By The Stacey Froelich Team | October 14, 2026

A wave of new dining is lining up for the Upper East Side. Six restaurants, including the return of a longtime Yorkville bar and a new outpost of a well known sushi brand, moved forward this month when a Community Board 8 committee voted in favor of their liquor license applications. The spots stretch from East 61st Street up to East 89th Street and cover sushi, Roman cooking, Hungarian cuisine, and classic pub fare.

Quick Answer: Six restaurants are planned for the Upper East Side after Community Board 8’s Street Life Committee supported their liquor license applications on October 6, 2026. They are Ship of Fools, Blue Ribbon Sushi, Bondi Sushi, Tulipán Kitchen, Bottega del Gusto, and Pepe & Vera. The full board votes on October 21, and the New York State Liquor Authority makes the final call on each license.

What Happened at the Committee Meeting

On the evening of Tuesday, October 6, the Street Life Committee of Manhattan Community Board 8 heard presentations from six restaurant operators and recommended approval for each liquor license request, according to East Side Feed. Committee votes are advisory. The applications now go to the full board on October 21, 2026, and the binding decision rests with the New York State Liquor Authority.

Ship of Fools Makes Its Comeback

The headline name is Ship of Fools, a sports bar that operated at Second Avenue and East 82nd Street from 1996 to 2012. The owners have said that years of Second Avenue Subway construction made it too hard to keep the original location going, Patch reported. Phase 1 of that subway line opened to riders in January 2017.

Owner Glenn Treacher now plans to reopen at 1152 First Avenue, between East 63rd and East 64th Streets, in the former Baker Street Irregulars space. The layout calls for 35 tables with 71 seats plus a 22-stool bar. The application lists background music only and no delivery service, with requested hours of 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight on Sunday. Treacher told the committee there would be no outdoor drinking, private parties, or pub crawls. The target opening is January 2027.

Two Sushi Openings

Blue Ribbon Sushi is planning a roughly 1,600 square foot restaurant at 132 East 61st Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues, in the space Javitri Indian Cuisine previously occupied. It will be seated service only, with 22 tables, 60 seats, no customer bar, and no standing area. Proposed hours are 11 a.m. to midnight daily.

Bondi Sushi, which already runs an Upper East Side location at 1140 Third Avenue near East 66th Street, is adding a second neighborhood spot at 1445 Third Avenue, between East 81st and East 82nd Streets. The company told the committee it has had no State Liquor Authority violations in nine years of Manhattan operations.

Hungarian Culture on Madison Avenue

The Réka Darida Foundation presented plans for Tulipán Kitchen, a 40-seat restaurant inside its Hungarian cultural center at 1065 Madison Avenue, between East 80th and East 81st Streets. In addition to regular dining, the restaurant will host cooking classes and wine demonstrations. The rest of the building is set to include retail, a second floor gallery and event space, third floor offices, and apartments for visiting artists and chefs supported by the foundation.

Two New Italian Restaurants

Bottega del Gusto, a Roman-focused restaurant from Daniel and Elona Demiri, will take over 355 East 78th Street near First Avenue, the former home of Le Petit Parisien and its Supper Club. It will have 45 seats, five of them at the bar, and is seeking a wine, beer, and cider license.

Farther north, Pepe & Vera is preparing a full-service Italian restaurant at 1712 First Avenue, between East 88th and East 89th Streets. The space was most recently Holly Brook Lane and, before that, Basilic. Plans include 21 tables with 42 seats and an eight-seat bar, open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

What Comes Next

All six applications appear on the agenda for the full Community Board 8 meeting on October 21. Once the board issues its recommendations, each license goes to the State Liquor Authority for a final ruling. Opening dates beyond Ship of Fools’ January target have not been announced.

Why This Matters for NYC Real Estate

When we talk with buyers about the Upper East Side, the conversation almost always turns to what is within walking distance. A healthy restaurant scene is one of the clearest signs of a neighborhood with staying power, and six new leases spread across First, Third, and Madison Avenues and East 61st Street tell us operators see real demand here. Several of these restaurants are filling storefronts that had gone quiet, and filled retail is good news for the residential buildings above and around it.

We also love the Ship of Fools story. A business that left because of subway construction is coming back to a neighborhood that now has that subway, and that is a reminder of how long-term infrastructure investment pays off for residents and property owners alike. As Upper East Side foodies ourselves, we are excited to try every one of these.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which new restaurants are coming to the Upper East Side?
Ship of Fools (1152 First Avenue), Blue Ribbon Sushi (132 East 61st Street), Bondi Sushi (1445 Third Avenue), Tulipán Kitchen (1065 Madison Avenue), Bottega del Gusto (355 East 78th Street), and Pepe & Vera (1712 First Avenue).

Where is Ship of Fools reopening?
At 1152 First Avenue, between East 63rd and East 64th Streets, in the former Baker Street Irregulars space. The owners are targeting a January 2027 opening.

Why did the original Ship of Fools close?
The bar operated on Second Avenue near East 82nd Street from 1996 to 2012, and its owners have said Second Avenue Subway construction made the location too difficult to run.

Are these liquor licenses approved?
Not yet. Community Board 8’s Street Life Committee recommended approval on October 6, 2026. The full board votes on October 21, and the New York State Liquor Authority issues the final decision.

Where is the new Blue Ribbon Sushi on the Upper East Side?
At 132 East 61st Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues, with 60 seats and seated service only.

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Source: Adapted from reporting by Mike Mishkin, “Ship of Fools, Blue Ribbon Sushi, and Four More Restaurants Are Headed to the UES,” East Side Feed, October 7, 2026.