Find German restaurants, stores and events in New York.
Germans in New York
Between the Hudson River and the East River in the state of New York, you’ll find the neighborhood of Manhattan. Today, this neighborhood consists of swanky restaurants and luxury apartments. However, Manhattan wasn’t always the stomping ground of real-estate developers and financiers. Up until the 20th century, it was actually home to hundreds of thousands of German immigrants. The Lower East Side and East Village neighborhoods of Manhattan were formally known as Kleindeutschland (Little Germany) and Deutschländle (German Land). In fact, by the mid 19th century, the city of New York had the third-largest German population in the world, following Berlin and Vienna. However, these Germans were not a homogenous group and actually didn’t define themselves so much by their “German-ness,” but by their regional origin. Hanoverians, Bavarians, Wurttembergers, and Prussians were characteristically known to avoid intermingling and each had their own settled area within Manhattan.
While Germans in 19th century New York were characterized by their regional self-segregation, modern New York looks very different. Today, Germans in the state are delighted to share their culture with people from not only Germany but from all over the world. One of the most popular ways to experience German culture in New York is by attending an Oktoberfest event – and there are more than a few in the state. Beginning in September each year, Oktoberfests are almost unavoidable. They can be found all over the city from Central Park to Pier 15 to Brooklyn. So, if you find yourself in New York during the fall season, make sure to not miss one of the many opportunities to grab a beer and a Brezel and celebrate like a German.
