New York is a beautiful melting pot of cultures and communities. Across the boroughs, you can find entire neighborhoods that will transport you to another place through the community represented there. It’s one of my favorite parts about living in New York City!
One such area is Little Ukraine, also called Ukrainian Village, located in Manhattan’s East Village. Today, about 80,000 Ukrainian Americans live in the neighborhood and keep the culture and legacy alive. As a Ukrainian, I’m particularly excited to share this fabulous neighborhood with you, from its history to the best things to do in Little Ukraine in NYC.
Let’s dive in!
Where is Little Ukraine NYC?
Little Ukraine NYC is in Manhattan’s East Village and sits between Houston St and 14th St, and 3rd Ave and Avenue A.
POSTS YOU MAY LIKE: How To Spend A Day In East Village
History of NYC’s Ukrainian Village
Are you curious to learn about how Ukrainian Village came to be?
The first wave of Ukrainians came to NYC in the late 1800s, but the largest group came after World War II. Over 60,000 in number, Ukrainians settled around East 7th St and quickly earned the neighborhood the nickname “Little Ukraine.”
Eastern European cultures are warm and community-oriented and the newly settled Ukrainians quickly developed a robust neighborhood of churches, schools, stores, delis, restaurants, bars, banks, museums, and cultural centers. At the time, the community was so tight-knit that people say they called Americans the foreigners.
Tom Birchard, the current owner of Veselka, a Ukrainian restaurant, reflects on what it was like for Americans to visit the establishment in the 1960s:
“Back in those days, there was no American menu…It was virtually impossible [for non-Ukrainain speakers] to come in and order something and get your food delivered to you accurately.”
Ukrainians held onto their heritage and roots strongly, and although that has naturally dwindled, the younger generation of Ukrainians has put in great effort to preserve the neighborhood.
POSTS YOU MAY LIKE: Little Paris: The Most Charming French Neighborhood In NYC
What to Do in Little Ukraine NYC
Little Ukraine is still a largely functioning Ukrainian community and there are many opportunities to experience and learn about the people, culture, and history.
Here is what to do in Little Ukraine NYC:
1. Eat Ukrainian Food
If you’ve never tried Ukrainian food, you’re in for a treat! There are several Ukrainian restaurants in Little Ukraine NYC for you to choose from:
- Veselka: Operating since 1954, Veselka is a classic in the community. The family-run restaurant started as a solely Ukrainian restaurant but now serves both Ukrainian classics and American diner-style food. I recommend the pierogi (the most classic options are potato, sauerkraut & mushroom, or cheese), borscht, and stuffed cabbage (holubtsi). Make sure you save some room for dessert for their award-winning blintzes, which are truly out of this world.
- Streecha Ukrainian Kitchen: For an un-Americanized experience, head to Streecha. Here you’ll find only Ukrainian food on the menu: pierogi, borscht, sausage with cabbage, and cake for dessert. It’s simple and unfussy but filled with Ukrainian soul. Since the invasion on Ukraine, Streecha opened its doors to community members to learn how to make vareniki and honor and celebrate the culture. You can see more of what they’re doing by following Streecha on TikTok here!
2. Ukrainian Museum
The Ukrainian Museum in Little Ukraine NYC has an impressive collection of traditional and contemporary art. With over 8,000 objects in the folk art collection and over 30,000 items in the archive – this is the largest collection of Ukrainian art outside of Ukraine!
Ukrainians are immensely creative people and have made huge contributions to art, music, and dance. At the museum, you can take a look back and see how these things have been preserved, and you can also see the contemporary work that artists are creating now.
POSTS YOU MAY LIKE: 9 Things To Do In Greenpoint Brooklyn
3. Arka
A visit to Arka is a must! This Ukrainian store opened in 1951 and sells Ukrainian gifts, traditional clothes like vyshyvanka (embroidered shirt) and scarves, and cultural items like pysanka (hand-painted wooden egg), as well as flags, pins, books, newspapers, and more.
4. Visit Taras Shevchenko Place
Taras Shevchenko is possibly one of the most notable names in Ukrainian history. Born in 1814, he was a poet, author, painter, and political figure. His work revolved around the Ukrainian people and nationalism. Everything he did was infused with a hope for freedom for Ukrainians and the flourishing of culture. Even centuries later, he’s largely revered and honored. And in Little Ukraine NYC, there’s a street named in his honor, Taras Shevchenko Place.
5. Go to the Annual Ukrainian Festival
Each year, the Ukrainian community hosts a festival with traditional and contemporary singing and dancing. It takes place annually on the weekend closest to May 17th and draws in Ukrainians from the entire region!
It’s a great opportunity to be immersed in Ukrainian culture, eat Ukrainian food, and support Ukrainian artists and vendors.
And that wraps up our guide to Little Ukraine NYC. How beautiful that right here in New York, we can participate in different cultures. It’s such a rich part of the city experience. If you’ve never been to Ukrainian Village in NYC or any other ethnic neighborhood, I really encourage you to check them out!