Sant Ambroeus Soho
Ruth Rogers orders an Italian espresso and a pastry at the Soho room, 265 Lafayette Street, and she names that door herself: "I usually go to the one in Soho." She keeps Russ & Daughters for the mornings she wants the breakfast she says you can only have in New York.
Why go
Carina Finn's advice is to come on a weekday morning for coffee and pastry, when the room is not full, and she notes that lunch, dinner and weekend brunch all hold up.
Order this / avoid
- Order in the morning: an Italian espresso and a pastry, which is Ruth Rogers' order.
- Order later: a freddo cappuccino and a slice of Principessa cake to close the meal.
- Avoid: the weekend if you came for the coffee.
What locals & experts say
- Ruth Rogers (The River Cafe, London), 2026-05:
One place I love is Sant Ambroeus. It feels like a little refuge. It may feel like Milan, but somehow in New York it still feels right. I usually go to the one in Soho and order an Italian espresso and a pastry.
1 - Carina Finn, The Infatuation, 26 July 2022, unrated:
The Soho outpost of Sant Ambroeus, a chain with locations in places like Sotheby's and The Hamptons, is one of the most reliable spots for celebrity sightings in the city, but the food here is actually really good, too.
2
Good to know
- Which door: Sant Ambroeus runs several New York rooms. This page is the one on Lafayette Street in Soho, and it is the one Rogers names.
Verdict
could-visit — Ruth Rogers stops here on New York mornings and names the Soho room, which is a real recommendation from a chef whose own trade is Italian. Carina Finn left her piece unrated on purpose and pointed at a cake. I have not found anyone who has written about the coffee, so this rests on Rogers' word and Finn's one recommendation.