Bayard St, Chinatown

While Mott Street and Canal Street get the big mentions as thoroughfares of Canal Street, the much-overlooked Bayard in fact offers much more authentic charm, especially when it comes to eating and drinking. Avoid the faux-Vuitton-selling touts on Canal Street and head to this street, nestled in the heart of the Chinese community of New York. While non-Chinese speakers (or non-Chinese folks of all description) might find the place inaccessible for the long-term - although the more intrepid NYU students are increasingly seeking out Chinatown as the next trendy-but-cheap paradise - it's nevertheless an ideal day trip, with eateries like the Nice Green Bo Restaurant, Shanghai Cuisine, and Old Shang Hai Deluxe offering meals to tourists and locals alike at prices far better than can be found on the district's main thoroughfares. Or cook on your own: be sure to pick up plenty of spices at Hon Man's Chinese herbs. And don't forget to pick up dessert at the Chinese ice cream parlour nearby! All in all - an ideal vantage point from which to explore one of the city's most dynamic neighborhoods.

Bayard Street does not get the acclaim it deserves. It's a nice street with a lovely and clean vibe to it. It's not overly lively but it's not deserted either and it's extremely close to some of the more popular streets in the area. Bayard has it's own style though and it should be celebrated more often. Noddletown is one of the great treasures of the area, tucked into the corner of Bayard and Bowery. East Ocean Seafood has a strange menu that that more adventurous might enjoy but it offers the same poor service that many Chinese-themed restaurants in the area deal with.