Little Italy, Little Britain and more: Exploring New York's cultural neighborhoods
People wander between rows of outdoor bars and food vendors on Mulberry Street during the annual Feast of San Gennaro celebration in New York's Little Italy neighborhood. Credit: AP/Kathy Willens
New York is a metropolis of nearly 9 million people where more than 800 languages are spoken. That diversity is part of the magic that makes New York, New York. For all the city's enormity, it is very much defined by neighborhoods, with pockets of international fare throughout the five boroughs. You're just a car, train or subway ride away from another world.
Here are four favorite cultural hubs to explore.
Little Britain, Manhattan
WHERE TO GO: Between 12th and 13th streets and Washington Street to Sixth Avenue and 14th to Perry streets
Plates featuring the portrait of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and her husband, Prince William, on display in the British restaurant and grocery Tea & Sympathy. Credit: Getty Images/Spencer Platt
Fancy a "spot of tea?" Make your way to Tea & Sympathy (108 Greenwich Ave., 212-989-9735, teaandsympathy.com) for afternoon tea. Enjoy tiered finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and Prosecco if you please. For dinner fill up on British favorites like lamb shepherd’s pie; steak and Guinness pie; and bangers and mash, washed down with Boddington or Newcastle beer. You can shop right next door at Carry On Tea & Sympathy, run by the same folks who own the restaurant. Stock up on teas, biscuits, crisps, china and teaware.
The High Line Hotel (180 10th Ave., 212-929-3888, thehighlinehotel.com) pays homage to England with its English Collegiate Gothic architecture and European styling. You might not feel like you’re in Manhattan. Inside, step back in time with reproduced 19th century English wallpaper and antiques. Then there’s Daisy the vintage London double-decker bus that sits in the front garden, where you can have a cocktail and light bites.
Myers of Keswick offers a wide array of British delights, from groceries to baked goods. Credit: Getty Images/Drew Angerer
If you’re craving traditional British goodies you don’t have to book a flight. Myers of Keswick (634 Hudson St., 212-691-4194, myersofkeswick.com), is a one-stop shop, whether you’re looking for British groceries, baked goods, Peter’s pork pie, jams, sausage rolls, meat pies, British teas, as well as British mugs, teapots and tea towels.
What’s a British hub without a Beatle? In the early '70s, John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived for a couple years in the white building at 105 Bank St. (between Greenwich and Washington streets).
Established in 1880, The White Horse Tavern is renowned as the second oldest bar in New York City. Credit: Getty Images/Stephanie Keith
With a name like The Churchill Tavern (45 E. 28th St., 646-922-7744, thechurchillny.com), you know you’re in for an across-the-pond vibe. Expect British fare like a Scotch egg with Branston pickle, beef and English ale pie, lamb lollipops with mint sauce and a traditional Sunday roast. The White Horse Tavern, (567 Hudson St., 212-989-3956, whitehorsetavern1880.com) around since 1880, is New York City’s second oldest bar. The name White Horse is a classic traditional British pub name derived from historical horse symbols used across England and Scotland.
Little Italy, Manhattan
WHERE TO GO: Primarily on Mulberry Street, bordered by Canal Street to the south, the Bowery to the east, and Broome Street to the north in lower Manhattan
In the late 19th century, immigrants from Southern Italy flocked to the area. Mulberry Street with its tenements and pushcarts was the center of life for Italians. The past is ever present as former tenement buildings with their fire escapes dot the landscape. Mulberry still buzzes and always feels festive, with colorful awnings, lights and banners. It’s Italian everything — restaurants, cafes and shops.
Experience the charm of Little Italy in Manhattan, with its rich history, Italian cuisine and annual Feast of San Gennaro honoring Italian heritage. Credit: AP/Bebeto Matthews
The biggest party, though, is the annual Feast of San Gennaro (Sept. 17-27). which started in 1926 and honors Saint Januarius, the patron saint of Naples. It’s 11 days of food (how much gelato, sausage and peppers, and zeppole can you handle?), music and fun.
Soak up culture and history at the Italian American Museum (151 Mulberry St., 212-965-9000, italianamericanmuseum.org). The museum’s exhibits and collections tell the story of the Italian American experience of early immigrants. The museum also hosts lectures, cultural programs and special events ($15 adults, $10 students and 62 and older, free for children).
A photo of owner John Brescio at Lombardi's Pizza. Credit: Getty Images/Arturo Holmes
Bring your appetite. You can literally eat your way through Little Italy, whether you want classic, traditional Italian food or new variations on those traditions. You won’t find ordinary pizza at places like Lombardi’s Pizza, (32 Spring St., 212-941-7994, firstpizza.com) established in 1905 and believed to be the first pizzeria in America. Its coal-fired pizza, nonna’s meatballs, calzones and pasta dishes won’t disappoint. Expect to give in to temptation with all the bakeries. Cannoli is a must. If you want to take home Italian goodies, pop in to DiPalo’s Fine Foods (200 Grand St., 212-226-1033) founded in 1925 with its Italian imports including cheeses, cured meats and olive oil.
Little Egypt, Astoria
WHERE TO GO: Steinway Street between Astoria Boulevard and 28th Avenue
As you stroll down Steinway Street between Astoria Boulevard and 28th Avenue,, you can't help but notice all the store banners, street signs, advertisements and menus in Arabic along with English. This stretch of Middle Eastern culture includes Egyptian and North African shops, cafes, restaurants, coffee shops, halal butchers, hookah lounges and mosques.
There’s something to be said about being first. More than 20 years ago, chef Ali Elsayed who is from Alexandria, was the first North African business owner in Little Egypt. His Kabab Cafe (25-12 Steinway St., 718-728-9858, kababcafenyc.com) is beloved for the dishes passed down from his family, like the lamb shank, kebabs and Egyptian shakshuka, influenced by his mother. Kabab made the list of Anthony Bourdain’s 25 favorite New York City spots.
Where there’s smoke, there’s hookah. Shisha (hookah) has been a part of Egyptian culture since the 16th century. Experience it at Hayati Lounge, (25-47 Steinway St.) a hookah and dessert lounge, with mocktails, smoothies and teas. Sands of Persia (25-01 Steinway St., 718-400-0767, sandsofpersianyc.com) is an upscale restaurant and spot for hookah, cocktails, mocktails, shakes, as well as halal chicken wings, Persian masala chicken sandwiches and Persian hummus.
Keep it simple, have it your way. At Abuqir, (24-19 Steinway St., 718-274-3474, abuqirny.com) you walk in, decide which seafood on display looks like a must-have and have it cooked — fried, baked or grilled. Calamari, scallops, tiger shrimp and branzino are popular as is the tajin, a stew with calamari and shrimp in a red sauce. Another place for Egyptian-style seafood is Sabry's Seafood, (24-25 Steinway St., 718-721-9010, sabrys-seafood.com). Feast on tajin with scallops or munch on grilled octopus, seafood soup, baba ghanoush and sweets like kunafa and baklava.
For Arab and Middle Eastern merchandise, Nile Deli (25-12 Steinway St., 718-278-6030, niledeli.com) has a variety of items, from a Turkish-style electric lamp and bakhoor burner to coffee, spices, tea, incense, perfume, Arabic alphabet puzzles and prayer rugs.
Little Odessa, Brooklyn
WHERE TO GO: lThe Brighton Beach neighborhood, between Coney Island and Manhattan Beach
More than half of the neighborhood is made up of people born outside the United States, primarily from Russia and Ukraine. Back in the 1970s and '80s many people from Russia and Ukraine moved into the area, and the neighborhood got its moniker, Little Odessa, after the port city in Ukraine. It’s busy, with shops, restaurants, nightclubs and a boardwalk.
There’s plenty to do and see. Oceana Theater (1029 Brighton Beach Ave., 646-200-1555, oceanatheater.com) features touring Russian pop acts, Russian theater, comedy troupes and concerts.
A woman feeds them bread crumbs to the seagulls on the Brighton Beach boardwalk. Credit: AP/Mark Lennihan
Whether you’re a bookworm or not, you’ll want to pop in St. Petersburg Bookstore (221 Brighton Beach Ave., 718-891-6778, ruskniga.com). You’ll find imported Russian toys, games and handcrafts, along with cookware, porcelain tea sets, shawls, scarves, imperial eggs and figurines. Do more shopping at Kalinka Gifts (524 Brighton Beach Ave., 718-743-4546), where you can get all sorts of Russian trinkets and figurines. Head to Gold Label (281 Brighton Beach Ave., 718-743-3900, goldlabelnyc.com) for cheeses, Russian beer, caviar, flatbread, pickled cabbage, piroshki, smoked fish, Russian sweets — just about any Russian delight.
Enjoy views of the Atlantic from the Riegelmann Boardwalk. It’s nearly 3 miles long and a good place to get your steps in. If you want to experience the water, the shores of Brighton Beach (601 Riegelmann Boardwalk, nycgovparks.org) await you.
Your big decision will be where to eat, and there are lots of great options. One of them is Tatiana Restaurant (3152 Brighton 6th St., 718-891-5151, tatianarestaurantnyc.com).
Not only can you get crispy fried lobster tails, caviar service, surf and turf, there's live entertainment, including singers, dancers, DJ and magic shows. Take a seat at the Ocean View Café (290 Brighton Beach Ave., 718-332-1900, oceanviewcafeny.com). You’ll be glad you did when you sample their lamb stew Georgian style, stewed cabbage with sausage or boiled beef with beans.
