Is Alessa the next ‘it’ restaurant in Manhattan?

If you’re wandering through Midtown Manhattan, Alessa is one of those spots you’ll stumble into and wonder how it took you so long to find it. The creation of 212 Hospitality Group and White Noise Design Studio, Alessa feels as though one has wandered into a secret Italian enclave, yet Manhattan still hums in the background, shaping a world of its own.

But the real question remains: could Alessa be the next dining hotspot to capture the city’s attention and earn its place as the go-to restaurant for every food lover, influencer, and in-the-know New Yorker? Can it earn the “it” tag or has it — already?

Slice of la dolce vita

Spread across 6,500 square feet and two levels, the restaurant offers a culinary experience interwined with design, culture and storytelling. WNDS, the creative minds behind the design, paid attention to the tiniest details, from the branding to the lighting to the furniture. They didn’t just design, rather created a whole narrative. Alessa has a flow to it, a rhythm that is unmissable.

What do you need on a weekend in Manhattan? A lively spot to catch up with friends. Alessa is just that. When you first step inside, the bar area grabs your attention with its energy. It’s lively, a great spot for grabbing a drink after work or catching up with friends. The interiors of the space are busy, they are bold with colour and if not that with texture and if not that then with the placement.

But then, you move further into the dining space, and you feel the energy shift: from the spirited interiors, to a subtle and undertoned. The magic is in how these spaces work together—they flow from one to the next without missing a beat, letting you transition from one mood to another.

It’s upscale, but it never feels intimidating. There’s a playfulness in the way the space is designed—it’s fun, but it still knows how to not loose its edge.

The Speakeasy

But Alessa holds a secret—a speakeasy tucked in the back. This hidden lounge is its own little world, filled with plush seating and low, ambient lighting. It’s quiet, mysterious and exclusive. The atmosphere lures one to sit back, sip slowly and maybe even linger longer than you intended. This speakeasy isn’t just about the drinks; it’s about the experience of discovering something new each time you visit.

Lighting at Alessa isn’t an afterthought—it’s integral to the experience. The natural light pours in during the day, making the space feel open and airy. But when the sun goes down, the lighting takes on a whole new character. Vintage-inspired fixtures cast soft, warm light, highlighting the restaurant’s glossy finishes.

Then there’s the tactile experience—brass, velvet, and mosaic tiles that speak of Italy’s aristocratic past, combined with the modern sensibilities of New York.

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It’s a restaurant that morphs depending on the time of day, the occasion, and the mood of its guests. It’s the kind of place where you can walk in for lunch and feel the energy of Midtown, but then in the evening, it turns into something more energised.

A new staple in Midtown’s dining scene. The combination of incredible Italian cuisine carefully designed spaces, and an atmosphere that keeps you coming back for more is what makes this place stand out. It’s one of those rare spots where everything clicks—where food, culture and design come together in a way that feels fresh.

FACT FILE:

Name of the project: Alessa

Firm Name: White Noise Design Studio

Design Team: Sanjana Paramhans, Utsav Shah, Rddhima Golyan, Shruti Sridhar

Area: 6,500 sq ft

Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York

Photography credits: Zack DeZon

Project Management Firm: Mck contracting

Project Manager or Consultant: Mickey Mckenna

Furniture: Anthropologie, General Seating Solutions, LLC, restaurant furniture plus, Chair market, Bar stools – ISA International fabric from Wolf Gordon, industry west

Lighting : Visual comfort, lumens, Custom light Niche first floor,  Conant metal and light, Cedar and Moss, Anthropologie

Main Flooring – Porcelanosa and Nasco Tile

Custom floral tile – Renwick Tiles

Bar Tiles – ann sacks, Daltile, Tilebar, Architessa

Pizza oven decorative tile – Hominter International Inc.

Wallcovering – Astek, Wolf Gordon, Wallpaper Direct, Arte International

Stone Bar top – CitiQuartz

Fabrics – United Fabrics