Jon Pepper sent this intel in July, which I failed to follow up on then: “Word is Loopy Doopy [the outdoor bar on the 16th floor of the Conrad hotel that opened in 2012] has run its course as a concept and the Conrad is redoing and expanding Loopy Doopy’s rooftop footprint with a pretty significant investment (~$13 million). Details were a little sketchy but it sounds like it’s going to be an Italian restaurant with outdoor space.”

Loopy Doopy view from afar.

And then J. sent this Eater post: the entrepreneur Ariel Arce, who has several bars in the city (the Times called her the “champagne empress of Greenwich Village”), is creating Leonessa there, “a spot that celebrates Italian aperitivo culture.”

They open April 3, and reservations are on Resy now.

Her team said they have an exclusive with Eater, but were able to send me these two renderings. And here’s what they could share now:

The bar program will be largely cocktails organized into categories: spritzes bitters, frutte, martinis, specialty. There will also be N/A options, as well as a selection of amari, vermouth and cordials.

The space looks way more luxe, much less corporate but also less casual and open, and while perhaps it is longer than the original (I don’t see how it could be deeper?), the big difference is it’s covered and maybe even enclosed (at least some of the time)? It was designed by Islyn Studio to evoke an Italian terrace at the golden hour, with a fountain, pieces from the Milan-based designers Fornasetti, lemon trees and bold, colorful seating. The space will be available for private events.

Hours will initially be Tuesday to Sunday, 4p to midnight, expanding to seven days in late May. More TK!

The old Loopy Doopy in 2012.

Post Script: It will be a relief to have a new name for this space, since it was always kind of embarrassing to say despite the fact that it originated from the most excellent and giant Sol LeWitt mural installation in the hotel. You can do a two-stop neighborhood LeWitt tour by hanging in the hotel’s expansive lobby then going to 140 Franklin, and peeking in the windows.