Great drink options. Lydia is so nice!

Hosted an event here. The space was great and the service was good.

Very friendly atmosphere with good food. Recommended!

great spot with the friendliest owner! so glad to live nearby

Great food, friendly team, and super engaging with the community!

Very kind owner and amazing place to host events too

Great coffee ! Latte

Pleasant service, food is good well kepted and clean.

Best coffee I’ve had in two years.

Excellent coffee, I’ll be coming here for my coffee.

Wonderful people, great coffee, good vibes

Hang out is good and the owner is on point.

Best coffee shop in the area!!!

Amazing neighborhood spot!

all very good

Food and service are both amazing, coming in here always brightens my day! The pecan and lavender lattes are perfect and the carrot cookies are to die for! 100/10!!

Very nice place. Coffee was good I met the owner while was there and she seems very caring for her business. Definitely come back again

Perfect spot to sit with some tea and get some work done! And it’s black woman owned which is a PLUS. Im always looking for a dope place to vibe out and be productive, and this was just that. Plus the customer service was truly top notch. A gem, forreal. 💓💓

Had a great time meeting Lydia…thanks for hosting us and hope to be back soon.

Great vibe, friendly owner, delicious coffee, community activities -- check it out!!

Always such a delight to come here. The owner is always very sweet and makes sure you get what you want. And the coffee is great!!

The owner Lydia is an amazing person. Great drinks and a calm atmosphere.

Wish I could try everything, pastries and coffee are great and the owner is very nice. Social, but a great place to focus if you need to work.

A beautiful local spot, offering great food, amazing service and a welcoming artistic space. I look forward to coming more often and there’s even a few upcoming events to look forward to. Stop by today.

Even if you don’t come for the coffee (do though, it’s good 😉), come and have a chat with the owner. She is the kindest and sweetest person in the district… And then have a coffee!

I recently visited this coffee shop and had a great experience. Cozy ambiance, friendly staff, and delicious pastries! I totally recommend.

If an angel came down to Harlem, she’d come here for a cup of coffee. By far, the nicest and the kindest cafe I have ever been to.

Tremendous service! I got a tea here and the owner is very nice and welcoming! Highly recommend!

The space was beautiful and cozy the owner was very nice and accommodating definitely will go back for some coffee and pastries

Had a wonderful time here. Great food, service and atmosphere . I recommend everybody to stop by and support.

Amazing spacious cafe in the heart of Harlem to get some coffee and get some remote work done. #SupportHarlemBusiness

One of our restaurants stopped during the Healthcare Freedom Walk on 1/15/2024 for Avocado Toast and health drink 🥑

Everything is great at this spot from the food to the coffee and most def the carrot cake! You wont be disappointed!

Amazing coffee, I recommend this place 100 %. The service and the pastry is also really good!

I want this place to reopen so I can have some banana pudding!

Very nice location, available for different kinds of functions. Out door space also available depending on the season.

The service is amazing and the vibe is top tier! Please come and support! 🤗

I had a great time visiting Ourt Box a few days ago. Great service, the muffins were pretty good and the conversation was lively. I went for a coffee and had 1 of the most amazing conversations with the store owner Lydia and pretty soon the rest of the patrons joined in. All in all a great moment and I most definitely will visit again soon.

I had the pleasure of stumbling upon this gem after using an app that matches people to “left over” food that would be tossed at the end of the day and let me tell y’all if what I had was the left overs then I could only imagine the made to order! I was able to get my hands on some soul food as well as pastries and that soul food was delicious!! I’m from the south so a bit far from home and this was so need. Maybe most importantly the owner/chef cares so much about community she is serving. I would definitely recommend for not only the food but a conversation at the very least

This mother, son ran establishment has the energy of love, life, peace, and delicious food. Not only is the Chef cooking, they are also helping at the register with an inviting, and comforting smile, right along with their son, all the while serving those that walk into this beautiful, and warming space. I happen to walk in on Sunday, and on this day a DJ was spinning a combination of sounds that mixed veryeating well with the food. My partner and I both got an identical order. Mac and cheese, carrot cake, water, with the exceptions of my tea, her coffee, and lemon mango aid, made from scratch. The Mac and cheese is incredible, and the taste of love, care, and patience could be tasted from the first bite to the last. The Carrot cake is by far the best I’ve had in such a long time; moist, sweet, calming, also by the looks of those surrounding us, the obvious look of satisfaction rested easily on the smiles and eyes of those eating. They have a diverse menu, and VEGAN options. Please if you are in the area, and need a place to recharge, this is the space you would want to be. The Chef and son are hospitable humans. Peace

Awesome place to visit, eat, relax beautiful setting with artistic scenery. Lydia the owner who’s extremely talented and welcoming makes you feel like family. This place will refresh you, and make you feel at home. Definitely a go to place and will be visiting again.

Visited the cafe in the middle of July, with friends in town from SoCal. Showed up after a late lunch and the cafe was closed. The proprietor Lydia reopened for us, which was literally cool, because it was a sweatbox outside. The hot and cold drinks were spot on, as were the fresh danishes and cakes. Lydia has the greatest disposition, one could not ask more. Will return next time I am in Harlem.

Quaint and warm! This little Cafe is welcoming and cozy! I had a chicken sandwich with a side salad and it was delicious! A little R&B playing overhead, not too loudly, completed the visit. I'll definitely go back!

I felt at home at this lovely cafe in the heart of Harlem. The community vibe is ever present, and her pastries are delicious. On occasion she serves her banana pudding. Make this your go to place in Harlem!

Living in Harlem/NYC, you’re spoiled for soul food options. This is the one that I’ll come back to again and again. I got the Mac and Cheese and the Fried Wings. The wings were amazing, and were made fresh to order right in front of me. I loved how sweet the owner was, and the cafe itself is cozy and away from the hustle and bustle of Lenox Ave. Perfect lunch spot.

I was sitting in my car when this Cafe grabbed my attention. The exterior is inviting and gives the neighbourhood a fresh look. I popped in for a coffee, which the owner made. She explained where the beans are sourced from and gave me a run down of her menu. I also got a sample of a delicious carrot cake! The interior offers seating to enjoy your java, and cute selfie stations to take some pics too!

It's a nice little quaint cafe spot in Harlem, easy to miss if you don't keep your eye open, There's a nice variety of treats, it's definitely a cool place to have some quiet time to read a book, or just chill. Highly recommend 👌🏿 👍🏿.

The owner Lydia was the sweetest person on the planet and the pound cake was delicious and still warm. Not too sweet either which made it so much better

This is my new favorite cafe in Harlem! Lydia is such an amazing and warm person! My coffee was exactly what I need. I’ll definitely be doing events here!

This place is a neighborhood jewel! Adorning and enriching Harlem with an authentic community space that accommodates all from neighbors, touring customers, artists, business owners, activist, and people simply looking for connection within a community that represents their cultural identity, greatness and resilience. The business has a moral integrity of none other. A Business who’s in the business of supporting and connecting people above monetization. This needs to be a hotspot, there is more to New York than queer hipster Brooklyn mining current politics for a marketable identity. Here at OurtCafe you’ll be greeted by Lydia the owner with an incredible affinity to influence. You’ll walk out with a fire to mobilize your passion and a space to imagine. It’s a space to learn how to create community and decentralize marginalizing powers that be and it can start with just a cup of coffee.

My family and I were visiting Harlem and were looking for a little coffee shop to stop in. Ourtbox was just getting on its feet while we were there, but the owner (a black woman) had so many ideas and aspirations for the space. She was nothing but kind to us, and made all of us feel extremely welcome in the space. We’d intended on popping in, getting coffee and heading out, but we ended up sticking around for a little while just to talk to her. It was absolutely worth the stop, and we’ll go back the next time we’re in New York!

Love the cafe! Their coffee with a touch of cinnamon is to die for. Highly recommend the snacks, particularly the macarons. All the colors are delicious, but I found the yellow ones really hit the spot (thanks Prince!). In fact, I enjoyed my time at Ourtbox Cafe so much that I broke out in a little dance. Couldn't help myself. :) Will definitely be back.

Lydia is what the Harlem Café scene has been missing. A Harlem native, personable and supportive of the structure of black boys and girls. My mom always speaks about how the community was when she was little. The elders looked out for everyone’s children and I observed Lydia doing that today. She accommodated me for a meeting I had, staying open a little later so I could take my call. She was intentional with my preparing my orange refresher and she connected me with other local professionals after learning what I did. I’m happy she’s here and I pray that more people supports her #BlackOwnedBusiness! Thank you Lydia and Ourt Box Café!

This place is like a second home. The owner is amazing and caters to the needs of each customer. When I eat at the restaurant,j I always try new treat, meals and drinks. It's wonderful to have a place with service that is founded on love, care and kindness. I highly recommend this place. -Chiara

This cafe and rent space is a nice addition to Harlem. The owner was very nice and I had some good muffins and good piece of carrot cake. Looking forward to going back again.

¡Excellente! Better than Starbucks! It's an honest, true experience on 5th Avenue, in Harlem. The hospitality and the authentic conversation, is why I enjoy being here. Lydia offers all of that. She treats you as a friend, and not as a customer. The coffee, the carrot cake, the blueberry muffin, and the chess set, has you feel as if you're in brickfaced den, in a Harlem Brownstone. There's a selfie wall, to express yourself accordingly.

Immediately welcome with love! Great people and great food! The owner is the sweetest making sure I was taken care of throughout my time there. Community base cafe made with love :)<3

Great service! Thank you so much Lydia for helping us and feeding our crew. Please check out this black owned coffee shop in Harlem!!! My new favorite spot

I love this Café! The owner is amazing and kind and the space is lovely and homey and brilliant. My coffee was excellent as well. Will come back often!

Lovely attentive owner, excellent cook! I love her veggie soup. For meat eaters like me, she adds perfectly roasted chicken bites. Very calming atmosphere. Highly recommend dining here for a satisfying experience.

This is definitely more than your ordinary neighborhood coffee shop. The atmosphere is great and everything is reasonably priced. I had the opportunity of meeting the owner and she’s an extraordinary person who cares about her patrons as well as any community needs. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. If you are ever in the area, I highly encourage you pop in and enjoy yourself.

Their cupcakes are so sweet and creamy. The cupcake itself melts like butter as you’re eating it. Honestly amazing quality and just a great atmosphere here in Harlem. Gotta check them out 🫶🏽🤍

Their Banana Pudding MUST be on your list! It's made fresh so best eaten the next day as advised in order to allow the wafers to soften. The sauce mixed with the waters and bananas will definitely have you coming back for more. The interior is also very comfortable and inviting. Definitely a great New addition to Harlem, right on 5th Ave, near Harlem Hospital.

New owner and great welcoming feeling as soon as you go in. This Sunday they had a live DJ too, although they may generally be closed on Sundays. We got lucky. Owner is welcoming, coffee was great, food was good and vegan options too. They have a chessboard that you can play, and don’t mind if a little 3 year old dances around to the beats :) Will be back!

We had an amazing family gathering /celebration of life. Owner, Lydia was very accommodating. She helped us set up the food and serve. Great service

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the service was impeccable. The menu offered a delightful fusion of flavors, and the dishes were both visually appealing and delicious. Supporting this establishment was a truly memorable and delicious experience.

Food on point. Great vibes. Calm atmosphere. MUST GO if you in the Harlem Area. The Bacon Egg n Cheese is PERFECT 🏆

Must come through! The peace you feel and get as soon as you walk in is priceless, Coffee is amazing and Lydia the owner is one of a kind!

Owner is super friendly, the coffees are tasty, and very chill environment. Will definitely come many more times!

Natasha Lanausse

This is definitely more than your ordinary neighborhood coffee shop. The atmosphere is great and everything is reasonably priced. I had the opportunity of meeting the owner and she’s an extraordinary person who cares about her patrons as well as any community needs. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. If you are ever in the area, I highly encourage you pop in and enjoy yourself.

Isis “Ice” Ferreira

Their cupcakes are so sweet and creamy. The cupcake itself melts like butter as you’re eating it. Honestly amazing quality and just a great atmosphere here in Harlem. Gotta check them out 🫶🏽🤍

Alex Doe

Their Banana Pudding MUST be on your list! It's made fresh so best eaten the next day as advised in order to allow the wafers to soften. The sauce mixed with the waters and bananas will definitely have you coming back for more. The interior is also very comfortable and inviting. Definitely a great New addition to Harlem, right on 5th Ave, near Harlem Hospital.

Elli Stephanede

New owner and great welcoming feeling as soon as you go in. This Sunday they had a live DJ too, although they may generally be closed on Sundays. We got lucky. Owner is welcoming, coffee was great, food was good and vegan options too. They have a chessboard that you can play, and don’t mind if a little 3 year old dances around to the beats :) Will be back!

Janay Madden

We had an amazing family gathering /celebration of life. Owner, Lydia was very accommodating. She helped us set up the food and serve. Great service

joanne l.

definitely one of the best cafes in harlem. the owner was the sweetest and her carrot cake was to die for. also has cute photo booth for valentine's!

Julianne Lopez

Must come through! The peace you feel and get as soon as you walk in is priceless, Coffee is amazing and Lydia the owner is one of a kind!

Abdoulie

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the service was impeccable. The menu offered a delightful fusion of flavors, and the dishes were both visually appealing and delicious. Supporting this establishment was a truly memorable and delicious experience.

Jarrod Nieves

Food on point. Great vibes. Calm atmosphere. MUST GO if you in the Harlem Area. The Bacon Egg n Cheese is PERFECT 🏆

Victor Namnum

Owner is super friendly, the coffees are tasty, and very chill environment. Will definitely come many more times!

It's an amazing, welcoming cafe and the inspiring owner Lydia is wonderful to work with. I rented the space for an event, and not only did I get many compliments on it as it was perfect for the gathering, but Lydia also made everything run so smoothly! I look forward to working with her again and again in the future. It's so awesome having this establishment as an asset for the neighborhood!

If you're looking for a cozy spot for light bites and pastries, this place is an absolute gem! From the moment you step in, you're welcomed by a warm and inviting atmosphere. Their muffins and pastries are always fresh and perfectly baked. The owner, Leah, is friendly and clearly passionate about what she does. I work in a hybrid setup, and this has become my go-to spot for remote work days—it's the perfect blend of a relaxed ambiance and light bites.

This place is a must visit in Harlem! I instantly felt welcome by the owner, Lydia, who loves to build a sense of community at OurtBox. There’s a rich history at this cafe as well that’s worth reading about. Will absolutely be going back!

Amazing service from start to finish! My only regret is not getting 2 cups of that delicious coffee and the cinnamon bun! Wow it was soooo delicious and soft! I got 2 pastries but they’re such a great sized portion you will be full! The owner Lydia is so pleasant. She greets you as soon as the door opens. It smells fresh inside and extremely well kept.

I recently attended a photography event at Ourt Box Cafe, and it was an incredible experience, the Photographer was amazing and chill...The owner was truly phenomenal, making everyone feel welcome and adding a personal touch to the experience. Along with all the ladies and the Summer Youth Staff they all created a warm and inviting atmosphere. Overall, it was a perfect blend of art and hospitality. Highly recommended!

The Cafe has such a positive vibe. I worked with Owner Lydia, and she made me feel very welcomed, heard and understood. I love that a Black Woman not only owns this space but is doing so much for her community.

I had the opportunity to connect with the owner. She is engaging, Harlem-born and raised, smart and has a vision for the establishment. This neighborhood needs more places like this. Much success to her! Most importantly, I enjoyed my homemade beverage and food!

The cupcakes were delicious. My son had the oreo cupcake and I had the carrot cake cupcake and both were a 10/10.

Tiff

The cupcakes were delicious. My son had the oreo cupcake and I had the carrot cake cupcake and both were a 10/10.

Carla CC

If you're looking for a cozy spot for light bites and pastries, this place is an absolute gem! From the moment you step in, you're welcomed by a warm and inviting atmosphere. Their muffins and pastries are always fresh and perfectly baked. The owner, Leah, is friendly and clearly passionate about what she does. I work in a hybrid setup, and this has become my go-to spot for remote work days—it's the perfect blend of a relaxed ambiance and light bites.

Britteni Kayser

This place is a must visit in Harlem! I instantly felt welcome by the owner, Lydia, who loves to build a sense of community at OurtBox. There’s a rich history at this cafe as well that’s worth reading about. Will absolutely be going back!

Dekya Goddess X

I recently attended a photography event at Ourt Box Cafe, and it was an incredible experience, the Photographer was amazing and chill...The owner was truly phenomenal, making everyone feel welcome and adding a personal touch to the experience. Along with all the ladies and the Summer Youth Staff they all created a warm and inviting atmosphere. Overall, it was a perfect blend of art and hospitality. Highly recommended!

Starasia Knight

Amazing service from start to finish! My only regret is not getting 2 cups of that delicious coffee and the cinnamon bun! Wow it was soooo delicious and soft! I got 2 pastries but they’re such a great sized portion you will be full! The owner Lydia is so pleasant. She greets you as soon as the door opens. It smells fresh inside and extremely well kept.

DinewithDania *

The Cafe has such a positive vibe. I worked with Owner Lydia, and she made me feel very welcomed, heard and understood. I love that a Black Woman not only owns this space but is doing so much for her community.

Jemar Ward

I had the opportunity to connect with the owner. She is engaging, Harlem-born and raised, smart and has a vision for the establishment. This neighborhood needs more places like this. Much success to her! Most importantly, I enjoyed my homemade beverage and food!

I enjoyed the place, I got a free muffin with my coffee for waiting a while to get my order in.

Amazing great customer service

Disgusting food. Poor service a rip off.

Ourt is closed! FYI to anyone counting on it, it’s very closed

Not a very good place if your looking to rent the space for an event. The owner is very unprofessional and lied several times during our call conversation while yellling and cursing at someone in the background.also very un organized does not respond to emails and lied several time about emailing us confirmation and quotes. If you looking for somewhere to have an event go elsewhere! Asap!

I’m on a search to find my go to coffee shop in my neighborhood. This WS the first one I planned to visit, however at 10:30 AM on a Saturday I walk up and they are closed. Not sure if this business is still open inside.

Ordered $20+ worth of food via 3rd party app to be picked up 3:00-3:30. Arrived at 3:06 to a fully closed business. Unprofessional and disappointing.

Owner is passive aggressive and entirely too into the business of others rather than maintaining her own. Noticed that she was being served eviction papers, so don't get too attached. Hoping our community can get a real business that is interested in the needs of the our neighbors, neighborhood, and community. We have had enough gimmick businesses on this block. And: Full disclosure, I remember you and confirmed that you were the owner for the eviction delivery person. If you come clean about the eviction and we can begin an honest conversation about community and not being a crab in the barrel. Show the community that you are not a bottom feeder or scam artist! Do you have a letter of paid rent or good standing?

I recently assisted with booking the ourtbox cafe for a private event and unfortunately I did not have a good experience. I came from out of state and upon meeting the owner (Lydia), I was greeted with a very passive aggressive attitude. Her communication was not as expected from a business owner, and when addressed, her response was full of excuses including running the business on her own and reasons for not having additional staff. On the day of the event, the owner was present and several family members voiced their opinions concerning the attitude she had from set up to clean up. During the event, the space was very hot as if the air conditioning was not working and she refused to keep the door open for air flow. I personally went next door to get a cup of ice because of the excessive heat inside of the establishment, and when I returned, she questioned where I got my cup from as if I had went behind the counter. In addition to her lack of communication skills, we were initially quoted a certain amount for extra seating and upon the completion of the event, were given a bill with an additional $100 charge. She claimed It was for a “security fee” associated with the alcohol being served NOT sold that was never disclosed in previous conversations. After questioning this additional charge she used very unprofessional language & was very disrespectful. I don’t recommend booking any events in this space but if you do, BEWARE!

Honestly want to place this location a zero for the review. The owner is doing a disservice to the community ripping people off. She's on a order online site for food. And the location doesn't SERVE FOOD. She closes the establishment when it's time to pick up the orders. The community hates this place and wants them out. They steal money, Dishonest buisness.

I haven’t even stepped foot in this environment and I already dislike. A woman working there (short cut hair, black woman of course) wanted to invite me inside as I’m passing. I have lived in Harlem for over 20 years and I gave her my honest opinion that this place doesn’t seem to cater to the black community. I have PERSONALLY never seen one black person enter in this establishment, and I live up the block, so there’s something missing from this cafe that is not quite inviting. This woman was super passive aggressive and dismissed my thoughts which I think is valid feedback. I go to the juice bar, Rejuvenate, on 133rd and 7th (Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd) also black owned, faithfully, and the invitation is drastically different. With that, I highly suggest taking your money elsewhere. There are so many black owned business in Harlem that actually care what their black customers or future customers think and feel when we are in these spaces.

Ms Smith

I haven’t even stepped foot in this environment and I already dislike. A woman working there (short cut hair, black woman of course) wanted to invite me inside as I’m passing. I have lived in Harlem for over 20 years and I gave her my honest opinion that this place doesn’t seem to cater to the black community. I have PERSONALLY never seen one black person enter in this establishment, and I live up the block, so there’s something missing from this cafe that is not quite inviting. This woman was super passive aggressive and dismissed my thoughts which I think is valid feedback. I go to the juice bar, Rejuvenate, on 133rd and 7th (Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd) also black owned, faithfully, and the invitation is drastically different. With that, I highly suggest taking your money elsewhere. There are so many black owned business in Harlem that actually care what their black customers or future customers think and feel when we are in these spaces.

The owner of this establishment Lydia was very rude, unprofessional & inconsiderate to my family. My family recently had a repass for the passing of a beloved family member & the owner was everything but professional. She didn't have no empathy/consideration for the grieving family & her behavior was purely disgusting. The space was also a discomfort for the guests, there was absolutely no air & the air conditioner was off or not working. She also had an issue with the door being opened because that's the only way that some type of air was coming in the space. From the beginning of the event until the end, she was rude & made the family feel uncomfortable. Her behavior is unacceptable, especially for a family that is grieving!! She does not communicate well & used foul language. I would NOT recommend this establishment for any events. Being a Harlem native, this place/owner gives Harlem a bad name. She should be ashamed of herself for carrying herself in an improper manner, especially with guests whom paid to use the space. Horrible, just horrible!

The owner (Lydia) lacks vision and a total waste of space in Harlem. The prior owner was 100% better and he ran that business by himself! I lived up the block when this business was open. I set foot inside once, this woman handed my family stale pastries and bland tasting coffee. I never set foot inside again.

Errol Anthony

The owner (Lydia) lacks vision and a total waste of space in Harlem. The prior owner was 100% better and he ran that business by himself! I lived up the block when this business was open. I set foot inside once, this woman handed my family stale pastries and bland tasting coffee. I never set foot inside again.

Slay Bonita

The owner of this establishment Lydia was very rude, unprofessional & inconsiderate to my family. My family recently had a repass for the passing of a beloved family member & the owner was everything but professional. She didn't have no empathy/consideration for the grieving family & her behavior was purely disgusting. The space was also a discomfort for the guests, there was absolutely no air & the air conditioner was off or not working. She also had an issue with the door being opened because that's the only way that some type of air was coming in the space. From the beginning of the event until the end, she was rude & made the family feel uncomfortable. Her behavior is unacceptable, especially for a family that is grieving!! She does not communicate well & used foul language. I would NOT recommend this establishment for any events. Being a Harlem native, this place/owner gives Harlem a bad name. She should be ashamed of herself for carrying herself in an improper manner, especially with guests whom paid to use the space. Horrible, just horrible!