Nolita

Nolita is a neighborhood in New York City that didn’t really exist until not too long ago, and now that it does, no one seems to know exactly what it means or just where it might be. The strange moniker in fact stands for the tiny space smashed between Little Italy, SoHo, NoHo, and the Lower East Side (you’ll see shreds of a few of these monikers in the name “Nolita” itself.) This small neighborhood, despite its tiny surface area and relative stealth appeal, does pack a definite punch.

For shoppers, Nolita features boutiques set to rival its primped and over-confident neighbor, SoHo--many of which are considered hipper and more on the edge of fashion than the bastions of couture to the west. Many stores have the eastern, bindi-dotted feel that’s become popular in recent years, but there are also a number of quality second-hand stores like Resurrection. Don’t confuse “second-hand” with “thrift,” however; the price tags always reflect the sophistication of the neighborhood. Eating well is sidling up right alongside fashion here as well—from Café Habana’s delicious Cuban treats to the pan Asian stylings of Rice and Mottsu, Nolita snubs those who call it merely “east SoHo.”

Residents of the area tend to be young professionals with hip, “NYC” occupations—dot commers, fashion photographers, stylists, and the like. The commercial space of Nolita is gobbled up by the young jet-set as well; you’ll find a tremendous number of ground floor boutiques, as well as upper story tech firms, graphic design studios, and programmer’s suites.

Most apartments in Nolita are modest-sized walkups and may lack the amenities you’ll find in the pricier, restructured spaces of SoHo and Tribeca. The tradeoff is in the relatively quiet neighborhood which is adjacent to basically everything you’d want in downtown Manhattan. SoHo to the west, great food on all sides, and the dirty rockstar nightlife of the Lower East Side are just a stone’s throw away. This area, especially around Broome Street, is a favorite for shooting rap and R&B videos as well, so if you’re into celeb spotting that isn’t just comprised of socialites dragging their heavy shopping bags around, look no further than Nolita.