Bryan Stalder
Contributor

As someone who has spent more hours than I can count at PH Coffee — meeting neighbors, hosting conversations, doing work I should have finished days earlier — I’ve always appreciated how this place keeps finding new ways to root itself deeper into the community. The café has long been one of those rare neighborhood anchors where you can walk in at any time of day and find someone you know, or someone you’re glad to have met. So when I started hearing whispers about a new speakeasy taking shape just beyond the café, my curiosity kicked in quickly.

Called Public House, this 21-and-up hideaway is tucked into the neighboring annex space — just far enough from the main café to feel like a discovery, but close enough to feel connected. It officially opened its doors with an “emerald experience” the weekend of November 28–29, a nod to the Wizard of Oz–inspired theme that gives this space a whimsical, glowing personality. But the décor is only the first impression. The intention behind it is what carries through.

“We wanted to create a space at night that provides a similar experience to PH Coffee during the day — a place to gather with friends and neighbors and be yourself,” explained owner Eric Rosell. The result is a small, thoughtfully-designed room filled with soft lighting, comfortable seating, and the kind of warm hum that encourages lingering. Behind the bar, an intentionally curated menu features cocktails, natural wines, local beers, and small bites made in-house.

“We provide a curated list of crafted items from cocktails to small bites with different price ranges to allow each of our neighbors to come enjoy the space,” Rosell said.

Public House is refined without being pretentious, cozy without feeling cramped, and — most importantly — deeply in tune with the spirit of PH Coffee. It’s the kind of place where you can have a quiet conversation, slide into a booth with a friend after a long week, or simply enjoy being around other people who call Historic Northeast home.

For now, the speakeasy will be open every Friday and Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m., a schedule that already feels like a natural extension of the café’s daytime role as a community hub. And the neighborhood response has been immediate.

“The reaction from the community has been really positive,” Rosell said, “with some guests letting us know how a place at night has been missing in our area for some time, and our Public House is providing a space for them to gather with their friends and neighbors.”

On Friday, December 5, I spent about three hours, and you can read more about that experience on my Substack. I’m sure that Public House is going to become one of those after-dark staples that keeps our neighborhood feeling connected, creative, and alive. Sometimes all a community needs is one more welcoming light glowing on a quiet street, inviting you in.

PH Coffee and Public House are located at 2200 and 2202 Lexington Avenue.