Cafe Odyssey is coming soon from New York-based restaurant group AO Hospitality.
A representative for AO Hospitality told What Now New York that the cafe is expected to go in next to their other yet-to-open concept, Chinese Odyssey. Chinese Odyssey was filed at 239 Seventh Avenue and 167 West 23rd Street, according to paperwork.
Cafe Odyssey will be a sister concept to Chinese Odyssey, which will feature fine-dining Chinese cuisine — a specialty of AO Hospitality’s. Cafe Odyssey will fill a slightly different niche. Rather than focusing on dinner, it will be a Szechuan brunch and lunch spot. Then, at night, it will transform into a speakeasy-style cocktail bar featuring a beverage program.
The representative with AO Hospitality also said that Cafe Odyssey and Chinese Odyssey will likely be structured so that they can be opened up into one event space for private events.
AO Hospitality is expecting to open Cafe Odyssey first, with a March 2025 target for opening. Chinese Odyssey will follow, likely opening next summer.
The hospitality group, owned by Ruizhao Ao, specializes in Chinese and Szechuan cuisine concepts. Its two other concepts currently open — HUPO in Long Island City and SHAN in Brooklyn — both serve authentic Szechuan food.
