🇺🇸 Rochester - Layali Coffee House ☕

Not entirely sure if this Yemeni coffee shop fits strictly under “Mediterranean,” but I’m including it anyway! 😄 I vaguely remember Rochester having a “Qahwah House” before, but I might be mixing things up… Either way, Layali opened brightly this past February, and it was my first time trying honeycomb bread — what a delight! This place is super popular 🎉 — and it’s right next to Dave’s Hot Chicken 🍗. I’ve never seen Henrietta this packed… people were struggling to find parking! If they ever add a drive-thru, it’s gonna be chaos 😂. The café itself is lovely — bright, clean, and thoughtfully designed. Perfect for working, relaxing, or enjoying coffee and pastries. The owners and staff are all from Yemen 👏🏽, and it’s a unionized local business serving authentic Yemeni coffee beans. I’ve been twice so far: 🍯 Honey-soft Cheese Bread – Freshly baked, fluffy and sweet… though the amount of honey drizzled can be inconsistent. When it’s light, it’s perfect with that warm salty cheese! 🍋 Aseer Leem – Mint-infused lemonade. Refreshing surprise! ☕ Spanish Latte – Pretty much what you expect: sweetened condensed milk with coffee. Reliable and tasty. 🌿 Za’atar Fatayer (veggie pastry) – Made in-house. The za’atar is herby and olive-oily… honestly not totally my thing 😅 Tasted like a thick pita with a hint of spiced oil bread? Interesting, though! Also — the ✨aesthetic✨ here is next level. Even the disposable cutlery is fancy gold plastic! My friend said it felt like using “Luxury Gold Cards”… fellow board gamers will get it 💰😂. I’ll be back for sure — next time I’m trying their famously thick pistachio latte that everyone says needs stirring! Any place that’s unique, delicious, and run by smiling staff (many of whom might be owners!) just makes me happy inside 🥰. #RochesterNY #LayaliCoffee #YemeniCoffee #HenriettaEats #LocalBusiness #CoffeeLover