3. Veniero’s Pasticceria and Cafe

Veniero Pasticceria and Caffe-James and Karla Murray-East Village Food Tour-NYC

Image by James and Karla Murray, from our previous spotlight on Veniero’s

Antonio Venerio was 15 years old when he arrived in New York from Italy. Six years later, in 1894, he opened Antonio Veniero Confections at the current location, 342 East 11th Street, with a billiard parlor next door and a saloon across the street. This was back when a beer sold for a nickel. Today, Veniero’s Pasticceria and Cafe has changed very little and still has many of the original details, including the hand-stamped tin ceilings, etched glass, and marble floors, and it is still owned and operated by the Veniero family.