Bar Enzo, the Italian American speakeasy that quietly turned into a Long Island City favorite, is gearing up for a Midtown East sequel. The team has filed paperwork to bring its mid century cocktail vibe across the East River, pitching a small all day operation on a relatively sleepy stretch of First Avenue. The application pegs 1073 1st Ave as the proposed address and points to a split personality setup: coffee by day, cocktails at night.
Owners Move To Lock In Liquor License
According to What Now, the Bar Enzo owners have applied for a liquor license with Manhattan Community Board 6 to open a second location at 1073 1st Ave. If approved, the move would bring the Long Island City bar's mid century, amari forward program straight into Midtown East.
What Now also notes that the team teased the project on Instagram with the line, “We started building something new this week,” describing the idea as “coffee in the morning, Speakeasy in the evening.” That pitch points to a compact, flexible room that shifts its identity as the day rolls on.
From LIC Hideaway To Midtown Player
Per Bar Enzo's website, the original Long Island City spot is tucked above the Greats of Craft venue at 10-15 43rd Ave and leans into Italian amari, reworked classic cocktails and light fare. The LIC location has also hosted family style dinners and private events, giving the team a clear blueprint for a similarly intimate Manhattan outpost.
All Day Game Plan Follows Citywide Trend
The proposed coffee by day, cocktail by night setup tracks with a broader “all day” play across the city as operators chase both daytime foot traffic and evening bar business. Hoodline’s recent coverage of similar Lower East Side openings has highlighted how new venues are being built to flip their mood and service model as the day progresses.
Whether the Midtown East address gets the sign off will hinge on community board review and the licensing process, but reviewers point to Bar Enzo’s LIC track record, known for bitter forward cocktails and a cozy, mid century feel, as a sign this is more cocktail den than party spot, according to The Infatuation. For now, all eyes are on the Community Board 6 calendar to see when the application officially lands on the agenda.
