2 New Coffee Shops Open On Upper East Side

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Caffeine lovers on the Upper East Side gained two new coffee spots in recent days: an Italian cafe with colorful decor and a pan-European spot with a retro twist.

Peaky Barista opened Nov. 12 at 1220 Lexington Ave., between East 82nd and 83rd streets, followed by Tozzo, which arrived Tuesday at 1491 Second Ave. between East 77th and 78th streets.

Tozzo's coffees are "inspired by the Sicilian way to make specialty drinks," according to an Instagram post. Its trademark drinks feature espresso with a base of pistachio crime, white chocolate, dulce de leche, condensed milk and hazelnuts.

Besides a selection of pastries, sandwiches and Italian sodas, Tozzo also stands out for the hand-painted designs on its walls and front door, inspired by the artisan tiles in small Sicilian towns.

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"Passing by Tozzo transports you to a quick but deep experience of an Italian village street," reads another post.

Tozzo's owner is Mara Baldissoni, a native of Rome who now lives on the Upper East Side and also works as an actress and realtor, according to East Side Feed, which first reported on both openings.

Peaky Barista, meanwhile, signed a lease back in May for its new 1,050-square-foot Lexington Avenue digs.

With two existing locations on the Upper West Side, it describes itself as a "family-owned, cozy and hip coffee shop with a European vibe," with a name that resembles the title of Netflix's hit gangster period drama.

Peaky Barista was founded by Dragan Bulic, a hospitality industry veteran who dreamed for years about opening his own shop after immigrating to the U.S. from Serbia in 2008, according to its website. The shops combine Bulic's "passion for coffee, good service, and the 1920’s era," embodied by the newsboy caps sported by its employees.

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Correction: an earlier version of this article misstated the location of Tozzo.