Tulum’s Gitano Opens Tropical Outdoor Soho Restaurant Tonight

Soho is now home to palm tree-packed outdoor restaurant Gitano, an outpost of a hip, popular restaurant in tropical vacation destination Tulum, Mexico.

The 24,000-square-foot seasonal restaurant from co-owners James Gardner and Melissa Perlman opens to the public Friday at 76 Varick St., at Canal Street, according to Vogue. A representative tells Eater that the menu of Mexican fare, cooked on open fire, will be limited until mid-July. At a preview on Thursday night, dishes included grilled avocado with almonds, ceviche verde with lychees, and chicken tinga on sopes, according to a statement.

It’s a massive enterprise, packed with some 400 seats and bar area, including lots of wooden furniture, loungey seating, and tons and tons of plants to make the space mimic the jungle of the original outpost. An urban farm, a clothing boutique, a meditation area, and a coffee bar are also on the grounds.

The Tulum original caters to wealthy, international travelers and is known for rowdy, popular parties. Here, though, the restaurant will close at 11 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends, and it’s not allowed to have DJs. Brunch, lunch, and dinner will be offered.

But judging by the guest list at a preview party for the restaurant, expect the crowd here to be just as heavy with fashion folk and B- to D-List celebrities. Thursday night’s preview party included Chloe Sevigny, Dean Winters, Real Housewives of New York’s Dorinda Medley, actor Alex Pettyfer, and a whole slew of other DJ’s, singers, models, and artists. It also still has a disco ball, which was a favorite for Thursday night’s Instagram stories.

Gitano will close by October or so, and Gardner has the lease on the space for this year and next. Stay tuned for more.

Photo via Gitano by Samantha Nandez/BFA.com

Photo via Gitano by Samantha Nandez/BFA.com

Photo via Gitano by Samantha Nandez/BFA.com

• Tulum Comes to Canal Street, Palm Trees and All [Vogue]