New York City Neighborhood Guide: NOLITA

NoLita is a neighborhood in Manhattan, New York.  NoLita is derived from North of Little Italy.  On my last trip to NYC, I noticed a lot of trendy boutiques and restaurants in this area.  In this blog I will list a few places to check out on your next visit to NoLita.

One of the most famous restaurants I found in this neighborhood is Lombardi’s.  Genaro Lombardi is credited with developing New York Style Pizza and establishing the first pizzeria in the United States in 1905.  Located at 35 Spring Street, Lombardi’s pizza is authentic Neapolitan style and cooked in a coal oven.  We ordered the original Margherita.  The flavors were simple and delicious.  The sauce is fresh, the cheese not too salty and the crust was crispy….just the way I like it.  One pie was enough for the two of us to share.  One tip that is important is to BRING CASH.  They do not accept credit cards or debit cards.

After our lunch at Lombardi’s, we went shopping.  NoLita has a wide range of designer stores and cool, locally owned boutiques.  If you have a teen like I do, then you’ve heard of The Supreme brand.  Supreme is a brand that caters to skateboarding, hip hop, and youth culture.  The store that I visited is located at 190 Bowery Street.  It does not matter what day you go, there will always be a line to get in.  Our wait wasn’t that bad.  We went on a Saturday around 2:00pm and waited for 30 minutes.  Once inside, I was surprised by the way the store is designed.  There are clothing racks on both sides od the store.  You grab what you want to purchase, and a member of the Supreme team will ask you for a size and give you a fresh product.  They don’t have a huge inventory, but that’s by design.  I grabbed a shirt for my son and a few stickers.  Shopping at Supreme is definitely an experience, especially if you have a teenager.

On our way back to the hotel, between NoLita and Little Italy, we found the most colorful wall murals.  One of my favorite murals is the Audrey Hepburn by Tristan Eaton.  He has a few murals in the area.  The Audrey is located at 176 Mulberry Street on the side of Café Roma.  The bold and bright colors painted with the white background made me stop and admire her.

The NoLita neighborhood in New York City is the most attractive neighborhoods to explore.  NoLita features cobblestone streets, trendy boutiques historic restaurants and so much more.  Have you visited NoLita?  Let me know what your favorite places to visit in the comments below.