The idea of opening NYC’s first official dog-friendly café was came from Coppy Holzman and Logan Mikhly, both avid dog owners and animal lovers. Coppy is the founder of Charitybuzz, an online auction site, which partners with celebrities and partners around the globe. Apart from that, he is also involved in various other philanthropic endeavors. Before starting Boris & Horton, Logan lived in New Orleans, where she managed operations at a no-kill dog rescue.
But who are Boris and Horton? They are the founders’ rescue dogs, hence the name, and they have become the unofficial mascots of the business.
The What:
Cat cafés have existed in New York for a couple of years now, however, the main difference between the cat cafés and Boris & Horton is that the cats live at the cafés until they are adopted. The dogs who come to Boris & Horton are coming there with their owners. The only exception to this are adoption events, which are held regularly at Boris & Horton as well.
Although dogs are allowed on the patios of many restaurants and cafe’s, the Department of Health does not allow dogs near where food or drinks are prepared. Therefore, Boris & Horton has created two adjacent spaces: one in which owners can purchase food & drink and another where they can enjoy their meal, with their leashed dog next to them. Both spaces have separate entrances and there’s also a walk-up coffee window. A section of the dog-friendly area is dedicated to merchandise, dog treats and toys.
We are excited to stop at Boris & Horton on our special charitable Pup Crawl event this week. This one is sold out, but we plan to announce other dates n the near future.
The Why:
New Yorkers love their dogs – yet spending time eating and drinking indoors (which is one of our favorite things to do) with dogs wasn’t possible until Boris & Horton opened its doors. The small East Village spot, steps from where we begin our Craft Cocktail tour, features a welcoming design, vegetarian dishes, pastries by Bien Cuit, Balthazar, gluten-free Husk Bakeshop and a selection of craft beer and wine. Their special Boris coffee blend is roasted by City of Saints coffee in Bushwick.
The Where:
Borris & Horton
195 Avenue A
New York, NY 10009
(212) 510-8986