Qahwah House is Morningside Heights’ newest all-day hangout spot
A Barnard senior explores the Morningside neighborhood’s new Yemeni cafe.
Photography by Ravina Nath/The Barnard Bulletin
By Serena Didio
October 21, 2024
Morningside Heights’ newest coffee franchise isn’t like other cafes around campus. Located on Broadway between 111th and 112th Street, Qahwah House (literally “coffee” house in Arabic) offers a chance to enjoy traditional Yemeni coffee, tea, and pastries in a welcoming environment. If that isn’t enticing enough, it is open until 11 p.m., except on Friday and Saturday when it closes at a generous 1 a.m..
Now a nationwide franchise, Qahwah House first opened in Michigan in 2017, where original owner Ibrahim Alhasbani serves tea and coffee from beans shipped directly from his family farm in Yemen. Alongside their traditional Yemeni drink options, which highlight flavors like cardamom and nutmeg, they also serve American-style coffee, espresso, matcha, and fruit refreshers.
Sign advertising menu items featuring their staff
Photography by Serena DiDio/The Barnard Bulletin
On my first visit, a friend and I shared a pot of mofawar coffee, a medium roast with cardamom and cream. The pot was served over a tea candle, so it never went cold. To my American palate, familiar with more bitter brews, it almost tasted like masala chai—milky and complex, sweet but not too sweet. We were both immediately fans.
Later, I tried the rada’ey coffee, a light roast with ginger and cardamom. It was easy to drink with a gingery bite and minimal bitterness despite the lack of cream or sugar. As I finished the pot, some fine grounds made their way into my cup, which was texturally off-putting. Between the mofawar and the rada’ey, I enjoyed both but preferred the creaminess of the mofawar.
“I like their coffee style… it stays hot, so you can stay there for a while,” said Lucy Onderdonk (BC ‘26). Indeed, its two floors are full of people studying or socializing over a pot or two throughout the day. Upbeat Arabic music from the speakers makes for a casual atmosphere. And yes, there is free Wi-Fi.
The atmosphere and option to share a pot “promotes a social experience… other coffee shops are more single and solitary,” said Qahwah House regular Aissatou Diallo (CC ‘25). For those who prefer the latter, the menu offers single-serving options of all their specialties as well.
If you plan to hunker down at a table with a large group of friends, you may have to wait for one to clear—especially for the coveted tables by the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor. Most tables are occupied at peak afternoon times.
Night owls, however, are in luck. With its liberal open hours, students cramming for tomorrow’s exam or an 11:59 p.m. deadline can linger through the evening and night. Alternatively, friends preparing for a night out may enjoy a caffeine fix before heading downtown.
Adeni chai, khaliat alnahi, and an unlabeled sweet cake with pistachio
Photography by Serena DiDio/The Barnard Bulletin
On a Friday at midnight, a friend and I stopped in to check out the night vibe and grab a treat. Alongside a display case of more familiar treats, the menu features two Yemeni pastries: sabaya, a flaky, buttery layer cake, and khaliat alnahi, a cheese-filled dessert roll drizzled with honey. We ordered the latter with a pot of adeni chai, black tea with cardamom, nutmeg, and milk.
The cafe was mostly empty besides a few scattered groups. With loud music still playing and the lights on at full brightness, it wasn’t quite the chill vibe I would have preferred. Anyone forcibly staying awake to complete an assignment, however, would have been pleased.
For a midnight snack, the khaliat alnahi was filling. The honey drizzle balanced out the creamy and slightly tart cheese, though I was personally craving a sweet treat and would ask for extra honey next time. The adeni chai was creamy with a comforting spice—I recommend getting it with sugar—but it still didn’t top the mofawar.
When the fall bite in the air makes you crave a spiced drink (or you just need to stop hibernating in your dorm), Qahwah House is the ideal all-day hangout. Personally, my strategy is to claim a table and order a large pot, knowing I won’t finish it: the perfect way to bribe friends to join. Voilà, a social study session with no coordination required. And if you forget to ask for the student discount, don’t worry—the friendly staff will ask for you.