Skip to Content
News

Bar Bianchi Brings Italian Charm to NYC’s Lower East Side

From the groups behind Le Dive and Elvis, Bar Bianchi blends the energy of New York with the charm of Milan in a dreamy new LES wine bar.

Daytime view of Bar Bianchi’s interior with green walls and a long bar.

Bar Bianchi brings retro Italian vibes to the LES.

|Courtesy of Liz Clayman.

Bar Bianchi is like nothing in its vicinity.

The East Village establishment was booked full on its opening night, a sea of people buzzing within ambient lighting from vintage fixtures, beautiful shades of green on the walls, and a diamond-checkerboard floor. Designed by Jon Niedich of Golden Age Hospitality and Creative Director Andrea Johansson, the Milan-inspired dining room is built out with vintage 1920s and ’30s Italian charms but brings a modern style to the bar and to the menu. Opening just in time for the warm weather, the restaurant boasts an expansive outdoor dining setup complete with French doors that will be perfect for sipping spritzes in the summer.

Small table at Bar Bianchi with a red spritz cocktail, candle, and two chairs.
A cozy corner and a classic spritz at Bar Bianchi. Courtesy of Liz Clayman.

Bar Bianchi replaced a neighborhood staple that shut its doors after more than a decade in business. The space has been quickly turned around by the Golden Age Hospitality group, the same team that heads up trendy New York restaurants like Le Dive and The Nines, in partnership with Paradise Projects. This new edition to their lineup resembles their established motif—it's lively, with lots of energy, but also dreamy and calming, exactly what you’d expect from a team who wants you to feel like you’re on the Italian coast without leaving Alphabet City.

The goal was to honor the Italian spirit of warmth, elegance, and spontaneity in every aspect of the establishment.

“We want Bianchi to reflect the energy of New York while offering the charm and ease of European dining,” Gajadhar said. “An everyday escape that feels both elevated and soulful.”

Gajadhar says the menu draws inspiration from Italian staples, including Bar Basso, Bar Jamaica, and Bar Luce. With extensive antipasti offerings, along with pasta and heftier dishes like the veal Milanese for two, guests can settle in for a hearty dinner or just pop by for an aperitivo. The team, including Chef Abdalla Drake, makes mozzarella and pastas in-house.

The team’s desire to give a magical European vibe is demonstrated in their cocktail menu, which is full of various spritzes and Negronis, served with complimentary spuntini (light snacks).

The antipasti, of which there are nearly 20, include fried stuffed olives, anchovies, Wagyu beef carpaccio, crispy mushrooms, burrata and peppers and the caprese salad (for a taste of that house-made mozzarella).

One of the establishment’s four pasta dishes is the rigatoni di Nash, named for Neidich’s son. The menu also offers a classic cacio e pepe and a risotto Milanese. Specials will rotate daily and weekly.

There are classic options for both dolce and digestivi. Enjoy a bittersweet amaro or a classic tiramisu—a luscious yet airy last bite. For frozen dessert enthusiasts, the restaurant has sorbets and gelato options, a couple of which are in collaboration with well-known Café Panna.

Exterior of Bar Bianchi with neon sign and green awning on the Lower East Side.
The corner façade of Bar Bianchi, now open on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Courtesy of Liz Clayman.

The buzzing social scene is another attribute to this carefully curated vibe, as the restaurant stays open late, when patrons can enjoy music and dancing. Gajadhar suggests coming with a group.

“That’s how Bar Bianchi is meant to be enjoyed: good food, good people, and a little bit of that Italian magic.”

Reservations at Bar Bianchi drop two weeks in advance on Resy

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Appetito

San Francisco’s Italian Heritage Parade Lights Up North Beach

Music, food, and family brought North Beach to life as the San Francisco’s Italian Heritage Parade honored Italian culture, community pride, and generations of tradition.

October 22, 2025

How to Make Nonna Approved Cacio e Pepe

Celebrate World Pasta Day with Italian Street Kitchen’s nonna approved Cacio e Pepe, the most searched pasta in Italy. Creamy, simple, and full of Roman flavor.

October 22, 2025

How to Make Sicilian Tapenade for Your Antipasto Platter

Bring a taste of Sicily to your table with this easy olive and caper tapenade. It's a savory spread that adds instant Mediterranean flair to any antipasto platter or appetizer board.

October 21, 2025

In the Name of Anna: A Brooklyn Italian Pizzeria in Providence

At Anna’s Vesuviano, a Neapolitan pizzeria and Italian restaurant in Providence, Chef Anthony Giordano shares his family’s Brooklyn roots through authentic, wood-fired pizza and classic Italian dishes. Named for his grandmother, nonna Anna,  the restaurant honors her legacy with handmade recipes and traditional Italian cooking.

October 20, 2025

Holiday Vodka: A New Italian Spirit Inspired by La Dolce Vita

Created in partnership with legendary Italian spirits master Giancarlo Mancino, Holiday Vodka blends Italian craftsmanship with modern hospitality. Visionary Anna Goldman shares how she bottled the feeling of la dolce vita in every sip.

October 20, 2025
See all posts