UPDATE: MORNING HARLEM COFFEE SHOPS 2023

Harlem Bespoke:  Uptown has the usual coffee chains like Starbucks available for early morning brew but what are local shops that are open at 8:00AM?   Below are the mom and pop shops to check out for all those early risers out there in the neighborhood with a few new additions including Harlem Cafe and Sojourner Coffee.

OMA COFFEE SHOP & HOME ON AMSTERDAM

Harlem Bespoke: We finally dropped by the coffee shop on the east side of Amsterdam Avenue by West 144th Street and would highly recommend a visit if you are in Hamilton Heights.  There’s a boutique atmosphere in the the intimate space which includes a wall of home goods to peruse at the left of the entrance and an impressive potted palm plant as the main center piece.

UPDATE: MORNING HARLEM COFFEE SHOPS 2022

Harlem Bespoke:  Uptown has the usual coffee chains like Starbucks available for early morning brew but what are local shops that are open at 8:00AM?   Below are the mom and pop shops to check out for all those early risers out there in the neighborhood with a few new additions from this year including Harlem Cafe and Sojourner Coffee.

CLOSINGS: LENOX COFFEE ON ON 129TH STREET

Harlem Bespoke: After over a decade of serving up java in Harlem, Lenox Coffee on 129th Street just east of Lenox Avenue has announced via social media that they will be closing this week.  Wednesday, August 31st will be the last day of operation so make sure to drop by for one last cup and say goodbye.  Those following the blog over the years will remember that Lenox Coffee was one of first boutique businesses in the neighborhood to have a classic old world coffee shop vibe and would make way for many others in the following years.  Check out our past post to see the neighborhood comments from the original open on our 2011 post: LINK

HarlemBespoke.com 2022

SOMETHING NEW AT FORMER IL CAFFE LATTE 145TH

Harlem Bespoke:  The original Lenox Avenue shop is still going strong but Il Caffe Latte at 458 West 145th Street just east of Amsterdam Avenue quietly closed doors due to the pandemic in the past year or so but some good news might be coming soon.

INTRODUCING: PASTITALIA DEBUTS ON LENOX

Harlem Bespoke: Who remembers Tonnie's Minis on Lenox by West 123rd Street?  The cupcake shop closed almost a decade ago at the Mount Morris Park location and now something new has finally arrived!  A tip came in that Pastitalia just opened up in the past couple of weeks or so and we had to drop by to check everything out.  This is a real Italian pasta shop that has a kitchen in the back which makes the artisan selection every day but also doubles a coffee shop with freshly baked pastries and fantastic coffee.  

CAFE FREDERICK IS BACK ON FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Harlem Bespoke:  Cafe Frederick opened up about a decade ago on Frederick Douglass at the corner of 114th Street but had been quiet for most of the pandemic.  New management has since taken over in the past 6 months and the java is flowing once again.

FIRST LOOK AT SOJOURNER COFFEE ON 116TH STREET

Harelm Bespoke: We finally got to take some photos of the new Sojourner coffee shop on West 116th this week and got to catch up with one of the owners. Many might remember that this was the former Shuteye coffee address between Lenox and Adam Clayton Powell that closed back in 2020 which left a big java void in the neighborhood for some time.

SOJOURNER COFFEE OPENS ON 116TH STREET

Harlem Bespoke: We mentioned last month that the former Shuteye coffee shop space on West 116th Street between Adam Clayton Powell and Lenox Avenue found another small business to take over the storefront and the debut day has arrived.

FIRST LOOK AT THE OMA SHOP COFFEE & HOME

Harlem Bespoke: We finally dropped by the coffee shop on the east side of Amsterdam Avenue by West 144th Street and would highly recommend a visit if you are in Hamilton Heights.  There’s a boutique atmosphere in the the intimate space which includes a wall of home goods to peruse at the left of the entrance and an impressive potted palm plant as the main center piece.

SOJOURNER COFFEE AT FORMER SHUTEYE LOCATION

Harlem Bespoke:  We received a tip that the former Shuteye coffee space that has been vacant since October 2020 will have a new business arriving soon.  The storefront on 116th between Adam Clayton and Lenox had a loyal following but the pandemic really hit hard for a lot of small businesses.

BESPOKE: MORNING HARLEM COFFEE SHOPS 2022

Harlem Bespoke:  Uptown has the usual coffee chains like Starbucks available for early morning brew but what are local shops that are open at 8:00AM?   Below are the mom and pop shops to check out for all those early risers out there in the neighborhood with a few new additions from last year.

EAT: NEW AFRICAN MENU AT GINJAN CAFE

Harlem Bespoke: Another reason to drop by Ginjan Cafe on 125th Street at Park Avenue is the fantastic new African dishes being featured as a special daily.  We dropped by earlier in the week and Yassa chicken was being served up in in a seasoned rice bowl or delicious wraps.  We love the food at Teranga further south but now Ginjan might just be offering something even better each day.

INTRODUCING: AVRILILILLY'S IN HAMILTON HEIGHTS

Harlem Bespoke: The new cafe bakery Avrilililly's on Amsterdam Avenue just north of West 139th Street just opened in the past week! The shop also features artisanal gelato and cupcakes so make sure to check out the beautiful space in Hamilton Heights with great views of City college across the avenue. Two sisters who grew up in the neighborhood and their Italian in-laws got together for this picturesque oasis with confections all made in house   Drop by for great coffee and check out the baked good assortments for the day which includes the prettiest decorated icing flower cakes in the neighborhood.

HarlemBespoke.com 2022