NoLIta

Compared with SoHo, NoLIta (shorthand for "north of Little Italy") is the better place to hit for unique boutiques and quieter cafés. The area feels significantly more like a neighborhood where locals eat, shop, and live. A great place to stop for a break or picnic is DeSalvio Playground at the corner of Spring and Mulberry streets, where kids play on red, white, and green equipment (colors in honor of the Italian flag) and people play chess on stone game tables. Stores remain largely one-of-a-kind, and the indie shops featuring products from up-and-coming designers, quirky cafés, and modest eateries evoke the spirit of old SoHo.