Often the neighborhoods Nolita and Little Italy are considered together, after all, both merge into each other. But Nolita has its very own charm, combining the dolce vita of Little Italy with the elegance of Soho and the diversity of the Lower East Side.
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- The Best Things to Do in Downtown Manhattan
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Nolita stands for North of Little Italy, which describes its location wonderfully. Everything worth seeing and many insider tips of Nolita NYC we reveal to you here!
By the way: you’ll find many more New York City spots in our Loving New York travel guides!
Table of Contents
My TOP 5 in Nolita
- Lombardi’s: the first pizzeria in the United States (32 Spring St)
- Do the Catacombs by Candlelight Tour in the one and only basilica in NYC: Basilica of St. Patricks Old Cathedral(263 Mulberry St.)
- Visit the International Center of Photography (79 Essex St)
- Walk along Spring Street
- Have a drink in Mother’s Ruin(18 Spring St)
Where is Nolita located?
Nolita is in the Center of Downtown Manhattan and famous neighborhoods like Soho, Little Italy, Chinatown, the Lower East Side and the East Village are within walking distance. More specifically, Nolita is bordered by Broome Street (south) and East Houston Street (north) and Lafayette Street to the west and Bowery to the east.
How to Get to Nolita in NYC
- Metro: Hop on line 1and ride all the way to Rector Street or take the lines 45to Wall Street. The Subway Station “Fulton Station” is in the center of the Financial District – you can get there via 2345 J Z
- Hop on Hop Off Bus: Stop 7 and 8 of the downtown loop of BIG BUS or stop 8 and 9 of the downtown loop of Gray Line Sightseeing. Here you find more about Hop on Hop off in NYC.
My tip: the tickets for the buses are included in many of the New York City passes – which one is the best for you, you can see in my Pass Comparison for New York!
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The 11 Best Things to Do in Nolita NYC
There a so many things to do in this part of Lower Manhattan! These are our favorite things to see, eat and things to do:
01
New York Catacombs by Candlelight
Walking Tour inNolita
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You will be surprised how beautiful Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Nolita is from the inside – and that it hides some secrets. The best way to find out what they are is to take a tour that takes you to different parts of the church, including the catacombs. It is one of the absolute insider tours in New York.
02
International Center of Photography Museum
Museum inNolita
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The International Center of Photography cultivates the image of a still-young art genre with exhibitions of well-known photographers and the presentation of the flourishing, talented new generation. In addition to changing exhibitions, the museum’s collection of more than 100,000 photographs is impressive. The attached bookstore offers a well-stocked selection of excellent photography books.
03
Mother's Ruin: Spend your evening at this low-key bar that locals love!
Bar inNolita
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At Mother’s Ruin we drank one of the best Gin Tonics EVER when we walked the whole of Spring Street from start to finish last time. Clean, sparkling and fresh and that’s totally relaxed atmosphere. Be sure to go there!
04
Lombardi's: Eat a pizza in the first pizzeria of the United States
Italian Restaurant inNolita
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Lombardi’s is a pizza restaurant in Nolita and prides itself in being the first pizzeria in the United States. Here you can eat really well and enjoy a welcoming Italian atmosphere. Also make sure to try the Meatballs!
Recommended: The Best Pizza in NYC!
05
Start your Day at The Butchers Daughter
Café inNolita
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The Butcher’s Daughter is definitely a hippster spot, whose atmosphere might not appeal to everyone. It’s loud, it’s cramped and always full. New Yorkers love the café, which you can see from the often long queues. The atmosphere and the menu are convincing – by the way, the ingredients of the dishes are from local farms and 100% organic.
06
Shopping in Nolita
Other Shopping inNolita
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In Nolita you can go shopping in one of the many small boutiques. We especially like the area around Elizabeth Street between E Houston and Prince Streets.
07
Rooftop Bar cloudM
Rooftop Bar inLower East Side
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For me, the cloudM Rooftop Bar is one of the most beautiful rooftop bars not only in the Lower East Side, but in all of New York and in walking distance from Nolita. It is located on the roof of the citizenM New York Bowery Hotel and offers everything that makes a good rooftop bar: a great view, beautiful design and relaxed atmosphere.
Recommended: The Best Rooftop Bars in NYC!
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08
Learn more about the surrounding neighborhoods with this walking tour
Walking Tour inHudson Square
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Now known for their many excellent restaurants, shops and tourism, Manhattan’s SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown neighborhoods offer the most varied stories of New York City. Take a 2-hour tour with a local guide and discover hidden gems and 19th century buildings.
09
Fools Gold NYC: Head over to the Lower East Side to our favorite bar in this area
Bar inLower East Side
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One of the best bars in New York, also known for good burgers. The bar is an absolute MUST-SEE! The burgers are really sensational and they offer really good local beers.
10
Be part of the Chinese New York Parade (seasonal)
Parade inChinatown
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Usually, locals and tourists alike will (obviously) flock to New York City’s Chinatown to celebrate the Lunar New Year. A huge Chinese New Year Parade takes place there every