There’s something about the Upper East Side that just makes you want to pretend you’re in Europe. Maybe its proximity to the Met (aka the closest thing we have to a European museum on this side of the pond). Maybe it’s the grand architecture and wide streets (a stark contrast to the claustrophobic streets of lower Manhattan). For those of us who don’t live anywhere near the Upper East Side, it’s fun to dress up and cosplay as an Upper East Sider for a day. And perhaps one of the best places to do that is Via Quadronno, a cozy Milanese cafe that has been a neighborhood favorite for over two decades.

Via Quadronno is the perfect casual all day spot for coffee and a bite: a classic cappuccino paired with a simple Italian sandwich or open faced “alla Milanese” panini savored in a simple and quaint space that feels effortlessly charming and romantic in an authentically Italian way. It’s not trying to be a vibe, not overly branded, haphazard design choices here are a green flag. On any given day, the cafe is filled with a mix of longtime locals and museum-bound tourists, spilling out onto the sidewalk on a sunny day, a quintessential scene for a beautiful neighborhood fixture.