Bar Pisellino

A West Village espresso and aperitivi bar that channels true Italian culture

by Patrick Janelle

As someone who created a cocktail app, it's no secret that I deeply appreciate drinking culture. So when I learned that celebrated chefs Jody Williams and Rita Sodi were opening an Italian espresso and aperitivi bar, I was immediately intrigued. On a bustling corner of Seventh Avenue—a prime West Village location—Bar Pisellino is a spot where you can simply relax like you're European.

After a couple months of service, the bar came into its own, with its al fresco seating always full of imbibers sipping Aperol Spritzes on tap and enjoying tramezzini, crustless sandwiches on white bread. Inside, the stunning oak and curved Carrara marble bar is the focal point. Customers are encouraged to stand al banco (at the bar) for a coffee and bomboloni or a bottled Americano cocktail and patatine, housemade cacio e pepe potato chips.

Located right across the street from the couple's popular rustic trattoria, Via Carota (listed on my New York city guide), it seems that Bar Pisellino is the sweet spot where Italian and New York sensibilities meet, which is perfectly sensible to me.