Ferrara Bakery & Cafe

Ferrara Bakery & Cafe has been on Grand Street since 1892, and stepping into its dining room reveals another side of Little Italy: pastry as an everyday ritual, not just a souvenir from a walk. The family business makes cannoli, sfogliatelle, gelato and more than 200 Italian specialties, alongside coffee, brunch and café dishes. Indoor tables and display cases full of pastries make it a useful pause between Mulberry Street, Nolita and Chinatown; you can also take something away and continue your route.

Comments often focus on cannoli, sfogliatelle, coffee and cakes, as well as the experience of sitting in a long-running family business. Some visitors find certain prices high or report differences in freshness and service, so choose from the display and ask which items have just been made. The listing checked showed 4.4/5 from 7,718 reviews. To keep spending down, one pastry and an espresso may be enough; brunch and signature drinks turn it into a more substantial meal.

Ferrara is at 195 Grand Street, between Mulberry and Mott, New York, NY 10013; phone (212) 226-6150. It opens from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; table service ends half an hour before closing. Brunch is served daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To get there, leave the subway near Canal or Grand Street depending on the line and walk through Little Italy. The official website links to Facebook and Instagram and publishes menus and hours.