Get ready to eat your way through Hell’s Kitchen! The Ninth Avenue International Food Festival, the city’s oldest and largest continuing food festival, is officially back.
Spanning two massive days, this weekend event is the ultimate springtime feast for locals and visitors alike.
When and where to go
Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17. The massive street fair runs from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day, and the party happens rain or shine.
You will find the festival taking over 9th Avenue, stretching from 42nd Street all the way up to 57th Street.
A global feast in Hell’s Kitchen
Organized by the Ninth Avenue Merchants Association and Managing Director Maribel Liberti, the festival highlights the incredible culinary diversity of the neighborhood.
Dozens of local businesses are joined by a colorful array of artists, beverage purveyors, and artisanal specialty food vendors to create a truly global array of food and festivity.
You can expect mouth-watering bites from some of the area’s most beloved spots. Participating member merchants include:
- Classic staples: 5 Napkin Burger, Rudy’s Bar & Grill, and Westway Diner.
- Global flavors: Tumi Peruvian Restaurant, Kausa, Basta Middle Eastern Grill, and OBAO.
- Sweet treats and bakeries: Poseidon Bakery and Vivi Bubble Tea.
- Neighborhood favorites: Empanada Mama, Marseille, Kashkaval Garden, Valhalla NYC, and Jasper’s Taphouse & Kitchen.
- Plus many more: Fresh From Hell, El Mil Sabores, Gossip Bar & Grill, EZ Paella & Tapas, Bombay Grill House, Poulette, Medi Wine Bar & Restaurant, Fat Boys Burgers, Blue Seafood Bar and Eatery, Manhattan Plaza Health Club, Fruitstand43, Añejo, and The Molly Pitcher Club.
Live entertainment and family fun
The festival isn’t just about the food. There is continuous entertainment planned for both days.
Head over to the main stage, located on the southeast corner of 9th Avenue and West 55th Street, to catch incredible live performances from both local and international talent.
Newly elected State Senator Erik Botcher will also be in attendance to speak at the official opening ceremony.
If you are bringing the family, you are in luck. The festival features an entire city block dedicated to children’s entertainment, packed with inflatables, games, and face painting to keep the little ones busy.
Supporting the local community
The Ninth Avenue Association dedicates huge blocks of time and energy to produce this grand-scale event.
Their mission is simple but powerful: to promote individual merchants, produce high-quality events, and foster a strong, unified sense of community.
By exploring the festival this weekend, you are directly generating business for the hardworking participants that make Hell’s Kitchen so special.
Come hungry, wear comfortable walking shoes, and get ready to celebrate one of NYC’s best culinary traditions!
