Christmas is a magical time of year, and not just in the United States. In fact, more than two billion people in over 160 countries celebrate Christmas. The Dutch brought their legend of Saint Nicholas to New Amsterdam, which is now New York City, in the 1600s, and four centuries later, New York is a great place to enjoy Christmas traditions from around the world.

We spent a weekend exploring the city’s ethnic enclaves during the holiday season, and we shared our adventures on ABC Television’s The Daily Refresh.

Click to watch the video, then keep reading to get more details for each enclave, including maps with walking routes and subway stops so you can plan an international Christmas in New York of your own!

Little Italy
Link to map including nearest subway stop

• La Bella Ferrara — A bakery known for its many flavors of cannoli, they also carry traditional panettone and pandoro for the holidays.
• Original Vincent’s — Giuseppe and Carmela Siano established the restaurant in 1904; they serve a wide variety of Italian seafood perfect for a Feast of the Seven Fishes.
• Christmas in New York — This year-round retail store has two floors of Christmas decorations in every style and theme.
• Lunella — Excellent fried calamari and shrimp along with Italian-style cocktails and wine. Good for family-style meals as well as seasonal sidewalk dining for two.

Little Manila
Link to map including nearest subway stop

• Amazing Grace — They roast crispy and flavorful lechon kawali, the traditional Filipino deep-fried pork belly served with steamed rice.
• Phil-Am Food Mart — Since 1976, this grocery store has been the go-to resource for hard-to-find Filipino ingredients and foods.
• Kapamilya Restaurant and Bake Shop — They serve traditional fare including crispy pata, beef tapa, longanisa, kaldereta, mechado, adobo, and bicol.
• Red Ribbon Bake Shop — Incredible traditional cakes including ube chiffon, sans rival, brazo de mercedes rolls, and mamon in several flavors along with savory empanadas.

Little Poland
Link to map including nearest subway stop

• Greenpoint Sidewalk Clock — Of the seven sidewalk clocks designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, only this one — the Bomelstein Jewelers clock — is in Brooklyn.
• Christina’s Polish Restaurant — You’ll find traditional Polish fare including borscht, pierogis, kielbasa, bigos, and blintzes.
• Karczma — Traditional fare plus more unusual Polish offerings like white borscht served in bread bowls, pickle soup, tripe soup, and herring in cream sauce.
• Syrena Bakery — For 30 years, they’ve been baking babka (sweet braided bread), paczek (doughnuts), apple cake, and poppy seed cake.
• St. Stanislaus Kostka Church — The largest Polish Catholic congregation in Brooklyn; Pope John Paul II prayed here during his 1969 visit to New York.
• Pierozek — The only Polish restaurant in Michelin’s guide to America’s top restaurants; famous for their pierogi.

Germantown
The historic Little Germany neighborhood no longer exists in New York, but there are several wonderful German restaurants, bakeries, and beer gardens to enjoy throughout the city:

• Black Forest Brooklyn, 733 Fulton St.
• Der Pioneer, 737 Church Ave.
• Heidelberg Restaurant, 1648 2nd Ave.
• Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn, 4254 Arthur Kill Rd.
• Reichenbach Hall, 5 West 37th St.
• Schaller & Weber, 1654 2nd Ave. 
• Silver Moon Bakery, 2740 Broadway

See more from our international Christmas in New York on the We Married Adventure Instagram.

Looking for more ethnic enclaves in New York City that are brimming with holiday cheer? Check out Jamaica in Queens and Koreatown in Manhattan for delicious traditional food and festive decorations.

Where’s your favorite place to celebrate the holidays? Comment below and let us know!