L’Arte del Bere – the Italian art of drinking. This is what Bar Pisellino is about. Celebrating the classic Italian bar, the Bar Pisellino menu offers authentic espresso and bomboloni alongside aperitivo and cocktails in the evening. Have a cappuccino and a bite to eat, or stop in before dinner for a cocktail and aperitivio. Either way, don’t miss this authentic Italian café, seemingly transported straight from Italy, but right in the heart of the West Village.
Good for:
Before dinner drinks, daytime coffee breaks, low-key date night and dining solo. It’s the go-to spot to drop in at any given time during the day to catch up over drinks or food. Enjoy your apertif on the sidewalk patio and watch the world go by.
Atmosphere:
Bar Pisellino may be more Milanese than even Milan. The people are pretty, the atmosphere is quintessentially West-Village-lively, and it’s another homerun for award-winning chefs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams. An authentic Italian experience and neighborhood spot in the West Village.
Why we like it:
The owners took their favorite parts of Italy, and combined them into one Italian restaurant. Bar Pisellino is dedicated to the Italian art of drinking, serving some of the best wine and cocktails that a collection of Amari and Vermouth may have to offer. These, paired with the greatest hits of every part of Italy you might remember from your vacations to the land of food and drink, makes for a one-stop-shop of Italian culture in the Village. The authenticity is in the details.
And the details are pure Italian. Inspired by the standing coffee bars in Italy, the curved marble counter is the perfect height for standing and sipping that cappuccino, while the patio seating is perfect for meeting a friend and sipping one on a great cocktail.
What to order:
There’s plenty of good choices on the Bar Pisellino menu. The bicerin coffee or a classic espresso both pair well with the bomboloni, although the Italian donuts pair well with any of the coffee choices.
The prosciutto, served with breadsticks, should be a meal in and of itself, and the tramezzini (crustless finger sandwiches) are good for any time of day.
But the cocktails deserve a separate mention. All drinks are by Jon Mullen (formerly of Maison Premiere), and include masterpieces such as a spumoni cocktail, the sgroppino, and of course, the quintessential aperol spritz, which is served on tap.
Try the pistachio cocktail with gin, herbal liquer and lime juice or opt for a refreshing sgroppino, with lemon sorbetto, prosecco and vodka. Or go fancy and order the Anisette Frappe, served on a tray with separate glasses of espresso, club soda and anisette to pour over ice.
Whatever your choice of drinks, the Bar Pisellino menu has delicious options to choose from. Drink options rotate seasonally, but you’ll always find authentic Italian coffee and cocktails. Stop in and experience the Italian art of drinking.
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