You may have heard of Astoria before; in fact, if you live in New York City, it’s more than likely you have. But have you ever visited this Queens neighborhood that is rapidly growing in popularity? In 2023, Forbes named Astoria as a neighborhood to watch. Here’s why.
One attribute Astoria is most well known for is its amazing restaurants, and the neighborhood has no shortage of them. In the Astoria-Ditmars area alone, Ditmars Boulevard is packed with restaurants that attract large crowds throughout the day. The Greek restaurants in Astoria particularly shine, with Taverna Kyclades being one of the most popular.
More than just restaurants, there are a plethora of other Greek-owned businesses scattered across Astoria. Greek coffee shops, grocery stores, and bakeries adorn the streets of this neighborhood, and festivities abound during the annual Greek Festival.
It’s easy to find classic Greek food wherever you go in this section of Astoria. Souvlaki stands and trucks are within a few blocks of each other, and Greek bakeries sell sweets like loukoumades, baklava, and galaktoboureko. Freddo cappuccinos, espressos, and frappes, traditional Greek coffees, are also available at Greek coffee shops.
To Laiko is one of these coffee shops. They sell savory Greek pies such as spanakopita (spinach pie), tyropita (cheese pie), as well as other baked goods. Located just a short walk from the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard train station, this is a convenient destination for people taking the train there.
Though the Greek influence in this area is immense, other ethnic groups have also made their mark in the neighborhood. There is an abundance of Italian bakeries in Astoria specializing in traditional Italian sweets and pastries, but also sell bread and more modern desserts; a few examples are Rose and Joe’s, Gian Piero Bakery, and Il Fornaio Bakery. Rosario’s, a classic Italian grocery store and deli, along with Sal, Kris, and Charlie’s Deli, which sell Italian subs, are also considered staples of the neighborhood.
Other cultures have made their way into the neighborhood as well. Due to the large number of Egyptian-owned businesses along Steinway Street, the area has been termed “Little Egypt.” Along with these Egyptian owned businesses, various other North African and Middle Eastern businesses also reside in the area.
Al-Sham Sweets and Pastries, Mombar, and Duzan are a few of the businesses around Steinway that offer an array of Middle Eastern and Egyptian food; shawarma, kofta, and an assortment of meat and fish dishes, as well as sweets such as baklava and kunefe, are some of the foods that can be found in Little Egypt.
Ethnic enclaves across the city offer people a home away from home; even thousands of miles away from their home countries, immigrants can feel as though they are back in their motherland, sipping a freddo espresso in Greece, eating a piece of sugar-soaked baklava crusted with pistachios in Turkey, or munching on traditional cookies at a bakery in Italy.
Want a cup of coffee? Many independent coffee shops are present in Astoria, offering residents a nice alternative to the ubiquitous Starbucks locations scattered across every corner of the globe. Mighty Oak Roasters is a coffee shop selling a variety of beverages made with wood-roasted beans as well as the beans themselves. Kinship Coffee has several locations around Astoria, one of them just by Astoria Park. It has gained popularity for roasting their own coffee beans, making the coffee fresher than most.
Under Pressure Coffee is a newer coffee shop that offers customers traditional coffee drinks as well as Greek coffees. They also sell an assortment of pastries, including Greek spinach and cheese pies, similar to To Laiko.
But Astoria residents do not have to rely solely on coffee shops for their fill of delicious desserts and pastries, as there is no shortage of bakeries offering delectable sweets at every corner of the neighborhood. In addition to the aforementioned bakeries, there are other bakeries to which it is worth paying a visit. Martha’s Country Bakery is a classic, and spots like Sweets by Linda, La Guli Pastry Shop, and Bench Flour Bakers have also become popular in Astoria for their offerings.
These bakeries only scratch the surface of the wide array of desserts available in Astoria. The best way to find a new place to eat, in my opinion, is to simply pick a direction to walk in and see what pops up. You’re bound to find something great.
While food is an important part of Astoria’s culture, it’s not the only benefit of the neighborhood. There are many things to do in Astoria beyond getting something to eat.
Astoria Park is a large swath of land, almost 60 acres in total. In the summer, people lounge on blankets and hammocks strung up between trees. Dogs run through the grassy areas, and kids play on the newly renovated playground. A large track surrounds a soccer field, populated by people jogging, walking, and playing soccer. Astoria Park’s location next to the East River also makes it a popular walking destination for pedestrians, and just across the river is Randalls Island.
Astoria Park’s size makes it ideal for visiting in the summer with a group. It’s large enough that, even on a beautiful day, there is usually plenty of space for the people who flock to the park to spend their time. The park comes alive in the summer, with music flowing through speakers, children running around, and people enjoying the environment of the park. Various events throughout the year take place at Astoria Park — the park’s annual fireworks show always attracts a large crowd — and make the park a welcoming environment. Its pool, one of the only free pools in the Astoria-Ditmars location, is also a hotspot for young children and families in the summer.
Astoria, especially the area around Ditmars Boulevard, is gentrifying. In a short walk from either of the train platforms at Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard, one is bombarded by several large chain stores: TJ Maxx, Burlington, Taco Bell, McDonalds, and Krispy Kreme, to name a few. But interspersed with these large businesses are mom-and-pop shops, and walking a few blocks in any direction quickly gives way to many smaller businesses worth visiting. At a time when huge franchises seem as though they are taking over the world, it’s important to patronize smaller, locally owned businesses whenever possible.
The neighborhood’s only bookstore, Astoria Bookshop, is tucked into a side street and easy to miss when walking by. Despite its quiet exterior, the inside of the bookstore is often packed with people browsing the hundreds of books on the shelves. I love to read, and I could spend hours in Astoria Bookshop, perusing its wide selection of books.
Quincy, the owner’s dog, is a frequent addition to the bookstore, livening people’s spirits and (maybe) enticing them to buy a book or two. Their large selection of books and full calendar of events keeps the bookstore busy with readers eager to fulfill their passions.
Astoria residents who want to visit a museum don’t have to travel far to do so — the neighborhood has two fascinating museums at the public’s disposal. The first one, the Museum of the Moving Image, showcases the history and role of media in popular culture over the years. The museum has several exhibitions open at a time, including the popular Jim Henson Exhibit. They also screen various movies throughout the year, ranging from Clueless to Joe Versus the Volcano. Watching a movie at the MOMI or visiting an exhibition is a nice way to spend a rainy day. Depending on your age, tickets can be anywhere from 10 to 20 dollars; free general admission is offered on Thursdays from 2 to 6 P.M.
Art lovers can also visit the Noguchi Museum, an art museum dedicated to the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. The museum presents the sculptures and works of art created throughout his life to the general public. General admission is $16; students with an ID and seniors pay only $6 for a ticket. General admission is free for all on the first Friday of the month, although reservations are encouraged beforehand.
Astoria has been growing in popularity recently — and for good reason. Its proximity to Manhattan, its incredible variety of restaurants, and its attractions available to residents all make it a neighborhood that has both the residential charm of suburbia and the vibrant nightlife of a big city.
If you’ve never been to Astoria before, hopefully this article will give you an idea of what to expect. Astoria is a great neighborhood to visit, especially in the summer when the air is practically buzzing with energy. There’s plenty to do and see — why not stop by?
If you’ve never been to Astoria before, hopefully this article will give you an idea of what to expect. Astoria is a great neighborhood to visit, especially in the summer when the air is practically buzzing with energy. There’s plenty to do and see — why not stop by?