Nolita Neighborhood Guide to the Best Things to Do » Local Love & Wanderlust

Nolita is one of our favorite neighborhoods in New York City to explore, filled with unique boutiques, cozy cafés, delicious restaurants, and plenty of walkable charm. In this guide, I highlight some of my favorite spots, from unforgettable meals and local shopping to street art, hidden gems, and beautiful corners that caught my eye. With its historic character and modern style, Nolita could earn a place on any NYC itinerary.

Whether you’re visiting New York for the first time and looking to go beyond the major tourist attractions, or you’re a local searching for a different perspective, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here.

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The Best Things to Do in the Nolita Neighborhood

You can easily make a trip to Nolita last an entire day, depending on what you want to do. If that’s all the time you have, it’s also possible to squeeze in a half-day visit. These are some key places to visit when exploring this charming neighborhood.

Shop Boutique-lined Streets

Shopping in Nolita might be what this small NYC neighborhood is best known for, and I’ll share some of my favorite boutiques and other gems here. Keep scrolling to see my suggestions!

Take a Break at Elizabeth Street Garden

Once slated for demolition to make way for housing, the neighborhood came together and saved this charming green space in the heart of the city. Take a break in Elizabeth Street Garden, meander through the flowers, meet up with friends and more.

Eat Delicious Food From a NY Slice to Street Corn and Beyond in Nolita

When you visit Nolita, come hungry. There is no shortage of delicious restaurants with a wide range of cuisines and treats, and I share some of my favorites below. Keep scrolling!

Visit Nearby Neighborhoods

Nolita is perfectly positioned to explore the surrounding neighborhoods, including Little Italy, Bowery, NoHo & SoHo, and the Lower East Side.

Find Awesome Street Art and Creative Spaces

Beyond the restaurants and boutiques featured in this Nolita neighborhood guide, you’ll find plenty of art, galleries, and creative spaces worth exploring.

Visit the New Museum

Just on the border of Nolita and Bowery is an art museum focused on new art and new ideas. The recently opened New Museum is on my future to-visit list. Tell me if you check it out!

Find Famous Former Homes

See where music legend David Bowie resided in the early 2000s by taking a walk past 285 Lafayette Street, or Martin Scorsese’s childhood home in a tenement apartment at 253 Elizabeth Street. Remember, these are private properties, so just view from the outside.

Nolita Dining Guide

One of the best ways to experience a new city is through its food, especially when you’re seeking out local restaurants and neighborhood favorites. In this Nolita neighborhood guide, I’m sharing some of the cafés, restaurants, bakeries, and dessert spots that stood out during our visit.

Prince Street Pizza

A family-owned pizza spot, Prince Street Pizza is known for its slices, from original SoHo squares to a Sicilian-style pie with a crisp, fluffy crust and a New York-style round with a thin crust and traditional triangle slices. Available by the slice or as full pies, it’s perfect for a quick bite. bite.

Café Habana

A comfortable café with a menu full of delicious Cuban-Mexican-inspired dishes, Café Habana has tight seating inside, but also an expanded outdoor seating area. Don’t skip the grilled corn.

Rubirosa

This picturesque Italian restaurant draws you in with its pretty, floral-lined entrance, but keeps you there with flavorful bites. Rubirosa for tie-dye pizza, it also has other flavors that are just as worthy. I really liked the thin, cracker-like crust.

La Pecora Bianca

As a regional chain, La Pecora Bianca still does well at evoking a charming, small, local spot. While we didn’t eat at the Nolita location, we still think it’s worth a mention. Be sure to split a salad, they are huge, and the bolognese with Tagliatelle was so flavorful I couldn’t stop eating it. (Note: On the website, this shows up under SoHo, not Nolita. According to Google Maps, it’s in Nolita. Either way, close enough!)

The Gray Dog

A quirky, travel-themed café, The Gray Dog is clearly owned by huge Michigan fans if the sports paraphernalia is any indicator. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but we’re a big fan of breakfast. Keep it simple with the Gray Dog’s Breakfast; the pancakes were so tasty!were so tasty!

Lombardi’s Pizza

A NYC institution known for being America’s first pizzeria, Lombardi’s serves up coal-fired pizza and old-school atmosphere.

Pietro Nolita

A small, subterranean-level Italian spot known for its pink aesthetic, Pietro Nolita has traded the bright pink hues for a moodier approach. The food was delicious, and I lucked out that my favorite dish, bolognese, was on the menu when we visited. Worth a visit, but it’s small, so be sure to make a reservation.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Another ice cream favorite that is more national than local, but still feels very NYC, is Van Leeuwen. Their rainbow-colored pint packaging is iconic, and their flavors are worth the stop.

Milk Bar

While Milk Bar has expanded far beyond the streets of NYC, it is still a New York spot and one I’ll always squeeze into any itinerary when nearby. I just love the Cereal Milk ice cream with the Cereal Crunch topping and the iconic birthday cake. So good.

Little Cupcake Bakeshop

An award-winning bakery serving cake slices, cupcakes, and other treats, The Little Cupcake Bakeshop is perfect for when you need a sweet little pick-me-up. We opted to sit down and share a slice. It was rich and decadent.

On my future NYC visit list for :

One thing I learned while creating this Nolita neighborhood guide is that there’s never enough time to see and do everything. While the recommendations above are places I visited myself, these restaurants, cafés, and shops are still on my list for a future trip to New York City. Have you visited any of them?

Pasquale Jones is a local Italian spot that recently launched a Pizza Omakase. I’m intrigued.
Classic burger joint Moonburger’s food looks so good, and their community-focused mission sounds great to me.
I won’t lie, Leon’s Bagels’ little, aesthetic stands intrigue me, but they also come with a lot of hype. Curious if they live up to it?
MiMi’s Frozen Yogurt, you’re saying FoYo is back? I loved that they used fresh ingredients, and the toppings bar looked amazing. I’ve heard you should expect a line.
Tacombi, I love a Mexican restaurant, and this sounds like a fun one!

Guide to Boutique Shopping in Nolita

If you love shopping in a cute, aesthetically beautiful boutique as I do, then shopping in Nolita should be on your list of things to do. There is a great mix of regional and national shops, some with very few brick-and-mortar locations, and local gems. Here are some of my favorites to check out.

Goods for the Study

There are so many amazing notepads, journals, calendars, checklists, sticky notes, and more filling a lovely paper-goods-focused boutique Goods for the Study. I went away with a great little to-do list I can customize, but I wanted to grab so much more.

New York or Nowhere

This is one of those trendy, locals-focused shops where you can find a mix of Knicks-focused gear and branded NYON merch. You should probably anticipate a line to enter, as the shop is tiny and everyone wants to visit.

The Meadow

The walls inside The Meadow are lined with a wide range of salts, bitters, pantry goods, chocolates, and fresh cut flowers perfect for gifts for others or yourself.

More Nolita NYC shops not to miss

Just a few more recommendations—you’ll discover so many more shops just by strolling through the neighborhood!

MALIN+GOETZ has skincare, scents, and more
Women’s fashion brand Cuyana offers a less-is-more ethos focused on craftsmanship and sustainability.
Mejuri luxury, handcrafted, everyday fine jewerly.
Dossier offers fairly priced, French-made perfumes inspired by your favorite brands.
L’Appartement Sézane gives a touch of Paris home and gift in the heart of NYC.
McNally Jackson Books a 2-story bookstore behind Goods for the Study.

Where to stay in the Nolita neighborhood

We’ve only stayed at one hotel that borders Nolita, but there are a few others on our next-visit list.

citizenM Bowery
While the Bowery is a different neighborhood, citizenM is located right on the Nolita border and is a perfect spot to stay if you plan to visit Nolita. This is a small, capsule-style hotel which might not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s small, narrow, and the bathroom floats in the center of the room. That said, we felt it was perfect for two, and the bed up against the window had an epic skyline view. You can also control the lighting with an iPad, which makes for a fun time.

Here is a post I created on our stay at the citizenM Bowery!

On my future visit list

Some of these might be a splurge, but these gorgeous hotels are on our future like-to-stay list!

PUBLIC Hotel – stylish rooms with an epic rooftop.
The Nolitan – industrial, minimalistic rooms and amazing city views.
Crosby Street Hotel – design-forward 3 Michelin-key stay just outside Nolita’s borders.

What to know about visiting Nolita

What Does Nolita in NYC Stand For?

Nolita stands for North of Little Italy, and was once part of the northern tip of Little Italy, but now exists as its own neighborhood destination.

Where is Nolita?

Just north of Little Italy, Nolita is also surrounded by Bowery to the east, SoHo to the west, and NoHo to the north. Its boundaries are roughly Broome Street by Lafayette Street, Houston Street, and Bowery.

Is Nolita a Walkable NYC Neighborhood?

Like the majority of NYC, the Nolita neighborhood is extremely walkable. It is roughly 4 blocks by 4 blocks and full of boutiques, restaurants, and views you may miss if you drive through.

How to Get to Nolita?

Depending on where you start off, you’ll either want to walk or take public transportation.

By Train: The nearest subway stations to reach Nolita are as follows. Please always check with the stations for the most up-to-date details and information.

Broadway-Lafayette St Station:
Leading you to the north end of the neighborhood, this station lets off near the intersection of Lafayette St and E Houston St.
Bowery Station: This station sits right on the border of Bowery and Nolita near the intersection of Bowery and Kenmare St.
Prince St Station: This station will drop you off on the east side of the neighborhood near the intersection of Broadway and Prince St.
Spring St Station: Leading you to the southern end of the Nolita neighborhood, the Spring St Station takes you to the intersection of Lafayette St and Spring St.

By Bus: You can also utilize the MTA bus to get to Nolita. Use the MTA website to plan your trip. Here are more details on how to pay for your rides now that the MTA card is no longer used. I found being able to use Apple Pay to tap and pay was so convenient.

By Car: If you choose to drive, there are a handful of parking garages surrounding the neighborhood; however, parking in Nolita is on the street. It always looks packed, so I would highly recommend public transportation if possible.

Is Nolita Worth Visiting?

Absolutely. It’s the perfect addition to your NYC visit when you want to explore a neighborhood that is trendy and fun. You get a good mix of historic with modern here, and endless shopping and places to eat. Plus, the proximity to other neighborhoods makes this a perfect starting point for exploring New York City.

Final Thoughts on Exploring the Nolita Neighborhood

This is one of the first neighborhoods outside the obligatory tourist things to do in Manhattan that we explored, so we feel a connection to it. Beyond that, it truly is a great spot to start your explorations. Just come prepared with good walking shoes and be prepared for the weather. You might want to bring a tote bag with you for purchases and an empty tummy for all the delicious eats you’ll be tempted by.