Story

Hi, I'm Tyler Hollinger, owner of FESTIVÁL.

When I opened FESTIVÁL 6yrs, I wanted to create the kind of place I couldn't find anywhere else on the Upper East Side—a neighborhood café with the soul of a cocktail bar, the quality of a great restaurant, and the vibes of a downtown lounge.

We call ourselves a Farm-to-Bar Cocktail Café, and that philosophy drives everything we do. We are a ‘playful’ establishment that takes made from scratch seriously.

For us, this isn't a marketing phrase—it's a way of life. We make our syrups, infusions, sauces, dressings, and cocktails in-house. We source thoughtfully, work with local farms and producers whenever possible, and believe that great hospitality starts with great ingredients. You'll never find shortcuts here. No artificial flavors. No unnecessary additives. No compromises.

Whether you're joining us for brunch, happy hour, dinner, oysters, cocktails, a wine class, or a private event, our goal is simple: create experiences that bring people together.

As a husband, father, neighbor, and small business owner, community means everything to me. FESTIVÁL is proudly owned and operated by local Upper East Side families who live, work, and raise our children right here in the neighborhood. We support local schools, charities, hospitals, businesses, and community organizations because this neighborhood has supported us from day one.

Over the years, FESTIVÁL has grown into much more than a café. It's become a gathering place. A first-date spot. A celebration destination. A meeting place for friends, families, coworkers, and visitors from around the world.

My background in experiential events and hospitality production means we love helping guests create memorable moments. From intimate dinners and cocktail receptions to birthdays, bridal showers, corporate gatherings, mixology classes, oyster shucking experiences, and full venue buyouts, our team specializes in turning ideas into unforgettable experiences. Additionally we do lots of cool stuff outside of these 4 walls check HIGHLIFE our events division..

At the end of the day, we're in the people business where everything feels like a Festival!

Cheers,

Tyler Hollinger
Partner, FESTIVÁL

PS. Send us an email, I’d love to hear from you! - Info@FestivalCafeNYC.com