EAST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN
Il Buco
A candlelit Bond Street farmhouse of copper pots and old wood, opened in 1994 — come for the risotto.
See current Google rating & reviews ↗Il Buco opened on Bond Street in 1994 as an antiques shop, and it still feels like the inside of an old farmhouse: copper pots on the walls, rough wood, candlelight, and a menu in Italian and Spanish that goes into loving detail about where everything comes from.
Starters are pleasant; the mains and pastas are why people return. The risotto has a claim to being the best in the city, the spaghetti with seafood and chilies tastes of more butter than it contains, and the bistecca and lamb chops are cooked with real care. Order more than one main for the table.
Editor’s tip
Ask for a table in the main room near the copper pots, and share a risotto and a pasta before mains.
Make an evening of it — beautiful stops nearby
Also in the neighborhood
IllustrationEAST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN
Abraço
An East Village espresso counter with Lisbon manners and a cult-favorite olive oil cake.
Café · Neighborhood Café · $

EAST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN
Veselka
The 1954 Ukrainian diner that still anchors Second Avenue with pierogi and borscht.
Ukrainian · Brunch · $$
Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 14, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.

