Katie’s guidebook
Food scene
Beautifully decorated local gem with a festive bottomless brunch. Food is French-American and absolutely delicious. Ham and cheese crepe is a must (house-made herbed crepe).
23 locals recommend
Renaissance Harlem
2245 Adam Clayton Powell Jr BlvdBeautifully decorated local gem with a festive bottomless brunch. Food is French-American and absolutely delicious. Ham and cheese crepe is a must (house-made herbed crepe).
Delicious craft coffee inside a plant shop. Seasonal specials are always good. And you can browse the plant store while you wait -- it's a great one.
9TAILS COFFEE SHOP
34 W 126th StDelicious craft coffee inside a plant shop. Seasonal specials are always good. And you can browse the plant store while you wait -- it's a great one.
Amazing pour-over coffee and tea. Owners are always there and are true coffee experts. Dirty chai is also great. Almond croissants with lots of warm filling on weekdays and they also have chocolate almond croissants on weekends -- but they often sell out by 8:30am! Ask for them extra toasted/warmed. And they serve Venezuelan-style stuffed arepas on the weekend -- a real treat.
67 locals recommend
The Monkey Cup
1730 Amsterdam AveAmazing pour-over coffee and tea. Owners are always there and are true coffee experts. Dirty chai is also great. Almond croissants with lots of warm filling on weekdays and they also have chocolate almond croissants on weekends -- but they often sell out by 8:30am! Ask for them extra toasted/warmed. And they serve Venezuelan-style stuffed arepas on the weekend -- a real treat.
Trendy and delicious coffee shop. Seasonal drink specials are perfect for vacation. Get. A. Dutch. Waffle. Theirs are the best we've ever had (and we've had a lot) and they typically sell out by 11am.
145 locals recommend
Manhattanville Coffee
142 Edgecombe AveTrendy and delicious coffee shop. Seasonal drink specials are perfect for vacation. Get. A. Dutch. Waffle. Theirs are the best we've ever had (and we've had a lot) and they typically sell out by 11am.
Famous and local chef Marcus Samuelsson's spot. Everything here is the bomb, but especially the fried chicken. Oh and the mac & cheese side. And the blistered tomato side. And the asparagus side. And the cauliflower steak entree for vegans. But mostly just go with 5+ friends and get the Chicken Tower. OMG. Cocktails are also on point (but the wine list is just eh).
1044 locals recommend
Red Rooster
310 Lenox AveFamous and local chef Marcus Samuelsson's spot. Everything here is the bomb, but especially the fried chicken. Oh and the mac & cheese side. And the blistered tomato side. And the asparagus side. And the cauliflower steak entree for vegans. But mostly just go with 5+ friends and get the Chicken Tower. OMG. Cocktails are also on point (but the wine list is just eh).
Black-owned business! Delicious coffee and teas (I like their vanilla pumpkin pie latte better than a Starbucks PSL), but the really special stuff is the breakfast sandwiches (french toast muffin with egg, cheese, and turkey sausage is just right). AND, they're related to the bakery next door (also a Black-owned business). Get the sweet potato cheesecake peach cobbler there.
I Like It Black
409 W 125th StBlack-owned business! Delicious coffee and teas (I like their vanilla pumpkin pie latte better than a Starbucks PSL), but the really special stuff is the breakfast sandwiches (french toast muffin with egg, cheese, and turkey sausage is just right). AND, they're related to the bakery next door (also a Black-owned business). Get the sweet potato cheesecake peach cobbler there.
Great little wine shop with interesting and affordable bottles. Pick one up and bring it to the rooftop. Just don't trust the woman who works there -- she calls anything with a medium body full bodied.
23 locals recommend
Pompette Wine Shop
420 Malcolm X BlvdGreat little wine shop with interesting and affordable bottles. Pick one up and bring it to the rooftop. Just don't trust the woman who works there -- she calls anything with a medium body full bodied.
Famously giant, delicious cookies open until 9pm. Oatmeal is secretly the best, though the chocolate chip is most famous.
197 locals recommend
Levain Bakery - Harlem
2167 Frederick Douglass BlvdFamously giant, delicious cookies open until 9pm. Oatmeal is secretly the best, though the chocolate chip is most famous.
Great place to go out for cocktails but also has a fantastic fried calamari plate. There's a party scene on weekends if you want that. Or go for happy hour during the week if you want a little quieter. Not really for kids.
345 locals recommend
The Corner Social
321 Malcolm X BlvdGreat place to go out for cocktails but also has a fantastic fried calamari plate. There's a party scene on weekends if you want that. Or go for happy hour during the week if you want a little quieter. Not really for kids.
Black-owned business! This rice bowl shop theorizes that rice is the food that is common across and connects the world. Delicious bowls of every kind as well as rotating specials that highlight new countries and their flavors.
FIELDTRIP
109 Malcolm X BlvdBlack-owned business! This rice bowl shop theorizes that rice is the food that is common across and connects the world. Delicious bowls of every kind as well as rotating specials that highlight new countries and their flavors.
Tons of options at this famous pasty shop that hasn't changed -- at least not since my dad lived here in the 70s.
143 locals recommend
The Hungarian Pastry Shop
1030 Amsterdam AveTons of options at this famous pasty shop that hasn't changed -- at least not since my dad lived here in the 70s.
My favorite special-night dinner spot in Harlem. Ask to eat inside, the ambiance is lovely and the outdoor seating doesn't really recreate it the same. Everything is delicious.
39 locals recommend
Clay
553 Manhattan AveMy favorite special-night dinner spot in Harlem. Ask to eat inside, the ambiance is lovely and the outdoor seating doesn't really recreate it the same. Everything is delicious.
Nice, simple place for a quick sit-down breakfast a block away from the house. French influence. Friendly staff. Good sit-down almond milk latte.
HARLEM CAFE
Nice, simple place for a quick sit-down breakfast a block away from the house. French influence. Friendly staff. Good sit-down almond milk latte.
My favorite Napolitana-style pizza in the city, period. Family-owned, so friendly, great prices. Cute little downstairs spot great for a date or back room for families with kids. (but not ADA accessible)
63 locals recommend
Sottocasa Pizzeria
227 Malcolm X BlvdMy favorite Napolitana-style pizza in the city, period. Family-owned, so friendly, great prices. Cute little downstairs spot great for a date or back room for families with kids. (but not ADA accessible)
Sightseeing
Gorgeous Catholic church outside and in. Inside are art installations, interesting historical plaques, and an absolutely ornate and stunning design. I'm not a Catholic, but this was worth the visit and the $5 entrance.
378 locals recommend
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam AveGorgeous Catholic church outside and in. Inside are art installations, interesting historical plaques, and an absolutely ornate and stunning design. I'm not a Catholic, but this was worth the visit and the $5 entrance.
Apollo Theater
253 W 125th StTours and shows available all the time -- check their website!