ManhattanWalks

New York City Walking Tours
ManhattanWalks Visits Chinatown
and Little Italy

Chinatown and Little Italy, two historic and celebrated immigrant neighborhoods, are a must see for any visitor to New York City. Many New Yorkers familiar with these areas enjoy the authentic cuisine in the area's many restaurants, purchase fresh herbs and cheeses, and shop for hard-to-find traditional groceries.

Chinese immigrants first arrived in New York City in the 1880's. Most were Cantonese railroad workers from San Francisco who sought to escape the discrimination they encountered on the west coast. Chinatown started in a storefront and a support network began. The neighborhood flourished and grew into the largest Asian community in the United States. Today, residents represent many regions of China and most of the countries in Southeast Asia. The area continues to thrive with its unique culture and lifestyle.

Once the sight of the notorious Five Points District, the winding, crowded and often hectic streets today are full of windows displaying hanging roast ducks and other exotic delicacies. Pass by open bins of colorful candies, trinkets, tea shops, and mah jong parlors, alongside herbalists, fish mongers and Asian newsstands. Printing factories in New York's Chinatown create the menus for almost all the Chinese restaurants in the United States. Over 300 restaurants are crammed into Chinatown, many with excellent food! (Ask Marty for his personal recommendations!)

After your Manhattanwalks Chinatown walking tour, you can visit the Museum of Chinese in the Americas and enjoy bargain hunting throughout Chinatown and Canal Street.

Walking on narrow Mulberry Street in Little Italy, you'll be enticed by the sights, sounds and smells of the family owned restaurants, small grocery stores and pastry shops. Once the heart of a flourishing Italian population and site of the original St. Patrick's Cathedral, Little Italy has decreased in size as Chinatown has grown. Originally a 24 block area, Little Italy is now one street which runs for 6 blocks. Mulberry Street extends from Canal Street to Spring Street, bordering the trendy Soho area.

The family owned restaurants serve classic dishes and the bakeries produce dozens of mouth-watering Italian pastries daily. Enjoy your Manhattanwalks tour while savoring a cannoli and a cup of cappucino.

And, if you are fortunate enough to be in New York in September, make sure to visit the San Gennaro Festival. This bustling event draws tourists, locals and crowds of visitors from across the tri-state area.

Schedule your
New York City
Walking Tour Today.
Call 917- 657-7881

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