One of New York City’s oldest Italian restaurants has closed its doors after serving generations of theatergoers and celebrities. The historic Manhattan restaurant ended a run that lasted nearly 120 years.
Restaurant Row landmark shuts down
Barbetta, a historic Italian restaurant located on Manhattan’s famed Restaurant Row, closed in late February 2026 after nearly 120 years in business.
The restaurant had long been a staple of the city’s Theater District, drawing Broadway actors, politicians and tourists looking for traditional Northern Italian cuisine before or after shows. Over the decades, Barbetta became known for its elegant dining rooms and seasonal garden courtyard — a rare feature among Manhattan restaurants.
The closure marks the end of one of the city’s longest-running independent restaurants.
Over a century of Italian culinary history
Barbetta first opened in 1906, founded by Sebastiano Maioglio. The restaurant remained family-owned for generations and became famous for bringing Piedmont-style Italian cuisine to New York long before regional Italian cooking was common in the United States…