Harmony Kitchen

Oh so vegan! It was so thrilling to see the menu and read that they charge extra for COW’S milk, and a nondairy latte is the cheaper option! Hizzah! The soyrizo empanada was delicious, my lemon ginger iced tea was refreshing, and the raw kale chips I bought were a real treat. Plus, the live music downstairs was an experience in itself… :)

Wow~what a terrific find in NoHo! Who would have expected in a random street in NoHo would have such a nice café with relaxed atmosphere with soothing live music being played by musicians on a stage?
The café itself has an attractive retro/​hipster/​bohemian look from the outside. In the inside, it’s really a very relaxed, rustic, classic atmosphere. It’s not too crowded so that was a big plus. There is a stage in the back where musicians play acoustic/​indie/​folk music that was very soothing and pleasant to the ears. To the right, there is a full (??) café with two barista guys that were really friendly and attentive.
They didn’t have Iced Americano but they offered Iced Coffee which was pretty good too. They even asked me if I wanted Soy or Almond Milk in my coffee. After seeing the food selections on their menu, I can tell that this is a very vegeterian and perhaps vegan-​friendly place with many foods made from vegetables. Some of their items sounded Really good even to a carnivore like myself.
Some of their Food Items:
Almond Falafel
Multi-​grain Bagels
Cous Cous Panini
Spicy Hummus Avocado Wrap
Southwest Tofu
House Salad
Smoothies:
Banana, Mango, Pineapple, Orange,
Carrots, Strawbeery, Celery, Parsley,
Bluebeery, Peach, Blueberry, Melon,
Ginger Almond Butter, Soy Milk/​Yogurt
Overall, t was really nice to have a seat, get my Java fix, and unwind to great LIVE music after walking around so much. The audience seemed to be in their 30−40s mostly but I did see some people in their late 20s. It might not appeal to people who want fast-​paced music but if you like soothing acoustic/​country/​indie/​jazz music, definitely check out this place! Also, a VERY nice and spacious place (love the fact that it wasn’t too crowded!!) to get work done or enjoy a great book.
I love places like this and wish I can run into these types of places more
oftenaround the city!

Yippie for the renovation!
Since my last visit in 2011 for a poetry open-​mic, this café and performing venue space has greatly improved their space. The artificial loft has been entirely removed as it was blockading the stage area and confining space to be maximized and allow light. Yippie Museum Café no longer carries the foul cat urine stench or sage incense. The foyer no longer carries a curtain with an area heavily plastered with fliers or local events. There are more tables and chairs without the worn and torn couch. With the futile artificial loft it was previously very dark and diggy, but now the space is open and fend off more space. The stupid artificial loft mis-​spelt banner «Dump today or jump tomarrow» is also eradicated. An actual signage is placed on the façade by the door rather than the previous hand drawn art poster signage. Harmony Café Kitchen’s business cards also serve as a frequent rewards card where the tenth purchase is free.
A better food option is now available for an inviting café feel of cookies, soups, and Empanadas. There is now a better selection of teas for the non-​coffee drinkers like me. No pesky cover fee for admission at selected open-​mic and/​or events pending performing artist (s) or band. as a nirvara haven for verse in all its forms of poets, spoken word and performing artists. With a friend we also utilize Yippie Museum Café’s WiFi which is an open network. With all these renovations for an improved inviting open space, I would surely return for the next poetry open-​mic reading.

Ooh, look at me, my name is Yippie coffee. I’m very swank and there are no eggs in my pastries, not once, not never.
I try to create the impression that I keep the music very low to let people study/​work, but it’s really just because quiet is cooler than you are. Oh, did you not know that?
Aren’t you so impressed by my diverse pamphlet collection?
Duh, of course my coffee is good, I just french-​pressed it. Didn’t you notice? I just french-​pressed it. I can see how you might not have noticed. I was very detail-​oriented but nonchalant about it.

On what might possibly be the grittiest looking street of all of Bleecker Street, you’ll find this treasure. I won’t even insult them by attempting to describe or categorize the patrons. There was good diversity and great energy all around.
I met up with some visiting friends who happened on this place while walking through the Village from west to east. A few of the current pics on Unilocal are somewhat deceiving. The name and signage of this place were not that apparent. It looked like a dark, artist loft with a short ground chalk board advertising tea and coffee (and I didn’t even notice that until I was leaving). I may not have known this was the «tea house» my friends were talking about had one of them not been standing out front. I don’t know if Yippie calls itself a Tea House, but with thirty or so varieties of amazing loose leaf teas, one might make that mistake.
We were drawn in by the teas.
We were intrigued by the artwork.
We were greeted kindly by the staff.
We hung out to chat in this comfy, cozy-​yet-​open space.
We had no idea (at first) that there would be live music!
The evening I lost my Yippie virginity, it was Indigenous Instrument Tuesdays. We were confused at first when a man (possibly staff) started playing a bow-​and-​arrow type instrument. It was interesting though. The group that succeeded him played instruments and sang songs that originated from Zimbabwe. Loved them! The sound system was actually pretty good here. We didn’t stay for the whole show since we were starving and didn’t initially plan on staying that long to begin with, but we all left enthused to return.
The only Con:
They had a really smelly restroom that had a toilet that was difficult to flush. No star deductions though since I don’t spend my evenings in the restroom.

My inner eternal college student loves this concept! An intimate coffee shop that doubles as a museum and live music venue? Where the coffee isn’t absurdly priced and the treats are all healthy and vegan? Yippie!
Popping in here to kill some time before dinner made me envious that I don’t live in the neighborhood. I can totally see how Yippie Café would be a really cool community meeting spot, where you can really get to know others in the area and study or read over music, treats, and coffee.
And hint: their large Soy Chai is fantastic, for only $ 2.60!

Disclaimer: I did not actually patronize this establishment since they would not let us in without paying a $ 5 cover…
I run a book club that took part in this year’s LitCrawl NYC 2010. After reviewing the schedule of events, I chose specific readings, one of which was to be held at this venue.
After a great reading at KGB, my book club members and I headed over to Yippie along with many others eager to continue the reading series.
Upon arrival, there seemed to be confusion as a crowd had gathered in front of the spot. Two of my book club members cited the mysterious odors that was featured in the 07÷19÷10 Foufikins C. review.
The person at the front advised that in order for us to patronize this establishment as part of the Lit Crawl, we would have to pay $ 5. This charge was not posted on the official event site as even the emcee for LitCrawl advised the venue had not told LitCrawl they would charge.
As for the people who already paid, Yippie refused to refund their money.
Luckily art thrived over greed and LitCrawl took it to the streets, literally, and held the event out on the sidewalk.
Shame on you Yippie!

Cheapest cup of joe in NY?
The nice (former Yippie?) cashier had to be reminded to charge me, then left the cash register open for about 15 minutes. I noticed when I walked over to look at his iTunes, wondering what version of «When You Awake» by Rick Danko and the Band was playing. A Hell’s Angels-​looking dude barked at me from a dark corner as I leaned over the corner. I guess he’s a mainstay friend of the café /​security guard. So we had one happy hippie and one angry hippie. Just like an R Crumb comic. This place is a fun respite from the newly gentrified Bowery.

This is one of those places that I would rather keep to myself, but the spot definitely deserves recoginition.
Stumbled upon this place while waiting for some friends. Looking for hot tea we found a menu with a variety of 30 different teas. Heaven. The ‘tea-​master’ suggested putting peppermint in my hibiscus, which might have been the best advice I’ve ever taken from anyone.
Upon my friends arrival, they started setting up a stage. Indigenous Music Tuesdays? Probably some of the best stuff I’ve heard in a long time. Instruments I’ve never seen with beautiful music I’ve never heard before. It makes you wanna dance and they welcome you to it.
Yippie’s a non-​profit café that opens its doors to all shapes and sizes. They do accept credit cards, but — as most of you know — BIg Banks charge a fee to the store for each charge, so try to bring in some cash.