(This venue is closed.) That's the view that John and Yoko might have seen 30 years ago, when they walked over from The Dakota. Café La Fortuna, which opened in 1976, will close its doors by the end of February due to an increase in rent, according to a staffer I spoke to on Tuesday. (Thanks to the reader whose comment, which you can read by clicking on the link below, broke the sad news. Another reader, and several news reports, stress that the final day is February 24.)
Stop by once more, if you have the chance; you can't say "nobody told me."
Café La Fortuna
69 West 71st St. (Columbus Ave.-Central Park West)
212-724-5846
www.cafelafortuna.net
Cafe La Fortuna used to be one of my favorite after work spots, but not for the food. I thought they went out of business years ago. Great to see they're still around.
Posted by: Jesse Nahan | January 16, 2008 at 09:31 PM
IMAGINE THERE'S NO CAFÉ LA FORTUNA
It isn't hard to do with rents in the Lincoln Center area skyrocketing. After many years as one of the most popular hangouts on Manhattan's Upper West Side, CAFÉ LA FORTUNA, famously frequented by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, IS CLOSING ITS DOORS FOR GOOD ON FEBRUARY 28, 2008. Its walls are crammed with photographs and playbills; many of them autographed by musical luminaries of the past: Caruso, Rubinstein and Marian Anderson. The small round table which had been displayed in the window case for the past 25 years since John Lennon's death was used by John and Yoko and was given to Ms. Ono last year as a gift from the owner, Mike Trapani. Ben Affleck and Bill Clinton are the most recent celebrities to grace the institution as evidenced by a photograph of the former President and a T-shirt autographed by the actor. Anyone wishing to say good bye to the old place had better hurry. Strawberry Fields may be forever, but not Café la Fortuna.
Posted by: Randy Smith | February 18, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Thanks so much for the tip. My friend and I used to go there all the time years ago, so it holds many good memories for us. I think I may have to go there one last time for nostalgia's sake.
Posted by: Maribel | February 20, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Cafe La Fortuna is not closing on Feb. 28th as is posted in most blogs, but rather, this Sunday Feb, 24th will be the last curtain call.
Posted by: SardineTea | February 22, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Update: CAFE CLOSING SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2008. ALL DAY SATURDAY THE PLACE WAS PACKED. SUNDAY IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO GET IN THE DOOR.
Posted by: Randy Smith | February 23, 2008 at 07:39 PM