Spend a Day in Harlem

Because Harlem feels like its own cultural universe, a microcosm of Black life that radiates the energy of a city within a city, those who have recently decided to call Harlem home quickly find themselves embracing the neighborhood’s bold expression of community pride. As a Harlemite of five years, there are a few local spots—some recent, others more historical—that have fostered my sense of belonging through food, film, design, literature, and more.

The Oma Shop
Coffee + Lifestyle: 2754 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10039
Coffee + Home: 1707 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10031
@the.oma.shop

Part café, part concept store, part braiding and barber shop, the Oma Shop may be hard to imagine on paper. However, through the magic of founder Lizzy Okpo’s vision, the Oma Shop’s pastel-hued furniture, wellness-inspired menu, and thoughtfully sourced selection of home and apothecary goods from Black, POC, and LGBTQ+ makers seamlessly cohere in a space reminiscent of a Moroccan living room. The Oma Shop is a Harlem oasis rooted in care that lives up to its Nigerian name ("oma" translates to “beautiful” in Igbo).

Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market
52 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

Located in Harlem’s “Little Senegal,” the Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market is one of my favorite retail therapy destinations, featuring artisan-crafted clothing, jewelry, leather goods, and home décor sourced from West Africa. Whether you are searching for a last-minute birthday gift or a unique addition to your home’s gallery wall, this open-air market offers an immersive shopping experience that will bring out your inner maximalist.

Cocina Consuelo
130 Hamilton Pl, New York, NY 10031
@cocinaconsuelonyc

I may not be easily seduced by a trending pancake, but Cocina Consuelo’s popular fruit-topped masa pancakes surpass all expectations. Originally a pandemic supper club, the Mexican restaurant opened its Harlem storefront in 2024 and has been able to maintain its authenticity through slow-cooked home recipes, intimate seating, and vibrant decor. Sunday brunch at Cocina Consuelo is the perfect way to prepare for any cultural outing in Harlem. 

The Schomburg Shop
515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037 
@schomburgshop

For one hundred years, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has created engaging and accessible entry points for audiences of all ages to discover African American and African diasporic history through exhibitions, public programs, and a collection of over eleven million objects. The Schomburg Shop’s incredible selection of publications by emerging and renowned Black authors always inspires me to extend the learning experience beyond my visit. My hope is that this literary hub will soon become part of a growing constellation of Black-owned bookstores in Harlem.

Maysles Documentary Center
343 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027

Hot take: the smaller the movie theater, the better the film-watching experience. Founded by Albert Maysles, director of the iconic Grey Gardens (1975), Maysles Documentary Center is a non-profit educational space that amplifies underrepresented narratives and communities within the realm of documentary filmmaking. Spending an evening in their 51-seat cinema watching experimental shorts or listening to directors from all corners of the world discuss their craft is a true delight.

Benyam Cuisine
2795 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10039
@benyam_cuisine

As the daughter of East African immigrants, Ethiopian cuisine has always been my comfort food, and I am convinced that it can become anyone’s comfort food when experienced in the right setting. Benyam Cuisine is one of Harlem’s culinary gems, serving a variety of traditional dishes on injera, a crêpe-like sour bread that is ripped and then used to scoop up savory sauces and stews. Fun fact: the warmth and attentiveness of the restaurant's sibling owners—Helina Girma, Beniam Asfaw, and Miku Girma—are depicted in Benyam (2018), a painting by former Studio Museum in Harlem artist in residence Jordan Casteel.