Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Photos: Visiting Caffe Reggio, A Timeless Classic In A Changing Greenwich Village
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 8, 2014
Modified Dec 8, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Photo by Lee Towndrow/Gothamist
View all 21
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 8, 2014
Modified Dec 8, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Bleecker Street, MacDougal Street, and Greenwich Village as a whole certainly isn't what it used to be, back when bohemians ruled the roosts and Dylan was strumming his guitar at Cafe Wha?. These days, in place of the Village Gate you'll find a CVS, and over where The Bleecker Street Cinema was? A Duane Reade. The area does still have its charms, however, and a few businesses have survived the times-a-changin'. Caffe Reggio, which opened its doors at 119 MacDougal Street in 1927, is one of them.
Is it worth going to now? Yes, yes, a million times yes—please support these remaining businesses, who in turn want to preserve the area. The only thing that really screamed "tourist" to us while visiting over the weekend (our first time back since the 1990s), was their merch. When we asked the server if purchasing a cappuccino cup would be possible, she told us yes, but that they cost a lot of money. $90, to be exact.
Otherwise, everything looked and felt just at it had decades ago—there are the same massive paintings in ornate framework hanging on the walls, the ceiling still sinks down, the lighting remains dim, and everything was still doused in green and earth tones. The cracks spotted throughout the space give it all character, like a wise old grandma who's really seen some shit.
As for the clientele, there were some younger regulars with their books and laptops (free WiFi!), mixed in with an older crowd—and the art of conversation was very much alive, as tables of people dared to talk to those at neighboring tables! Next to us was a huge family spanning generations, holding court in the shadows of the cafe's circa-1902 espresso machine. They told us they were all visiting from different parts of the world, in celebration of a birthday—they were enjoying a mimosa-fueled brunch and keeping the place filled with laughter.
Some fun facts about Caffe Reggio:
- The coffee shop claims to have been the first to bring the Italian Cappuccino to America.
- In 1959, presidential hopeful John F. Kennedy gave a speech outside of its doors.
- It has been in many movies, including Godfather II, Shaft, Serpico, and more recently: Inside Llewyn Davis.
- The ceiling fan, which works, is actually a prop from Casablanca!
- Inside you can sit on a bench from a Palazzo "of the mighty Florentine Medici family of Renaissance fame," it's over 500 years old.
- That aforementioned 1902 espresso machine cost owner Domenico Parisi $1,000 when he opened the place, a small fortune.
- The cafe didn't always serve food, but they do now. For brunch, you can get an entree, a cappuccino, AND a mimosa for $16. The coffee is where they shine, however, and that's how it's always been:
Check out the video below, and when you go, try to get the window table.
Tagged
caffe reggio
coffee shop
greenwich village
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Sep 12, 2026
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
Food
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
By
Caroline Shin
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .