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A Palm Tree Paradise Is Being Built In This SoHo Vacant Lot
By
Jen Carlson
Published May 17, 2018
Modified May 17, 2018
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By
Jen Carlson
Published May 17, 2018
Modified May 17, 2018
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Tulum is a beautiful, whimsical place I've heard about that is an airplane trip and thousands of dollars away from my apartment, which I'm already paying enough for. But we're in New York City, where we can get anything. Even Tulum. And so it shall be... Gitano, a restaurant nestled in the jungle of Tulum, Mexico that looks magical and has disco balls hanging over palm tree courtyards, is building a NYC outpost right at this very moment at Canal and Varick Streets in SoHo. We spotted this scene earlier today:
The palm trees have arrived. (Christopher Robbins / Gothamist)
Tribeca Citizen reported the news earlier this month after attending a Community Board 2 meeting where plans were discussed, noting the space "will be a 'fully outdoor tropical garden jungle style restaurant similar to the Principals current operation in Tulum, Mexico." The 23,465 square foot space will include a few different areas; here's what you can expect:
- A Mexican restaurant and bar — "in the restaurant bar area there are five separate seating areas, some fully covered and some located on wood platforms and some on crushed granite; there will be 400 table seats including banquet seating and 100 tables, there are 30 bar stools at the bar."
- "A partner retail store and a partner coffee/café"
- A meditation circle and reflecting pool area.
- Absolutely "no happy hour drink pricing and no dancing.” Funnnn. (Eater noted this is because "Tulum’s outpost of Gitano is known for rowdy late-night parties, with lines often snaking out the entrance, [so owner James] Gardner had to sign off on a few rules.")
- A "community garden styled area growing herbs and vegetables with an educational component for schools and non-profit groups."
- The proposed operating hours are M-F 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and until midnight on weekends.
- Also there will be so, so, so many palm trees 🌴
The restaurant and bar will be "seasonally operated May to November in 2018 and 2019 only."
Fun fact: there were never palm trees in NYC, we checked. (But they were never native to Los Angeles, either, so maybe this palm tree paradise will take over Manhattan.)
Tagged
gitano
palm trees
soho
tulum
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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