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Caffe Reggio ยท 119 MacDougal Street
Caffe Reggio
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1959

Caffe Reggio
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IMAGE DATE1959
FromNew York Public Library logoNew York Public Library

Caffe Reggio, date unknown.

This South Village mainstay opened in 1927 and its original owner, Domenico Parisi, spent his life savings of $1,000 to purchase their 1902 espresso machine. They claim to be the first coffee shop in the United States to serve Italian Cappuccino. According to a 1945 New York Herald Tribune article, "Dominic's Espresso machine is a shining Gargantua equipped with many spigots, filled with hot water and steam, which makes a cup of coffee in just about three seconds... A visit to the Caffe Reggio is an experience worth having."

This spot was also one of the many locations in Greenwich Village where a young Bob Dylan played in the 1960s.

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