Little Italy is still one of my fave neighborhoods in NYC. Sure, it's touristy, populated by overpriced restos (some very good and some very meh), souvenir shops, street hawkers selling stuff, etc. Yet, it's still iconic, has it's own charm, and is a nice place to enjoy some Italian heritage, have a meal, some drinks, embellish in some pastries and cannoli, walk the streets with a cigar, and check out the historic buildings and church. Love it on a nice night when it's all lit up and the restaurants have staff chatting you up to come eat there. Oh, and the annual San Gennaro Feast is epic and a must to experience. Sure, its super annoyingly crowded but its also a lot of fun and you won't go home hungry. read more

South of Nolita, I guess you could say this is SoNolita. The best thing about Little Italy (besides L'Industrie) may be that it is surrounded by all great neighborhoods (SoHo, Nolita, Chinatown). It's a tiny, high-energy, nostalgic pocket with banners, old-school brick tenements with fire escapes, and century-old storefronts with some iconic spots (Ferrara Bakery, since 1892) and a killer festival, but expect overpriced, mediocre tourist fare, tacky souvenirs, and street hawks in the dinner hour. You can tell you're in one of the tourist-trappiest of all the neighborhoods when you get corralled by a dozen people holding menus. They may as well call the area "Table for two?" But, still, it has it's charm. So letsa go! read more

Little Italy - Letsa go! - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

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Definitely a must go Very nice experience and pretty good restaurants It was a great experience for me being the first timer! Super friendly and welcoming read more

Lovely little Italy. It's right next to Chinatown so you can visit Asia to Europe within steps away. Plenty of good restaurants and great bakeries shop here and among others. I would come at night when the lights are lites up and mores of the Italian vibe feels to it. The foods, the services and the vibe are just one of a kind for sure. A must stop for me for great old fashioned bakery that can take you back to Italy. read more

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Little Italy still retains its unique charm, especially thanks to its restaurants, decorations, and historical heritage. Even though the neighborhood is relatively small, the atmosphere is intense and inviting. It feels touristy, but still preserves part of its authentic Italian soul. A walk through Little Italy slows things down and offers a pleasant contrast to modern Manhattan. read more

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Little Italy is sandwiched between Canal and Bowery, and embraced by Chinatown - packed full of Italian restaurants and bakeries and shops, merchants and more. While I did enjoy this much more when I was younger, I've found there's amazing Italian all over the city and in the boroughs and NJ, and this is mostly now a tourist trap that sucks people in with the food festivals like the Feast of San Gennaro - it's crazy packed, parking gets expensive, and while a great experience once or twice, I find the best food is still sitting down in one of the restaurants like Rezdora or Il Gattopardo, ci Siamo and more -- so many places to try across the city. read more

Little Italy - Festival of San Gennaro - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

My family and I loved our foray into Little Italy in New York. It was just exciting walking by, my family's first real experience while in New York. So many people, so much life! We just enjoyed it so much! We loved the shop, Christmas in New York! Absolutely beautiful ornaments and decor for Christmas sold here! This includes personalized ornaments!!! We ate an amazing meal in Sofia's. We all raved about it and consider it the best Italian food we have ever had. So glad we stopped by. read more

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Little Italy in NYC is one of my favorite places to visit! The area is busy, there are lots of lovely restaurants and little shops and you actually feel like you're in Italy. Many of the restaurants greet and speak to you in Italian. You will find some amazing gelato and pastries around here as well! We grabbed a slice of pizza in Little Italy and it was delicious! At night and during the holiday season, it is great to walk around and enjoy the lights and decor which are especially spectacular! Highly recommend checking out this little pocket of NYC! read more

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Do not eat here. The dining ware was dirty, cups dirty, and the server was extremely rude and aggressive toward our group. "Milton" from Napoli was even called out by the host at the door for his absolutely unacceptable behavior and tone. He slammed our food down and gave us an immense attitude, as well as trying to overcharge us. Would highly recommend not eating here. Do not eat here. The dining ware was dirty, cups dirty, and the server was extremely rude and aggressive toward our group. "Milton" from Napoli was even called out by the host at the door for his absolutely unacceptable behavior and tone. He slammed our food down and gave us an immense attitude, as well as trying to overcharge us. Would highly recommend not eating here. read more

As you cross from Chinatown into Little Italy, you can really see the vibe change. Shopkeepers and hosts trying to lure you in. Unfortunately, we were too full from Chinatown. Next time, we'll start at Little Italy. It's a charming area and definitely take a pic by the entrance sign. read more

Little Italy - Dessert time! - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

Oh, hey, another neighborhood added. Anyway, this is a touristy neighborhood that has shrunk over the past many years, from a large portion of Lower Manhattan to now occupying only a multiple-block stretch of Mulberry Street. A lot of tourists know this block for the yearly San Gennaro Feast, which makes locals avoid the neighborhood more than Times Square, and where people are crammed in like sausages (or should I say salsicce.) The largest actual Italian-American neighborhoods are far away from here, with the largest being in the less tourist-friendly Staten Island (outside of the ferry.) For a more standard borough, Arthur Avenue in the Bronx is recommended, offering charm and kitsch alongside better food and shops. There are also a bunch of areas of Brooklyn, such as Carroll Gardens, large portions of Bensonhurst, and many other parts of South Brooklyn, which fit the bill for Italian-American neighborhoods, though without the tourist shirts and similar. If you're going to come here and eat, go here for desserts rather than the rest of the food. While my favorite Italian bakeries are Veniero's in the East Village for cakes and for cookies, Monteleone's in Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens, La Bella Ferrara, the similarly named tasty but overpriced Ferrara, and, to a slightly lesser extent, Cafe Palermo are all quite tasty. If you have to eat Italian food around there and you, for some reason, don't want to walk a few blocks away, Il Cortile, Da Nico, and Casa D'Angelo are fine, though I haven't been to any of them in years. There are also some good non-Italian-American spots in the same neighborhood, such as Tomiño Taberna Gallega, among others. There's also some pretty tasty pizza, but honestly, go to Lucia of Soho nearby instead, especially if you want a plain slice. I avoid this neighborhood like the plague, but hey, I'm a local, and at least it's easy enough to walk through when it's not during that feast. read more

Little Italy is amazing. I lived in NY for a few years, and been a billion times for business. Alas, it's been a few years, and I miss it so. Sigh. Highlights for me: ================ * San Gennaro Feast - "the" Italian food festival. For 10 days every September, blocks and blocks of even extra Italian foods everywhere...mmmmm. * Fresh torrone at Italian markets * Fresh cannoli's at bakeries * Italian Food Center, now closed, was an amazing deli for sandwiches (hot meatball, sausage, both, and cold types), fresh raw meats, and arancini balls and/or prosciutto rolls to walk around and nibble on. * Some touristic, but others good, Italian restaurants & pizza shops * Fresh corn on the cob with Cotija cheese at a Cuban restaurant (closed?) Bottomline, it's such a great memory. More beautiful at night, but happening during the day. read more

Little Italy is so beautiful at night. Even in the freezing cold, and missing a light or two, it still feels warm and welcoming. The people, the restaurants, the strings of lights, the narrow streets are wonderful to walk around. read more

Little Italy - Little Italy NY - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

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I just love being in Little Italy. Of course, Little Italy is now elsewhere, and this, the original, is basically 2-3 blocks of Mulberry Street... but nonetheless, I enjoy it. The food, the people, the history, the restaurants and the bars, it just suits ... well anyone! Granted there are way more tourists here than one would like, but I always think of the opposite: if there were no tourists here, Little Italy (as it exists on mulberry), would be no longer; gone. Consumed by the China Town that surrounds it on all 4-corners and pushed the original Italian part of town out to another area (like Brooklyn). So without the tourism, this place would die. For that reason, I don't mind when the table next to me at the bar only speaks Russian, and the couple over there speaks Spanish, and those fellas have Australian accents, ... each foreign language I hear, I think "Little Italy will live another day". There are so many great places to eat (just be warned: it IS tourist prices) There's a bunch of great bars! Even a famous one that was often used in the hit HBO series The Sopranos! How cool is that? It's a nice place to spend a late lunch or early dinner. Especially when it's all lit up. Strolling around or sitting outside is always nice too, so naturally, head over when the weather is fair! Despite it being purely accidental (not planned), I have found myself in Little Italy 2-3 times a year for about the last 5 years give or take lol. And, no plans to go back, but I already know in 2024 I'll probably be back. The odds are in that favor. And I'm not upset about it lol - can't wait! read more

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I have gone during the day and the evening, and I would suggest the evening/night because the lights just make it more fun, and it has such a festive feel. I was disappointed there were not more bakeries. I also did not appreciate how aggressive some of the restaurants are about trying to pull you into eat. But, even with that, it was fun and would still suggest. [Be forewarned, it is VERY much a touristy area.] read more

Passed by little Italy for their festival of San Gennaro, alot of foods! Pasta, pizza , cheese! there was also many games kiddos can play and win prizes. this was a very comforting community would come back when there isn't a festival though food was pricey (makes sense) and way too much people ( also makes sense) just to see how it would be without all these people. read more

Little Italy - Festival - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

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5 stars... at night. At night the sign lights up & the crowd gets relaxed. During the day expect every restaurant out on the street attempting to carol you inside to eat at their shop (even if you've already eaten.) It is a very competitive environment for businesses as there are 20-30 right next to each other on these few blocks, but along these streets you'll also notice a few cozy shops as well & ofc merch shops. The food at Zia Maria was delicious & the service was great. Most food places have a place to eat outside as well which was enjoyable. The Christmas store is something you can't miss! read more

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I got to experience Little Italy New York on December 31, 2023. After visiting Italy a few months ago, I was excited to check out Little Italy. BUT of course, it doesn't compare to Italy whatsoever. But it definitely one of the most iconic neighborhoods of NYC and offers a taste of Italian delicacies hard to find anywhere else - my favorite is cannolis :) Little Italy stretches just a couple of blocks surrounding Mulberry Street, adjacent to Chinatown. It's definitely worth the visit if you're in NYC and craving some Italian!! read more

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Italy. Italy. Italy. It's the best! This is the best Italy town in the world. People tell me all the time. And I tell them, Italy! Italy! Windmills and sharks and man, camera, boats that run on batteries. I pick the shark over being electrocuted by a battery any day. Italy! The best! read more

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Worth walking through Little Italy to check out the small shops. We combined it with walking through Chinatown, which is larger and surrounding Little Italy. read more

Little Italy - Rubirosa restaurant - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

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Always love visiting Little Italy. After the blue man group show we decided to come walk around and eat. Glad we did. It was a beautiful evening and we had a wonderful time visiting all the small shops and then had a great dinner. Highly recommended. Enjoy read more

Little Italy - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

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When Italian immigrants moved to this Manhattan neighborhood in the late 1800s, they brought their customs, food and language. That heritage remains evident today--Little Italy's streets are lined with restaurants serving Italian staples on red-and-white checkered tablecloths. Di Palo's cheese shop and Ferrara Bakery & Café--known for its cannoli and espresso--are among the long-tenured businesses still operating today. One of NYC's oldest street fairs, the annual Feast of San Gennaro, celebrates the patron saint of Naples every September with food and festivities. Being next to Chinatown, this is a 2x1 experience every time I am in New York. I usually eat my main meal in Chinatown and then get a sweet treat in Little Italy. Just a great combination. read more

Little Italy - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

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I love walking around this area when in NYC. It has certainly shrunk over the years, but there are still enough restaurants and shops from which to choose. There are so many bakeries with cannoli, pastries, gelato and more that you could spend hours munching your way along. You can pick up a slice of pizza or a whole one and they are all yummy goodness. Want a glass of wine and a plate of pasta? So many choices!!!! Great place to explore! read more

Little Italy - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

Around mid-September, there's a street fair along Little Italy called The Feast of San Gennaro. The fair seems to span the entirety of Little Italy. Lined with food and drink stands, games, and small rides. I recommend wearing sunscreen and portable shade (hat) if you plan to mill through the crowds. Having some cash ($20+) for some of the stands is a good idea as well. Lastly, bring an abundance of patience to meander through the river of people taking their time to browse and enjoy the fair. This year the fair is from 9/12-9/22. https://sangennaronyc.org read more

You want good Italian food out of Italy, this is the place to go. It is located right beside Chinatown and the start of Little Italy is on Mulberry street. You will find many many Italian eatery. The restaurants extends out to the sidewalk and beyond onto the street. This really reminds me of Europe. I love the vibe here. There are also many artworks and murals that can be found on Little Italy. If you are in NYC, this is a must visit place. They also have the famous Lombardo here (the first Italian Pizza place outside of Italy) Definitely worth a visit. read more

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Not to be confused with Little China, where Kurt Russell had Big Trouble, or Little Women, which is about as exciting as every other old novel, or Stuart Little, which is far more adorable than anything in Little Italy or Little China for that matter. I personally heard that us Italians aren't so "little", but let's leave that to the innoculation. I mean imagination. Sorry, too much Corona. Little Italy is one of many truly magical neighbourhoods in Manhattan and I've been in love with it ever since I was a young boy. Of course it's very touristy to an unfortunate extreme, but it's still a great place to walk around and hang out, especially during the San Gennaro Festival where tons of amazing hot people come out and there's just so much going on. There's a couple of delis around here hidden away that are just incredible, including one of them - DiPalo's - which is quite famous. Best sandwiches on Manhattan, probably. There's also an abundance of Italian restaurants, none of which are amazing, but some of which are pretty decent. And don't get me started on the Curry Chicken Banh Mi at the Saigon Viet Sandwich Deli nearby. Since it borders Chinatown you'll find tons of great Chinese stuff and lots of good bubble tea around here. Altogether it's one of the best neighbourhoods in New York City but definitely definitely not for driving oh hell no. Ugh ugh ugh. Getting stuck for 1 hour to go 1 block? Fun times. You can find free parking around here on Sundays but it's hard to find because it's so busy. Other days you have to pick the right street and hope for the best. It's more than a "Little Icky" trying to park in Little Italy. read more

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Little Italy is more than the Feast of San Gennaro. Little Italy is food, historic restaurants, Cannoli, cigars, the Christmas Store, brownstone buildings and churches. Historic Streets and landmark buildings surround you. I'm sad I don't get to this neighborhood as much as I would like. It's much easier to get there now on the Second Avenue Q Train. I usually go for the Feast of San Gennaro. My grandpa came here from Naples. I must have my Cannoli every year. I reviewed the individual businesses in the neighborhood. I'm not going to mention them all. If you want the feel of old New York you must visit Little Italy. Not far is Chinatown. Stop by that neighborhood too. That's my second favorite neighborhood South of Houston! read more

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If you have any sort of Italian blood in you as I do, I'm Sicilian mostly, you will love this area especially if you want an American Italian experience. It reminds me of the 1950s and 60s and maybe even the 70s of Italian America and if you remember seeing those Goodfellow movies, Christmases were always great when you're with an Italian family.besides Christmas this place has a lot of architecture, history, and heritage and culture. You got to say hi to everybody we get to know people learn their story about their ancestors who immigrated over here as mine did. A joyous and wonderful little town. read more

Home to the annual Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, Manhattan for eleven (11) days where food and drink lure patrons to be enticed by street food vendors for cannolis, Italian sausages, zeppoles, tiramisu, gelato, etc. The event is primary focused on Mulberry Street closed off from traffic. (sources: AM NY and Wikipedia) It is a tourist destination. I personally do not like crowds and there are no facilities available of a portable potty. Eating street vendor food as you're standing and walking is not ideal for digesting as I prefer to sit inside a restaurant to be served where there are facilities. Little Italy was once upon a time circa 1880s larger in the area with a larger Italian presence. Nevertheless New York City is still a diverse city of culture, ethnicities, and races. read more

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We love coming to Little Italy. The vibe is just great. Mulberry Street bustles with restaurants and cafés and I love all the cozy and romantic outdoor seating areas. You get a nice view of the Empire State Building while strolling, too. It's not too large of an area, so not overwhelming like I feel Chinatown can be. Little Italy borders Chinatown, so you can easily hit up both. read more

Little Italy - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

This is a really special part of the city in lower Manhattan. In the late 1800s, Italian immigrants made their home here, and to this day you can find a lot of really great Italian food. The original Little Italy was much larger, but people moved to other parts of the city and Chinatown grew. Now, it's just a few a blocks on Mulberry Street. In September, you have to go to the Feast of San Gennaro, named for the patron saint of Naples. It's fun to walk by the restaurants with red and white checkered paper tablecloths. Di Palo's cheese shop and Ferrara Bakery and Cafe and Umber to' sare favorites, but really all the places are pretty special. There's also gelato and ice cream shops, even Taiyaki, and tea houses. read more

Little Italy - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

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More a review of what it was rather than what it is, but what it was was wonderful, even though it was probably in decline when I started going there regularly as a young man during the 1980s. As a kid, my family tended to go to Chinatown when they wanted to dine out on the Lower East Side. Or 14th St. Of course, as a mob aficionado, Mulberry Street was, to me, like Gettysburg must be to a Civil War buff. I remember going on a double date to Umberto's, the clam house on Mulberry, where mobster "Crazy Joe" Gallo was shot down in 1972 (an event immortalized in the Bob Dylan song). It looked exactly like the news photographs taken at the time of Gallo's assassination, and the inside was exactly as described in Donald Goddard's biography "Joey" (one of the better Mafia biographies). I was more captivated by the restaurant than I was by my date, but I wasn't unduly bothered by the quashed romance; I had discovered a whole other engrossing, effervescent world. You could sit at a table in the same location where Gallo ate his last meal, you could still see the bullet holes in the wall, you could follow the path he took through the restaurant as gunmen shot at him, staggering out onto Hester Street, collapsing bullet-ridden to the asphalt like the mythic folk hero he probably imagined himself to be (that Gallo was a fascinating personality is undeniable, but he never really progressed in terms of underworld importance beyond being a flamboyant, murderous thug who self-destructed dramatically). Once I got over the novelty of eating where Gallo ate, I really enjoyed Umberto's, and began coming in regularly. It wasn't cheap, but I'd always start with a fish salad (calamari, scungilli, shrimp, etc., on hard bread, with oil), and proceed to the linguine with "medium" sauce. One of my friends, a "tough guy" who once participated in a bank robbery, tried it with the "hot sauce" one time (I had read that the hot sauce was only for "dragons and other fire-breathers"), and his face turned a mottled purple as he struggled to maintain his masculine dignity. Simple fare, not cheap...but it still lives on in my memory. What I wouldn't give to sit down and dine there again! Across the street was Luna's. My father, who worked on Church St., used to eat there regularly and recommended it. (For Gallo buffs, the restaurant served as his "headquarters" before his arrest in 1962.) It was a dark, age-old place that served the best veal parmigiana that I've ever had in my life. I actually gave up veal when I read how it was prepared, and how the animals were treated, but I made an "exception" whenever I dined at Luna's. My oldest friend had his pre-wedding dinner there, and we gorged ourselves on Italian food until we could barely walk out of the restaurant. Sadly, Luna's is long gone. Last stop was Ferrara's, on Grand St. There was a bakery in one portion, and a place where you could sit down to eat sinfully rich dessert in the other. Sometimes, if we were flush, we would sit down and finish up our gluttony by downing gelato and pastries, washed down with thick coffee. Usually, I'd also stop in the bakery portion to get some cannoli's for my parents back in Jersey. Once in 1984, the female employees were beaming; Tony Danza was next door. I didn't watch "Taxi," and Danza had just been acquitted for assault, so I wasn't anxious to meet him, but the ladies kept saying, "Go next door! Meet Tony!" So I did. He was surrounded by some beautiful ladies, but when I went nervously to shake his hand, he was very friendly and gracious, which really raised my estimation of him. A very nice, easy-going guy. The street itself, Mulberry Street, was a tourist trap, but a tourist trap with a history; many gaudy shops selling T-shirts, signs, trinkets, flags, Jimmy Roselli and Louis Prima records, etc. Touts would stand in the street, trying to entice passer-by into their restaurants or bistros. Up the street was the notorious Ravenite Club. Once, I joked to a friend, "Hey, let's go in there and say 'I'm Big Eddie and this is Goldie and we're taking over the operation; we want a percentage of everything you're making with drugs, gambling, loansharking...'" "Yeah," my friend replied, "and after they're done laughing, who do they shoot first, you or me?" Another time, with another friend, we were walking by the club, and Frankie LoCascio, who was in the news often at that point with John Gotti, was sitting in a chair outside. I recognized him immediately, and I guess my eyes widened. He cringed--- I guess he expected me to approach him like some gawking tourist, but I wasn't about to ask for his autograph. At the end of the block, I asked my friend, "Did you recognize...?" He answered, "Yeah, it was him." Not the same place anymore, sadly. I attended San Gennaro a few years ago, but I might as well have been at Disneyland. A friend occasionally eats at Vincent's, but it ain't Luna's. The memories, though, live on. Good times. read more

4 stars, i call like i see em. look, I like it, I really do, but when I think of a successful little Italy, I like how Boston or providence pull it off, tons of bakeries, tons of restaurants, good value. I feel like this is set up as a tourist trap, and I know its so historic, that's not the case for all of it, but when you enter, there is a few things i noticed, like the tshirt sellers and the tourist trinkets, no worries, its nyc, expected to see this, but also, the shops and restaurants are set up for tourists (mostly) and it feels like it too. idk, you should check it out for yourself and yelp it! prego read more

Beautiful little "city" with lots of authentic Italian spots that are owned by people of the culture. read more

Little Italy - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

Although only a sliver of Little Italy remains as a tourist destination, it does retain some of its original character - especially during feasts and holidays when the neighborhood comes to life. Very few of the restaurants are staffed by Italians anymore and Chinese stores and hipsters are taking over locations that used to be Italian. The bakeries and markets remain vibrant while the restaurants are overall mediocre and expensive. read more

Little Italy - It's festival time. Little Italy was more packed than the #4 train at rush hour! - Local Flavor Near Me - New York, New York

Little Italy is next door to Chinatown, Manhattan, NYC. Little Italy has been receding over the years, but it is still a cool place to see Italian American culture and food. Some of the best place to get Italian American dishes like Chicken Parmigiana or veal parmigiana. read more

This street is amazing with its vibrant nightlife and incredible food options everywhere. It's always buzzing with energy!

Little Italy, NYC began around in the 1880s, and the area once stretched from Canal to Houston Streets, between Lafayette Street and the Bowery. Nowadays the strong Italian presence shrunk down to the blocks surrounding Mulberry Street and you can still experience the Italian pride during the annual Feast of San Gennaro. You can't beat the authentic pasta dishes served by the some of best Italian restaurants and bakeries. read more

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A MUST DO! 4 Stars. New York's Little Italy is just a sliver of what it used to be; but it's still a very Cool part of New York. Sadly it's basically one street now Mullberry St. & a few shops & restaurants on the corners of some of the intersecting side streets. There are a bunch of restaurants, bakeries, dessert shops, coffee shops, gelato shops, & souvenir stores. It's a FUN Place to walk around & EAT! One of the most famous restaurants is Ferrara that is over 100 years old - 125 years to be exact. They have numerous Italian feasts down here including their Biggest which has become a New York institution - The San Genero Feast. I hope they can stop the dwindling of the establishments down here & somehow figure out a way to return Little Italy to its former Glory Days. There is a huge appetite of Americans who are FOODIES now & want to experience the authentic real cultural pockets of different nationalities. These FOODIES want to consume their cuisine & their culture. There is a definite need for this place to survive & thrive. I hope that Little Italy in New York can see a resurgence as it has done so in Boston, San Francisco & San Diego. Los Angeles Little Italy has just about disappeared in Downtown LA but there are plans in the works to bring Little Italy back to a whole new area of LA in San Pedro which is on the water in the next few years which is Great News. I hope New York is next. It used to be, you had to have mega bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget! world read more

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Great food, great drinks and Brum is an amazing waiter, just follow his recommendations.