During the mid 19th-century, a thriving German community existed in the East Village and LES, once referred to as Kleindeustchland (Little Germany). In fact, it was home to so many German immigrants, NYC had the third largest German population in the world, outside of Berlin and Vienna.
Unfortunately, following the General Slocum disaster, a shipwreck that killed more than 1,000 passengers, mostly German immigrants and primarily females and children from St. Mark’s German Lutheran Church, less Germans remained in this part of town.
However, many German immigrants relocated uptown to NYC’s Yorkville, eventually catching the nickname of Germantown by the beginning of the 20th-century. Germans, among Central Europeans, congregated in this neighborhood, extending from Third Avenue to the East River and between 79th and 96th Streets.
At the time, Germantown was filled with German bakeries, businesses, social clubs (known as Vereines)—even a German-language newspaper called New Yorker Staats Zeitung (New Yorker State Newspaper in english) was being sold in the area.
Over the decades, this neighborhood’s German population has declined. Nevertheless, it’s legacy lives on through the remaining German establishments still standing. Here’s what to check out when you explore NYC’s Germantown.
Have a traditional German meal at Heidelberg’s
Transport yourself to an authentic piece of Germantown’s history at Heidelberg’s, one of the oldest family-run German restaurants in the nation. The business prides itself on being frozen in time, offering “old world” German cuisine. You can’t go wrong with the Wiener Schnitzel, Schweinebraten, or Jägerspätzle.
And of course, you better order a beer to wash it all down. If you’re really thirsty, you can take on the challenge of finishing the two liter boot of beer.
Sling back cocktails at Jeremy’s
If you don’t look closely, you may actually miss this kleine bar (translates to “little bar”). Tucked within a tiny pocket of Yorkville real estate lies a high-end fusion of New York and Viennese cocktail culture. Take a seat at the mesmerizing bar or cozy into one of the comfy private tables.
Show up Tuesdays through Thursdays or Sundays from 5pm to 7pm for Happy Hour deals, available only in the bar room. There’s also outdoor seating and backyard dining on the way. We recommend you order the Vienna Waits For You, made with Resietbauer Austrian Aged Blue Gin, Combier maraschino, lemon, bitters and tonic.
Feast on bratwurst, currywurst, and giant pretzels at Schaller’s Stube Sausage Bar
Jeremy Schaller, the same owner behind Jeremy’s bar, and Jesse Denes, wanted to bring a business to fruition for modern-day Yorkville. They settled on a Berlin street-style food stand, selling quality wursts.
I recommend you order my personal favorite, their Currywurst, offering a sweet and savory flavor profile. The wurst bar also sells a jumbo pretzel with Bavarian sweet mustard, various wurst sandwiches, potato salad and more.
Take home German pantry staples from Schaller & Weber
Schaller and Denes also run Schaller & Weber, a German Butcher. The business first began with Ferdinand Schaller, Jeremy’s grandfather, who was an apprentice butcher and sausage maker in Stuttgart, Germany. Nearly 100-years later, the butcher shop still sells Germanic meats, products and pantry staples that you can’t find elsewhere in the city.
I never miss the opportunity to grab some Nürnberger sausages and Händlemaiers Sweet Bavarian Mustard. But no visit is complete without a stop at the deli counter.
Attend the Stueben Day Parade
Mark your calendars for the German-American Steuben Parade on September 20th, 2025. This annual affair was founded in 1957, and remains a staple celebration for NYC’s German-American population. The parade marches along 5th Avenue up to 86th Street.
Expect to see paraders in traditional costumes, wonderful floats, marching bands, dancers, clubs, and organizations from across the country.