Da Adriano

This Upper East Side cafe is as cozy as a cat in a shoebox, with an upbeat Italian pop playlist and a short menu of salads, pastas, and heartier dishes from northern Italy. Wine bottles line the wall behind the dessert counter, and light from the front windows pours onto little vases of flowers and LED tea lights on the handful of tables. Try the house pasta, a satisfyingly chewy cacao nib cavatelli with a sauce of braised beef and Tuscan wine. The veal special, if they have it, is tender and flavorful, garnished with thyme and roasted carrots, and the salads are light and very fresh. If you’re in the neighborhood, this is an easy choice for coffee and a light bite, or a low-key dinner.

photo credit: Sonal Shah