An ad set to run in the New York Times on Sunday, September 27, invites former diners, staff, neighbors, and anyone else with a connection to Café des Artistes to send in memories, including stories, photos, and other mementos. (Submissions can also be sent to memories@cafedesartistesnyc.com.) Arce and Katzenberg’s AirMax Hospitality says it will draw on those responses as the restaurant takes shape for its new era.
For Arce, the revival is personal. She grew up in Hell’s Kitchen and celebrated her graduation from LaGuardia High School at Café des Artistes. Katzenberg was born a few blocks away; the two became business partners in 2023.
The original Café des Artistes opened in 1917 on the ground floor of the Hotel des Artistes, an apartment building built for artists, many with no kitchens. What began as a dining room for residents eventually became a destination, particularly for performers, musicians, writers, and artists drawn to nearby Lincoln Center.
Its most recognizable feature remains intact: the murals of wood nymphs that illustrator and Hotel des Artistes resident Howard Chandler Christy began painting in 1934. They remained on the walls after Café des Artistes closed in 2009 and through the 15-year run of its successor, the Leopard at des Artistes, which closed in February.
Café des Artistes’ best-known era began in 1975, when George Lang and his wife, Jenifer, took over. The Hungarian-born restaurateur revived it for a new generation of performers and artists, with signature dishes including salmon four ways, pot-au-feu, and tarte à l’oignon. A chef for the upcoming revival has not yet been announced.