Downtown's "Neapolitan village"...

To Eat/Drink:

Nolita is to modern American cuisine what Little Italy is to old world comfort food. Part Soviet throwback with lamps resembling Russian streetlights, part French bistro with red banquettes, Pravda on Lafayette has relinquished its title as trendiest bar in town for neighborhood favorite. Balaboosta, a “Mediterranean meets Middle East” restaurant on Mulberry takes its name from the Yiddish term meaning “perfect housewife” and is duly noted for its tender meats and toasty slabs of bruschetta. With signature dishes such as Oyster Rockefeller, a fresh Raw Bar and the industrial brasserie milieu, Ken & Cook on Kenmare Street perfectly captures Nolita’s proletariat roots with patrician fare. For a savory cheesecake, a cappuccino or aperitif, Café Gitane on Mott is the perfect way to wrap a full day.

History:

Nolita, a portmanteau of the phrase “North of Little Italy”, could easily be mistaken this neighborhood for SoHo, were it not for its distinct Italian flavor that remains. Bounded by Houston to the north and Lafayette Street to the West, movie-buffs will certainly recognize the rooftops of Elizabeth Street between Prince and Houston, near St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, from the movie Godfather II. Many other historical landmarks remain, including St. Michael's Russian Catholic Church, the last Russian Catholic church in New York City and one of only four remaining such sanctuaries in the United States, and the Chancery Office Building. St. Patrick's Old Cathedral served as the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York until the current St. Patrick’s opened on Fifth Avenue in 1879.

From the 6 train on Broadway and Lafayette, all the sites of Little Italy are within a 10-minute walk. 

To Do:

The design store The Red Threads showcases some of the finest linens and contemporary furniture – all of it crafted in the company’s New York and Pennsylvania workshops. Seamstress-turned-jewelry-designer. Resurrection on Mott, is one of the world’s premiere venues for collectible clothing from the likes of Marc Jacobs, Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier. Stop by dozens of street artisans on the way to McNally Jackson, the popular independent bookstore that boasts plenty of author readings .

Little Italy:

Walking up Mulberry Street proves an exercise in self-restraint as maître-d’s approach from every angle, inviting passers-by for old-school dining experiences. Although it has only been open 25 years, La Mela Ristorante is known by locals and celebrities alike for its generous family-style dining and its a la carte antipasti. Down the street, Casa Bella, a Little Italy staple since 1979, has a variety of Pre-Fixe options designed for larger parties, or a daily menu that boasts pasta made in-house and fish, meat and vegetables purchased from the markets daily. A newer option, Il Picolo Bufalo, features no fewer than 12 brick-oven pizzas, including a Seafood and a Stagioni that provides the daily requirement of the four food groups.

Avoiding the touristy shops along the way to the Italian American Museum, housed in the historic Banca Stabile – a onetime financial services center, notary public, import-expert hub and post office for newly arrived Italians – stop by Piemonte Ravioli to stock up on every kind of homemade pasta imaginable and Ferrara Café, which has sold its famous cannoli and gelato since 1892. For some intense cultural immersion, visit Little Italy in September during the Feast of San Gennaro, when religious processions, colorful parades, music and even a world-famous cannoli-eating competition take over the neighborhood’s ever-bustling streets.