About Little Italy
Quick Facts
Current Prices: $949,900 to $23,500,000
Closed Prices: $525,000 to $17,290,000
Median Sale Price: $2,950,000
Average $ per sq ft: $2331
Association Fee Ranges:
Around Little Italy
Little Italy is home to a number of newly renovated, high-rise buildings, making it a desirable location for those looking to live within downtown Manhattan. Most housing options are on Hester Street and Grant Street. There are plenty of walkup apartments with an old-fashioned charm and a few townhomes line the busy streets. The neighborhood has become increasingly popular because of its charm, proximity to Soho, and sense of community.
The obvious choice is not to be discredited when it comes to Little Italy. Puglia Restaurant and Casa Bocado are ideal if you’re picturing red sauce and more kinds of pasta than you can count. But a younger influx has brought with it diversification of offerings, like the city-wide favorite, Seamore’s for seafood, or the Australian standby Two Hands, famous for its breakfast offerings. The concentration of offerings makes a strong argument for walking along Mulberry Street and seeing what’s open.
The bright lights of Little Italy are actually a neighborhood-specific way of distinguishing storefronts. There is hardly a dull moment in Little Italy with the neighborhood coming to life early in the morning where you’ll see bakers hauling in flour and commuters leaving their buildings. Tourists start exploring the streets before lunch and stay long after dinner, which can make getting a table at a popular spot during primetime a little tricky on weekends.
If you’re lucky and it’s mid-September, Little Italy’s Feast of San Gennaro is the place to be. Food stalls selling everything from street corn to cookies line Mulberry Street. Live music from family bands wafts through the air. Start with checking out some parmesan from the oldest cheese shop in the US, Alleva Dairy, and end the night with a cannoli from Caffé Palermo. Expect to spend the time in between wading through other attendees and maybe even dancing.
Start your day with breakfast at Caffé Roma, a cash-only institution, and try their espresso and a delicious pastry. Make your way to the Hester Street Fair, where vendors from all over the city set up shop in a local park. Walk to neighboring Soho for a matinee at Angelika Film Center. Then it’s back to Little Italy for dinner at Nyonya, a Malaysian spot. Take a walk to the East River in the light of the sunset.
Only two trains serve Little Italy itself, the Z and the J trains, but lots of other options are located within walking distance. The Broadway Lafayette train station is a 10-minute walk away. The M9 bus is great for getting across town. Owning a car in the neighborhood is complicated due to alternate side parking, but more realistic than some areas in Manhattan.
Locals Love
- Heritage and history of the neighborhood
- Proximity to Soho
- Plenty of dining options
Locals Don't Love
- Lack of reliable public transportation
- Limited greenspaces
- Crowds and tourists
Neighborhood Reviews
0 Reviewsbuyers and sellers in this neighborhood.