Cecconi’s at The Ned Nomad is the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into the most stylish living room in Manhattan. Nestled inside the buzzy Ned hotel, this northern Italian hotspot strikes that elusive balance between scene-y and substantial that so many New York restaurants chase but rarely capture.

The space itself is Instagram gold – soaring ceilings, velvet banquettes in that perfect shade of dusty blue, and lighting that somehow makes everyone look like they’ve just returned from vacation. But unlike other beautiful restaurants, the food actually lives up to the aesthetics. Their handmade pasta dishes – particularly the lobster spaghetti – demonstrate real Italian technique rather than just Italian inspiration.

What makes Cecconi’s special is how it shape-shifts throughout the day. Power breakfast meetings transition seamlessly to ladies-who-lunch, followed by aperitivo hour that bleeds into a dinner service where you might spot a celebrity trying to be incognito in the corner.

Yes, it’s part of a global restaurant group, but this location feels distinctly New York. The service manages to be attentive without hovering, and the cocktail program is surprisingly inventive for an Italian spot. Come for the people-watching and the perfect negroni, stay for pasta that would make your Italian grandmother nod with approval.