Cafe Mogador Owners to Open East Village Bar
The owners of the iconic Cafe Mogador are opening a new spot at 126 St. Mark's Place, but it won't be another restaurant. Co-owner Danny Orlin stated the new venture will be a community-focused bar, shifting away from their well-known Moroccan-Israeli dining concept.
Cafe Mogador, an East Village staple since 1983, was founded by Rivka Orlin, who immigrated from Morocco and started the restaurant with her brother. For over four decades, it has been a family-run institution, known for its Moroccan-Israeli cuisine and becoming a cultural hub on St. Mark's Place. The new bar is being opened by the second generation: Rivka's son, Danny Orlin, and his cousin, Jacob Ahiyon. The new, yet-to-be-named venture will take over the space at 126 St. Mark's Place, previously occupied by East Village Social. That bar and restaurant, which featured live music, has been vacant since late 2021. The Mogador team plans a gut renovation of the space, which already has rustic elements like brick walls and a tin ceiling, with an opening tentatively scheduled for late 2026. This new establishment marks a strategic expansion on the same block where the family has operated for more than 40 years. The explicit goal is to create a symbiotic relationship with the original restaurant, offering a "bar-forward" concept with small plates where patrons can wait for their table at the perpetually busy Cafe Mogador or enjoy a different kind of neighborhood experience. The bar will join a street known for its eclectic and historic nightlife. St. Mark's Place is home to a diverse range of watering holes, from craft beer and arcade game spot Barcade to the 1920s-style speakeasy William Barnacle Tavern, known for its absinthe selection. The new bar aims to carve out a niche focused on a "welcoming and homey" community feel.
