Going Mutts at Boris & Horton: New York City's First Dog Cafe
Here's something you should know about me: I love animals. And I don’t just mean I love watching cat videos. I hiked up a mountain to visit a monkey park in Japan. I cried during Babe, Free Willy and Homeward Bound. For me, a trip to the zoo is as therapeutic as a walk in a garden or a stroll along the beach. I love, love, love animals. So when we heard a dog cafe had opened in New York City and that our friend, Lauren, had just adopted an adorable chihuahua, Boris & Horton seemed like the perfect spot for a doggie date.
Boris & Horton separates the dog from the cafe, which is how pups are allowed in the establishment. The coffee shop is separate--but attached to--the retail portion, where the pups are allowed to roam.
The coffee shop isn’t just an afterthought: it offers a variety of specialty coffee and tea options, beer and wine, as well as some light bites. They use locally-sourced ingredients for the entirely vegetarian menu, and they also make vegan and gluten-free options available. You can come sans your fur baby and enjoy the food offerings in their cafe any time, just as you would in any other neighborhood coffee joint. But you can purchase that food and drink and take it next door to the retail section--also outfitted with dining tables--and consume it in the company of your furry friends.
Dogs are required to stay on leash and remain supervised, but staff members are on hand to make sure the canines are content by showering them with affection and offering them treats. They also clean up messes efficiently, keeping the area surprisingly spotless. The cozy space celebrates all the joys of dog ownership: there’s a cute photo booth so you can capture the perfect ‘gram, as well as a ton of merch that’s bound to tempt the dogs as well as their owners.
As they wander around the space, the pups can be seen sniffing each other and making new friends. But their humans are often socializing too. Guests trade funny stories about their pets and offer each other helpful advice. We had Charlie the Chihuahua in our company, but even without a pet in tow we weren’t made to feel like we were creeping on anyone. Everyone we came across was extremely friendly, and when I asked if I could take pictures of the cute dogs, in all cases the proud pawrents were more than happy to accommodate.
So if you happen to be in the vicinity and would like a shot of canine love with your cup of joe, then consider popping in to Boris & Horton. The first rule and only rule here is a super easy one: must love dogs.
Location:
Hours:
Daily 7:00 am - 11:00 pm
Make it a date! Pair it with:
A meal at Veselka
There are more trendy brunch options in New York City than you can keep up with, but we tend to favor tried-and-true classics. And if the place has a little bit of history to it, even better. Ukrainian restaurant Veselka has been an East Village stalwart for over 60 years. It’s been featured in books, movies and television shows because it manages to capture so much of the essence of what makes New York City great: the immigrant experience, and bringing people of varied backgrounds together through affordable, accessible, delicious food.
Veselka is still family owned and operated, and it’s open 24 hours a day just so you can have stuffed cabbage and pierogi for brunch. (Fun fact: pierogi is the plural for pierog, though the singular form is rarely used. Because who only eats one, right?) Don’t miss out on the potato latke, theirs is one of our favorites in town. If goulash for brunch is a step too far into unknown territory, try the brunch pierogi, which is filled with bacon, scrambled egg, cheese and potato and comes with a side of tomato horseradish ketchup. Oh, and vegetarians? Never fear, there are some amazing and filling options here for you as well.
Location:
Hours:
24 hours a day
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