Harlem has a new restaurant that is taking over the scene. MIST Madiba Harlem, which opened its doors December 2014, is an immaculate Black-owned venue located at 46 West 116th Street (between 6th and 5th avenues). This particular venue features a lavish cafe, bar, restaurant and venue all inspired by Nelson Mandela, or Madiba (his tribe name).
In an exclusive interview, Irving Julien, special events and catering manager at Madiba Harlem, provides the highlights of Harlem’s new venue. Owned by Carlton Brown and Walter Edwards, Madiba Harlem was conceived almost 17 years ago and now stands as a place where one can spend the entire day.
The quaint coffee shop offers free Wi-Fi and a delicious assortment of fresh beverages, salads and pastries. A good thing to know about this venue is that all of the dry goods and crafts are imported directly from South Africa. The cafe also provides a wonderful place to sit and read or have a nice business meeting.
The bar offers a stylish setting with a flexible a happy hour schedule. While spirits are not available yet, Madiba offers a nice selection of wines and beers to choose from.
The restaurant is a definite highlight that is great for a family dinner or an intimate dinner date for two. Madiba also offers a new and interesting menu full of South African-inspired items that will surely treat your taste buds. My recommendation ranges from their delicious prawns to their mouthwatering baby-back ribs.
Madiba Harlem also houses an enormous venue in the back that can easily seat over 200 people. The next event to be featured at Madiba Harlem is a live performance from Lauryn Hill on March 20 and 21.
Open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Madiba is definitely a brilliant gem in Harlem, New York.
Stop by and let us know what you think!
