids standing on their chairs waving napkins. Visit the new Italian American Museum, which tells the story "from Columbus to Cuomo," the original Old St. Patrick's Church and NYC Police Headquarters.

• Explore: Little Italy NYC Guide
• To Do: Feast of San Gennaro, Old St. Patrick's Church, Food Tours, Italian American Museum

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