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    Fanelli's Cafe

    3.7 (554 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Burgers
    Closed 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Fanelli's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    FANELLI'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for kids

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    Keilon L.

    The croque monsieur was not properly prepared on this last visit. Just call it a grilled sandwich instead. I have fond memories of the croque monsieur of years past here but it was still tasty, so I'm slightly conflicted. I guess with all things in New York, time changes the experience rapidly. This was my go to spot when I worked in SoHo years ago so I'm glad they're still here and largely still have the same menu. The fries are always perfect here so that hasn't changed.

    BLT w Nueske's bacon
    Paul F H.

    While I was doing a bit of shopping in SoHo on the last day of my weeklong visit to New York, Fanelli's Cafe caught my eye. The pub-like atmosphere, the dark mahogany back bar, and the old fashioned tin ceiling, all beckoned me to give it a try. Little did I know when I walked through the door and grabbed a seat at the bar, that Fanelli's is a famous establishment in the city -- thought to be the second oldest bar/restaurant in operation at the same location -- and a frequent gathering place for well known artists and other notable SoHo residents. Within a minute after being seated I was presented with a menu while the bartender poured me a locally brewed beer. I immediately noticed that Fanelli's uses Nueske's bacon -- a premium bacon from a family business located in the same Wisconsin county where I lived and worked for thirty years before retiring. So, I ordered the BLT sandwich with fries. The food was promptly delivered and it was an excellent sandwich -- thick sliced beefsteak tomatoes, several slices of crispy bacon, romaine lettuce, and an ample smear of mayo on toasted sourdough bread. The fries were generic but an acceptable side. A salad was offered as an option instead of fries. All in all a satisfying lunch. Back in Wisconsin, two or three days after my visit to Fanelli's, was when I learned about the history of the cafe. I was perusing the obituaries in the New York Times and ran across the notice that Hans Noë had died on the same day I visited Fanelli's. That's when I learned that he had purchased Fanelli's in the 1980s and maintained it as a landmark establishment until passing ownership of the cafe to his son about twenty-five years ago. I've had the privilege to dine at many top-notch, world renowned, historical restaurants over the years. Usually this requires advanced planning and reservations made months in advance. But sometimes serendipity rules and you just happen to grab lunch at a place with 178 years of history and a famous proprietor on the last day of his life. RIP Hans. The Fanelli Cafe was great. I hope to come again.

    BLT Sandwich with Onion Rings
    Gloria M.

    Fanelli's never disappoints! Great corner location and always a crowd. I stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and was able to be seated almost immediately to grab a quick bite. The BLT was delicious. The service is always fast and the staff is friendly.

    Baked wings with buffalo sauce on the side, BLT Sandwich with Fries, glass of fresh squeezed oj & Pinot Grigio
    Nelle W.

    Super cute place, we got seated right away (on the quiet side) our waitress Jasmine was the sweetest & so friendly. The food was also tasty!

    Grilled Chicken Salad
    Alexis F.

    Never disappoint your girl! I usually go during my lunch break, and of course it's always busy, but between Sam and Claire, my experience has always been exceptional. I've had the burger, chicken salad, salmon salad, and the grilled chicken club... no complaints at all! I've never been for a drink, but I will pop in for a glass of wine soon.

    Breakfast Sandwich
    Rebecca H.

    I got a breakfast sandwich from here and it was good and pretty standard. It comes with bacon, egg, cheese and arugula but I asked for no arugula. There was definitely a long wait to get a seat. I would say the restaurant had a casual vibe.

    Menu
    Olaedo E.

    I stopped by on Saturday afternoon for a quick drink. It was very packed inside so seating was not really available. We stood by the bar. Some man was kind enough to offer me his seat. I tried the vin surnaturel, which is an orange wine and the house white, which was similar to a Pinot Grigio. The orange wine was just okay to me. It had a very fermented taste that almost came off as if it was spoiled. We ended up getting the meatballs and fries. I liked the meatballs. The ricotta was a nice added touch. My guy didn't care for the fries and said ketchup was needed because they were too greasy, but I didn't mind them. I wish the bartender was more attentive to us and I didn't have to get his attention to order again. But other than that, this cafe has solid drinks and food.

    Fanelli's Burger with Fries
    Alaleh P.

    We came here for a late lunch after walking in Soho for hours. There was a lineup, so we put our name in and waited for tables to become available. The good thing was that it was fast and we only waited for 15-20 minutes. It's a cozy café that has a "home" vibe. The staff are friendly , too. We ordered chilly and burger and enjoyed our food. Chilly was definitely our favorite.

    Dutch S.

    Legendary locals only spot that has a warm vibe and some fantastic homemade food...if you're solo, have dinner at the bar, everyone is having a bite there. It gets pretty packed starting on Thursday through the weekend but the other nights are calmer, friendly and filled with people who like talking to strangers (like me!) Recc: Veggie Burger, Chicken Tenders, Hamburgers here are probably the best in Lower Manhattan, love the vibe here! It's less hectic and it's a super nice calm space to grab a bite or warm up with a cup of coffee, spiked if you like it that way, and a great escape from the crowds of Soho! This is said to be the second oldest drinking establishment in New York, but it's a lot more than that, this is like a private clubhouse without a fee. A+++ (the food isn't an afterthought here, it's GREAT and made with love )

    $11 for a hotdog... fries are $7 or $8

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    25 days ago

    Great food, fun energetic crowd and great beer choices. The bartenders are on their game

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    1 year ago

    Won't send me a receipt for my expense report. Terrible service. I have messaged them everyday for the past week

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    9 months ago

    Such a good tuna melt! I love sitting outside at the corner table! The service is fine but the food and ambiance make it!

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    1 year ago

    Wonderful wonderful team and management. The inside is so cute and the food is great too. Plate of fries is a must!

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    Lillie's Victorian Establishment

    Lillie's Victorian Establishment

    3.9(2.1k reviews)
    2.6 miTheater District, Midtown West
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    Lillie's is always a good place to stop in for a drink. The flower decor changes…read more We sat at the bar and had a hummus plate which was a decent portion and tasty. Bartenders are attentive even when it's busts

    Absolutely awful experience. Never again. Do NOT recommend…read more One of the staff, in charge of refilling water, spilled water on our table multiple times. I watched him spill on other tables as well. He never apologized. He never wiped it up. Then 4th time he filled our glasses, he spilled the water on my wife. He did not apologize. He did not even acknowledge it and it was very clear that he noticed he did it. My wife, quite restrained, let our waitress know what happened. Her response: "What do you want me to do about it?" My wife said that he should not serving water if he doesn't know how to pour it properly. The waitress, moments later, told him what we had said, merely inches from our tables. Beyond awkward. And, instead of coming over and apologizing, he simply never returned to our table. No more water. The waitress had an attitude with us since we sat down - no idea what we could have done - unsure what was going on - but it was beyond unpleasant. Most of our "table conversation" was about how lousy the staff were acting and how uncomfortable we felt along with how much we couldn't wait to leave. We had shared an appetizer and had no interest in ordering anything else after that. We paid. We left. I feel stupid for tipping them.

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    Lillie's Victorian Establishment
    Lillie's Victorian Establishment
    Lillie's Victorian Establishment

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    Fanelli's Cafe - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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