{"id":1312,"date":"2026-04-17T20:59:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T20:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arlohotels.com\/soho\/?post_type=explore&p=1312"},"modified":"2026-04-17T21:01:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T21:01:10","slug":"antique-garage","status":"publish","type":"explore","link":"https:\/\/arlohotels.com\/soho\/explore-location\/antique-garage\/","title":{"rendered":"Antique Garage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SoHo might be best known for its fashion scene, but there\u2019s no doubt that it\u2019s a foodie destination as well. Staying at Arlo SoHo<\/a> puts you in one of Manhattan\u2019s most walkable neighborhoods, which puts you right at the heart of all the best sips, tastes, and flavors. Restaurants line the streets. Coffee shops fill the corners. There are countless options in every direction. One of the longest-running among them is Antique Garage<\/a>, and it is a must-visit for anyone experiencing SoHo for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening its doors in 2003, Antique Garage serves Mediterranean cuisine, highlighting Turkish and Aegean traditions. It\u2019s stylish, elevated, yet approachable. Kind of like the neighborhood it\u2019s in. There\u2019s a reason that the restaurant has remained part of SoHo\u2019s dining scene for more than two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what you can expect. Prepare to be impressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Converted Garage to SoHo Fixture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chef Utku Cinel opened Antique Garage<\/a> in 2003 inside a former mechanic\u2019s garage on Mercer Street in SoHo. He built the restaurant around two long-standing interests: Mediterranean cooking and antique collecting. The space has stuck to its roots from the beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cinel grew up in Istanbul and developed his cooking style through Turkish, Aegean, and Greek traditions. Those influences show up on the menu today. Olive oil is central to many dishes, including oil sourced from the Cinel family\u2019s groves in western Turkey. A special treat for patrons. Seafood and fresh produce follow the principles of Mediterranean cooking, while incorporating locally available seasonal ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During its early years, the SoHo location hosted regular live music performances, including jazz and blues. Music contributed to the restaurant\u2019s identity and still appears on select evenings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2010, Evrim Cinel, Chef Cinel\u2019s wife, joined the business. She worked across front-of-house roles before stepping into a larger leadership position. Her involvement strengthened daily operations and hospitality standards. It\u2019s a true family restaurant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The restaurant has operated in SoHo for more than two decades through many shifts in the neighborhood. Guests return for familiar dishes and a consistent atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Menu: Meze, Raw Bar, Grill, and Seafood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The menu at Antique Garage<\/a> follows a traditional Mediterranean structure. Start with small plates. Move into grilled meats or seafood. Add vegetables or salads as needed. Finish with dessert or coffee. Grab a cocktail (or two!) if you\u2019re up for it. The menu works well when you order a few dishes to share at the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dinner usually starts with meze. Hummus, fava, tarama, tzatziki, tirokafteri, and baba ganoush form the core spreads. The Meze Trio offers a simple way to try a few at once. Imam Bayildi adds a traditional eggplant dish to the table. Borek brings crisp pastry filled with savory ingredients. Zucchini spring rolls and crispy shrimp rolls provide lighter starters with texture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seafood plays a role early\u2026 and often. Grilled octopus is one of the more popular dishes to start with. Spicy shrimp and moules frites add additional options before moving to the main dishes. The raw bar includes sea bass carpaccio, sea bream crudo, and seafood ceviche. These dishes keep the start of dinner clean and direct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grill section focuses on kebabs. Adana kebab brings seasoned ground meat on skewers. Lamb shish and chicken shish offer straightforward grilled cuts. Beyti kebab is wrapped, while the durum kebab sandwich offers a more casual option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entr\u00e9e menu expands to include whole fish and composed plates. Whole grilled branzini and seafood begendi are crowd favorites. Lamb chops, steak frites, and seafood pasta provide variety across meat and seafood. An Antique Burger appears for guests seeking a classic favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salads round out the menu. Greek, Santorini, fennel, avocado, and tabbouleh salads give a lighter balance to grilled dishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though Antique Garage is mostly a dinner destination, their weekend brunch brings that Mediterranean identity into the morning. The brunch menu includes menemen, sucuklu yumurta, Turkish eggs, farmer\u2019s omelette, feta omelette, salmon asparagus scramble, avocado toast, and the Aegean breakfast. Plus, you can still enjoy mezes and the raw bar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bar supports it all with wine selections and classic cocktails designed to pair perfectly with their seafood and grilled meat selections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ordering works best in stages: a few meze, a seafood plate or kebab, and one larger entr\u00e9e to share with the table. The structure stays simple, and the variety allows flexibility, which creates an unforgettable dining experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When To Visit Antique Garage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The answer is, anytime. Antique Garage<\/a> is an easy fit into a SoHo evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a great spot to grab dinner after shopping or visiting a gallery with friends. Or you could reserve a table for two for a romantic evening. If you\u2019re with a small group, there\u2019s enough variety on the menu to satisfy different food preferences. And the weekend brunch is close to the hotel and keeps the day moving without having to venture out too far.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The restaurant is a reliable neighborhood dinner option within walking distance of Arlo SoHo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting To the Restaurant From Arlo SoHo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of walking distance, getting to Antique Garage from Arlo SoHo<\/a> is easy. Head toward Canal Street, go southeast by Duarte Square, turn right onto Grand Street, and you\u2019ll run into Mercer Street. Antique Garage will be right there on the corner. It\u2019s about a 10-15 minute walk, staying right in SoHo without having to take the subway. Dinner plans stay easy when the restaurant is this close to the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elevate Your SoHo Dining Experience With Your Next Stay at Arlo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Antique Garage serves Mediterranean cuisine that features meze, grilled meats, seafood, and olive oil-driven flavors. The restaurant has operated in SoHo since 2003 and maintains a popular dining spot in the neighborhood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For guests staying at Arlo SoHo<\/a>, the location keeps dinner plans simple. The walk is short, and reservations are easy to coordinate. The menu accommodates small tables and larger groups, which is convenient for visitors to the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book your stay at Arlo SoHo<\/a> and keep a well-established neighborhood restaurant just steps away from your room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n