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Cafe Luce

4.3 (256 reviews)
Open 11:00 am - 10:30 pm

Waitlist - Cafe Luce

Live Current wait: under 5 minutes

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CAFE LUCE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe Luce

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Reviews With Photos

Catherine L.

Stopped in here after a long day walking around. The vibe inside was so nice, it was comfy but also chic. The mushroom Alfredo was absolutely incredible and the rest of the menu looked really good as well. Everyone working was extremely kind and attentive, though our server told us the wine we wanted was only $10 and on the bill it was $12. Not going to cause an issue over $2 but still. Would definitely go back!

Mei M.

Service was excellent. The food was very flavorful and the menu had a lot of unique options. I find many Italian restaurants serve the same dishes (Scampi, Carbonara, etc.) we sat in the front dining area which is small and quaint. If you get cold, don't dir by the door. The whole aesthetic of the restaurant was really cute. Had flowers, open wine cellar and decor. Overall a really good experience and place to catch up with my friends. It is not too loud so my friends and I really enjoyed our meal while we caught up. All of our dishes were very large in portions and very delicious. Highly recommend

Bruschetta pomodoro
Kelly G.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist areas, this little Italian gem is absolutely worth discovering. The space is tiny and cozy with that charming, intimate feel you only get in authentic neighborhood spots. Our server was friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home. I came here specifically craving traditional bruschetta and it did not disappoint! The bread was perfectly toasted, the tomatoes were fresh and flavorful, and with just a drizzle of balsamic and olive oil, it was pure heaven. For our mains, we tried the spaghetti bolognese and the cacio e pepe , both were delicious, perfectly portioned, and full of rich, comforting flavor. The restaurant is quite small, so expect to be close to neighboring tables, but that's part of its charm. If you're looking for authentic, high quality Italian in Manhattan without the tourist crowds, I highly recommend this spot!

Carbonara
May H.

Beautiful cafe with wonderful service! It was airy and tastefully decorated inside. I got to enjoy a delicious, and huge carbonara while getting some work done. Highly recommend for a cute little date night or for solo travelers seeking good pasta!

Fried Burrata
Sam S.

Beautiful little restaurant with homemade pasta, great service and selection , every dish we had was excellent, highly recommend

Oreo Tiramisu
Mia H.

I came here for some wine and dessert after dinner and it was a good time. The inside of the restaurant is a bit small, so seating was a bit cramped but the ambiance was quiet. Staff was very friendly. I got a couple glasses of wine here and the oreo tiramisu, and it was good! The tiramisu was a good portion, decadent, and came with lots of oreo bits (loved it!). Meanwhile, all of the wines I had were also great. Would love to come back to try their pasta.

Garlic bread
Presley J.

This was our first stop once we landed in NYC and it was so yummy! The alla vodka pasta was delicious! The service was wonderful she gave us recommendations and was very helpful. We didn't have reservations but we went before the dinner rush so they were able to get us in. The inside is nicely decorated! My sister loved her pasta the Quattro Formaggi with the fresh ricotta on top was the perfect touch! Highly recommend! Their pasta is top tier!

Eggplant, lasagna, special, and carbonara
Ali C.

Cute neighborhood Italian restaurant with a small bar and dining room. Located on the east side just off 53rd. We made reservations on a Sunday night just to be safe and while it never filled up, I still suggest it as you never know and space is limited. It's cozy, quaint, and everything is made fresh. They make carbonara the right way without cream. Last night the special was an eggplant lasagna, which was wonderful. We started with the smoked salmon bruschetta and the zucchini sticks. Everything we had was wonderful. We did not get any bread, but we noticed other tables did so not sure if you need to order that or if it's part of standard service and we missed out. They have a nice selection of fairly priced wines. There is not a full bar. While our food came out quickly in the end, we did not feel rushed to leave. Enjoy!

Shefali P.

I don't think I've ever thought about a pasta as much as I've thought about this one. It was creamy and delicious and worth all the hype.

Milo C.

Great Italian restaurant... I really enjoyed the vibe of the restaurant. But let me say, customer service... 100 percent. The bartenders were both really nice. I had a glass of Prosecco on happy hour. Then I moved over to my table when my friend arrived. I ordered pasta in pesto sauce. Great portion size for the price, which I didn't consider to be bad for New York and the size of my plate. I could have easily saved half for later. Lots of pine nuts and fresh cheese. I'm not sure if he was the owner or the manager, but he came over to check on us to see if everything was all right. They had a nice homemade foccacia which is an add on, but a really good oil and cheese blend to dip in.

Cappuccino
Harry W.

Looking for an easy dinner, found Cafe Luce along a street lined with restaurants, attracted to the homemade pasta on the menu posted in front of the restaurant. Very happy to find this trattoria, cozy and nice vibes, very nice servers and the chef bringing the plates of pasta to us. Each pasta dish allowed us to select the type of pasta which was really different from other restaurants. We ordered the carbonara with spaghetti and the bolognese with rigatoni. Both were delicious and perfectly prepared. For dessert we had the pana cotta which was served at a good temperature not overly cold. The cappuccino was deliciously good and served in an oversized cup bringing back great memories of my visits to Italy. Definitely will return to try the other pastas.

Tiramisu
Farah K.

The food was delicious; my absolute favorite was the classic tiramisu. Service was a little slow at times but it was doable. The reason for the 3 stars is due to the space and the pot/cigarette smell that was coming from the back (which is where we were seated). The smell def wasn't appreciated. The place is extremely cramped and I definitely didn't enjoy the constant bumping by the server and other guests. Really ruined my dinner experience.

Gnocchi Alla Vodka
Eion P.

Was it the best chicken parm I've ever had? Not quite. But still, we had a very enjoyable experience. The waitstaff was attentive and kind. The pasta was fresh, and the sauces flavorful without being too salty. The portions were HUGE (~$30 an entree). While the restaurant is narrow and can feel crowded, it adds to its rustic charm--I truly felt like I was dining in an Italian kitchen (just be prepared for a bit less personal space). Can't wait to return for more! 5/5

Limoncello

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4 years ago

food was quite good but not as amazing as others have written. Service was ok. The place is tiny!! Nice for a date but not for a family.

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5 years ago

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Cafe L.

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4 years ago

Delicious homemade pasta, generous portions, great wine and excellent service! I love the ambience and decor as well.

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4 years ago

Best fresh pasta excellent service very cozy and comfortable place people working here are very nice and friendly

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

Great fresh homemade pasta! The bolognese sauce was amazing! Great value and large portions!

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Page 7 of 7

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Cafe Luce - italian - Updated May 2026

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