Boris & Horton Expands
New York City’s First Dog Cafe Doubles in Size
Photographs by Natalie Siebers
Boris & Horton, New York City’s first dog cafe, is the epicenter of the East Village Doggoverse!
This past summer I went a couple of times with Bodhi. It was fun to be able to sit down (inside!) with my dog while I enjoyed a cup or coffee (or one evening, a glass of wine!) But since the Bodhacious One is a big dog, I have to confess, there were times when the seating could feel a little snug.
Not any more!
Less than a year after its grand opening, Boris & Horton unveiled a huge expansion. This fall the cafe literally doubled in size. Founders Logan and Coppy built a dog-friendly addition in an adjacent storefront, bringing the total square footage up to 2,000 square feet.
Customer Cruz A. says he loves the new room, he and his Frenchie, Robbie, now have plenty of space to stretch out and get comfortable. Coppy told me things are going so well, they’re now scouting the city for places to launch new dog cafes.
Boris & Horton has a very clever design. The Department of Health won’t allow dogs to be in a space where food is served. Boris & Horton complied with those rules by creating two interior spaces: a “people side” where humans without dogs can sit and where the coffee and food is prepared and served; and a “dog side,” where humans and canines coexist in perfect, peaceful harmony!
The cafe has a street side takeaway window where folks with dogs can order food and drink, which they can then take over to the dog side. The two sides are connected by a special foyer that keeps them physically separate, satisfying Health Department requirements. In addition to the cafe, there’s also a small shop where you can buy swag and things for your dog.
I visited on a recent Sunday, and the place was a dog carnival.
There was a pop-up shop of dog clothes up front. In the back a dog was celebrating his birthday. In one corner you could commission an artist to paint a quick water color portrait of your pup, right there, on the spot. My neighbor Barbara W. got a portrait of her dog Princess Sparkle (her daughter named her!) and she loves it!
Check out Boris & Horton’s busy, extensive calendar of events. It includes Trivia Night on Thursdays, breed-specific meet-ups, book signings, adoption events, and a whole lot more.
Boris & Horton can be found at the northwest corner of 12th Street and Avenue A in the East Village. It’s open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM and on weekends from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Click here to visit their website.
