New Bar Replaces A Well-Loved Yorkville Cafe This Month

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Stella & Fly, a beloved cafe-by-day and bar-by-night concept in Yorkville, is closing after nearly eight years on First Avenue, the owner wrote in a heartfelt social media post.

Stella & Fly, located at 1705 First Ave. between East 88th Street and East 89th Street, will reopen as Bar Andiamo, an upscale cocktail bar "with an Italian spirit," the new owner said.

"With an incredibly heavy heart, I want to share that Stella & Fly will be transitioning to new ownership this month," Kassandra, the owner of Stella & Fly, wrote.

"From adoption events to coat drives and beauty bags for women experiencing homelessness, your generosity and compassion were constant reminders of what makes this neighborhood so special."

Bar Andiamo, owned by self-described "journeyman" Jason Vincze, will keep the all-day cafe and bar concept, but make it his own, he said.

"As sad as it is to sunset Stella and Fly, I am extremely excited to get Andiamo off the ground and can only aspire to create what Kassandra has been able to accomplish here in the community," Vincze wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

"I hope that Bar Andiamo, named after the tiny Catalina 38 I lived on during my short stint in Los Angeles, can provide a strong sense of home-away-from-home and a comfortable space for the neighborhood, just as Stella and Fly has," Vincze wrote.

Vincze said he hopes to welcome Upper East Siders back "for a coffee, glass of wine, or martini" soon, though no official opening date has been announced yet.

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