Euro Summer in NYC – No Passport Needed

Let’s be real: you’re about to scroll past Amalfi sunsets, Ibiza raves, and boat days in Dubrovnik. But some of us are staying put. And honestly? Thank God. Because New York’s Euro summer energy is unhinged, unfiltered, and right around the corner.

Take it from me, a German expat’s best friend, who’s done the rounds – Barcelona, Ibiza, Amalfi, Berlin, Lisbon, Marbella – and made it her mission to recreate the vibe right here in NYC.

Whether you’re hoping to fall in love with a European man while Baianá blares overhead, or just want to drink outside in beautiful clothes – this is your guide to doing Euro summer, without leaving the city. 

Left & Middle Aperol Spritz at Bar Pisellino; Right: Aperol Spritz by the Trevi fountain in Rome

Bar Pisellino

For an aperol spritz with a side of Italian flirt

This is where you go when you want espresso by day and several Aperol Spritzes by night, preferably while making intense eye contact with someone wearing Tod’s loafers. Bar Pisellino is a Roman holiday fantasy – but instead of the Trevi Fountain, it’s a West Village corner with perfect lighting, mini sandwiches, and beautiful European people at almost every table.

Pro Tip: Get there before 5:45 on weeknights to beat the line.

All enjoying the day in the new French Printemps store in the Financial District

Printemps

For sipping champagne under hand-painted ceilings

This is where you go when you want to pretend you're shopping off the Champs-Élysées – even if you’re just wandering through the fragrance floor with a flute of something cold and expensive. Printemps is a Parisian daydream dropped into the Financial District, all curated fashion, dramatic florals, and hand-painted ceilings. Come for the couture, stay for the cocktails, and if you happen to lose track of time between handbags and hors d’oeuvres and ultimately pay for a facial on your way out, well, that’s kind of the point.

Pro Tip: Start with champagne at the 2nd floor bar, then wander. Every floor feels like a soft launch into a new floor of the Musée d'Orsay.

Left: A Café Select adventure; Middle & right: Me and my schnitzel at Borchardt

Café Select

For schnitzel, spritzes, and the pregame that turns into the night

If you’re craving Borchardt vibes without the Berlin flight, head to Café Select. It’s not as buttoned-up, but the energy hits the same – long tables, loud friends, and drinks that keep coming. Come for the schnitzel, stay for the second round, and don’t be surprised if the whole table ends up at La Esquina after midnight.

Pro Tip: Bring a group and order the carajillo for a caffeine boost.

*My European friends inside Felix for a German futbol game* 

Felix Soho

For sports Sundays with a side of espresso martinis

Felix is where you go when you want to watch the game without giving up good outfits or better drinks. It’s loud, packed, and somehow still feels like your favorite corner of SoHo. Think jerseys mixed with Jacquemus, Aperol spritzes at noon, and bartenders who keep the energy high even when your team loses.

Pro Tip: Get there early for a table outside – it’s where the real game’s happening anyway.

Left: Beer at The Standard Biergarten; Middle & Right: Beer and bratwurst at a biergarten in Berlin

Standard Biergarten

Berlin beer culture, but make it Meatpacking

This is for the girls who want to pretend they’re in Berlin – but like Berlin as imagined by someone who’s only seen the Dior Homme campaign. You’re here for the ping pong, the pretzels, and the possibility of making out with a finance bro who DJs on the side.

Pro Tip: Go on game days to watch your favorite team from the big screens. This is a scaled back Houston Hall minus the interns.

Left & Middle: night out at Gospel; similar to right: Calvin Harris rave in Ibiza

Gospel

Ibiza meets warehouse rave meets accidental spiritual awakening

Dark lighting, endless dancing, and the kind of DJ set that makes you feel like you’ve ascended. Gospel is where you end up when the night spirals in the best possible way. It’s giving Ibiza with a splash of NoLita, and if you’re lucky, you’ll leave with a phone number and a new favorite house song.

Pro Tip: Have a friend with a table and wear something breathable. You will sweat.

*Left: food at Cipriani; Right: Socialista Lounge upstairs*

Cipriani

For Bellinis, pasta, and disappearing to the speakeasy upstairs

Come for the crisp tablecloths, stay for the after-dark shift. Cipriani is old-school Italian glamour with a side of scene – you’ll spot Rolexes, rosé, and whispered deals over lobster tagliolini. And once the espresso hits? You’re probably heading upstairs to Socialista, where the lighting’s low and everyone somehow knows each other.

Pro Tip: Order a Bellini with dinner, then “accidentally” follow the beautiful people up the stairs.

*Left: Jeans in Noho; Right: Club in Berlin*

Jeans

For 2 a.m. smoke breaks and fashion week flashbacks

Jeans isn’t just a nightclub… it’s a mood, a hallway, a basement, and somehow a runway. Hidden in Noho and barely marked, it’s where the cool crowd sweats out their secrets to deep house in Margiela boots. It’s loud, it’s dark, and you’ll probably see someone you ghosted.

Pro Tip: The boy-to-girl ratio here matters. The best way in is by dressing for the part, not asking. 

Euro Summer isn’t a location – it’s a state of mind

And in New York, that means bouncing from an Italian café to a German beer garden to a techno-fueled dance floor, all before your phone dies and you’re running around the streets of New York with a random group of friends from Amsterdam you’ll never see again.

Start your summer strong with a cheeky little spritz invite.