The scent of garlic and simmering tomato sauce. The clatter of espresso cups. A nonna’s secret recipe cannoli passed down through generations. Across the United States, Little Italy neighborhoods continue to serve up not only the country’s most beloved Italian food, but also a deep sense of heritage. More than 5.5 million Italians immigrated to the U.S. between 1820 and 2004, creating tight-knit communities where language, tradition, and especially cuisine helped preserve a cultural identity far from home. Today, many of those original Little Italys have transformed—but they remain powerful touchstones of Italian American pride. From the red-sauce joints of Chicago to the cafes of San Diego’s harborfront, here are the eight best Little Italys in the country.
Little Italy, New York City
Lower Manhattan’s Little Italy was once the first stop for Italian immigrants entering America, swelling to over 10,000 residents by 1910. Though the neighborhood has shrunk over the decades, it still centers on a few bustling blocks along Mulberry Street—and remains an essential pilgrimage for Italian American culture.
Here you can visit Ferrara Bakery, opened in 1892 and still famous for its cannoli, or Lombardi’s, the country’s first licensed pizzeria, established in 1905. Il Cortile, run by the Esposito family since the ’70s, is a red-sauce classic that once served as a backdrop for The Sopranos. Every September, the Feast of San Gennaro floods the streets with processions, street food, and live music.
Uptown in the Bronx, Arthur Avenue has been dubbed NYC’s “real Little Italy.” Anchored by the Arthur Avenue Market—established by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1940—the area is still home to century-old businesses like Mario’s, where old-world recipes continue to define Italian American dining.
North End, Boston
When Frank DePasquale emigrated from Naples to Boston’s North End in 1955, he joined a thriving Italian community rooted in tradition. Today, he runs a small empire of restaurants there, including Bricco, known for its wood-fired gnocchi, and Trattoria Il Panino, his first venture.
Boston’s North End is packed with over 100 Italian restaurants, many still run by the descendants of the area’s original immigrants. From Caffé Vittoria, the city’s first Italian café (est. 1929), to Pizzeria Regina (since 1926), the neighborhood has barely missed a beat. Don’t leave without sampling cannoli from Mike’s Pastry, Modern Pastry, or Bova’s—all embroiled in Boston’s friendly “cannoli wars.”
Visitors can also step back in time at Parziale’s Bakery (since 1907), stroll Prince Street where Prince Spaghetti was once produced, or join a North End food tour with a lifelong local like Bobby Agrippino. August brings the neighborhood’s biggest celebration: the Feast of Saint Anthony, when the streets turn into a festival of lights, food, and faith.
North Beach, San Francisco
San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood—often called the city’s Little Italy—blends literary history with culinary legacy. Italian Americans settled here after the 1906 earthquake, bringing family-run bakeries and restaurants that still flourish today.
The legendary Liguria Bakery, open since 1911, is famous for its focaccia, while Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, helmed by pizza champion Tony Gemignani, serves styles from Sicilian to New York slice. At Fior d’Italia, opened in 1886, diners still celebrate birthdays and anniversaries with old-school charm.
The neighborhood is alive with tricolor-painted crosswalks, the annual Festa Italiana, and the city’s new Honor Walk, which pays tribute to prominent Italian American locals. Finish with a rum-soaked sponge cake at Victoria Pastry, or a scoop of gelato at Stella Pastry, all under the soft coastal fog that gives this Little Italy its unique flavor.
Little Italy, Chicago
Chicago’s Little Italy, centered on Taylor Street, has been a cradle of Italian American life since the late 1800s. Immigrants came in search of factory jobs and stayed to build churches, cafes, and some of the nation’s best-loved food traditions.
It was here that deep-dish pizza was born, at Pizzeria Uno in 1943. Around the same time, the Italian beef sandwich—roast beef piled on a roll and dunked in au jus—was invented at Al’s Beef. You’ll still find neighborhood favorites like Pompei, a cafeteria-style Italian staple, and Conte di Savoia, a gourmet deli with shelves of imported olive oil and pasta.
For a romantic dinner, The Village in the Italian Village Restaurants has served red-sauce classics since 1927. Or try James Beard Award-winning Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap, a no-frills gem famous for its lemon chicken and handwritten menu.
Little Italy, Cleveland
Cleveland’s Little Italy was shaped by stonecutter Joseph Carabelli, who arrived from Lombardy in 1880. His monuments still line local cemeteries, but the neighborhood he helped found lives on with enduring eateries and old-world charm.
Start at Guarino’s, established in 1918 and considered Cleveland’s oldest restaurant. Try a Sicilian slice at Mama Santa’s, catch live opera at La Dolce Vita, and top off your meal with cappuccino at Presti’s Bakery, in business since 1903. Nearby, Corbo’s Bakery also keeps locals loyal with its chocolate-dipped cannoli and biscotti.
Though much of the original Italian district was lost to urban renewal after WWII, today’s Little Italy thrives with art galleries, bocce courts, and an annual Feast of the Assumption that draws thousands.
Little Italy, San Diego
Tucked along the harborfront, San Diego’s Little Italy began as a tuna-fishing hub for Sicilian immigrants in the 1920s. After decades of decline, the area has been revitalized into one of the most vibrant Little Italys in the country.
The change began with the Little Italy Association, which helped restore traditional charm through festivals, public art, and community spaces like Piazza della Famiglia. Among more than 70 Italian businesses, standouts include Market by Buon Appetito, which helped spark the neighborhood’s revival in 2003, Pappalecco for espresso and gelato, and Vincenzo Cucina for handmade pasta. There’s also a twice-weekly farmer’s market and summer nights filled with music, al fresco dining, and family-style feasting that echo southern Italian traditions.
Bella Vista, Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, the Bella Vista neighborhood is home to the South 9th Street Italian Market—the oldest continuously operating outdoor food market in the U.S., established by early 20th-century Italian immigrants.
Two of America’s longest-running Italian restaurants, Ralph’s (1900) and Dante & Luigi’s (1899), are still serving veal parm and manicotti just blocks apart. Join a StrEATS of Philly food tour to explore the market’s treasures, from Isgro Pastries’ flakey sfogliatelle to the aged provolone and prosciutto at DiBruno Bros., a gourmet deli opened in 1939.
The vibe here is casual, traditional, and deeply rooted. It’s not just about great food—it’s about family, stories, and neighborhood pride.
Federal Hill, Providence
In Providence, Rhode Island, Federal Hill is more than a neighborhood—it’s the heart of Italian American culture in New England. “Italian food wasn’t just a meal,” says local advocate Rick Simone. “It was a celebration of love, family, and tradition.”
That spirit is alive and well at long-running staples like Camille’s (est. 1914), Scialo Brothers Bakery, and Tony’s Colonial Market, stocked with imported meats and cheeses. Angelo’s Civita Farnese, in business since 1924, still draws crowds with its hearty pasta and meatballs.
And don’t miss Venda Ravioli, kneading pasta for 80 years, or Antonelli Poultry, where chickens are still sold fresh from the counter. On weekends, Atwells Avenue—marked by an archway bearing the Italian flag—bustles with family dinners, bocce tournaments, and impromptu accordion serenades.
