BARZAKH• CAFÉ — Restaurant in New York

Barzakh Cafe replicates the intellectual cafés and coffee houses of antiquity — where travelers and locals gathered to share ideas.

The walls are painted blue. The space is filled with art work, musical instruments, and the owner’s photography. There’s an in-house library — with excellent selections of books on religion, philosophy, history, and classical literature.

The space hosts a wide variety of local and international performers — with an emphasis on music from what’s broadly defined as the “Muslim world”. You might hear everything from Spanish flamenco — to North African gnawa — to classic Persian music — to South Asian qawwali.

There’s an outdoor seating area for hookah, live music, and barbecues during the warmer months.

Their Arabic coffee is quite good. The food is very hit-or-miss. The prices are much higher than what you would expect for the Crown Heights neighborhood. They also host visiting chefs for special events.

My main complaint is about the seating. The chairs and cushions are hard and rather uncomfortable. If you’re someone with back problems, it’s prudent to bring a cushion, especially if you’re attending a show. Some performances become extremely crowded — and unless you come early, it’s difficult to find seating.

Overall, it’s a spot worth checking out. They host some amazing musicians — and there’s something...

If you’re looking for a place that combines tranquility, culture, and openness, this café is the perfect destination. A café filled with books that respects all cultures and ethnicities, as if it’s telling you that you are here simply because you are human—not because you belong to a specific race, religion, or country. The atmosphere is soothing, especially for those who have lived in closed environments or are accustomed to certain ways of life.

As someone who has spent his entire life in Gaza, I can confidently say that this place is the most comforting for me. It is a free space for thought and communication, where visitors can feel welcomed without any classification or restrictions.

As for the owner, he is a true example of openness and respect. Seeing Arabs like him embracing all cultures in this way brings hope that dialogue and coexistence are...

Barzakh was a perfect place to have our wedding. El Ateeq, the owner, was so attentive, accessible, kind and meticulous in helping us plan. I really very supported. Ateeq worked with our budget and really listened to our needs. He and his team made the space look beautiful and were great partners in problem solving logistics of where to present food, cake, decorations, etc. The team collaborated seamlessly with our caterer and baker. The day of, Ateeq and his team were on site a few hours before supporting with all the preparation. The evening was so much fun, and everyone in attendance kept remarking how wonderful the space was, and that they’d love to also throw events there. Friends of ours have already booked their baby shower there! Everyone at Barzakh made us feel at home. I would absolutely have more events there, I can’t think of...