New York On Foot: Exploring Mott Street
For a day well spent, visit these favorite Mott Street spots, from exciting newcomers to hype-worthy classics.
Understatement alert: A lot is happening on Mott Street, an ever-bustling, narrow street flanked by Nolita and Chinatown. Walk around long enough and you’ll find Instagrammable cafes, trendy new restaurants, and fashion boutiques sandwiched between homey trattorias, fruit and seafood stalls. You’ll also find downtown fixtures beloved by both locals and tourists, like basement joint Wo Hop, which has been serving egg drop soup and chow fun since 1938. For a day well spent, start things off at Mott and Prince Street in Nolita. Then make your way toward Canal before eventually entering the heart of vibrant Chinatown. In short, the perfect day in New York City does exist. Below, we’ve shared some of our favorite Mott Street spots you ought to stop by along your stroll, from exciting newcomers to hype-worthy classics.
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For a bite….
Open since 2004, vegetarian and kosher restaurant Buddha Bodai is a Mott Street classic and a must-visit for those who follow a plant-based diet. The extensive, wallet-friendly menu at this Chinatown institution features spring rolls, wonton soup, various noodle dishes, dumplings, and so much more. Fear not, meat eaters: their plant-based versions of dishes like Peking duck and sesame chicken taste mind-bogglingly close to the real thing.
5 Mott St; T. (212) 566-8388
Pay a visit to Epistrophy, and you’ll feel the pulse of the neighborhood. Opened in 2005, the impossibly charming local joint is buzzing from morning to evening, packed with local patrons enjoying coffees, cocktails, and a menu of Sardinian recipes made with organic, locally sourced ingredients. Savor a plate of homemade Sardinian potato ravioli with a glass or three of wine for dinner, and pair your cappuccino with lemon ricotta pancakes for brunch at this people-watching hotspot.
200 Mott St; T. (212) 966-0904
It’s all in the name at this popular 65-seat Mott Street eatery, where flavor-packed dishes, like must-order, massaman curry-drenched Thai disco fries, are served in a kitschy diner-like space. Dreamt up by the team behind the late, great Uncle Boons and opened in early 2020, here, the tasty options are endless. We recommend ordering from the all-day breakfast menu no matter the time of day. Standouts include a plate of eggs and taro hash browns; babka French toast infused with Thai tea and served with a saucer of salty condensed milk; and, of course, those delicious disco fries.
186 Mott St; T. (646) 559-4140
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For refreshments…
Any New Yorker will tell you that Di Palo’s Fine Foods (est. 1910) is the place to go when craving psychotically fresh, housemade mozzarella. But really, it’s the place to go for every type of cheese lover—the family-run specialty grocer offers 300+ cheeses (including over 75 Pecorino Romanos from various regions of Italy). Also on the menu? Cured and cooked meats, pasta, olive oils, and more. Right next door, you’ll find C. Di Palo Wine Bar, which opened in 2019. Here, you can sit down in a dimly lit, intimate setting and enjoy some of those same mouth-watering-inducing products, as well as excellent paninis, wines from over 20 regions of Italy, and the antipasto platter to end all antipasto platters.
151 Mott St; T. (646) 476-2014
Mott Street is teeming with excellent Chinese bakeries and bubble tea spots, and this new kid on the block fits right in. The pint-sized joint’s menu is massive, with an inventive variety of bubble teas, fruit teas, coffees, and more. For a taste of Hong Kong, it’s all about their Hong Kong-style milk tea, a velvety-smooth black tea and evaporated milk concoction. Laankee also serves Hong Kong street food staples, like egg waffles and curry fish balls. Did we mention they also make one of the most perfectly pillowy pineapple buns in town? They’re served warm, stuffed with a chunk of butter, and are life-changing. Tip: Don’t sleep on their refreshing, amazing-tasting “Iced Lemon Coffee.”
79A Mott St; T. 917-656-1693
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For the ultimate pamper session…
Husband-and-wife team Shinnosuke and Megumi Kida opened this charming, sun-filled Japanese barbershop and salon on the corner of Broome and Mott back in 2014. One step inside the retro, rustic space feels like home. Up front, master barbers give reasonably priced haircuts, portion cuts, buzz cuts, razor beard trims, and more. In the back, you’ll find a full-service hair salon where cuts, color, blowouts, scalp massages, and more are all on offer. Trust the glowing Google reviews, book an appointment, enjoy the superb service and laidback atmosphere, and feel free to thank us later.
369 Broome St; T. 212-219-0246
Skincare junkies, this one’s for you. Make your way to Senti Senti (f.k.a. oo35mm), a jewel box-sized cosmetics boutique whose masterfully curated shelves overflow with reasonably priced skincare products, mostly from K-Beauty and J-Beauty brands including Hado Labo, Beauty of Joseon, and COSRX. Looking for that skin-soothing rice-infused toner and the brightening and skin-repairing snail mucin essence that you have been seeing all over TikTok? Senti Senti will make your skincare shelfie dreams come true.
81 Mott St; T. (718) 496-8163
WORDS Alex Catarinella