When seeking romance in a dark and hidden jazz bar, the cool downtown crowd heads to an unlikely destination – Midtown. Baretto landed in the city from Sao Paulo and is reflective of its original location set within the Fasano Hotel in São Paulo Brazil, a destination well-known for swanky interiors and luxury experiences. New York’s Baretto jazz bar can be found hidden above Fasano, a restaurant located in the former landmarked Four Seasons restaurant. Coming here feels like a special experience. Not only is this New York hospitality location memorable, the Fasano brand itself has a rich history. Founded in 1902 by an Italian immigrant from Milan, Vittorio Fasano, Fasano has a lasting legacy of serving Northern Italian food and providing exceptional service. In 2003 they transitioned from the gastronomy world and expanded into hotels. Today it is still run by the Fasano family, with restaurateur Gero Fasano at the helm.
Entering Fasano you are immediately encapsulated by its alluring timelessness, resembling an old fashioned supper club. This is where the power lunch and dinner is still very much alive. Before heading upstairs to Baretto, we stopped by Fasano’s gorgeous for a drink. Here is where we observed the old fashioned dance of the table side service, which is a rare but much-appreciated sight these days. Needless to say, the service here is exceptional. We ordered a tequila cocktail, Sole Di Zuzu and a vodka cocktail, Pom-Chee. At $28 each, the cocktails are not cheap, but certainly well-made and memorable. It is hard to tell who the demographic is as we noticed quite a few groups, from well-to-do tourists to New York couples and friends, who are likely already familiar with the Fasano brand and quality.
When the time came to settle in for the show, we headed upstairs. The spacious interiors seamlessly transition using rich wooden panelling, all thanks to the work of a renowned São Paulo architect, Isay Weinfeld. Baretto itself is a sight right out of a Mad Men episode. The sleek bar has plenty of seating and towering curtains to shut out the city noise. It really is the most ideal place for a romantic night out. On our way in we met the talented Misha Piatigorsky, a pianist, musical composer, and creator of Daddy Rabbit. His band that night was accompanied by singer Lucy Wijnands. Her performance was spirited and very entertaining, especially when the whole room joined in for the cover of “Killing Me Softly With His Song” by Roberta Flack.
Before the show begins you can order food from the very attentive staff. Chef Nicola Federi has managed to create a menu that gives you plenty of options. Most of the dishes are representative of classic Italian cooking, particularly in Milan. We recommend trying a classic dish like the Filet Minon, Osso Buco, or Lobster Risotto. The velvety risotto was well-balanced and left us especially satisfied. If you wish to splurge, try an appetizer like everyone’s favorite Osetra Caviar or the Red Shrimp carpaccio. For those who have trouble deciding, you simply cannot go wrong with any of the pasta dishes. More drinks flowed, but this time we opted for wine. Baretto has quite the extensive and well-curated wine list. We would not accept anything less from a proper Italian establishment.
From the atmosphere to the service, Baretto can be best described as sensual and timeless. Get cosy at your table or in one of their velvet armchairs and tune out the world. If you asked us for a secret bar tip, Baretto is our number one recommendation this summer, because getting away from the fuss of downtown’s viral destinations just might be your best chance for a successful date night. Come here on a second date or to celebrate a special anniversary. Bring someone who can appreciate live jazz music, wine and/or perfectly crafted cocktails.
Reservations for Baretto are available on Resy. Guests can book a table anytime, and come and go as they like. Doors open at 8pm, and live music starts at 9pm until 12am with a short break.
Baretto at Fasano, 60 E 49th St (betw Park/Madison Ave), Midtown East
