Brasserie Cognac Restaurant to Open Second Location in Hotel 48LEX

Beloved French Affair Welcomed by Hotel Guests and Welcomed Back by Midtown Diners

Brasserie Cognac, is excited to announce the debut of its second location at Hotel 48LEX. From the founders of Serafina Restaurant Group, the restaurant’s newest location will bring its authentic French cuisine inside one of Midtown’s most luxurious and upscale boutique hotels. Located on the hotel’s main floor and accessible through the lobby and its Lexington Avenue entrance, the restaurant opened on March 21, 2023. 

Restauranteurs Vittorio Assaf & Fabio Granato of Serafina Restaurant Group brought their love of French culture and cuisine to NYC by providing patrons an authentic taste of France when they opened the first of their family of French restaurants, Brasserie Cognac de Monsieur de Ballon in April of 2008. After ten years of business, the two decided to close their doors to focus on other endeavors for the Serafina brand including the 5 openings of Café Serafina.

Brasserie Cognac East, opened in the Upper East Side in May of 2013 and offers patrons a two-story  space with options to dine in its outdoor sidewalk café, main dining room, lively bar, or private Cognac Room. With the success of this location and the expansion of the Serafina brand, it was only natural to bring their French cuisine back to midtown. Brasserie Cognac’s newest location will offer the same menu in addition to a raw bar and a happy hour with oyster and wine pairings that will be unique to this location.

“My love for French food started when I first graduated at 17 years old. The gift from my mother was a tour of the best Relais Gurmande & relais Chateau of France starting from Provence and ending in Paris,” said Vittorio Assaf of Serafina Restaurant Group. “It was there that I discovered the beauty of the French Cuisine which comes from the use of the best ingredients cooked in the most refined techniques. The atmosphere of Cognac carefully mirrors what New Yorkers want: an extension of their own kitchen, a place where they feel at ease, at home and yet to be transported to a beautiful French Parisian Brasserie, eating the authentic French food, and feeling the authentic sophisticated atmosphere of Saint Germain or Avenue Montaigne.”

Brasserie Cognac at Hotel 48LEX will feature dishes such as the signature Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare, prepared with wasabi, avocado and ponzu sauce, the Signature Chicken salad with green apple & cranberries; and Branzino, atop roasted artichokes, capers, cherry tomatoes and espelette sauce. Plus, diners will start their experience with the adored basket of delightfully light & airy Gougeres (warm cheese puffs). Open daily for lunch, dinner, in-room dining, and breakfast (coming soon), the 85-seat open dining room combines the hotel’s sleek high-end design and traditional intimate and elegant design of its sister restaurant to offer guests a true French dining experience. 

“Brasserie Cognac is known for the same outstanding experience, sophistication and charm as Hotel 48LEX and is the ideal addition to our food and beverage programming,” said Abel Cartagena Jr., general manager at Hotel 48LEX. “We are honored to partner with such a celebrated name in the culinary world to continue evolving our guest experience and look forward to this next chapter in our story.” 

The newest Brasserie Cognac will be a great welcome to hotel guests and a welcome back for diners in midtown looking to indulge in their favorite French dishes again. Hotel 48LEX is located on 48th Street and Lexington Avenue, where all the city’s attractions are within arm’s reach. The neighborhood comprises Broadway theaters, iconic 5th Avenue shopping, the Empire State Building and Times Square. 

About Serafina Restaurant Group:

Founded by Vittorio Assaf and Fabio Granato in 1995, Serafina Restaurants is a collection of Italian eateries that started with the acclaimed Serafina Fabulous Pizza on the Upper East Side of New York City. Following the success of their first restaurant, the duo quickly expanded the sophisticated simplicity of Serafina across Manhattan and into a global presence; specializing in contemporary Italian cuisine crafted with the best imported quality ingredients fused with an energetic vibe at each location. The Serafina family of restaurants includes the flagship Serafina brand, Café Serafina, Brasserie Cognac, and Farinella Bakery. With 46 locations across the eastern U.S. and in eight different countries in the world, Serafina remains an affordable luxury built on the foundation of creating a welcoming and social environment for all. “Our clients think about Serafina as a home away from home, where no matter where in the world you are, you know exactly what to expect and the beautiful quality of great Italian food you will find.”

About Hotel 48LEX:

Hotel 48LEX New York is a AAA Four Diamond hotel featuring 116 spacious pied-à-terre style bedrooms and suites, each designed to resemble an upscale Manhattan apartment with elegant touches such as marble bathrooms, contemporary art décor, kitchenettes, and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Lexington Avenue. Located in Midtown East in Manhattan within walking distance of many iconic New York City destinations, Hotel 48LEX offers complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, access to a 24-hour fitness studio with Peloton bikes and Tonal machine and flexible spaces perfect for intimate special events and meetings. The Lounge stands in for a typical “lobby,” with daily pastries in the morning and bites throughout the day, comfortable furniture for guests to relax, wine and a selection of light bites every evening. Brasserie Cognac, located on the lobby level, offers a brasserie style menu combining French classics with modern creations.