5.6 out of 10

Mott St, Chinatown

Ranked 9th best street in Chinatown
40.7153457969213 -73.9986585151519
Great for
  • Eating Out
  • Shopping Options
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Public Transport
  • Resale or Rental Value
Not great for
  • Parking
  • Pest Free
  • Clean & Green
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Parks & Recreation
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists

Reviews

3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 4/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Well, it's better than Canal"

That "other" shopping street in Chinatown, Mott Street gets much of its identity from comparison to nearby Canal Street, whose designer-knockoff handbags, electronics, scarves, gloves, and tchotchkes have become synonymous with the New York underground shopping scene itself. Mott Street, however, is a fair bit more tolerable. You've got a better chance of finding interesting stuff here - unless you're looking for something label-heavy and wearable. Chinese antiques, obscure herbs and cooking ingredients, and dinnerware are all on offer here. Head to Ting's Gift Shop on nearby Doyer Street for some of the best Chinese merchandise in the city, sold by one of the area's longest-running mercantile families. Canal Street nearby, with its dubious legality and whiff of danger, should be avoided by all but the most hardcore fashionistas. If you're interested in dining in the area, be prepared for a mix of touristy-Chinese places and the "good stuff" - do some advance research to know which is which. Try Vietnamese-Chinese "fusion" place Pho 21, or go traditional with the long-standing Peking Duck House, which serves exactly what its name implies.
Pros
  • Where else can you buy Chinese medicinal herbs?
  • Chinese food
  • Slightly dodgy handbag shopping (more on Canal St)
Cons
  • Crowded and noisy
  • Dirty
Recommended for
  • Tourists
  • Hipsters
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
2yrs+

"Great shopping and food"

Mott Street changes significantly as you travel south but it has a lot to buy and a lot to eat the whole way down. The corner of Mott and Bleecker has Soho Billiards. It's a huge billiard house that can be quite seedy. I would, personally, rather play at Fat Cat. And, I love the name of it considering it's not in Soho . . . not even within a block of Soho.
Just south of Houston there are a number of great boutiques like Calypso and Sigerson Morrison. I love Calypso. I always feel like I really am on a vacation when I walk into this store. Only Hearts is just a block south on this street and I friggin love this store. I go into it everytime I walk down Mott. Lombardi's Pizza is a bit further down. It was the first pizza place in Manhattan (late 1800's) and most people argue that it is the best. I don't think the pizza is all that special and the place always has an enormous wait. But, it's kind of something you have to do in New York and I do always have fun here. Plus, even bad pizza is still good.
South of Grand puts you into Chinatown territory. It's a drastic change as far as scenery and vibe but there are a lot of cool restaurants on this street all the same. Manna House Bakery has great dumplings. But for a full- on Chinese food bonanza, I would suggest Wo Hop. It's further south and it is amazing.
Pros
  • Where else can you buy Chinese medicinal herbs?
Cons
  • Dirty
  • Heavily Tourist trafficked and busy
  • Quite boring at nighttime
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • Students
3/5
2yrs+

"Mott Street is a great place to shop"

Located between Pell Street and Chatham Street, Mott Street has some of the best shopping. The reason it is so unique is because it has a lot of Chinatown style shopping and dining areas. Every time I go there I always come back with a bag full of eclectic stuff. It is relatively inexpensive and makes a fun day trip for a family or even couples. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for something a little different.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
5/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Find your inner peace"

Ah Mott. St. The center of China town in NYC. Mott St. is full of Chinese food and retail. Dont get me wrong they have your McDonald"s there to but I wouldn't recommend it. I went one time and only available food was fish. Little shops surround both sides of the street. Shops where you can find hello kitty and other characters. Its a street where one can learn to appreciate other cultures.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
5/5
2yrs+

"The beating heart of Chinatown"

Chinatown’s “Main Street” is full of tourists, crowds, and life. A great place to visit, with tons of places for a cheap meal – or cheap name brand knock-offs. I love visiting the souvenir shops for the cheap goods, even if most of them don’t last long. The north end of the street has some Italian flavor, such as Lombardi’s pizzeria.
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 2/5
  • Pest Free 2/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 2/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 2/5
  • Parking 2/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"The heart and soul of Manhattan's Chinatown"

Mott Street is often considered to be the main artery of New York City’s Chinatown. This street which extends from St James Place in the south to Bleecker Street in the north is decidedly Chinese character as it hosts several excellent Chinese restaurants like my personal favorites Singapore Café( delicious Hainanese chicken rice, Singapore chili crab), Fay Da Bakery(red bean buns and jasmine tea), Shanghai Café( juicy pork dumplings) , Ten Ren’s Tea time( teas from the famous Taiwanese tea store-Ten Ren) and Ajiichiban (which sells preserved and dried fruits which constitute Chinese candy).
Mott Street which lies both north and south of Canal Street is also home to several Chinese fruit and vegetable sellers who carry various exotic Chinese fruits and vegetables like young ginger, Chinese winter melon, bak choy, bean sprouts and fruits like star fruit, rambutans, litchis, longans, durian and mangosteens. In this respect Mott Street mainly caters to the needs of Chinatown’s residents who are often seen shopping for fruits and vegetables on their way home from work. Aside from fruit and vegetable sellers, Mott Street is also home to good Chinese optician outlets like Mott Street Opticals and Eye Solutions which offer eye exams, designer frames and contact lenses at prices which are substantially lower than elsewhere in the city.
Pros
  • Extremley fresh and reasonably vegetables and fruits are available at Mott Street's many vendors
  • Many Good Optician stores that offer reasonably priced services and eye glasses
  • Chinese food
  • Slightly dodgy handbag shopping (more on Canal St)
  • Where else can you buy Chinese medicinal herbs?
Cons
  • Heavily Tourist trafficked and busy
  • Quite boring at nighttime
  • Crowded and noisy
  • Dirty
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 1/5
  • Pest Free 1/5
  • Peace & Quiet 2/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 5/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 1/5
  • Cost of Living 1/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Excellent eats, lively street"

Mott Street, unlike its grotesque parallel neighbor Mulberry Street, pretty much sidesteps the “Little Italy” visuals and faux-Italian tourist traps and restaurants. The Italian part has now faded into history, and it stays pretty authentically Chinese, right up to Kenmare Street. After that it becomes part of fashionable Nolita. The comparison with Mulberry can be a striking one. It's actually fun to hop from Mott, to Mulberry, to Mott again, and feel like you've crossed over to another universe with a few short steps. Mott Street is lined with fishmongers, Chinese specialty shops, and a number of wholesalers—fairly typical Chinatown feel. Above Canal, the street stinks powerfully of fish—and I mean powerfully—even in the evening when the vendors are gone, and even in wintertime. How any residents of this street survive the stench in the summertime is beyond my imagination. Below Canal, the street is lively and the kitschy little shops are totally inviting. You can also duck down any of the side streets for fantastic dumplings places. Mott Street does a little curve before it ends abruptly at St. James Place, but that curve gives the street an intimate, neighborly feel. Up at the Nolita end, Cafe Gitane near Prince has incredible Sunday brunch, but it's always packed.
Pros
  • great cafes and boutiques
  • Where else can you buy Chinese medicinal herbs?
  • Extremley fresh and reasonably vegetables and fruits are available at Mott Street's many vendors
Cons
  • Dirty
  • Crowded and noisy
  • Heavily Tourist trafficked and busy
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"A blending of cultures"

One of the many fantastic things about New York is the blending of different cultures and the way a new and independent vibe has grown from this clash of cultures. A great example of this can be found in Mott Street where the Chinese and Italian areas are now overgrowing each other, which is shown perfectly by the Double Happiness lounge, which carries both backgrounds in a manner that is aesthetically pleasing.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 3/5
  • Safe & Sound 3/5
  • Clean & Green 3/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Cost of Living 3/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 3/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Packed with people, but has good food to offer"

Mott Street in Chinatown is home to some pretty great Chinese restaurants – if you are feeling like you can brave the crowds that the area draws in. One place that I have to recommend everyone go is Big Wong King – and you can get takeout and take it away from the crowded area if you so desire. I wouldn’t want to live in this area, as it almost always is too crowded to walk at a normal pace.
5/5
2yrs+

"Great vegetable and fish markets"

Mott St. runs from Bleecker St to Chatham Square. Traditionally part of Little Italy and Chinatown, today is predominantly Chinese. This street has different characteristics depending on where you are. Between Bleecker St and Broome St, you find fashionable restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. Between Broome St and Canal St, there is a large number of Chinese vegetable and fish markets. I often walk down there to buy good quality food for an extremely cheap price. It is definitely worth the walk. South of Canal, good restaurants are available to delight you with Chinese specialties.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"More downhome than touristy"

While Canal Street and Mullberry Street garner the attention of tourists Mott Street has the heart of locals in it's hand. Mott offers great authentic Chinese food at great prices. North of Broome things become a bit trendier with higher class cafes and stores lining the street. Lombardi's Pizzeria is located on Mott and is famous for it's pizza.
4/5
2yrs+

"The HEART of Chinatown"

Are you looking for good Chinese food? How about great dumplings? Or Bubble Tea? Or Noodles? This is the street to come to for some of Chinatown's best "Hidden Gems" and top restaurants. You can't really go wrong with the restaurants lining both sides of the street, especially Singapore Cafe, TenRen's teah house for awesome bubble tea, or regular tea, or fruit drinks, served hot or cold. You can then hop in next door to their teashop which offers some of the best variety of pure white tea, green tea, black tea, and oolong tea outside of Asia. For some great karaoke,try 39 Mott st, underground, and stop by next door for some noodles, but watch out because the line is always long. This area is great, always thriving with people and vibrant. It's a bit of a walk from the subways, so dress warmly in the colder months! Living here guarantees two things however: noise and bugs, so be weary of any cheap apartments in the area. I recommend visiting this street on a tour of New York, definitely worth the stop!
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
3/5
2yrs+

"nolita to chinatown"

this is the main street of two of the most prominent neighborhoods in new york city. Houston st marks the start of the nolita area (north of little italy) where pockets of independent retailers and restaurant/cafe types are located... walk further down south and you will hit Chinatown... recognized by the swarms of Chinese people hawking their fresh and dried food produce at some of the lowest prices within Manhattan.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
4/5
2yrs+

"True China town- high on authenticity low on tourism."

Mott Street runs north to south between Chatman Square to Bleeker Street. It's an extremely busy and narrow road that has become a second main street within Chinatown. While Canal St is a huge tourist mecca Mott street has focused more on meeting the needs of residents. Chinese fruit and vegetable markets and fish markets are common in the area. When traveling to Mott it would be best to take public transportation. Many hours have been lost in traffic on the congested road. It's proximity to mass transit makes it a really convenient option, although tourists will likely enjoy the finds on Canal street better than those on Mott Street.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
4/5
2yrs+

"Eat and grocery shop..."

...so you can go home and eat some more. Seriously, if Chinatown had a "restaurant district," I would say Mott St. is it. Check out Harmony Palace (Mott and Canal) for a good place to bring out of town friends. Since its been renovated, it's seriously kind of swank/tacky. It'll impress people who are afraid of the grittiness (and Healthy Department doubts) of most Chinatown restaurants. Across the street, there's another place that's become more the local hangout since Harmony Palace upped their prices due to renovation. The restaurants down these two blocks are local favorites of mine.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
3/5
2yrs+

"Mott Street in China"

Mott Street has great shopping, with an antiques shop or two and some fantastic shops in general, much better than anything you can find in Chinatown! You can go to Ting's Gift Shop (18 Doyer St.;one of the oldest operating businesses in Chinatown. It sells good-quality Chinese proucts of a hight quality.
Mott Street is well located and has some great finds for those who like spending a Saturday hunting for unique finds!
1/5
2yrs+

"Nice but average"

When you come to this street you see that it is quaint and has some decent shops to look around in. The food is good too but nothing you can't get from any takeout place near your area. Also, when compared to other streets in NY this one pales in comparison. The place has friendly people and some shops but nothing that would warrant coming to NY just to see. I recommend coming here just so you can see you have been.
Recommended for
  • Families with kids
5/5
2yrs+

"Heart of China Town"

One of my favorite places to visit in the city is China Town. Mott St is at the heart of the China Town shopping area. Tons of great Chinese markets and eateries, as well as the hot spot for those designer knock off bags.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
5/5
2yrs+

"Good Old Chinatown"

Mott Street proves to display the most interesting of Chinatown's off Canal shopping. A variety of antique shops are dispersed among the tiny storefronts, many of whom sell different varieties of classic authentic blue-and-white Chinese dinnerware. Want to feel some of the history of Chinatown? Just around the corner, peek into Ting's Gift Shop which is by far one of the oldest operating businesses in Chinatown. The gift shop not only features an authentic vintage pressed-tin ceiling, it also sells quality Chinese items such as toys and lanterns.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
5/5
2yrs+

"Chinatown, My Chinatown"

One of the great streets in New York is Mott St from Worth to Canal. This is the life line of chinatown in ny. The street is vibrant with all types of restaurants and stores. My fav is Wo-Hop upstairs at 15 Mott St. The prices are reasonable and they are open late till about 3 am. Try the bakery up the block with the pink exterior.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

Best Streets in Chinatown

1

Pell St

3.5/5
"Off Chinatown's beaten path"
40.7148154873255 -73.9979997819559
2

Bayard St

3.5/5
"A fun find!"
40.7156323498989 -73.9984919839345
3

Mosco St

3.5/5
"You must go to Mosco"
40.7144476266189 -73.9996177098977
4

Mulberry St

3/5
"Great Semi-Quiet Neighborhood"
40.7158267067494 -73.9993609211733
5

Lafayette St

3/5
"Add some music to your day"
40.717160117627 -74.0016897555651
6

Catherine Ln

3/5
"More than just great food"
40.7162780020931 -74.0035029959039
7

Doyers St

3/5
"A San Francisco Street in NYC"
40.7143062466467 -73.997886325689
8

Centre St

3/5
"Stay on the right side of the law"
40.7163333661455 -74.0012548756589
9

Mott St

3/5
"Find your inner peace"
40.7153457969213 -73.9986585151519
10

Hogan Pl

2.5/5
"Convenient, Clean, Busy"
40.7152305000744 -74.0006584998807

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