Little Italy

Overview

Little Italy is a tiny, historically Italian-American enclave along Mulberry Street, now largely reduced to a few blocks of restaurants and cafes between Chinatown and NoLita.

Highlights

• Mulberry Street: The atmospheric main street lined with outdoor dining terraces, Italian flag bunting, and classic red-sauce restaurants.
• Feast of San Gennaro: An 11-day street festival each September with food stalls, a cannoli-eating contest, parades, and live music drawing over 1 million visitors.
• Italian Heritage: A few anchor institutions remain, including the Italian American Museum and historic Ferrara Bakery (since 1892).

History

Once a vast neighborhood housing hundreds of thousands of Italian immigrants, Little Italy has been shrinking since the 1950s as families moved to the suburbs and Chinatown expanded. Only a small stretch of Mulberry Street between Canal and Broome retains its Italian character.

Visitor Tips

• Cannoli: Ferrara Bakery (1892) is the essential stop for cannoli and espresso.
• San Gennaro Festival: If visiting in mid-September, the feast is a wild, uniquely New York experience.
• Duration: 30–60 minutes.