The Oma, Shop II Coffee+ Lifestyle

Lizzy Okpo named her Harlem-based coffee, lifestyle and wellness shops "oma," meaning beautiful in Igbo. And it seems she has truly embodied the spirit of the word. As The Oma Shop I (1707 Amsterdam Avenue) dabbles in home goods alongside coffee cups, the follow-up, The Oma Shop II, continues in stride, expanding on the original's imprint. Reading like the living room of a Moroccan home, the shop finds power in its minimalism with white walls that curve and shelves stocked with aesthetically pleasing bottles of balms and beauty goods curated from Black, POC and LGBTQ+ vendors. The stainless steel counter shines near the front, where a blend of coffees and teas is brewed. But if you push deeper into the shop, you'll reach the sizeable backroom that morphs to the needs and whims of the community. On any given night, you can find a barber shop and braiding studio, a quiet room for podcasting and interviews and even a booth where up-and-coming DJs livestream their sets. But if you just came for a cup of coffee and a chill or early evening glass of wine and a bit of community, that is more than welcome here, too.