Ellen Yin plants a 30-seat Italian aperitivo bar, complete with vintage Lambretta, in the heart of Philadelphia’s most coveted neighborhood.
Ellen Yin, the restaurateur behind Vetri and High Street, just opened Bar Cicci in Rittenhouse, a compact 30-seat space dedicated to the Italian aperitivo hour culture. The bar launched in August with a visual anchor that immediately signals its intent: a vintage Lambretta stationed out front, the kind of scooter that defined 1960s Milan street life. It’s not decoration. It’s a statement about what happens inside.
The concept centers on the aperitivo tradition, that Italian golden hour between work and dinner when people gather for a drink and a light bite. Bar Cicci captures that specific energy: casual but intentional, social but not rowdy, designed for the window of time when Philly’s professional class transitions from office to evening. The intimate footprint means no sprawl, no lounging for three hours. It’s built for efficiency and ritual in equal measure.
For Yin, the move represents a departure from her heavier, more elaborate dining projects. Vetri established her as a serious Italian chef; High Street proved she understood American casual dining. Bar Cicci suggests a third act: importing a specific cultural moment rather than a full cuisine. It’s an aperitivo bar, not an Italian restaurant, the distinction matters. Rittenhouse has seen plenty of restaurant openings, but few that start with a Lambretta and commit to a single, narrow purpose executed with precision.
