Harlem's New Cafe, Music Venue Officially Opens Doors

HARLEM, NY — A new cafe, bar and performance venue that aims to revive Sugar Hill's rich musical past has thrown open its doors after months of preparation.

The Porch, on Saint Nicholas Avenue and West 147th Street, opened officially this month, offering breakfast by day followed by beverages and live music at night.

It is the passion project of neighborhood musicians Beth Kaufman and Mark Miller, who told Patch last year that they conceived of The Porch during the pandemic, when lowered rent prices allowed them to take over the 2,000-square-foot former furniture store right in front of the 145th Street subway station. (Renovations to the space were carried out by Peter Holtzman of Bespoke Architecture.)

Before the official opening, The Porch had already hosted months of free concerts on its front patio, celebrating the return of live music to the city.

On the menu for breakfast: Sweetleaf coffee, freshly-baked bagels and pastries, and house-smoked fish. Evenings include smoked meats, craft beer, fine wines and a lineup of upcoming performances — with plans to expand into spoken word, film, "social music jams" and more, according to Miller and Kaufman.

With hopes of becoming a "community hub," The Porch is open starting 8 a.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends. Both the food and the performances are intended to be affordable — seating will include both reserved tickets available for purchase as well as open spots using a suggested-donation model.

The Porch follows in the footsteps of legendary Sugar Hill venues like St. Nick's Pub, Lundy's and the 400 Tavern, all of which once enlivened the neighborhood's streets, but which closed in recent years.

"We're hoping that this becomes a musician's venue, run by musicians for musicians," Miller told Patch last year. "It becomes that kind of place where you never know who's going to show up."

To learn more about The Porch or buy tickets to upcoming shows, visit its website.

Previous coverage: New Harlem Cafe, Music Venue Aims To Restore Sugar Hill's Spirit