Italian Rituals Come to Rittenhouse Bar Cicci, a neighborhood café and aperitivo bar from James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Ellen Yin's High Street Hospitality Group, is preparing for an August 18 soft open in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse neighborhood. Inspired by years of travel through Milan and Venice, the concept celebrates the daily rituals of Northern Italy—from morning espresso and house-baked pastries to evening cicchetti, spritzes, and wine. The 600-square-foot, 30-seat space occupies 1620 Sansom Street along Rittenhouse's culinary corridor. "One of my favorite parts of traveling through Italy is seeing how neighborhood cafes serve as the heartbeat of daily life," said Ellen Yin. "People stop in for espresso in the morning, return for a quick snack or lunch, and gather again in the evening over aperitivi and cicchetti. We wanted to bring that same sense of ritual and community to Philadelphia."

All-Day Menu Built Around Cicchetti Chef Christina McKeough, Culinary Director of High Street Hospitality concepts High Street and The Bread Room, leads the kitchen. The term "cicci"—plural of "ciccio"—is Italian for "little ones" or "little bites." Daytime offerings include seasonally rotating items: Pizza Bianca (on traditional Italian flatbread, with varieties like Prosciutto, Pesto & Burrata and Eggplant Bomba), Sfilatino filled with thinly sliced Mortadella, Maritozzi (Roman yeasted rolls with whipped cream), Cornetti (in multiple flavors), Cannoli Cruffin (croissant-like bun with ricotta and mascarpone), and Budino di Riso (orange cardamom rice pudding tart with pistachio). As evening approaches, the bar anchors its menu with roughly a dozen daily-changing cicchetti varieties (cheeses, meats, seasonal vegetables, and fish) sold in groups of three or five, freshly sliced salumi from a Berkel flywheel slicer, and Wagyu Beef Carpaccio Tonnato. Desserts include Zabaglione with seasonal fruit, house-made Campari Sorbetto (with optional prosecco), Tiramisu, and Italian biscotti.

Wine and Cocktail Program Frank Kinyon, Wine Director of High Street Hospitality Group, oversees the wine program.

Omy Bugazia, formerly of The Sergeantsville Inn and award-winning Ladder 4 Wine Bar in Detroit, developed the cocktail program. Aperitivi offerings include Classic Negroni, Negroni Sbagliato, Garibaldi, Espresso Martini with Onyx Eclipse Espresso, and the Martini Sporco—described as "a savory vodka martini with a garnish of pickled onion and anchovy."

Design Nods to Milan's Heritage Designed by Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design, the intimate space draws inspiration from 1960s Milan design. A striking natural stone bar anchors the room, complemented by comfortable banquette seating, marble-topped tables, and a bold palette of oranges, blacks, and blues accented by rustic Italian clay tile. Vintage fashion sketches pay homage to Milan's design legacy. The kitchen features authentic Italian equipment: a Faema Jubile E61 espresso machine and the aforementioned Berkel slicer.

Hours and Access Bar Cicci will operate first-come, first-served, opening for coffee and pastry at 8 AM Tuesday through Friday and 9 AM Saturday. Hours close at 9 PM weekdays and 10 PM weekends, with adjustments planned for fall.

Why It Matters

Philadelphia's Rittenhouse neighborhood continues to establish itself as a destination for chef-driven independent concepts. Bar Cicci's focused aperitivo concept—emphasizing repeat visits throughout the day—reflects broader industry trends toward third-place dining and the professionalization of cocktail and wine programs in neighborhood settings.

For more insights and trends in the food and beverage sector, check out more articles in The Food & Beverage Magazine family of publications.

Written by FBM Publications Editors