La Dolce Vita: Indulge in Authentic Italian Cuisine at These Charming Little Italys Around the World
La Dolce Vita: Indulge in Authentic Italian Cuisine at These Charming Little Italys Around the World - A Slice of Italy in America's Backyard - Arthur Avenue in the Bronx
For an authentic taste of Italy without leaving the country, head to Arthur Avenue in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx. Known as New York's "Real Little Italy", this charming area transports visitors across the pond with its old-world architecture, mom-and-pop shops, and mouthwatering restaurants.
Wandering the cobblestone streets, you'll find storefronts lined with hanging salamis, stacks of crusty bread, and counters piled high with creamy burrata. The aroma of simmering red sauce and sizzling meats fills the air. Grab an espresso and pastry in the morning or stop for a leisurely lunch on a sunny patio. Meals are meant to be savored here, not rushed.
The area exploded with Italian immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. To this day, many businesses are multigenerational. Shopkeepers take pride in sourcing high-quality ingredients from Italy and preparing them with care using old family recipes. The result is authentic dishes that transport your tastebuds across the Atlantic.
For pizza, Di Fara Pizza is a pilgrimage, with hour-long waits not uncommon. The thin-crust pies are meticulously crafted, from the tangy sauce to the imported cheese sprinkled liberally on top. Grab a number and take a stroll while you wait.
Another don't-miss is Dominick's Restaurant, a classic red-sauce joint dishing up heaping plates of pasta alongside veal parmigiana, osso buco, and other Italian-American favorites. With its casual charm and family-style service, you'll feel like you're dining in Nonna's kitchen.
Finish off with dessert from Artuso Pastry, an old-fashioned Italian bakery churning out cannolis, sfogliatelle, and other decadent treats. Take a box to go so you can continue to indulge as you explore this transportive Italian enclave.
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La Dolce Vita: Indulge in Authentic Italian Cuisine at These Charming Little Italys Around the World - Experience la Dolce Vita in Montreal's Little Italy
For a taste of la dolce vita in North America, Montreal's Little Italy neighborhood is a must-visit. Centered around the Jean-Talon Market and covering several charming blocks, this slice of Italy in the French-speaking province of Quebec offers an immersive experience into Italian food, culture and joie de vivre.
Wandering the quartier, you'll hear a melodic mix of Italian and French as you stroll past cafés, butcher shops, bakeries and greengrocers spilling onto the sidewalk. Storefronts are painted in bold colors like tomato red and sunshine yellow, reminiscent of small towns in Italy. Strings of mini Italian and Quebec flags criss-cross over the streets, symbolizing the blend of cultures.
At the heart is the Jean-Talon Market. One of the largest open-air markets in North America, it's reminiscent of mercatos in Italy. Rows of vendors under a covered building sell mounds of produce, artisanal cheeses, cured meats, fresh pasta, olives, olive oils and more. Prices are better than any supermarket. Be sure to grab a porchetta sandwich - thinly sliced pork roasted to perfection with crispy crackling on top.
Beyond the market, specialty food shops allow you to sample before you buy. At Les Douceurs du Marché, a gelateria and pastry shop, cases brim with delicate Italian pastries like cannoli filled to order with sweet ricotta cream. Scoops of gelato come in flavors like hazelnut, pistachio and stracciatella. Or stop into La Diperie for fresh-made Belgian waffles dipped in decadent chocolate.
Of course, a defining factor of any Little Italy is the abundance of Italian restaurants, and Montreal's is no different. Classics like Vespa Pizza and Restaurant Da Emma serve up heaping plates of pasta, pizza, antipasti and more at an affordable price point. For fine dining, Impasto was named one of Canada's best new restaurants for its innovative Italian cuisine. Michelin-starred chef Stefano Faita of Milan elevates dishes like tagliatelle with truffle and agnolotti stuffed with veal.
Beyond the food and shopping, soaking up the dolce vita lifestyle is a highlight. In summer, café patios spill out onto the sidewalks, perfect for sipping an Aperol spritz or espresso as you people watch. Locals and visitors alike take their time to linger over meals or chat with shopkeepers. An air of relaxed contentment permeates the neighborhood.
La Dolce Vita: Indulge in Authentic Italian Cuisine at These Charming Little Italys Around the World - Cleveland's Little Italy - Fine Food and Culture in Ohio
While Chicago and New York often get all the glory for their iconic Little Italys, Cleveland has its own delightful version that transports visitors straight to the old country. Centered along Mayfield Road and Murray Hill Road on the city’s east side, this charming neighborhood serves up a hearty helping of Italian culture and cuisine.
As you amble down the brick-lined streets under quaint archways, the scent of garlic, tomatoes and fresh basil fills the air. Bakeries like Corbo’s Dolceria tempt with cases piled high with cannoli, sfogliatelle and other Italian pastries. At specialty grocers like Gallucci’s, you’ll find imported cheeses, cured meats, handmade pastas, and oils and vinegars from the motherland.
Of course, Cleveland’s Little Italy is also home to dozens of red-sauce joints and upscale Italian eateries. Grab a booth at Mama Santa’s, where the chicken parm comes out the size of your head. Or splurge on Northern Ohio’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, Molinari’s, where chef Jamie Simpson dishes up creative takes on classics like squid ink tortellini and Ohio veal osso buco.
Beyond the food, Cleveland’s Little Italy doubles as a hub of culture. Every summer, the Feast of the Assumption festival takes over the streets for four days of parades, live music, games and, of course, food. The iconic Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church acts as an anchor. Its St. Anthony’s festival in June draws crowds for the “Blessing of the Fathers”, honoring fathers and father figures.
Little Italy is also home to the Lake View Cemetery, where famous Cleveland residents like John D. Rockefeller are buried alongside elaborate stone monuments. Architecture buffs will delight in the Victorian-style homes dotted throughout the neighborhood.
La Dolce Vita: Indulge in Authentic Italian Cuisine at These Charming Little Italys Around the World - Little Italy Down Under - Finding Italy in Sydney's Leichhardt
For antipodean Italophiles, Sydney's Leichhardt neighborhood offers a little slice of Italy Down Under. Centered along Norton Street, this charming suburb transports you to the old country with its abundance of Italian eateries, food markets, and culture.
Leichhardt exploded with Italian immigrants in the 1950s and 60s, and today it remains Sydney's Little Italy. The moment you step onto Norton Street you are enveloped by the sights, sounds and smells of Italy. Shopfronts sport bold signage in Italian, walls are painted in tomato reds and sunshine yellows, and decorative wrought-iron balconies abound. Strings of Italian and Australian flags criss-cross over the bustling main drag.
Leichhardt Marketplace anchors the neighborhood, with its rows of produce stalls overflowing with mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes and other fresh veggies. Grab some prosciutto, mortadella or salami from the Italian butcher stalls, or stock up on pasta, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and other pantry staples. Out front, fruit vendors hawk juicy figs, grapes and stone fruits in summer, while flower sellers create elaborate bouquets of gerberas and roses.
With produce in hand, take your pick from the myriad of Italian restaurants and cafes lining Norton Street. Classics like Bar Italia have been serving up hearty plates of pasta, pizza and more since the 1950s. Lucio Pizzeria crafts pies with the perfect charred, chewy crust in a wood-fired oven. Or grab an Aperol spritz on the sunny patio at Restaurant Norton, perfect for an afternoon of dolce far niente (delicious idleness).
Beyond the eats, Leichhardt provides a hub of Italian culture. Every August, Norton Street closes to traffic for the Leichhardt Festa Italiana. The street becomes a giant Italian party, with music, dancing, food stalls, carnival rides and games. Italian motorcycles and cars line the streets on display. Locals and tourists alike soak up the festive atmosphere.
Leichhardt is also home to a beautiful Italian-style church, the Leichhardt Parish Church. With its terracotta roof, arched entryways and breezy open-air cloister, it looks plucked straight from a hilltop in Tuscany. The adjacent Pioneer Memorial Park provides green space where old Italian gents play bocce on lush lawns.