Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World
Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - A Slice of Italy in America's Backyard
America may be known as the melting pot, but that doesn't mean immigrant cultures fully assimilate. Rather, strong communities form around shared heritage. For Italian Americans, regional Italian cuisine and culture live on in neighborhoods known as Little Italys.
While New York City and San Francisco boast the most famous, cities and towns across the country host their own versions. As Italian immigration boomed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Little Italys sprouted nationwide. They served as safe havens where new arrivals could speak their mother tongue, find jobs, and taste the flavors of home.
Over generations, these communities have evolved while retaining tradition and tight-knit character. A stroll down the street transports you across the Atlantic through aromas wafting from old-world bakeries, butcher shops, and grocers. Restaurant menus spotlight pasta, seafood, and other Italian staples sourced from local purveyors. Storefronts bear family names on signs older than their owners. Locals sip espresso at sidewalk cafes, catching up in rapid Italian.
For visitors, Little Italys offer memorable food tours and glimpses of authentic culture. Baltimore's Little Italy is barely a mile wide but home to dozens of eateries, qualifying Charm City as an underrated Italian food destination. Don't miss homemade gelato at Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop, in business since 1956.
Boston's North End dresses up each summer for feste. Strings of lights criss-cross above bustling stalls dishing cannoli and other desserts during the Feast of Saint Anthony in June. In July, the Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca Festival honors the fishermen who built this community.
Of course, the Little Italys of New York, Philly, Chicago, and San Francisco remain iconic. Tourists flock to New York's Mulberry Street to eat like Italian American mobsters at hot spots like Umberto's Clam House. Most make the obligatory stop at Lombardi's, America's first pizzeria, for an original coal-fired pie.
What else is in this post?
- Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - A Slice of Italy in America's Backyard
- Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Venturing to South America's Italian Enclaves
- Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Europe's Lesser-Known Little Italys
- Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Asia's Italian Communities Bring Mediterranean Flavor
- Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Little Italys Down Under Offer Vines and Vistas
- Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Africa's Italian Quarter Has Rich Heritage
- Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Canada's Italian Districts Charm Visitors
- Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Taste of Italy in the Caribbean's Little Italys
Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Venturing to South America's Italian Enclaves
While Europe understandably dominates discussions of Italian culture abroad, several South American countries also fostered vibrant Italian communities. Millions of Italians fled poverty and overcrowding around the turn of the 20th century, crossing the Atlantic for promise and opportunity.
Brazil welcomed the largest influx of any nation outside Italy. Today near São Paulo, Villa Bela hosts a monthly Italian festival with music, costumes, and Tuscan fare. The quaint mountain town oozes rustic Italian charm. Further south, Nova Veneza (New Venice) was founded by Italian gondoliers now immortalized in bronze statues around town.
In Argentina's capital of Buenos Aires, the San Telmo neighborhood serves as ground zero for Argentine-Italian culture. Cobbled streets lined with colonial architecture set the scene for weekly antique fairs. Cafes filled with the murmur of Spanish and Italian tout Buenos Aires' blend of influences. The food melds traditions too, like fugazza pizza made with South American flour. Visitors scarf down Argentinian-Italian staples like milanesas while discussing the latest fútbol match.
Meanwhile in Uruguay, tourists come to Colonia del Sacramento across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires. This 17th century port town exudes Italian undertones, from the gelato shops dotting the main drag to the chitarra pasta handmade by local women. Uruguay overall claims the highest per capita Italian population outside Italy.
In Chile's capital Santiago, walkways through Barrio Italia transport you to a southern European atmosphere. Flowering vines and ivy cloak stucco buildings in technicolor hues straight from Tuscan hill towns. While the neighborhood modernized over the decades, classic Italian restaurants and shops attest to an abiding Italian influence. Chile's Little Italy also hosts an annual Italian food and film festival.
Finally in Venezuela, the coastal city of Punto Fijo developed as a hub for Italian immigrants working for Royal Dutch Shell Oil. Italians established social clubs, sports leagues, and businesses while assimilating into Venezuelan culture. Punto Fijo celebrates this fusion at the annual Festival de la Orchila Italiana, where traditional dances share billing with staples like pasta and wine.
Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Europe's Lesser-Known Little Italys
Beyond the iconic Little Italys of Rome, Venice, and Florence lies a trove of under-the-radar Italian enclaves scattered across Europe. While Tuscany and Sicily soak up the limelight, these lesser-known pockets of Italian culture offer immersive Old World experiences without the crowds.
In the seaside city of Split along Croatia's Dalmatian Coast, an Italian influence permeates Diocletian's Palace in the Old Town. Narrow stone streets wind past Renaissance arches and stairways emitting scents of simmering ragù Bolognese from concealed kitchens. Locals effortlessly switch between rapid-fire Italian and Croatian, hinting at centuries of Venetian rule. Split's Little Italy dazzles during summertime festivals celebrating Italian cuisine and heritage.
Hop east to Montenegro, where Venetian merchants left an indelible mark on the walled city of Kotor. From lively piazzas flanked by pastel-hued buildings toseafood risotto made from local catch, Kotor feels mysteriously more Italian than Slavic. The medieval maze of cobblestoned alleyways transports you to another era as you weave toward an intimate trattoria redolent of garlic and olive oil.
Northern Montenegro's coast also claims Perast, dubbed the "Pearl of Venetian Baroque." This meticulously preserved village overlooking the Bay of Kotor enchants visitors with its dreamy seaside setting. Grab a seat at Café Jadran to sip Italian-style coffee as boats glide by against a backdrop of terra cotta rooftops and mountainous islands.
Hop a flight north to Kosovo's lively capital, Pristina, where Italian cafés and pizzerias proliferate thanks to 20th century migration. The Bathore neighborhood specifically echoes Italy, from its weathered pastel facades to street art and graffiti with Italian phrases. For authentic pizza al taglio, locals swear by Pizzeria Luciano.
Finally, the islands of Malta and Gozo exude an unmistakable Italian influence courtesy of past Carthaginian, Roman, and Sicilian inhabitants. Here you'll find Italy's most ubiquitous exports from espresso and gelato to poached swordfish and fresh ricotta. The main island of Malta claims two Little Italys—Tigne and Marsascala—where locals converse in Maltese-accented Italian interspersed with English and Arabic phrases.
Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Asia's Italian Communities Bring Mediterranean Flavor
Though Europe and the Americas often dominate discussions of global Italian culture, several Asian countries also harbor vibrant Italian communities that infuse local cuisine with Mediterranean zest. From bustling Chinatowns in cosmopolitan cities like Shanghai and Singapore to Little Italys sprouting up in surprising Asian locales, these budding Italian enclaves testify to the universal appeal of Italy's food and culture.
In China's gleaming first-tier cities, a rising middle class with money to burn fuels demand for luxurious European imports—and few boast cachet like the Italian dolce vita lifestyle. Consequently, Shanghai's former French Concession neighborhood transformed into a trendy Italian Quarter, with modish restaurants like Da Marco drawing crowds for wood-fired pizza and golden-crusted focaccia. Singapore's Duxton Hill similarly rebranded as a Little Italy, where converted shophouses now house chic Italian bistros and wine bars sought out by Singapore's elite.
Yet Asia's Italian communities extend beyond polished metropoles; Little Italys thrive in smaller cities and offer glimpses of authentic culture. In the port city of Qingdao on China's eastern coast, the historic German Quarter also encompasses a cozy Italian district where the chilled seafood, breezy seaside cafes, and La Dolce Vita-style nightlife transport you straight to the Mediterranean. Located in southwest China's mountainous Yunnan province, the riverside town of Lijiang is home to Rossi's Pizza, whose Sardinian owner wows locals and expats with his secret family dough recipe and meticulous adherence to Italian technique.
Similar stories unfold across Southeast Asia, where intrepid Italian restaurateurs are winning over locals and staining cities with Mediterranean hues. In Thailand's capital Bangkok, a growing Italian expat community spawned new trattorias and grocers importing Prosciutto di Parma and other Italian specialties to satiate locals' burgeoning appetite. Chiang Mai, Thailand's former capital nestled among jungle-shrouded hills, seems an unlikely place for Italy's footprint. Yet local foodies flock to Osteria de Chiang Mai for what they declare is the city's best Italian fare. Meanwhile in Vietnam, The Philippines and beyond, affordable fresh seafood and produce enable enterprising Italian chefs to share the authentic flavors of home—no matter how far from the motherland they roam.
Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Little Italys Down Under Offer Vines and Vistas
From the rugged Red Centre to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia entices visitors with diverse landscapes and exotic wildlife. Yet tucked away in cities and rural regions Down Under, Italian immigrants cultivated a taste of home. Today Australian Little Italys proffer authentic cuisine and heritage.
Italian miners and farmers put down roots in Australia as far back as the 19th century gold rush. Post-war migration brought hundreds of thousands more. Though Italians assimilated into the multicultural fabric, tightknit communities kept traditions alive. Little Italys sprung up nationwide as cultural and culinary hubs.
Melbourne’s Little Italy still thrives in the Carlton neighborhood, where checkered tablecloths spill onto narrow streets flanked by traditional trattorias and salumerias. Locals chatter in Italian outside beloved institutions like Pellegrini's Espresso Bar, which has slung strong coffee and hearty pasta since the 1950s. Don't miss the Lygon Street Festa in November to experience Carlton's essence.
In Sydney, the working-class suburb Leichhardt earned the nickname “Little Italy by the Bay” thanks to generations of Italian families. Along lively Norton Street, old-timers play bocce while gossiping in Italian, chefs hand-stretch pasta through aged wooden presses, and aromas of slowly simmering sugo drift from kitchens. Sydney's Little Italy captivates visitors with an insider's peek at Italian Australian culture.
Westward in the iron ore port of Perth, Fremantle’s historic Esplanade boasts several restaurants and cafes drawing on the area’s heavy Italian influences. Locals suggest Cicerello's for seaview dining and Continental delicacies like veal scallopine, while Mondo Butchers crafts traditional sausages and other takeaway fare from locally sourced meats and fresh pasta.
Beyond the cities, rural regions like Griffith in New South Wales soaked up Italian immigration. Italians pioneered winemaking in Griffith, now the heart of the Riverina wine route. Family vineyards like De Bortoli and McWilliam's welcome visitors for tastings of Italian varietals like Sangiovese. The town of Griffith also hosts La Festa, Australia's longest running Italian festival each October.
Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Africa's Italian Quarter Has Rich Heritage
Though often overlooked, Africa's Italian communities offer rich cultural immersion and retro Old World charm. Like their New World counterparts, these enclaves trace back to periods of mass exodus from Italy between the 19th and 20th centuries.
In Eritrea along the Red Sea coast, Asmara's Italianate architecture earns it the nickname "Little Rome." As their African colony, Italy left an indelible imprint on Eritrea through the early 1900s. Strolling Asmara's palm-lined boulevards and Art Deco buildings, you'll hear locals chattering in Tigrinya-accented Italian while drinking macchiatos. The Fiat Tagliero service station's futuristic airplane-wing design symbolizes Eretria's avant-garde Italian heritage.
Hopping west to Libya, Italian Libya thrived for decades under colonial rule. Local Italian communities centered in the port city of Tripoli, where the Arch of Marcus Aurelius survives amidst the ancient ruins. Libyan cuisine also absorbed Italian influences like pasta, seafood, and spices that endure at restaurants like Osteria dell' Orso. Through independence in 1951, many Italians remained to contribute to Libya's cultural mosaic.
In the Horn of Africa, Somalia's capital Mogadishu once flourished as a Roman trading port before Arab and Persian merchants arrived. Italians later sought control of Somalia's strategic coastline, and in the early 20th century developed Mogadishu into an architectural gem known as "The White Pearl of the Indian Ocean." Though conflicts left Mogadishu scarred, its bohemian Ocean View Hotel recaptures the nostalgia of Italian Mogadishu over candlelit seafood dinners.
Finally, Tunisia's Mediterranean coast absorbed waves of Italian immigrants who assimilated while importing their foodways. Local Tunisian-Italians maintain cultural centers like the Circolo Italiano on the island of Djerba, hosting events from cooking classes to cinema screenings that honor this hybrid heritage. The bilingual Tunisian-Italian community also fuels an upscale food scene in Tunis, where restaurants like La Favorita serve gnocchi and veal saltimbocca with North African spices—the essence of Italo-Tunisian fusion.
Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Canada's Italian Districts Charm Visitors
Though America's Little Italys garner attention, Canada quietly claims several charming Italian enclaves of its own, from giant Toronto to little fishing villages out east. These proud communities speak to Italian Canadians’ lasting mark on the country’s cultural fabric.
As Canada’s largest metropolis and one of the world’s most multicultural cities, Toronto offers many ethnic neighborhoods worth exploring. Little Italy captures hearts with its old-world ambiance and mom-and-pop eateries dishing aromatic braised meats, handmade pasta, and other traditional fare. Locals love sipping intense espresso at Café Diplomatico while chatting with staff in Italian. Or wander College Street while whiffs of fresh garlic and basil lure you toward hidden trattorias. Don’t miss sampling house-made gelato, cannoli, and other Italian desserts that earned Toronto’s Little Italy the nickname “Corso Italia.”
In snow-capped Montreal, Little Italy radiates southern European charm even in the icy Quebec winters. The Jean-Talon Market area brims with patisseries peddling buttery Italian cookies and pastries. Cured meats dangle from old-fashioned deli ceilings as patrons banter in French, English, and Italian. Enjoy the area’s energy before tucking into hearty pasta e fagioli or pizza rustica at a checkered-tablecloth café.
Canada’s seafaring Maritime provinces also embraced Italian immigrants, namely fishermen. In Nova Scotia, quaint villages like New Waterford host annual summer festas where locals celebrate their Italian roots with parades, music, and food. Nova Scotia’s acclaimed seafood owes much to Italian Canadian ingenuity.
Newfoundland claims strong Italian ties thanks to former fishermen like Giovanni Caboto, or John Cabot, who reached the island back in 1497. Today, families with names like Cozzetto and Martino have fished Newfoundland waters for generations. The oceanside town of St. Bride’s on the Cape Shore Peninsula exhibits a distinctly Italian flair, from the chile peppers drying on fishermen’s porches to the dark-haired children playing road hockey and conversing in Newfie-tinged Italian. The big Catholic families, hearty homemade gnocchi dinners, and vineyards producing Italian varietals transports visitors straight to the Old Country.
Mangia! A Taste Tour of the 12 Best Little Italys Around the World - Taste of Italy in the Caribbean's Little Italys
The tropical islands of the Caribbean evoke carefree beach vacations and laidback cultures, not old-world Italian enclaves. Yet unknown pockets of vibrant Italian communities from Cuba to Curacao season the region with Mediterranean zest. From the rum-soaked pirates’ dens of yore to exclusive celebrity hideaways, the story of how Italians left their mark on the Caribbean offers escapism and tasty culinary rewards.
On the rum-punch fueled island of Barbados, the UNESCO World Heritage capital of Bridgetown conceals a tiny Italian quarter whose origins trace back to the 19th century influx of Italians arriving to work the sugar plantations. Here they soaked up the Caribbean sun while filling the air with rapid-fire Italian banter and aromas of slowly simmering ragus. Bridgetown’s Italian merchants and restaurateurs have persevered through centuries of social change, adapting their Old World recipes to tropical island life. Sample the marriage of Italian technique and Bajan ingredients at cafes like Marco Polo Ristorante before browsing Italian-inspired woodcarvings and souvenirs in the rustic chattel houses.
Meanwhile on Cuba’s capital Havana, Little Havana East is one of the city’s most vibrant Italian communities—and a refreshing change from the tourist-clogged Old Town. Follow wafts of roasting garlic to hole-in-the-wall pizzerias and trattorias hidden inside once-grand colonial buildings. Long communal tables ooze familial camaraderie as patrons chat boisterously in Italian and Spanish between bites of octopus salad and rum-laced tiramisu. Here you’ll experience how generations of Italian families befriended locals while stirring their prized recipes into Cuba’s cultural melting pot.
The island of Curacao also claims a pocket of Italian culture in Willemstad’s Punda neighborhood. The area’s pastel colonial facades, narrow lanes, and sleepy plazas exude a distinctly Mediterranean charm. Taste why locals boast of having the Caribbean’s best Italian food at family-run favorites like Il Pirata, where the rotating menu depends on which gnocchi, risotto, or tagliatelle dish the chef crafts from scratch that day. Punda’s little Italy offers laidback sophistication indoors and people-watching at breezy alfresco cafes, all without the crowds of Willemstad’s tourist zone.