Herald Square Enterprises, 70 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018, US

Calle Dão is designed to pay homage to Havana’s once-thriving El Barrio Chino (Chinatown). Known as the largest such community in Latin America, El Barrio Chino occupied 44 square blocks of real estate in the late 1870s. As the Cuban and Chinese cultures mixed, a unique fusion of cuisine emerged. Today, El Barrio Chino occupies a small section of the narrow Calle Cuchillo – Knife Street – from which Calle Dão takes its name. The cuisine, cocktails, and décor of Calle Dão strive to transport our guests back to El Barrio Chino when it was at the height of its existence. Calle Dão has created mouthwatering dishes seamlessly blending Cuban staples with Asian flavors. The cocktails, created by Mixologist Joy Daniel, also meld the old world with the new using historical names for libations with modern ingredients. 1857 is a bold sip of orange-infused vodka, amaretto, fresh lime juice, ground ginger, and sesame oil garnished with star anise. It commemorates the year the first ship carrying Chinese laborers arrived in Cuba. Calle Dáo’s décor, the creation of its owner Marco Britti (Favela Cubana), is reminiscent of a sultry, old-world Havana restaurant with white-washed walls, distressed wood, and whirring ceiling fans. Chinese artwork, spices, and bright colors provide the accents. Step into a bygone era and enjoy a modern dining experience at Calle Dão.