What to do in Chinatown NYC

This is definitely one of the places you don’t want to miss visiting when you are in NYC. There are not only many things to do in Chinatown NYC, the history and unique character of this Manhattan neighborhood speak for themselves. You will find some amazing food, interesting street vendors, and some great photo opportunities. 

With its small streets and dense immigrant population, Chinatown NYC is the place to go if you are looking for some unusual shops, culinary delights or culture. There are many things to do in Chinatown NYC, many of which are free of charge. Definitely make sure you take an afternoon to stroll through the busy streets and let the impressions sink in.

Chinatown is easily one of the most interesting places in NYC – A must-see!

By the way: you’ll find many more New York City spots in our Loving New York travel guides.

• My TOP 5
• 🥇 Look no further: That‘s the only New York Travel Guide you need 2021/22 (300+ pages and 600+ reviews on Amazon)
• Best Things to Do in Chinatown NYC
• Best Attractions
• Best Guided Tours
• Best Restaurants
• Best Bars
• Shopping in Chinatown NYC
• Hotels in Chinatown NYC

My TOP 5 Things to Do in Chinatown NYC

• Temple Mahayana: This is the oldest Chinese temple on the east coast of the united states. (Address: 133 Canal St, Subway J Z to Canal St)
• Columbus Park: Columbus Park is the biggest park in Chinatown and is a great place to have a seat and watch life unfold around you. (Address: 67 Mulberry St, Subway J Z to Canal St)
• Museum of Chinese in America (MoCa): The Museum of Chinese in America is the place to go if you want to learn more about the Chinese culture and Chinese history in NYC. (Address: 215 Center St, Subway 4 6 to Canal St)
• Super Taste:  The amazing food is reason alone to visit but with the amazing prices on offer, this is a no-brainer to get a quick and delicious bite to eat on your way through Chinatown. (Address: 26 Eldridge St, Subway F to E Broadway)
• Chinatown Ice Cream Factory: The family-run Chinatown Ice Cream Factory has some of the best ice cream in the whole of NYC.  From adventurous flavors like Thai Iced Tea, Zen Butter, and Taro to more conventional yet equally delicious flavors like Coconut and Cherry Vanilla, everyone will find something here for their particular taste. This is a must-visit! (Address: 65 Bayard St, Subway J Z to Canal St)

Where is Chinatown located?

Chinatown is located in the heart of Downtown Manhattan. It is a city within the city with its own unique charm and character. It is surrounded by Little Italy and the Lower East Side and should definitely be on your itinerary for NYC!

How to Get to Chinatown NYC

• Subway: The 6 N W R Q J or Z takes you to Canal Street. You can also take the A C or E line, which also stops on Canal Street (6th Avenue). The B D line takes you to Grand St. Station.
• Hop on Hop Off Bus: Stop 9 of the downtown loop of BIG BUS or stop 9 of the downtown loop of Gray Line Sightseeing. Here you find more about Hop on Hop off in NYC.
  My tip: the tickets for the buses are included in many of the New York City passes – which one is the best for you, you can see in my Pass Comparison for New York!

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The 13 Best Things to Do in Chinatown NYC

From food locations, souvenir shops to museums, Chinatown NYC is a neighborhood you need to check out. Here are some spots that you should check out while you’re in Chinatown NYC:

1. 01

   Doyers Street (The Bloody Angle)

   Other Attraction in Chinatown

   

   One of the things to do in Chinatown NYC is to visit Doyers Street or “The Bloody Angle”. This particular street has a lot of rich and dark history. This area is the location of New York City’s first Chinese language theater. On top of that, this street used to be one of America’s deadliest areas because of numerous shootings between organized gang members. Today, there’s a bunch of restaurants and is a very photogenic street.

2. 02

   Soho, Little Italy & Chinatown Walking Tour

   Walking Tour in Hudson Square

   Our Highlight

   

   Now known for their many excellent restaurants, shops and tourism, Manhattan‘s SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown neighborhoods offer the most varied stories of New York City. Take a 2-hour tour with a local guide and discover hidden gems and 19th century buildings.

3. 03

   Enjoy the breathtaking views from The Crown Rooftop Bar

   Rooftop Bar in Chinatown

   

   The Crown Rooftop Bar in Chinatown is one of my newest highlights of the city and made it directly into our list of the best rooftop bars in New York. It offers probably the most beautiful view of Manhattan AND Brooklyn.

4. 04

   Columbus Park

   Park in Chinatown

   

   Columbus Park is the biggest park in Chinatown and is a great place to have a seat and watch life unfold around you. You will see that many of the locals meet here to do everything from play chess and exercise to just sitting down reading a book. It is a well known social hangout in the city and is a great place to sit down and have some of the street food you picked up in the nearby streets. 

   In the morning you will see people doing Tai Chi to fuel up for the day. In the afternoon there are mainly fortunetellers and people who play cards. During the warmer months, Columbus Park becomes a popular place to escape the tumultuous Chinatown.

5. 05

   Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

   Ice Cream in Chinatown

   

   One of our favorite things to do in Chinatown NYC is grabbing an ice cream from here and stroll through the busy streets. With amazing flavors and many unique ones at that, this is a must-try. The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory offers some of the most unique ice cream flavors in New York City!

6. 06

   Visit the Canal Street Market

   Food Market in Chinatown

   

   The Canal Street Market is a great street market with many food vendors (including Korean cooking & sweets) and a small dining area. You will also find many other stalls here selling souvenirs and art which in combination with the food stalls makes this place very unique and worth visiting.

7. 07

   Super Taste

   Asian Restaurant in Chinatown

   Our Highlight

   

   Here it can quickly get crowded, the shop is really super small. Super Taste is probably the best place to visit in Chinatown NYC if you are looking for some authentic and great quality noodles. The amazing food is reason alone to visit but with the amazing prices on offer, this is a no-brainer to get a quick and delicious bite to eat on your way through Chinatown.

   Make sure to try the pork belly bao – one of our favorites!

8. 08

   Nom Was Tea Parlor: Experience Chinatown of the 1920's

   Asian Restaurant in Chinatown

   

   This vintage dim sum parlor dates back to the 1920s and is a great place to stop and grab a bite to eat. With an extensive menu that includes tea beer and wine, it is one of the local favorites to grab some authentic Chinese food. We recommend making a reservation online as it can get busy here during lunch and dinner. Make sure to try the house special roast pork buns – delicious!

9. 09

   Walking Through Chinatown

   Districts in Chinatown

   

   When walking around Chinatown there is never a dull moment. There are always things to do in Chinatown NYC. It can get confusing when getting around. The streets are not numbered like the rest of Manhattan and there are some roads that aren’t in a grid. Also, always be aware of your surroundings as Chinatown can get really busy and really crowded fast. When you walk around, make sure to check out the different restaurants and markets. The food here is absolutely amazing.

10. 10

    Chinese New Year Parade

    Other Events in Chinatown

    

    Usually, locals and tourists alike will (obviously) flock to New York City’s Chinatown to celebrate the Lunar New Year. A huge Chinese New Year Parade takes place there every year. The official name of the event is called the Lunar New Year and Festival.

    The parade will down Mott and Canal Street. It will then make its way down East Broadway and head towards Manhattan Bridge, and it will ultimately end at Sara D. Roosevelt Park. During the parade, there will also be smaller activities going on in Chinatown NYC. It will have all sorts of street vendors and festivities.

11. 11

    Mission Chinese Food NYC

    Asian Restaurant in Chinatown

    

    Mission Chinese Food in NYC is a trendy and hip restaurant in Chinatown, Manhattan. The restaurant is heavily influenced on Sichuanese style cuisine and is geared towards millennials. This place with its electric funk atmosphere and dim lights is the place to be if you are looking for a cool evening hangout with amazing food. Be sure to try their Mapo Tofu!

12. 12

    Photo from Manhattan Bridge

    Other Attraction in Two Bridges

    

    A very famous photo motif of Chinatown with the One World Trade Center in the background can be taken from the Manhattan Bridge. The view is unique – especially at sunrise!

13. 13

    Apotheke: Discover one of the best speakeasy bars in NYC

    Bar in Chinatown

    

    If you know, you know. Apotheke in Chinatown is one of those speakeasy types of bars that are still super trendy to go to. It still maintains the classic look and almost speakeasy vibe from back in the days.

Attractions in Chinatown

Many of New York’s major New York attractions like the 9/11 Memorial & Museum or the One World Observatory are located in Lower Manhattan and are therefore easily reachable from Chinatown. But Chinatown also has some unique attractions to offer – namely these:

1. 

   01 CANADA

   One of the pioneers of the Chinatown gallery scene, CANADA opened in 2000 and has been a major institution, not a typical gallery, ever since.

2. 

   02 Columbus Park

   Columbus Park is the biggest park in Chinatown and is a great place to have a seat and watch life unfold around you. You will see that many of the locals meet here to do everything from play chess and exercise to just sitting down reading a book. It is a well known social hangout in the city and is a great place to sit down and have some of the street food you picked up in the nearby streets. 

   In the morning you will see people doing Tai Chi to fuel up for the day. In the afternoon there are mainly fortunetellers and people who play cards. During the warmer months, Columbus Park becomes a popular place to escape the tumultuous Chinatown.

3. 

   03 Front Room Gallery

   The Front Room Gallery has been a one stop shop for art enthusiasts since it opened in 1999. They are a contemporary fine arts gallery that started in Brooklyn and have moved to Chinatown on Hester Street. Many of their pieces are tied back to social responsibility including political, environmental, and social topics.

   Their focus is on exhibiting photography, conceptual and installation based work by emerging artists as well as mid-career ones with an emphasis placed primarily on photographic images but also including sculpture or video installations. The Front Room Gallery has exhibited the work of several artists, including Ken Ragsdale, Thomas Broadbent, Paul Raphaelson, Patricia Smith, Sean Hemmerle, and more. In addition to its exhibition program, the gallery also organizes artist talks, screenings, and performances.

4. 

   04 Magenta Plains Gallery

   Magenta Plains is a contemporary art gallery located in Chinatown directed by Olivia Smith, Chris Dorland and David Deutsch. Magenta Plains is a young gallery with a relatively small program that prioritizes artists with unique voices, like Ebecho Muslimova and Alex Kwartler. Their strength lies in the careful selection, prioritizing quality over quantity and fostering context and meaning for the development of new ideas.

5. 

   05 Mahayana Temple

   This is the oldest Chinese temple on the east coast of the united states. It is a beautiful expression of Chinese culture and architecture and is open to the public year-round. On the weekends you will also find Buddhist services taking place here often completely in Mandarin. Bring a dollar for a fortune!

6. 

   06 Museum of Chinese in America (MoCA)

   The Museum of Chinese in America is the place to go if you want to learn more about the Chinese culture and Chinese history in NYC. The main and permanent exhibition With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America is a great place to find out more about the last 160 years of Chinese history in NYC. With 2+ rotating exhibitions on top of this, the MoCa is definitely worth a visit.

7. 

   07 The Bloody Angle

   One of the things to do in Chinatown NYC is to visit Doyers Street or “The Bloody Angle”. This particular street has a lot of rich and dark history. This area is the location of New York City’s first Chinese language theater. On top of that, this street used to be one of America’s deadliest areas because of numerous shootings between organized gang members. Today, there’s a bunch of restaurants and is a very photogenic street.

Best Guided Tours

There are a lot of very popular tours where New York guides show you the best parts and the history of this neighborhood:

1. 

   01 Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest

   Explore the flavors and traditions of  New York’s Chinatown and Little Italy during this exciting food tour. You’ll leave with a full stomach and lots of interesting information about the history and culture of these two neighborhoods.

2. 

   02 Sidewalks and Skyscrapers: Street Art Is This Way

   This walking tour shows that there is also street art and graffiti worth seeing in Manhattan. You start your exploration in Soho, and then in two hours learn the stories behind the large and small works of art. Some of the graffiti is an impressive 20 meters high, so always have your cameras ready!

If guided tours interest you, be sure to check out the Best Walking Tours NYC!

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Best Restaurants in Chinatown NYC

Chinatown is a prime spot for food. From authentic noodles to roasted duck and amazing street food at the Canal Street Market, there are endless possibilities to satisfy any taste. We have listed our favorite restaurants below for you to try.

1. 

   01 Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

   The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory offers some of the most unique ice cream flavors in New York City.

2. 

   02 Great NY Noodletown

   Great NY Noodletown is a noodleshop, Chinese restaurant in Chinatown located right next to the Manhattan Bridge. Great insider tip for this area!

3. 

   03 Joe's Shanghai

   Here you get the probably the best duck in town. This restaurant has already won an award from the New York Times. Also recommendable is the Joe’s Shanghai soup with dumplings.

4. 

   04 Mission Chinese Food NYC

   Mission Chinese Food in NYC is a trendy and hip restaurant in Chinatown, Manhattan. The restaurant is heavily influenced on Sichuanese style cuisine and is geared towards millennials. This place with its electric funk atmosphere and dim lights is the place to be if you are looking for a cool evening hangout with amazing food. Be sure to try their Mapo Tofu!

5. 

   05 Nom Wah Tea Parlor NYC

   This vintage dim sum parlor dates back to the 1920s and is a great place to stop and grab a bite to eat. With an extensive menu that includes tea beer and wine, it is one of the local favorites to grab some authentic Chinese food. We recommend making a reservation online as it can get busy here during lunch and dinner. Make sure to try the house special roast pork buns – delicious!

• Vanessa’s Dumpling House (118 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002)

One of our favorite places things to do in Chinatown NYC is grab some authentic food, and if you like us, are looking for something to excite your tastebuds this is the place to go. Vanessa’s Dumpling House features a great menu of classics including dumplings, sesame pancake sandwiches, noodles, and soups. This place is definitely worth a visit if you are looking for some comfort food.

Looking for more recommendations? We’ve got you covered!

Here you find the Best Restaurants in Chinatown and the Best Chinese Restaurants in NYC.

Best Bars in Chinatown NYC

1. 

   01 169 Bar

   The bar is very popular with New Yorkers, the prices are sensational and the audience is mixed. Colourful is also the bar and for this reason alone worth a visit.

2. 

   02 Apotheke

   If you know, you know. Apotheke in Chinatown is one of those speakeasy types of bars that are still super trendy to go to. It still maintains the classic look and almost speakeasy vibe from back in the days.

3. 

   03 Bowery Beer Garden

   If you’re close to Chinatown, be sure to check out the Bowery Beer Garden. This open-air space is located at 93 Bowery and is more pandemic-friendly than other venues. Offering over 50 big-screen televisions and 40 different brews of beer, Bowery is NYC’s most extensive sports beer garden, so watching March Madness at this spot is a no-brainer! If you get hungry, be sure to opt for house specialties such as loaded garlic shrimp fries or beer garden wings. 

4. 

   04 Rooftop93 Bar & Lounge

   You will find the bar on the 18th and 19th floors of the Wyndham Garden Hotel. On the roof terrace you can have cocktails and enjoy the view of the One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building.

5. 

   05 The Crown

   The Crown Rooftop Bar in Chinatown is one of my newest highlights of the city and made it directly into our list of the best rooftop bars in New York. It offers probably the most beautiful view of Manhattan AND Brooklyn.

Looking for more recommendations? We’ve got you covered!

Here you find the Best Bars in Chinatown NYC and the Best Rooftop Bars in Chinatown NYC.

Shopping in Chinatown NYC

Chinatown NYC is filled with colorful shops packed with souvenirs and unique items. You will also see a lot of fakes like Louis Vuitton bags or Rolex watches.

Please keep in mind, if you do purchase any of the fake items, there’s a chance you might encounter problems going through customs.

There is also a great and very unique minimalist store called Project No. 8 and has selections from local designers. If you want your own personal chopsticks, check out Yunhong Chopsticks Shop. If you are looking for places to shop in Chinatown NYC however, all you need to do is take a stroll around.

Hotels in Chinatown NYC

If you are looking to stay in Chinatown, look no further. Below are our favorite places to stay:

1. 01

   Hotel 50 Bowery

   Hotels & Accommodations in Chinatown

   

   4 Stars | Hotel 50 in Chinatown New York is a stylish boutique hotel with a cool roof terrace and very stylish rooms. You’ll be right in the middle of the action and within easy walking distance of great spots like the Lower East Side, East Village and Soho. 

2. 02

   Mimosa Hotel Chinatown

   Hotels & Accommodations in Chinatown

   

   3 stars | The Mimosa is one of the most authentic and best value for money accommodations in New York’s Chinatown. Its location in the heart of this popular neighborhood makes it especially popular with Asian travelers. The rooms are always very clean and the service is excellent. 

3. 03

   Mulberry Hotel

   Hotels & Accommodations in Chinatown

   

   3 stars | The Mulberry is a basic hotel but in very good condition. Always clean and with attentive and efficient service and great value for money for this area of Downtown Manhattan. The best part? Some rooms even have terraces overlooking the city!

   Its location just a few meters from one of the city’s main subway stations makes it ideal for sightseeing and shopping days.

4. 04

   Walker Hotel Tribeca

   Hotels & Accommodations in Chinatown

   

   4 stars | This beautiful boutique hotel is strategically located between the Tribeca and Chinatown neighborhoods, two of the most unique areas of New York. Its location, combined with its beautiful design of sober lines and colors, makes the Walker Tribeca one of the ideal places to rest after a busy day discovering the city. 

5. 05

   Wyndham Garden Chinatown

   Hotels & Accommodations in Chinatown

   

   4 Stars | The hotel is located right in the middle of Chinatownand is a very popular one among tourists. Each room is equipped with a flat-screen cable TV and a fridge. From the suites’ balconies you can enjoy gorgeous views over the city. T A nice restaurant and bar in the hotel and enjoy the evening.

Recommended article: The Best Hotels in Chinatown NYC.

Neighborhoods Nearby

Here are some neighborhoods that are walking distance from Chinatown NYC:

Is Chinatown in NYC worth visiting?

What is Chinatown NYC known for?

What's the main street in Chinatown NYC?

How long do people spend in Chinatown?