Besides Chinatown and Little Italy, NYC also boasts Little Tokyo, a compact area in East Village that houses several Japanese tea rooms, restaurants, and bars. Unlike its Italian and Chinese counterparts, Little Tokyo is less well-known and more authentic.
My favorite place, Sake Bar Decibel, is hidden down a nondescript flight of stairs. You can find over a hundred varieties of sake to choose from such as sparkling, hot etc. from different areas of Japan, as well as regional food specialties like okonomiyaki (which is a popular savory pancake from Osaka.)
Hipsters, students, and working professionals abound in this dark and quaint underground bar. Come early, but expect to wait a little, especially if you come over the weekend. In this neighborhood you can also find Angel’s Share, which is a popular Japanese speakeasy one block over, and Cha-An, a Japanese tea house with many varieties of tea and Japanese desserts.
Find your way with 301 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Games of Professional Baseball in New York doesn't just mean watching the Yankees play and paying 100s of dollars: watch a Class A game for much cheaper!
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"Rubenstein Atrium" in New York's Lincoln Center has a free performance every Thursday night. I recommend you try to arrive around 18:30 to catch a seat.
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"Revson Fountain" at the Lincoln Center in NYC is one of the results of the renovation that started in 2006. It's spectacular and a must-see!
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"Gray's Papaya" in New York equals classic hot dogs. This place has been here at least 45 years, and it's easy to see why. Great people-watching spot too.
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"Paris Cinema", est. 1948, is the last single screen cinema in NYC today; what irony that it was saved from closing by Netflix itself...
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The White Clam Sauce linguine is classic. So much is served that what can’t be eaten on the spot can be taken home and easily reheated the next day,
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At the "American Legion Post 398" in New York City I get to hear jazz played the old fashioned way, Harlem in the '30s, '40s and '50s...
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"A Great Day in Harlem" is an important photo of 58 jazz greats taken in 1958 in NYC. The building on 126th Street where it was taken is still there...
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The 13-mile Hudson River Greenway in NYC, which begins at the George Washington Bridge, is the most heavily used bike trail in the USA...
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"New Plaza Cinema" in NYC has one mission: to show independent, foreign and classic films. It is run by a grassroots group; how long will it survive?
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"Manny's Bistro" is a French bistro in my neighborhood in New York. Susan & I prefer to sit at the bar, which makes us belong & contribute to the scene...
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"The Elevated Acre" is in the middle of the Financial District in NYC, but you would never see it when passing by - this park is hidden above street level!
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