Our History

Paola’s Café carries forward a legacy that began in 1983 when Paola Bottero opened her namesake restaurant in New York City. She created more than a place to eat—she created a home away from home for neighbors, friends, and anyone who wandered in craving beautifully prepared Italian food. Paola’s warmth, her insistence on quality, and her love for the community made the restaurant a cherished Upper East Side institution for decades.

Today, Paola’s spirit lives on at Paola’s Café and the newly opened, Paola’s, lovingly guided by her son Stefano. While the address and name have evolved, the heart of the restaurant has not. We remain devoted to serving the same thoughtful, high-quality Italian dishes that defined Paola’s kitchen—simple ingredients treated with care, recipes rooted in family tradition, and flavors that feel both comforting and refined.

Our charming, intimate space reflects what Paola believed a restaurant should be: welcoming, personal, and filled with the small touches that make people want to return again and again. At Paola’s Café, every plate, every detail, and every warm greeting honors the woman who started it all and the community that embraced her.

We’re proud to continue her story and invite you to be part of the next chapter.