Soares’s ‘bottega’ emerges as manhattan’s unexpected culinary haven
Late spring in 121st Street – a scene of sourdough slicing, martini clinks, and spontaneous laughter – marks the arrival of Alimentari Flaneur, a new event space and gourmet grocer that’s swiftly becoming a coveted haunt.
Daniel soares’s calculated chaos: from pop-up to permanent presence
Proprietor Daniel Soares, a fourth-generation Balducci, traded a potential Dean & Deluca empire for a distinctly personal vision. Born from the uncertain months of 2020, the initial pop-up produce market was fueled by a need – and a girlfriend’s job search. The subsequent basement location in Essex Market proved fleeting, but ultimately cleared the way for this meticulously crafted ‘bottega’.
The building itself, a family legacy for over two decades, presented a unique challenge. Soares’s initial optimism about a swift renovation quickly collided with the realities of restoring a space, demanding a painstaking process of removal and reimagining. The tin ceiling, painstakingly aged by hand, evokes a bygone era of dining – an occasion, he insists.
A layered aesthetic, built on intuition
Enso firm partners Joel Harding and Yuria Kailich describe Soares’s approach as intuitive, a stark contrast to the conventional. “He’d send me photos of barstools from Home Depot,” Kailich recalls, “asking what I thought. I nixed that pretty quickly. He wants a specific vibe, and he’s relentless in chasing it.”
The flexible floor plan, adaptable for intimate dinners and larger gatherings, is punctuated by vintage finds: a Murphy bar, hand-me-down appliances, and layers of curiosities. “We had to manufacture that sense of age ourselves,” Kailich explains, “without falling into the Cheesecake Factory trap. References ranged from Martha Stewart to Ralph Lauren and even Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
A community-driven space
Krissy Jones, co-founder of Sky Ting, describes the space as “an idea brought to life by people who said, ‘fuck it, let’s just keep saying yes to each other and have fun doing it.’” Soares’s commitment to his team and surrounding community is palpable, a casual ethos that defies the typical uptown exclusivity.
“This space is beautiful because it’s an idea brought to life by people who said, fuck it, let’s just keep saying yes to each other and have fun doing it,” Soares stated. “Which is what I want for everyone who comes through. Just say yes. It’s a lot of fun.”