A New European Cafe Is Bringing Chill Vibes To The Upper East Side

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Charlotte Café, a laid-back family-run spot for flaky croissants and espresso is opening its doors on the Upper East Side this week, its owner told Patch.

The new Lenox Hill café, located at 1158 Second Ave., near East 61st Street, is the third location of the small coffee chain, which also has coffee shops on the Upper West Side and in Kips Bay.

The owner, named Vinz Z., runs the business with his wife, Aida. He said the idea for the café came from a simple observation after he moved to New York from Albania in 2018.

"We saw that New York was missing something — good customer service," Vinz told Patch. "We wanted to create a place where people feel at home."

Vinz and his family have worked in coffee for decades, he said. Back in Albania, they ran a family café and later managed stores for a major coffee chain before striking out on their own in New York.

At Charlotte Café, they do things the European way, Vinz said. They bake croissants in-house throughout the day, and brew espresso imported from Bologna, Italy. Any leftover pastries are donated at the end of the night, he said.

The new Upper East Side location will feature cozy seating, communal tables for laptop workers, and soon, a playroom area for kids — a nod to the café’s goal of creating a neighborhood gathering space, Vinz said.

"We want people to walk in and feel free," Vinz said, adding that he picked the name "Charlotte Café" because Charlotte means "Free man" in French.

Vinz, his wife, and several siblings all work as baristas and managers across the three locations. The team even built and designed the new café themselves — no contractors, no designers.

"It took seven months, and we did everything by hand," Vinz told Patch on the phone, while working on some cabinets. The coffee shop is taking over a location that used to be an Indian grocery store called Nex2U.

Once the shop opens, the New Yorker will still spend his days behind the counter, making coffee, which is why he calls the shop "employee-owned."

"You can catch me making espresso — I’m not hiding in the back," Vinz said.

Charlotte Café plans to open its Upper East Side location by the end of the week, and Vinz said the neighborhood’s early enthusiasm has already been energizing.

"People stop by and say, 'Please just open already,'" he said. "We’re nervous, but excited. This one feels special."

Charlotte Café is expected to open this week at 1158 Second Ave.

Know of a business opening or closing in Manhattan? Email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.