This Dreamy Café & Eatery Is A Surprise Italian Oasis In Midtown

The buzzy heart of Midtown Manhattan may seem like the last place you'd look for some slowed-down, European-style repose, but that's exactly what you'll find at Lodi, the new-ish all-day café, bar, bakery, and restaurant from Estela and Altro Paradiso's beloved chef Ignacio Mattos.

Inspired by Italian "caffè" and "aperitivo" culture, the hybrid destination, located inside a shiny Art Deco space at 1 Rockefeller Plaza, has already garnered a deserved amount of foodie fanfare since making its debut in September. Gourmands can appreciate the selection of authentic panini, antipasti, and plates of quality cured meats and cheeses while, for the bread snobs, there are shelves of artisanal loaves, freshly baked and made with grains milled in-house. 

For a taste of La Dolce Vita, head baker and pastry chef Louis Volle presents a daily assortment of treats, from breakfast pastries like flauto al cioccolato (chocolate croissant) and maritozzo con pana (made with lemon glaze, vanilla pastry cream, and chantilly cream) to sweet tarts and gelato. All are as photogenic as they are delicious.

Even served counter-side, Lodi's dishes embody the sense and aesthetic of rustic Italian elegance that everyone seems to be going after these days, whether on Instagram or on actual trips to Italy. Here you can save yourself a flight. And now that the bar has officially obtained its liquor license (solidifying the whole "aperitivo" part of the experience), you can follow up your espresso with a glass of wine or negroni. Salute!

Click through for an inside look!

[Photos courtesy/via @lodinyc]