Serafina 38th
Midtown-Times Square, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
A practical Midtown choice for relaxed meals, casual dates, and low-pressure business dining near Madison Avenue. Serafina 38th is worth booking when convenience and easy timing matter more than chef-driven ambition or award-level dining.
About Serafina 38th
Serafina 38th is a New York City option for diners who want to plan around simple basics. It offers daily hours from 7 AM to 10 PM and a smart-casual dress code.
Easy New York City dining, better for flexible plans than big-deal dining
The main reasons to choose Serafina 38th are practical: it is open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM, and the dress code is smart casual. That makes it useful when timing matters and the plan needs to stay simple. For a special occasion, read that carefully: Serafina 38th is not known for awards, chef identity, a tasting format, or other destination-dining hooks.
The better approach is to use Serafina 38th when the schedule is the priority. With daily 7 AM to 10 PM hours, it can work for flexible plans, but diners looking for a more distinctive or highly documented dining experience should compare other New York City options before committing.
Who should choose it, and who should cross-shop
Choose this for a group that wants a New York City restaurant with direct hours and a smart-casual expectation. If the meal is meant to feel more distinctive, compare it against other options in the full New York City restaurants guide before committing.
For alternatives, Alidoro, Butterfield 8, Morgan Café, Evergreen On 38, and Zuma New York are natural names to check depending on the kind of outing you want. Use those comparisons to decide which option best fits the overall plan.
Bottom line: choose Serafina 38th for practical New York City dining with daily 7 AM to 10 PM hours and a smart-casual dress code. Consider another option if the meal needs to carry the full weight of a major celebration.
Planning details
- Location
- 241 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- serafinarestaurant.com
- Phone
- +16467797667
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Serafina 38th reads like the dependable neighborhood Italian that Midtown workers and nearby residents return to again and again. The writing emphasizes consistency over novelty: this is a polished, mid-market outpost of a multi-site brand rather than a chef-driven destination. You get an approachable, classic Italian room that trades culinary theatricality for steady execution—an environment that feels casually comfortable and reliably familiar. The tone is deliberate: it’s not chasing trends or destination booking cycles, and the place accrues loyalty by delivering what regulars expect night after night.
Best For
This location suits daytime and early-evening occasions for people who live or work nearby. Its proximity to office buildings and residential towers makes it a practical choice for business lunches or dinners, weekday meals after work, and weekend brunches. Rather than a place you plan months ahead for, Serafina 38th fits into rotation-style dining—the sort of restaurant you visit repeatedly for steady quality. It’s less about special-occasion spectacle and more about reliable service and familiar Italian favorites that work well for both solo visits and small groups from the neighborhood.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the room’s signatures: the Di Sofia Pizza and the Ravioli alla Salvia are highlighted as house standouts and are good places to start. The venue’s positioning as a neighborhood regular spot means you can rely on consistent preparation rather than seasonal surprises, so ordering tried-and-true favorites is a sensible approach. Unlike destination prix-fixe counters that require long lead times, Serafina 38th is built for practical, repeat visits—plan on familiar dishes and steady execution rather than theatrical tasting menus.
Venue details
Ambiance
Vibrant and casual-cool atmosphere with charming service.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Di Sofia Pizza
- Ravioli alla Salvia
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 241 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the fit
Pick Alidoro instead if the priority is a quick lunch rather than a seated meal. Pick Zuma New York if the meal needs more evening energy and a stronger occasion feel.
Restaurant context
How Serafina 38th compares in Midtown
Serafina 38th is the easy-booking, sit-down choice in this group: better for a casual date or business-adjacent meal than Alidoro, which is more useful for a quick sandwich and stronger value when speed matters. If the plan is a low-friction Midtown meal with table service, Serafina 38th has the advantage; if the plan is lunch without lingering, Alidoro is the cleaner pick.
Zuma New York is the splurge-and-atmosphere alternative. Choose Zuma when the occasion needs a bigger room, more evening energy, and a more deliberate night out. Choose Serafina 38th when booking ease, central location, and a calmer plan matter more than production value.
Butterfield 8, Morgan Café, and Evergreen On 38 are the practical cross-shops for diners who want to stay nearby. Use them when location is fixed and availability drives the decision; use Serafina 38th when the group wants a more broadly occasion-friendly meal without making the reservation the hard part.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Serafina 38th guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Serafina 38th
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serafina 38th | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Alidoro | New York City | Sandwiches | 2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #3162024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #2802023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended |
| Butterfield 8 | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Morgan Café | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Zuma New York | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Evergreen On 38 | New York City | , | No published awards |
How Serafina 38th New York City compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to Serafina 38th?
The dress code is smart casual. Keep it neat and relaxed; the daily 7 AM to 10 PM schedule makes it practical for a range of plans.
Can I eat at the bar at Serafina 38th?
Bar seating is not mentioned. Plan around the restaurant's daily hours, 7 AM to 10 PM, and its smart-casual dress code.
Is Serafina 38th good for solo dining?
It can be a practical solo choice if the hours fit your plan. Serafina 38th is open every day from 7 AM to 10 PM.
Is lunch or dinner better at Serafina 38th?
The hours run daily from 7 AM to 10 PM, so midday and evening timing may be possible. Choose the time that best fits your schedule, since no specific lunch or dinner format is mentioned.
Is Serafina 38th good for a special occasion?
It may work for a low-key occasion if you want simple planning, daily hours, and a smart-casual dress code. It is not an awards-driven or tasting-menu destination.
What are alternatives to Serafina 38th in New York City?
Consider Zuma New York, Morgan Café, Evergreen On 38, Alidoro, or Butterfield 8 depending on the kind of outing you want. Compare them with Serafina 38th based on convenience and the overall plan.
What should a first-timer know about Serafina 38th?
The main details are practical: Serafina 38th is in New York City, runs daily from 7 AM to 10 PM, and has a smart-casual dress code. Treat it as a convenient option for flexible plans rather than a heavily documented destination restaurant.
