Bar Bianchi
Restaurant · East Village ·
Milan-inspired aperitivo bar with great spritzes and patio
Milan-inspired aperitivo bar with great spritzes and patio
"Bar Bianchi in the East Village is poised to become a spritz-fueled scene for a few reasons. First, the Milan-inspired aperitivo bar comes from the team behind Le Dive and Elvis. Second, because they’re serving Italian cocktails, including sgroppinos (a combination of sorbet, vodka, and prosecco) made with frozen desserts from Caffè Panna. There’s a food menu with snacks like prosciutto and melon, as well as a few pastas and larger dishes like veal milanese." - will hartman, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah, bryan kim
"Bar Bianchi is the East Village answer to an Italian piazza. From the Le Dive team, this spot is all-in on spritzes, and they’re crisp and refreshing—like a Giuseppe Spritz with elderflower that isn’t overly sugary. Though the drinks are good, the best reason to come to Bar Bianchi is the sidewalk patio along Houston, which is prime for aperitivo hour people-watching, or an after-work drink. To linger longer, upgrade to a “grande”-sized spritz, served in a glass that could pass for a small fishbowl." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, andrew ryce
"Faux French is out, and faux Italian is in. Bar Bianchi, from the people behind Le Dive, is a take on a Milanese aperitivo bar at the juncture of the East Village and Lower East Side. Vintage light fixtures lend the hectic room a warm yellow glow, and the streetside patio stays overrun with spritz aficionados who have loose plans to wed in Lake Como." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah
"Downtown bar hitmaker Jon Neidich has been on a streak the past few months: He opened medieval Monsieur with Baz Luhrmann and refurbished dive bar essential Lucy’s (see above), adding to his growing list of nightlife spots, which already included the Nines and Le Dive. In May, he debuted Bar Bianchi, a bar and restaurant made to look like the kind of leisurely hangouts in Milan where you’d be drinking a spritz with a cigarette in the other hand, only this street seating faces Houston Street. There’s also a full menu here with options bigger than just bar snacks, ranging from tuna tonnato to cacio e pepe and veal Milanese for two." - Emma Orlow
"Bar Bianchi makes a good spritz, especially the crisp, not-too-sweet Giuseppe with elderflower. But more importantly, the sceney East Village spot is a good setting for a spritz: a corner of Avenue A and Houston transformed into something resembling a 1960s Italian piazza by the Le Dive team. Every spritz is available “regulare” or in “grande” fishbowl-sized glasses, which are great props for the three photo shoots happening on the sidewalk patio." - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, will hartman, bryan kim, sonal shah