A beloved cafe is making its return to Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood this summer.
Luna at the Luxe, owned by Sarah Levine-Varisano, will open at 1705 N. American St. inside The Luxe apartment complex.
Luna first opened in Old City in 2016 and expanded a few years later with a second location near Third Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Levine-Varisano sold the original cafe in 2022. After the lease ended at the second location, she decided to relocate the business.
“I ran that one until December when my lease was ending. The Luxe reached out about potentially relocating and it was all really serendipitous,” Levine-Varisano told What Now Philadelphia.
The new 900-square-foot space is undergoing a complete buildout but will retain the signature Luna vibe, with natural, neutral tones and plenty of greenery.
“It was bare bones. Working with The Luxe has been lovely. The space is going to be so beautiful. It’s very similar in size to the other location, but it’s laid out so much better,” she said. “I’ve always opened turnkey spots, but we got to build it out and design it from the ground up, so it’s really exciting.”
Luna will feature a 30-seat walnut bar with a trellis overhead, a “new adventure” for the previously liquorless cafe. The space will also include an outdoor courtyard with seating for 40 to 50 guests.
The cafe will continue serving its popular breakfast and lunch staples alongside a full espresso bar while expanding its menu to include dinner service Thursday through Saturday evenings.
“We’re going to do artisan style pizzas with fresh, local ingredients. We’ll have salads and small bites. We’ll also have a curated cocktail menu, wine list and a couple of beers,” she said.
Additionally, the wine club and bottle shop will return with a focus on natural and biodynamic wines.
Levine-Varisano looks forward to welcoming back familiar faces while retaining the majority of her staff.
“We were such a neighborhood spot and I think people were really disappointed when we closed,” she said. “I’m excited about being open for the community and being there for our regulars. The building, as well, is really looking forward to having a cafe downstairs.”
The team is finalizing construction and permits and aims to open Luna at the Luxe by the end of the month. Visit the website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.
