There is a substantial difference in the two neighborhoods, and not only because in one they eat pasta and pizza and in the other dumplings and wonton soups ... Little Italy is tiny, Chinatown is quite big. But there is something that makes them unique: you have to see them yes or yes. Write down our advice and don't miss anything about Little Italy and Chinatown, two of the most interesting neighborhoods in Manhattan:
| LITTLE ITALY |
Things as they are: Little Italy is very little Italy. The real "Italian neighborhood" is in the Bronx, where you can visit a more authentic Little Italy. But hey, I'm Italian, I really liked this Italian-American version of my land ... these are the things we advise you to do:
Stroll along Mulberry Street
The heart of Little Italy is this, in this street full of Italian restaurants, smell of pizza and the odd store where to spend money. The most curious is the Christmas shop XD. If you want to continue walking we recommend you continue on Grand Street!
Eat
Italy is the homeland of good cuisine and you can not miss the opportunity to take a bite to the occasional delight. If you fancy sweet you can try the cannolis from Ferrara Bakery & Café, if you prefer a pizza, the ideal is to try the Lombardi's, the first pizzeria in New York (and the USA!), opened in 1905. The white and red checkered tablecloth is not missing ... Here, the small margherita costs about $ 18. If you prefer to eat cheaper pizza (and good, that one thing does not take away the other) look at the post we wrote about where to eat cheap in New York.
Take a picture at the Audrey Mural
It was something that made me especially excited! I had seen this mural over and over again but I didn't know exactly where it was ... so when I saw it, I didn't think twice. Caffé Roma which also seemed like a nice place to have breakfast with diamonds and have a coffee.
Live the festival of San Gennaro
This, by dates, we could not do, but it must be one of the funniest celebrations in New York (we Italians know how to make jiji parties). So if you walk around the city to mid september Come to Little Italy, parades, the procession of San Gennaro and many rich food stalls await you (although if my grandmother saw some of the delicacies here, I would not be very happy. Especially the fried ears, those I suppose I could not nor see XD).
| CHINATOWN |
You are in Little Italy, you go around the corner and suddenly you are surprised by a duck hanging in a shop window, a spice market, incomprehensible letters, smell of coriander, pork, flowers, pepper, bubble tea and live neighborhood. Nihao,You're in Chinatown and woooow, it's really cool. What are we going to tell you, that we are all asia-lovers! Here are some things you should do and know:
Walk the neighborhood and eat
Here, apart from getting lost in the streets, the markets, the small squares and the bazaars, you must absolutely enter a shabby restaurant and eat (at least) some dumplings. They cost very little and are delicious! Good options are: Vanessa Dumplings Y Shu Jiao Fu Zhou Cuisine.
If you do not know where to start touring the neighborhood you can go on Canal Street, Grand Street, Mott Street, Mulberry and Bayard Street and do not miss the atmosphere (with blows of card games and ladies) of Columbus Park, full of grandmothers with Torn eyes More nice than the J copon
Celebrate the Chinese New Year
If San Gennaro is the king of the Italian party, the Chinese New Year is the partying response of the Asians ... and it is worth it! The dates vary according to the lunar calendar, but are usually celebrated in February. Wait for dragons, lucky cookies, dances, parades and lots of food!
Hey, not only Chinese
It is called Chinatown since the Chinese were the first Asians to arrive in New York, but in this curious neighborhood you will find Vietnamese, Thai, Taiwanese and Malaysian ... come on, there is a fun mix, although the Chinese are still a majority.
Curiosity: when they arrived in New York, the first Chinese began to live in the same place to be able to maintain their culture (a bit like all the other ethnic neighborhoods of the city). Little by little they grew, so much that they began to eat the Italians ... I mean, it's not that Yan ate Mario, we mean that the neighborhood began to spread, absorbing parts of Little Italy. The reason? The Italians who lived in Little Italy sold their homes and businesses for a good sum of money to Chinese businessmen and moved to the Bronx and Brooklyn!
Little Italy and Chinatown They are two of the most interesting neighborhoods in New York, so you can't miss them on your visit to the Big Apple!
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