A Picture of Tropical Decadence, Gitano Opens at the South Street Seaport

Encompassing nearly 14,000 square feet, with 30-foot-high ceilings and a wall of hydraulic windows that opens to the water, Gitano NYC will greet guests for the first time today. The larger-than-life lightning rod of a restaurant and nightlife scene marks the first permanent New York City location of the international hospitality venture, which first opened in Tulum in 2013 and debuted in Dubai last year. This also follows years of seasonal outdoor pop-ups around the city, beginning with Soho’s Garden of Love in 2018, and continuing with a lush 27,000-square-foot Governors Island escape, known as Gitano Island, from 2022 onward.

“When the opportunity with Pier 17 at the Seaport came into view, we knew it was the perfect destination for the first permanent NYC location,” Grupo Gitano founder and CEO James Gardner shares with Surface. This he attributes to the environment. “You’re surrounded by water, with views in every direction, yet you’re tucked into your tropical hideaway. This allows us to anchor the Gitano experience in a permanent home without losing the feeling of impermanence and discovery.”

The sprawling palm-tree-and-leopard-print-laden space still feels ephemeral and energized thanks to the interiors—which include the largest disco ball in New York City, alongside chandeliers, and mirrored arches. “Our core design concept is bohemian and eclectic, celebrating the perfection in imperfection,” Gardner continues. “We took inspiration from the lush landscapes of the Yucatán and the elegance of Spanish Colonial architecture and infused it with New York energy to create the perfect escape in lower Manhattan.”

All of the design nuance acts to guide guests from an elevated dining experience into the high-energy atmosphere of nightlife. This ranges from the thoughtful light fixtures to the banquettes, made from Zapote wood brought in from Tulum, which Gardner restored. “The chandeliers are custom hand-knotted rose gold rope pieces from Mérida,” he adds. “Even the cement tiles were laid by hand, with patterns drawn from historical Mexican motifs.” He even incorporated two columns from the Piazza of Catskills Mountain House, built in 1823. To integrate them (and heighten their visual effect), Gardner painted them metallic gold.

A permanent location has allowed Gardner to guarantee a superlative culinary program helmed by executive chef Sebastian Cacho, who has graced the kitchens of Aska, Batard, and Gotham. Gitano NYC’s menu marries traditional Mexican flavors with refined Cacho’s gourmet expertise. As such, “guests can expect dishes like slow-roasted lamb birria, house-made masa tortillas, and elevated ceviche and crudo, each offering a fresh take on classic flavors with a focus on quality and craftsmanship,” Gardner adds.

Food is at the heart of the Gitano NYC experience, and yet the glamour and excitement of the original Tulum destination, and the city’s past pop-ups inform the experience. Gardner attributes this to “having grown up in the clubs, fashion shows, and parties of NYC in the ‘90s.” With his latest endeavor, all of that is set to an indoor-outdoor view of the Brooklyn Bridge.