A new East Village destination focused on creativity and relaxation is coming this fall
Slow Dials, owned by Jessica Hart, will debut at 188 E. 2nd St.
“Slow Dials is basically a reading room. People can come in and they decide how long they want to stay and they choose their lounge session from there,” Hart told Whatnow New York City.
The concept was created for people looking for a place to pass the time without sitting in a crowded café or mindlessly scrolling on their devices. Timeslots will be available in 45-minute sessions for $12 or 90-minute sessions for $24.
“During each session, people can explore. We’ll have a full library of featured short stories and articles from local publishers, along with activities like embroidery, sudoku, calligraphy kits, card games—just something that is enjoyable and timeless,” she said.
Every session will include unlimited coffee and tea, with four loose-leaf teas and four drip coffees sourced from local roasters, including Milkweed Studio and Driftaway Coffee.
For an additional cost, guests can enjoy a glass of wine and order snacks.
“We’re intentionally leaning into very simple, yet elegant. There’s nothing better than strawberries with whipped cream or a really great baguette with whipped butter. It’s almost like if you went over to a friend’s home and they put out a snack for you,” Hart said.
The space will also evolve with the seasons, encouraging guests to stay present.
“Maybe it’s a foggy day in October, you come in and read a short horror story, and you have a smoky black tea, or maybe it’s a Saturday morning in July, and you’re sipping on a coffee with peach notes, and you’re embroidering a cocktail napkin. It’s designed to embody that,” Hart said.
The space will embrace a reimagined take on retrofuturism.
“It’s not techie centered; think 70s lounge. We will have couches. The hope is that people can treat it almost like their interim living room when they’re out and about,” she said.
Hart looks forward to bringing a new gathering space to the East Village.
“I’m really excited to see how people use the space. I’m excited for people to discover things that maybe they wouldn’t have encountered otherwise—they didn’t know it existed,” she said.
Slow Dials plans to open in November. Visit the website and follow along on Instagram for the latest updates.
