Chinatown NYC is a small, but very densely packed area of shops and restaurants. It is really fun to walk around, enjoy the culture, pick up some souvenirs, and most definitely, eat some delicious and affordable Dim Sum, dumplings, pork buns and other amazing Chinese cuisines.
You can check out Pell Street – known as “Hair Alley,” which has the most affordable hair services in Manhattan. The Chinese/Lunar New Year, every January or February is a local favorite event and Chinatown NYC Hotels are some of the best bargains in NYC.
Chinatown NYC Things to Do
Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) – 215 Center St at Grand, $12 adult. MOCA Free First Thursdays: 11am – 9pm, Free gallery admission first Thursday of each month except on major holidays. Closed on Mondays. "MOCA has celebrated the living history of the Chinese experience in America by preserving and presenting the 200-year history, heritage, culture, and diverse experiences of American communities of Chinese descent."
Mahayana Buddhist Temple (133 Canal St) – a peaceful and beautiful house of worship (please dress and act respectfully), with the largest buddha in NYC and a small gift shop. The temple depicts the history of the Buddha with a lovely series of panels.
Our Bridges – NYC Insider Tip – there are three bridges that run along the southeast tip of Manhattan. Everyone knows the Brooklyn Bridge, but the other two are the Williamsburg Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. From South to North, you can remember them by "BMW" – Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg.
Chinese/Lunar New Year
New York City celebrates the Chinese New Year with a Firecracker Ceremony, Cultural Festival and a New Year Parade followed by another Festival. Kids and adults alike love seeing all the floats, costumes, eating the authentic food, getting their faces painted and much more. Check either the January or February Events Calendars for more details on this year’s Chinese New Year.
Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest Tour
Ahoy New York offers multiple food tours led by experts through Chinatown, Little Italy and Nolita. Some of their tours include: Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest, Taste Mulberry Street – A Culinary Journey and An Italian Feast in Little Italy. On the Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest tour one will taste delicious foods, while learning more about the culture and history of these unique New York City neighborhoods. You will taste ethnic foods, such as homemade fresh mozzarella and authentic Chinese dumplings, while seeing some of New York City’s hidden gems and historical landmarks.
All NYC Insider Guide visitors may use the code NYCIGAHNY to save 20% off two or more tickets.
Book your Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest tour here!
Chinatown, Little Italy & SoHo Tours
Ahoy New York Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest Tours
Ahoy New York Food Tours takes locals and visitors alike on a cultural walk of Chinatown and Little Italy. Taste delicious foods, while learning about the culture and history of these unique New York City neighborhoods. Eat ethnic foods, like homemade fresh mozzarella and authentic Chinese dumplings, while seeing some of New York City's hidden gems and historical landmarks.
- Compare Rates: Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tours
- NYC Insider Guide Discount: NYC Insider Guide visitors receive 20% off tours with our special discount code at Ahoy New York Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest Tours!
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Chinatown NYC Sightseeing Passes
To explore Chinatown using your passes, you’ll want to look for food & walking tours in the area.
NY Sightseeing Pass, New York Pass, NY Explorer Pass, CityPASS Compared
- Sightseeing Pass - Unlimited Hop on Hop off Buses, One World Observatory, Edge
- New York Pass - 80+ tours and attractions, Choose 1-10 Days
- Explorer or Go Select - Choose from 55+ sights or Build your Your
- New York CityPASS - 6 top attractions, good for 9 days from first use
See All: NYC Attractions Pass Comparison Chart
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Chinatown NYC Recommended Restaurants
Peking Duck House (22 Mott St, Mosco/Pell St) – one of the area’s “nicer” restaurants and the Peking Duck, of course, is great.
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (65 Bayard St) – exotic flavors such as zen butter, lychee and Chinese almond cookie.
Wo Hop (17 Mott St, Mosco & Chatham Sq) – old school Cantonese, cheap, a favorite of NYPD and FDNY, as well as anyone hungry at 4am (they close much earlier post-pandemic, but rumor has it they’ll go back to late nights). Wo Hop is a NYC institution. Cash Only. PS – you want to eat downstairs, trust me!
Dim Sum Go Go (5 E Broadway) – fresh, made-to-order Dim Sum
Golden Unicorn (18 E Broadway) – Dim Sum served cart-style
Nom Wah Tea Parlor (13 Doyers St) – classic, old-school for pastries (known for their mooncakes), steamed buns, dim sum and tea. Movies and TV shows filmed here include Reversal of Fortune, Premium Rush, All Good Things and Law and Order.
Joe’s Shanghai (46 Bowery) – legendary for their soup dumplings and dim sum, almost always a line out the door. Previously located on Pell Street and they also have a location in Flushing, Queens. ANY chinese restaurant that lasts in Flushing is pure gold – you have to be the BEST to make it there.
Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles Inc (1 Doyers St) – with at least 10 kinds of noodles, dumplings and seafood, pork and veggie soups, Tasty Noodles is affordable stuff-your-face comfort food at it’s best.
Pho Grand (277C Grand St), Vietnamese, Pho is noodle soup made with rice noodles and thinly sliced rare beef.
Fried Dumpling – 106 Mosco St, 5 Dumplings for $1.00
Coming Soon: Guide to Flushing, Queens (NYC’s better Chinatown).
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Chinatown NYC Neighborhood Guide Shopping
Check out the local markets, with ducks and pigs hanging in the windows, Chinese herbs, authentic teas, lucky bamboo, lots of knick-knacks.
Pearl River Mart – another beloved NYC institution and the world’s first Chinese American department store, which we hope will re-open in 2021. You can still shop online for kitchen wares, chopsticks, placemats, Buddha statuettessnacks and toys. In the meantime, check out the Pearl River Mart Foods outpost at Chelsea Market.
Ten Ren (75 Mott St) – one of our largest and most exotic tea selections
Pell Street – known as “Hair Alley,” dozens of hair salons and barber shops, cheapest in the City.
Note – fake designer goods not covered intentionally. They are illegal, believed to support terrorism and child labor, and most definitely not fashionable.
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Chinatown NYC Hotels
Chinatown is a such a small area, there are not many hotels. Here we list a few, but to stay near here, you’ll find a much better selection of hotels nearby on the Lower East Side, in SoHo and Tribeca.
Nine Orchard
Opened in 2022, Nine Orchard Hotel is housed in the former Jarmulowsky Bank, an old Beaux-Arts building with NYC Landmark Status. The 116 room high end boutique hotel offers studios to king suites with terraces, artwork from locals, Mattos’ new Corner Bar and more.
- Discount Rates: Nine Orchard Hotel
- 9 Orchard St, NY, NY 10002
Hotel 50 Bowery
50 Bowery, opened in 2017, is a 229-room boutique hotel with incredible views of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and the World Trade Center from many of their rooms, as well as for all guests from their 21st floor Rooftop, The Crown. Situated right in the heart of Chinatown, Little Italy and the Lower East Side, 50 Bowery puts you within 5-10 minutes of at least 400 restaurants (I’m underestimating) from every ethnicity and for every price range you can imagine. Within the hotel, you’ll find luxury linens, flat screen TVs, complimentary WiFi and most pets are welcomed!
- Discount Rates: 50 Bowery
- 50 Bowery, NY, NY 10013
Wyndham Garden Chinatown
The Wyndham Garden Chinatown is a bargain hunters dream hotel. The real allure are the rooms and suites with floor to ceiling windows with stunning views of the city. Enjoy the The Bowery Beer Garden (street level) and Rooftop 93 (18th Floor) with indoor/outdoor seating and sweeping skyline views. Be in the heart of everything, easily walk anywhere south of 14th St in NYC, spend your time around real New Yorkers and pay half of what the "Times Square" crowd does!
- Wyndham Garden Chinatown
- 93 Bowery
The Leon Hotel offers small, clean and basic rooms to NYC visitors. In particular, guests love the views of the Manhattan Bridge from the rooms and the services. Most guests consider The Leon a value for the price, but some had higher expectations – like the quality of the toiletries and bedding. If you need a place to sleep 6 hours a night in Manhattan, it’s a steal. If you expect more from a hotel costing less than $200/night, move on to a higher tier establishment.
- Leon Hotel
- 125 Canal St
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More Chinatown NYC Hotels
Tip: For hotels, just change the dates below. Do not hit search.
- Hotel Mulberry – 52 Mulberry Street, NY, NY 10013
- Hotel Mimosa – guests note the super friendly staff and clean, but cozy, rooms.
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Chinatown NYC Subways
- 6 to Canal Street
- General Address: 217 Park Row, New York, NY 10038, chinatown.nyc
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Chinatown NYC Printable Map
Chinatown NYC Map
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NYC Neighborhood Guides
Harlem
Our Harlem neighborhood guide will show you the wonderful cultural, food, music and historic value of this landmark area, which has long, strong and proud NYC roots. The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s began the golden age of African-American culture, literature, music, artists, theater and art, which continues to strengthen today. If you want to eat authentic soul food, hear mind-blowing jazz and gospel and clothing shop with Alicia Keys and Jay-Z, then Harlem is on your bucket list!
- Explore: Harlem Neighborhood Guide
- To Do: Apollo Theater, Striver's Row, National Jazz Museum
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a residential neighborhood filled with young professionals and families. It is a great place to stay if you are looking to avoid the heavy crowds of Midtown, explore Central Park, The Museum of Natural History, the Beacon Theatre, Lincoln Center, the West Side Highway and still be about 20 minutes from most of Manhattan.
- Explore: Upper West Side Guide
- To Do: American Museum of Natural History & Planetarium, Beacon Theatre, Lincoln Center, Time Warner Center
Central Park
Central Park offers 843 gorgeous acres to explore and 100s of things to do, which is why we consider it an unofficial neighborhood. Central Park draws 38 million visits a year and is home to the Central Park Film Festival, SummerStage, Shakespeare in the Park, Ice Skating, Central Park Zoo, Bow Bridge, biking, playgrounds, the Carousel and much more.
- Explore: Central Park Guide
- To Do: Central Park Zoo, Carousel, TV and Movie Sites, Ice Skating, Loeb Boathouse
Times Square & Broadway
Times Square New York and the Theater District are some of New York City's most popular tourist attractions. Of course, Broadway, also known as the Great White Way, is most definitely for locals as well. Spend a bit of time here and make sure to see the lights at night, the Hershey's and M&M Stores, as well as catch a great Broadway Show.
- Explore: Times Square & Broadway NYC Guide
- To Do: Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Broadway Shows NYC, Times Square Ball Drop New Years, M&M World & Hersheys Chocolate World
Midtown West, Koreatown, Hell's Kitchen
Midtown West is a huge tourist area with great neighborhoods like NYC's famous Diamond District, Hell's Kitchen and Koreatown. Hell's Kitchen, is the most western section and an "up-and-coming" residential area of New York City with new shops and restaurants opening often. Koreatown, just a block from the Empire State Building, is known for their restaurants and karaoke bars and clubs.
- Explore: Midtown West NYC Guide
- To Do: Empire State Building, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Madison Square Garden, Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, Javits Center
Garment District / Fashion Center
The Garment District, also called the Fashion District or Fashion Center, is home to many of the world's most famous fashion designers and showrooms. The area is an amazing resource for fabrics, beads and trims, however, unless you are trade, don't expect to walk in off the street to designer showrooms. The best way to possibly get access to private showrooms is through a private tour or a NYC Sample Sale.
- Explore: Garment District Guide
- To Do: Fashion Walk of Fame, Museum at FIT, Parsons School of Design
Chelsea & Hudson Yards
Chelsea NY is known for art galleries, nightlife and gay-friendly culture. It is a lively, vibrant neighborhood with some of New York City's top restaurants, clubs, art and things to do outdoors and along the Hudson River. While Chelsea boundaries are West 14th-34th Streets, from 7th Ave to the Hudson River, the new Hudson Yards occupies it's most North and West streets, West 30th to 34th Streets between 10th and 12th Avenues.
- Explore: Chelsea & Hudson Yards Guide
- To Do: The Highline, Art Galleries, Chelsea Market, Chelsea Piers, Little Island, Edge, The Vessel, The Shops at Hudson Yards
Meatpacking District
The Meatpacking District, also known as the Gansevoort Market, is only a few blocks, so you cannot get lost, but it is packed with upscale restaurants, night clubs and designer shopping. Like many NY neighborhoods, the MP District retains it's historical architecture, as it is lined with cobblestone streets and old warehouses, but, today, these same buildings house very modern shopping and dining. The heart of the Meatpacking District is Little West 12th Street.
- Explore: Meatpacking District Guide
- To Do: The Highline, Restaurants, Clubs & Rooftops, Little Island, Upscale Shopping
Greenwich Village & NoHo
Our Greenwich Village NYC Guide provides insight into one of NYC's most cherished neighborhoods. The Village is full of history, celebrity, politics, landmarks and so much more. The NYU campus, Washington Square Park, gorgeous brownstones and cobble stone streets, amazing restaurants, tons of trees and much more make this area a local favorite.
- Explore: Greenwich Village & NoHo Guide
- To Do: Washington Square Park, NYU Campus, Astor Place, Shopping, Restaurants
West Village
The West Village is filled with tree-lined streets, beautiful old brownstones and hundreds of shops, restaurants and cafés. It is truly a quintessential NYC neighborhood, inhabited by locals and celebrities who can afford to live anywhere they choose. If you're a Friends or Sex and the City fan, then you are already quite familiar with the West Village...now it's time to come experience it!
- Explore: West Village Guide
- To Do: Restaurants, boutique shopping, gorgeous brownstones
SoHo
SoHo (SOuth of HOuston - pronounced How-ston) is another NYC neighborhood filled with the best shopping and restaurants. Traditionally known as a haven for artists and their lofts, it has become more upscale over the years and a much sought-after place for New Yorkers to live.
- Explore: SoHo Guide
- To Do: New York Fire Museum, Shopping, Art Galleries, Brunch & Restaurants, Broken Kilometer & Earth Room
Tribeca & The Battery
Tribeca Tribeca (TRI-angle BE-low CA-nal) NYC, is home of the namesake Film Festival, Robert De Niro’s pet project, created to promote commerce downtown after 9/11. He also owns several hotels and restaurants in the area and is spotted quite frequently. Tribeca was also the home of JFK Jr and Caroline Bessette Kennedy before their tragic death in 1999 and is filled with old warehouses, now converted into lofts, beautiful views of the Hudson River and Statue of Liberty along the West Side Highway, excellent restaurants, families, parks and NYC history.
- Explore: Tribeca & The Battery
- To Do: Hudson River Park and River Promenade, Statue of Liberty Views, Upscale & Casual Dining
Financial District and Wall Street
The Financial District (FiDi), at the southern tip of NYC, is one of NYC's most bustling business and tourist areas, from Monday to Friday and is near dead on the weekends. Sights include the 9-11 Memorial & Museum, Wall Street, One World Observatory, The American Stock Exchange, the Charging Bull, the Fearless Girl and views of the Statue of Liberty.
- Explore: Financial District Guide
- To Do: One World Observatory, Staten Island Ferry, 9-11 Museum, 9-11 Memorial, Charging Bull & Fearless Girl, American Stock Exchange, The Oculus, Brooklyn Bridge, South Street Seaport and much more.
Upper East Side NYC
The Upper East Side is an upscale, residential neighborhood and home to Museum Mile, some uber-upscale shopping and Gracie Mansion. The homes on Fifth Avenue, along Central Park, are some of the most exclusive in all of Manhattan. You've likely seen the Upper East Side on Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, The Real Housewives of New York, I Love Lucy, Breakfast at Tiffany's and dozens of other times on your screens.
- Explore: Upper East Side
- To Do: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Museum Mile, Central Park, Gracie Mansion, Upscale Shopping
Midtown East
Midtown East is a huge tourist, commercial and residential area. Around 5th Ave, the neighborhood is home to many tourist attractions, such as St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock and Radio City Music Hall. Bryant Park, the New York Public Library and Grand Central Station are close together just south. Moving towards 3rd Ave and further east, the area is more residential, and generally, the restaurants are better and more affordable, with the UN being the only attraction in that part of the neighborhood.
- Explore: Midtown East Guide
- To Do: The Plaza Hotel, Upscale Shopping, Rockefeller Center, Top of the Rock, Radio City Music Hall, Bryant Park, Grand Central Station, Summit One Vanderbilt, New York Public Library, United Nations
Union Square, Flatiron, NoMad, Gramercy
Union Square (my hood!), the Flatiron District and NoMad all have a mix of residence and business tenants. Additionally, colleges such as NYU, The New School and FIT dominate the area, making it very fun and lively. It is one of the best dining and nightlife areas in Manhattan, with something for every palate and budget and offers fabulous hotels of all kinds.
- Explore: Union Square, Flatiron, NoMad, Gramercy
- To Do: Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, Eataly, Union Square Park & Greenmarket, Harry Potter Wizarding World
East Village
While originally part of the Lower East Side, an immigrant neighborhood, the East Village, has separated itself and become home to some of the City’s best restaurants, shops and nightlife. It is full of character, diversity, fine dining, shops and live music, and includes a subsection named “Alphabet City.” East Village culture ranges from tattoo parlors and “dive bars” to some of New York City’s nicest hip and trendy hotels.
- Explore: East Village
- To Do: Blue Man Group & Stomp, St. Mark's Place, Nightlife, Speakeasies, Curry Lane
Lower East Side NYC
Traditionally, the Lower East Side was a working class immigrant neighborhood (think “Gangs of New York”). Today it is a wonderfully ethnic and diverse neighborhood and serves as a shopping, dining and nightlife destination for many NYC locals. Even with all its modern upgrades, the LES retains a large amount of its history, especially it’s Jewish, Polish, Irish and Italian cultures. The LES also has one of the best selections of hotels in NYC - tons of boutique hotels with amenities, rooftops, skyline views and seconds from 1000s of cool restaurants and hot spots.
- Explore: Lower East Side
- To Do: Tenement Museum, Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue, Food Tours, Nightlife, great Hotel selection
Chinatown NYC
Chinatown NYC is a small, but very densely packed area of shops and restaurants. It is really fun to walk around, enjoy the culture, pick up some souvenirs, and most definitely, eat some delicious and affordable Dim Sum, dumplings, pork buns and other amazing Chinese cuisines.
- Explore: Chinatown NYC Guide Guide
- To Do: Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), Mahayana Buddhist Temple, Dim Sum & Dumplings
Little Italy NYC
Little Italy NYC Guide is a just a few blocks, with tons of outdoor restaurants and owners promising free wine and sangria to lure you in. Puglia is a favorite restaurant for families with their live singing and kids standing on their chairs waving napkins. Visit the new Italian American Museum, which tells the story "from Columbus to Cuomo," the original Old St. Patrick's Church and NYC Police Headquarters.
- Explore: Little Italy NYC Guide
- To Do: Feast of San Gennaro, Old St. Patrick's Church, Food Tours, Italian American Museum
NYC Boroughs
Explore the diverse neighborhoods of NYC Boroughs with our comprehensive guide to Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. New York City is a melting pot of cultures and neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and charm. Whether you're a local or a visitor, exploring the five boroughs of NYC is a must-do experience.
- Explore:NYC Boroughs Guide
- To Do: Williamsburg, Park Slope, Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Museum, Barclay's Center, Brooklyn Flea, Coney Island, Dyker Heights, Astoria, Jackson Heights, Unisphere, Citi Field, US Open, Mets, MoMA PS1, Yankees, Bronx Zoo, NY Botanical Garden, Staten Island Ferry
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