Teranga New York

Senegalese food at the Africa Center

Geoffrey from New York

About me I travel to discover how people elsewhere live, how they manage living with low incomes in expensive cities, how they grapple with hard times and failing economies, how they deal with ageing or crumbling families and how they themselves age and adapt. Knowing and loving New York comes from having lived through many of its manifestations while witnessing its changes....
""Teranga" in New York City, in the Africa Center, is a restaurant as well as a library. It feels musical and maintains a feeling of communal comfort..."

The customer pictured might well be listening to the Sierra Leonese singer of palm wine music, Sooliman Rogie whose songs consider the of The Joy Of Love Making and The Importance Of Children sung to mesmerizing, heartbeat rhythms played on the lower strings of subdued electric and acoustic guitars and, when necessary, a cello or two.

Might be, I think, because the vibe in Teranga feels musical, with tables full of families and couples eating dishes of Liberian ruby rice, attieke imported from the Ivory Coast, and ndambe, a stew of sweet potatoes and black-eyed peas from Senegal.

The restaurant maintains its feeling of communal comfort because it is in fact connected to The Africa Center, where can be heard such events as Lupita Nyong’o hosting a children’s story time event.

Teranga began as a walk-in, sit down restaurant integrated into the Africa Center located on the edges of Harlem and central Park at 110th Street. COVID put a halt to that type of operation.

At long last the doors are again open on weekends only, and it has also reopened for daily delivery or pickup.

Its location at the northeast corner of Central Park makes it an ideal spot to kick off further exploration of Harlem. Across the street is the Harlem Meer, a beautiful lake with lushly edged pathways and an adjacent rose garden.

002-building
Art & culture
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

This week 25% off

with the code fall25

*on our yearly membership

New York Spotter Geoffrey

About me I travel to discover how people elsewhere live, how they manage living with low incomes in expensive cities, how they grapple with hard times and failing economies, how they deal with ageing or crumbling families and how they themselves age and adapt. Knowing and loving New York comes from having lived through many of its manifestations while witnessing its changes. Why New York I love New York because of its broad cultural spectrum realized in all forms of the arts, food, technology, politics and transportation, and its easy access to the beautif...

About this spot

5th Avenue 1280

Jollof Bowl:

US$

15

6466631935

Nov 1, 2025

Our New York City Guide

Find your way with 308 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

Discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our New York guide.

Loved it? Join us!

Loved this Spot?Join your international community. Share your favs and become part of our international community!

Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:

Discover all other hidden gems in New York

Color World

Curb Side BBQ

Color World sets up on the corner of 116th and 2nd Avenue, rain or shine. There they serve beef, pork, goat, oxtail, and chicken for $10 a plate.

024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 17, 2025

Don Alejo Coffee

Coffee, toasts and burritos

Their prices are in keeping with the neighborhood: a plate of two eggs, two pancakes, 'home' fried potatoes and your choice of sausages or bacon, is $12.

020-coffee-cup-1
Coffee & tea
024-burger-1
Snacks

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 16, 2025

Icons' Homes

James, James & Dorothy

There are three houses not far from each other in NYC of three icons: James Dean, James Baldwin, and Dorothy Parker...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 16, 2025

Heckscher Field/Central Park

Broadway show league

"Heckscher Field" in Central Park, New York, is used for softball. Here you can see games played for the Broadway Show League. Celebrity stars may be seen.

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 16, 2025

74St Café

American overlooking Beacon Theater

Among its offerings are a $10 breakfast special and its enormous $15 lunchtime hamburger, a price unobtainable anywhere else within walking distance.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 15, 2025

Verdi Square

People Watching

This sun soaked park bench is a destination neighborhood residents know, spending time there in observation. It’s one of the more fabulous NYC stages.

017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 15, 2025

Monumental Women

Central Park Monument Representing Real Women

"Monumental Women" has erected this monument in Central Park, NYC to especially important figures in the United States women's equality movement...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 13, 2025

Der Krung

Best Thai spot in town

"Der Krung" in Hell's Kitchen in New York City is by far my favorite Thai place around. One of the best things about it is the $9.75 lunch special...

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Christian

Neely

Nov 13, 2025

Barbies, Barbies, Barbies

Apthorp Cleaners

"Apthorp Cleaners" in NYC is different from the dozens of other neighborhood cleaners by its permanent but ever-changing window display of Barbie dolls...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 12, 2025

Taco Mix

Gorditas, Cemitas, Burrito Bowls

Taco toppings include cheese (Cotijam, oaxaca and mozzarella), pineapple, jalapeños and pico de gallo. Norteñas & Cubanos sandwiches are not to be missed.

021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 11, 2025

Dinastia

Cuban - Chinese

"Dinastia" is a great Cuban-Chinese restaurant in New York City. They definitely make soul food here. Consider the squid and rice: it's always good...

002-building
Art & culture
021-spoon-and-fork-1
Restaurants

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 11, 2025

Studio Museum in Harlem

Artists of color

"Studio Museum in Harlem" in New York focuses on local, national and international artists of African descent and other work inspired by black culture...

002-building
Art & culture

by

Geoffrey

Dunbar

Nov 11, 2025

Heading to New York?

308 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

New York app Home
New York app Home
New York app Map
New York app Home

Heading to New York?

0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

308 Insider Tips

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

City guides by those who know the city in and out!

Our Locals' Favorite Art & culture

Our team loves New York

Get to know our other Spotters from New York

As featured on:

New-York-Times
the-guardian
mashable
the-sunday-times
[paywall_activator]
false
0
false
63
Made with the 💚 of 496 Spotters.
Filters