Historic family-owned New York restaurant closes after nearly 120 years following owner’s death

One of New York City’s oldest Italian restaurants has closed its doors after serving generations of theatergoers and celebrities. The historic Manhattan restaurant ended a run that lasted nearly 120 years.

Restaurant Row landmark shuts down

Barbetta, a historic Italian restaurant located on Manhattan’s famed Restaurant Row, closed in late February 2026 after nearly 120 years in business.

The restaurant had long been a staple of the city’s Theater District, drawing Broadway actors, politicians and tourists looking for traditional Northern Italian cuisine before or after shows. Over the decades, Barbetta became known for its elegant dining rooms and seasonal garden courtyard — a rare feature among Manhattan restaurants.

The closure marks the end of one of the city’s longest-running independent restaurants.

Over a century of Italian culinary history

Barbetta first opened in 1906, founded by Sebastiano Maioglio. The restaurant remained family-owned for generations and became famous for bringing Piedmont-style Italian cuisine to New York long before regional Italian cooking was common in the United States.

Through the decades, Barbetta earned national recognition and hosted a long list of notable guests, including theater stars, politicians, and cultural figures. The restaurant also helped pioneer outdoor garden dining in New York City.

For much of its modern history, the restaurant was run by Laura Maioglio, Sebastiano’s daughter, who operated the restaurant for more than 60 years.

Owner’s death led to closure

The restaurant’s closure followed the death of Maioglio in February 2026. Maioglio had led Barbetta since the 1960s and was widely credited with preserving the restaurant’s traditions and reputation for classic Italian fine dining.

Without her leadership, the family ultimately decided to close the business rather than continue operating the historic restaurant.

The closing of Barbetta adds to a growing list of long-running restaurants across the United States that have shut down in recent months, many due to ownership changes, retirements or rising operating costs in the hospitality industry.