Cloister Café has suffered a difficult series of setbacks in the previous couple years. Between the Covid-19 pandemic and friction with community board regarding their liquor licenses, Cloister Café has been temporarily shut down for nearly a year.
Now though, it appears that the café is gearing up to reopen, and is once again trying to acquire the liquor license necessary to make that happen. In August 2020, the SLA shut down Cloister Café after hearing allegations of “pandemic parties” being hosted in the location. Owners Nicholas and Walter Drobenko fiercely contested the allegations, arguing that their bar was being unfairly maligned and that the allegations were made without proper context. The Drobenkos successfully sued the SLA in September 2020, winning a temporary restraining order though not fully reinstating their license.
Now, over a year later, the café is applying for a new license in the same space they’ve always occupied, 238 East Ninth Street. A non-tobacco hookah lounge, Cloister Café has been in operation for over 35 years. Popular for its heated outdoor garden, Cloister Café offers an especially beloved menu of eclectic Mexican-Brazilian fusion cuisine served with fresh craft cocktails, creating a tropical oasis in the middle of the East Village.
Open daily from 11:00 AM – 4:00 AM, the lounge features both a private courtyard patio for late-night drinks and an open restaurant sidewalk café that serves food until Midnight. While the owners have encountered some friction with residents during the Covid-19 Pandemic, prior to that they received few complaints during their 35 years of operation. The cafe’s relaunch is dependent upon its acquisition of a new liquor license, but if the next community board meeting goes smoothly then the Drobenkos are hoping to reopen their café by the end of March. For more updates as the story progresses, you can follow Cloister Café on Instagram.
