Exploring Arthur Avenue in the Bronx: New York’s Little Italy

Do you like Italian food? Who doesn’t, right. Ever since we vacationed two summers in a row in Italy in places such as Rome and Tuscany, we’ve been craving Italian food more than ever. Which is why we love going to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx in New York City, the “real Little Italy” according to many New Yorkers.

When you talk to those who live in the Bronx, they’ll tell you the touristy Little Italy on Mulberry Street in lower Manhattan is for – you named it – tourists. Commercialized and Disney-ish, as some people refer to it. But I’m not going to get into that. What I do know is that Arthur Avenue, located further out in the city in the Belmont section of the Bronx, has shop after shop of Italian delicacies including meats, cheeses, pastas, breads and mouth-watering pastries. Restaurants are a plenty, and old-school barber shops and gelatarias can be found while strolling around. There is a lot to be said for exploring off the beaten path New York City, and Arthur Avenue is a prime example.

The popular Arthur Avenue Retail Market is here, an indoor market full of character, not to mention all sorts of goodies. Near one of the entrances is a cigar workshop, La Casa Grande, where you can see men hard at work making cigars. Walk a little further and you will find the very cool Bronx Beer Hall, the beloved Mike’s Deli, Pete’s Meats and Greco’s, just some of the vendors that make up the market. It’s great for food-shopping, as well as people-watching!

Outside on the streets (Arthur Avenue as well as the surrounding streets in Belmont), there are shops and restaurants one after the next. We recently had a delicious lunch at Tino’s Delicatessen, known for their enormous heroes as well as wood-fire oven pizzas. Other popular restaurants include Zero Otto Nove, Ann & Tony’s, Dominick’s, Pasquale’s Rigoletto and Enzo’s, just to name a few. To go grocery shopping, make sure to hit up famed Teitel Brothers, the amazing Italian market with Jewish roots. There are so many delicious food stores, so make sure to look at this merchant list for both shops and restaurants.

If you’re looking for good Italian food, both for dining and shopping, Arthur Avenue is the place to go. It’s a great spot to leisurely while away the morning or afternoon, snacking on pastries or drinking coffee while perusing the shops.

Tip: Arthur Avenue is hopping and in full swing on Saturdays, its most popular day of the week. Some places are closed on Sundays, so make sure to check ahead. Either way, it’s best to arrive in the morning so as to find parking. Spaces and lots fill up quickly! On Sunday, those vendors that are open tend to open later in the morning around 11 or so.

To read more about the Bronx, see Top Family Attractions in the Bronx

You may also enjoy Top Family Attractions in Manhattan

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