Nolita

NoLIta—which stands for North of Little Italy—is one of Manhattan’s most picturesque and relaxed areas. Situated smack in the middle of several popular downtown neighborhoods, NoLIta blends the best of them all: the community feel and old world charm of Little Italy (which it was once a part of), the stylishness and sophistication of SoHo, and the history of NoHo.

Tiny NoLIta (encompassing only 16 square blocks) is the kind of place where neighbors stop for a chat when they meet each other on the street, and shopkeepers at its fashionable boutiques greet customers by name. NoLIta’s street life is some of the most vibrant in the city, with sidewalk cafes providing the perfect vantage point for people watching. Housing here is predominantly of the walk-up, mid-rise variety, contributing to NoLIta’s human scale.