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
Ahoy New York Food Tours takes locals and visitors alike on a cultural walk of Chinatown and Little Italy. Taste delicious foods, while learning about the culture and history of these unique New York City neighborhoods. Eat ethnic foods, like homemade fresh mozzarella and authentic Chinese dumplings, while seeing some of New York City's hidden gems and historical landmarks.
- Compare Rates: Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tours
- NYC Insider Gidscount: NYC Insider Guide visitors receive 20% off tours with our special discount code at Ahoy New York Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest Tours!
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Little Italy NYC Sightseeing Passes
Compare sightseeing pass options:
- Go directly to the New York Sightseeing Pass Website to check out the details of the pass
- Compare prices at: New York Passes and NYC Attractions Passes, where there are always great deals and discounts
- More Info: Compare NYC Attractions 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
Little Italy NYC 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
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
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 Guide 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
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
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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