NYC Spots That Feel LIKe A European Summer
Three cafes that say “Ciao” without the passport stamp.
Your passport’s expired, your PTO is pending, and the Amalfi Coast isn't waiting. But that doesn’t mean your summer aesthetic has to suffer. Your soulution: New York spots serving espresso, aperitivi, and soft, sun drenched delusion that could fool even the most seasoned Euro girl. Whether you're channeling a Roman holiday or pretending you live above a piazza (instead of a Duane Reade), these three gems will transport you somewhere Italian, breezy, and just the right amount of smug.
Bar Bianchi, 5 Avenue A New York, NY
Bar Bianchi isn’t just inspired by Italy, it feels like it was airlifted straight from Milan and sprinkled with a little downtown fairy dust. Designed by the minds behind Le Dive and The Nines, this East Village gem delivers peak Italian elegance with a side of “who are all these stylish people and how do I become one?”
The interiors are pure vintage drama, diamond tiled floors, sage green walls, glowing mid century sconces, and just enough glamour to make you cancel your flight to Florence. Outside, the wide French doors open to a dreamy sidewalk scene perfect for sipping spritzes and pretending you’re about to run into your summer ex.
But it’s not just looks, Bar Bianchi backs it up with house-made pastas, daily specials, mozzarella made in-house, and a cocktail list full of spritzes, Negronis, and that kind of aperitivo energy that turns into a full-on dinner party. Bonus: every cocktail comes with complimentary spuntini, because Milanese hospitality > American happy hour.
Order: A Negroni Sbagliato (of course), fried stuffed olives, and the veal Milanese for two. Stay late, linger longer, and pretend you’re in a Luca Guadagnino film.
Bar Pisellino - 52 Grove St New York City, NY
This corner side café meets bar is as close to a real Italian pasticceria as you’ll find without boarding a flight. Espresso served at the marble bar, snacks arranged like still life art, and a crowd that definitely knows how to pronounce “digestivo.” Sit outside, wear your chicest linen set, and pretend you're people watching across from the Pantheon.
Order: A Campari Spritz with a side of pistachio biscotti.
Via Carota - 51 Grove Street, New York City
No NYC summer Euro roundup would be complete without the It Girl of Italian eateries: Via Carota. Yes, it’s been written about a thousand times. The interior feels like a rustic Tuscan kitchen curated by a very stylish nonna with impeccable lighting taste. The food? Impossible to critique while your mouth is full of cacio e pepe.
Order: A spritz, the insalata verde, and pasta that ruins you for all other pastas.
Who says you need to leave the city to feel like you’re living your La Dolce Vita moment? In the wise words of your inner monologue after one too many spritzes: This espresso tastes like Florence. Go ahead. Romanticize it.
What To Wear
SHOP THE LOOK