5 great outdoor dining spots in Little Italy

What’s the deal with Little Italy?
Little Italy fills every tourist's must-see list—its romantic, old New York atmosphere is world famous and its authentic pasta dishes, served by the best Italian restaurants, can't be beat. The once-Italian enclave stretched from Canal to Houston Streets, between Lafayette Street and the Bowery, as immigrants from Naples and Sicily flooded the area in the 1880s. Now, it's mostly on the blocks surrounding Mulberry Street, where some of the trendiest clothing stores and the best bars in NYC are located, but what's left is still going strong. 

If you only do one thing

Eat. Pull up a chair at one of the neighborhood's oldest restaurants (Lombardi's or Angelo's of Mulberry Street) to experience Little Italy in the best way—through its food. And finish off a hearty meal with a cannoli from Caffé Palermo.

Go off the beaten track

Don't just eat Italian food and think you're done. Check out the Little Italy Street Art Project to see some impressive murals by a group of diverse artists. The initiative offers tours or you can go solo. 

On a sunny day
Take a historical walking tour to learn more about the neighborhood's history, its immigrant roots and how much of those roots still exist today. GPSMYCITY has a self-guided tour you can take right now.

On a rainy day

Shop its specialty stores (Di Palo's Fine Foods, Ferrara, and Alleva Dairy)

Get cultured

Check out the Italian American Museum's small permanent collection devoted to the history of Italian Americans.

Chill out

Grab a glass of wine at La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, which has an approachable list of vin that’s complemented by chef Eric Bolyard’s “fringe France” cooking. Otherwise, head over to The Randolph at Broome, a 1,500-square-foot dive that serves classic cocktails (think rickeys and fizzes) and frozen boozy slushies.

Nearest subway stations
Canal Street

What else is nearby? 

Soho, a shopping enclave full of high-end boutiques and buzzworthy pop-up shops, as well as a sea of street vendors touting designer knockoffs in the form of sunglasses, handbags and scarves. Though many of the art galleries that made Soho New York a contemporary-art hot spot are gone, some excellent art spaces remain. Walk along the cobblestone streets and find great New York restaurants, bars and things to do in this downtown neighborhood.

Fun fact: New York City has the highest population of Italian-Americans in the United States, so it shouldn’t shock anyone that the city’s best Italian restaurants are among the best in the city. Whether you’re craving world-class New York pizza, want to take a pasta-loving date to one of the city's most romantic restaurants or are looking for a modern upgrade to a Little Italy mainstay, these are the best Italian restaurants NYC has to offer.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

Nolita offers several standout boutiques, and many of them are our personal favorites. Among the best shops in the neighborhood, you’ll find stellar jewelry and shoe stores, which master the art of accessorizing. And in Little Italy, don’t pass up the chance to seek out the few remaining Italian food stores for fresh mozzarella and other delicacies once the shopping fatigue sets in.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Little Italy and Nolita

Drop below Houston to escape into one of Manhattan's most enchanted nabes. Meet friends for a cocktail, indulge yourself at one of the city's best Italian restaurants, and then head to one of these great events in Nolita and Little Italy. And don't miss September's two-week blowout for all things Italian during the Feast of San Gennaro.

RECOMMENDED: See the full guide to Nolita and Little Italy, New York