From Little Italy to Chinatown: A tour of Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods

You must have once thought how nice it would be to visit New York City. The city that never sleeps is a lifelong dream for many. From Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Time Square, and the Empire State Building to the yellow cabs and top restaurants and shops, NYC is certainly a city that attracts attention. If you’re planning a move to its most popular borough, a tour of Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods will come in handy. Get to know the best places to live and then get matched with Manhattan movers to organize your move.

Manhattan – the most popular and the most important borough

Manhattan is the smallest of all NYC boroughs, but it is the most famous and the most attractive. Although there was a significant decrease in the number of inhabitants during the pandemic, the situation has stabilized in the last year. Many families from Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington settled in this sophisticated economic capital of the US during the last year.

view on Manhattan's iconic neighborhoods
Moving to a world-renowned commercial, financial, and cultural center is a lifelong dream for many

Manhattan can offer you anything you need. In 53 neighborhoods with a total area of 22.83 square miles, there are modern and traditional residential and commercial buildings. The diversity of culture and the unique location between the three rivers is what attracts people from all over the world. Manhattan is home to many world-famous restaurants and cafes. Among its neighborhoods are magnificent shopping centers, galleries, museums, parks, and hundreds of companies. And the New York Stock Exchange is stationed in Lower Manhattan. All this makes life in Manhattan special.

Let’s see what Manhattan’s Iconic Neighborhoods are

The borough of Manhattan is divided into a large number of neighborhoods. All of them are different in their culture, history, vibes, and attractions, so they can be seen as separate cities. Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods include:

  • TriBeCa
  • Little Italy
  • Chinatown
  • Financial District
  • Harlem

Whichever area you choose for your future home, will surely satisfy your taste. Then all you have to do is search our database and find residential movers in Manhattan. Among a large number of moving companies, there are surely those that best suit your needs.

TriBeCa

This “Triangle Below Canal Street” is one of Manhattan’s most popular neighborhoods. Formerly homes to industrial warehouses, today this is a neighborhood where you can find celebrities the most. The neighborhood offers an amazing view of the Hudson River, as well as plenty of restaurants, hotels, and bars. It hosts the TriBeCa Film Festival and the Annual Short Awards. This is home to many unique shops and restaurants. You can spend the day relaxing in the Aire Ancient Baths or reading a book with a drink in the Brandy Library.

Cafeteria Odeon in TriBeCa
This Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods is also one of the most luxurious in NYC

With a median household income of $193K, this neighborhood ranks as the second highest-income neighborhood in New York City. Among the total population of 17,039 inhabitants, 54% are family households. The majority of residents rent their homes, but if you’ve decided to become a homeowner, set aside around $2 million. TriBeCa is one of the most attractive places to live. For residents of some of New York’s more populated neighborhoods, moving to this neighborhood will be refreshing. Just hire local movers in Manhattan and come to your earthly paradise.

The place to enjoy the diversity

Life in TriBeCa will certainly not be boring for you. The diversity of this neighborhood will make your life fun. Takahashi Bakery with Japanese specialties, A.B. Biagi with a taste of Brazil, and Mulberry & Vine serving Moroccan quinoa and charred avocado will become part of your everyday life. Moving to TriBeCa will offer you plenty of entertainment through museums, galleries, and libraries. Every day will be a new opportunity to explore. Spend the day in one of the nearby parks. Pier 25 and 26 offer multiple ways to play and explore the riverfront, lounge areas, and delicious food.

Little Italy

If you head west from TriBeCa you’ll come across another one of Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods, Little Italy. Immigrants from Italy began to settle in this neighborhood in the 80s of the 19th century. The largest number of residents in Little Italy were from Sicily and Calabria. Soon after, the first pizzeria was opened in this neighborhood. Besides the food, Little Italy is famous for the Feast of San Gennaro festival, which has been celebrated since 1926. However, what remains of the Italian side today can be seen around Mulberry Street. Other parts of the neighborhood are modern now and are home to numerous boutiques, restaurants, and bars.

A sign in the street at the entrance to the neighborhood of one of Manhattan's iconic neighborhoods
Once a haven for immigrants from Italy, this is now an urban neighborhood with a plethora of restaurants, shops, and bars.

With a population of about 30 thousand inhabitants, 44% are white, but there are also Asians in the same percentage. The largest number of residents are employed in private companies, which gives the neighborhood a median household income of about $137K. By moving to Little Italy, you can count on great chances for employment, given that the unemployment rate is 3.4%. And if you want to move your business, you’ll find support from some of the best commercial movers in Manhattan. You will easily find them on our rich platform.

Attractions in Little Italy

Little Italy keeps its soul in graffiti all over the neighborhood. In addition to decorating the neighborhood, they also save many famous people from the past from being forgotten. The authentic building is the Police Headquarters Building and the places not to be missed are the Da Nico restaurant, Caffe Palermo, Randolph at Broome, and the Italian market DiPalo Fine Food. You can always spend the day at the Italian American Museum.

Chinatown is one of Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods

Chinatown is a very attractive neighborhood of Manhattan, with a population of about 15 thousand inhabitants in a territory that occupies a large part of the Lower East Side, this is a neighborhood where as many as 57.7% of Asian immigrants live. However, among the residents of this neighborhood are 8.8% black and 8.8% Hispanic, as well as 15% white. As a family-friendly settlement, 51% are families. Almost 20% of them are with children. Chinatown is considered a neighborhood with a great Chinese heritage. It is full of restaurants and diverse cuisine, and nearby is the SoHo neighborhood where you can go shopping.

street in Chinatown
Famous for its Asian cuisine and shops selling goods from the Asian area, Chinatown will be very interesting to live in.

In the 21st century, many former Chinese restaurants have been converted into bars, cafes, and modern restaurants. However, the original base of the neighborhood is still intact and promises to stay that way. Today’s thriving cultural and culinary community is graced with many Asian restaurants. Fried dumplings and crab in Wo Hop are a must. Also, you’re sure to find your favorite meal at Joe’s Shanghai as well as at Nom Wah Tea Parlor. Moving to Chinatown can be a good idea if you are vegan or vegetarian. 

Symbols of Chinatown Manhattan

Chinatown is connected to downtown Brooklyn by the Manhattan Bridge. This is one of the most recognizable and famous suspension bridges in NYC. Chinatown residents cross this bridge daily by car, bicycle, and on foot, which connects them to the rest of New York.

view in Financial District skyscrapers
Life for those with the deepest pockets in the business world is best in the Financial District

Mahajana Temple is another symbol of this neighborhood. This Buddhist temple is located near the Manhattan Bridge. The temple is small with a pleasant atmosphere and wall panels that tell the Buddha’s life story.

One of the oldest parks in Manhattan is Columbus Park in Chinatown. Built in the 19th century, it was once part of the most dangerous ghetto area. Today, this is a renovated park with football and basketball fields, playgrounds, and water fountains. A famous street in Chinatown where today you can find plenty of bars and restaurants is Doyer’s Street or “The Bloody Angle”. Once one of the most dangerous places to live, today it is an inevitable station for the residents of this neighborhood. The first theater in the Chinese language was also opened there.

Financial District

This is one of the most historic neighborhoods in Manhattan. Wall Street, the World Trade Center, and the Statue of Liberty will be close by if you move to the Financial District. Although the Financial District is the center of all finance in New York City, it is characterized by attractions that are not related to it. One of these attractions is the One World Observatory, which offers an amazing view of the entire NYC. Another unique point of the neighborhood is Stone Street. This narrow cobblestone street in the heart of the financial district was the first street paved with stone in the city. Then there’s the Museum of American Finance, as well as the Fraunces Tavern Museum. You can relax in The Queen Elizabeth II Garden or Zuccotti Park.

This Manhattan neighborhood is home to about 61,000 residents. All of them have the opportunity to enjoy phenomenal restaurants, entertainment, nightlife, and expensive shopping. This is a neighborhood that is up to 4 times more expensive than other parts of NYC. However, if you are among those who can afford it, you will have a life like nowhere on earth. Here you will find a large selection of different cuisines. You can organize a business lunch at Manhatta, or a family dinner at Sauce & Barrel.

The business life of the Financial District

Although the median home value of this neighborhood is 1.5 million dollars, 23.63% of the population are homeowners. If you decide to live under rent, for a studio in this district you need to set aside an average of $3312, while for a 4-bedroom apartment $7500. Residents of this part of New York are mostly businesspeople eager for challenges and action. The fast life imposed on them by the neighborhood environment is mostly lived by younger residents, more than 50% of whom have never been married. As many as s 76. are employed in private companies.

table with food in restaurant
If you want good Mexican, Italian, but also local food, visit a restaurant in Harlem

Harlem

This 17th-century Dutch village is now one of Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods. Bordered on the west by the Hudson River, on the north by the Harlem River, and on the south by Central Park, Harlem is perfectly positioned for lovers of amazing views. With over 200K residents, this neighborhood is home to 76,185 households. Of these, 48.72% are family households. The district has several private and public schools, including Columbia University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the City College of New York. So, if you decide to live in this neighborhood, you will have some of the best movers in Harlem at your disposal.

However, although one of the iconic neighborhoods of NYC, this is not one of the more affluent. With a median income of $53,672, living in NYC can be unaffordable. The median home value of,$660K allowed 14.63% of residents to be homeowners. The rest live under an average rent of $2,900 for a 3-bedroom apartment. According to Redfin, the best-ranked schools are Lover Lab School, Partick Henry, and Teachers College Community School.

Have fun in Harlem

Like other parts of NYC, Harlem is rich in great places to eat and have fun. As the birthplace of Oliver Norvell Hardy, Harlem welcomes his fans every year to see some of his 106 films as well as artifacts and memorabilia donated by fans from all over the world. You can spend the evening in one of Harlem’s restaurants, bars, and clubs. This neighborhood is associated with good music, dancing, and good fun. Order your Jive Turkey in Harlems Public, Salmon Burger in The Edge Harlem, or Tachos from Cantina Taqueria & Tequila Bar. If you are a fan of Italian cuisine, there are Lido and Pisticci.

Harlem’s parks can be your place of rest and recreation at multiple locations in the neighborhood. There is Central Park, St. Nicholas Park, Jackie Robinson Park, Holcombe Rucker Park as well as Sakura Park. Also, many cities all over the world entice General Grant Memorial Museum, Studio Museum Harlem, and The National Jazz Museum in Harlem.

view on Central Park in New York City
Choose your new home to enjoy all the benefits NYC has to offer

Choose from one of Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods and then movers from Manhattan

There are many cities all over the world that entice people to relocate. But New York City has something that is not available in any other city. With five unique boroughs and neighborhoods that are each different from the others, it will be difficult to choose the best. You can see why many people decide to hire moving companies New York offers and relocate here. However, if you decide on one of Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods, you will have access to our database to easily find the moving company that suits you best.

References:

https://www.nycgo.com/articles/guide-to-manhattan-neighborhoods

https://statisticalatlas.com/county-subdivision/New-York/New-York-County/Manhattan/Overview

https://www.point2homes.com/US/Real-Estate-Listings/NY/New-York-City.html

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