San Gennaro Festival
September 12-22, 2024
Yes all, it’s that time of year again, the air is crisper, kids are back to school and it’s the official start of the Fall Season across country welcoming back the Feast of San Gennaro!
Here in New York, we are celebrating the 98th year of the festival and it continues to bring people from across the globe!
Approximately 1 million people are expected to take part of the celebration. From games, events, traditional celebrations and parades and the Grand Procession on Saturday, September 14th at 2pm, there is something for everyone.
And of course, there is food! Some of the oldest and best Italian restaurants and specialty vendors will be ready to serve you from sun up and sun down. Load up their famous sausage and peppers, cannoli and zeppole (my personal favorite and greatest you’ll ever have)!
If it’s your first time I suggest you take your time, walk around and take it all in – but below are a few suggestions of my favorite spots.
1) Pasquale Jones
www.pasqualejones.com
-Fantastic location to grab dinner at the festival with a great view.
-One of the best wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and veal shank in NY.What they lack in a full bar (beer and wine only) they make up in the wine selection
3) Da Nico
www.danicoristorante.com
-Full confession, I am not the biggest fan of the festival restaurants, but Da Nico is a New York Staple
-You may have to wait for a table, as it is an intimate space, but I guarantee it will be worth it
3) Café Palermo
www.cafepalermo.com
-One of the BEST cannoli’s you will ever have!
-Nicknamed “Cannoli King” this local fav has the best coffee and desserts in Little Italy!
-If you cannot score a coveted seat in the café, they have a major outpost on the street during the festival with a full confection selection.
4) Café Roma
385 Broome Street
-Since 1891 Café Roma has been an outpost for some of the best coffee and Italian desserts
-Like taking a step back in history, Café Roma looks almost exactly as it did when it first opened over a century ago
5) Italian American Museum
www.italianamericanmuseum.org
-The Italian American Museum is a must when visiting Little Italy.
-It offers tours, movies and an up close and personal view of life in Little Italy as an Italian Immigrant.
6) St. Patrick’s Basilica
www.oldcathedral.org
-The Original St. Patrick’s Cathedral is still New York favorite and active church in the community.
-It’s open to visitors and mass each day and just recently had a restoration to restore is original beauty
Head down to Mulberry Street to be a part of this almost century old tradition!
Tempo Per Festeggiare!!
