Brewing Growth: Haraz Coffee House Plans Rittenhouse Square Cafe

The concept will bring Yemeni coffee, matcha drinks and pastries to the area.

Courtney McGinley Regional Reporter
Haraz Coffee House's vanilla latte. (Image credit: Facebook page)

A Yemeni coffee shop is brewing up further growth in Philadelphia with a new location in the pipeline.

Haraz Coffee House plans to open at 1822 Chestnut St. in Rittenhouse Square, with franchise owner Hamza Shaikh and his wife overseeing the cafe.

“The space itself is going to be pretty beautiful because it’s a historic building. It’s bi-level. We are going to have some private space people can rent out. It’s going to be pretty unique in the way it looks and feels,” Shaikh told What Now Philadelphia.

The duo currently operate locations in Fishtown, University City and Flourtown.

“We’ve gotten a tremendous amount of excitement from the locals who live in the area, so we thought this would be a great opportunity for us to expand into Center City. We really want to target the young professionals and folks who really enjoy our food and drinks,” he said.

Each location has its own unique flair, and this spot will be no different.

“We’ll have the same drinks and same popular desserts and pastry options, but we’re also going to have some new things that won’t be at the other locations. It’s still under wraps,” Shaikh said.

The menu features traditional Yemeni coffee and tea alongside espresso-based drinks, refreshers and matcha beverages. Offerings include spiced coffees flavored with cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and saffron, as well as lattes, cappuccinos and mochas. Food options include pastries, croissants and Middle Eastern desserts such as baklava, knafeh and milk cakes.

“I feel that the product we have is very high quality. Our matcha selection is one of the largest, and we’re really concentrating on the local community and their interest in matcha, especially our cloud matcha that we’re excited about,” he said. “Our pastry selection is unique in the sense that we’re making our things in-house, which then cannot be replicated.”

The team plans to eventually introduce a full breakfast and lunch menu.

Shaikh looks forward to continuing the brand’s expansion while partnering with local businesses to host events in the space. The goal is to establish Haraz Coffee House as a gathering place and community-focused third space.

Haraz Coffee House aims to open before fall 2026. Visit the website and follow the brand on Instagram for updates.

Love our content?
Add WhatNow as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

Be the First to Know

From new restaurant openings to exciting retail launches and real estate insights, be the first to know what’s happening in Philadelphia

Share This Article
Regional Reporter
Courtney McGinley is a Regional Reporter based in Philadelphia, PA. A graduate of Penn State University's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, she has been working as a journalist since earning her degree. Before joining What Now Media Group, Courtney was a Live News Fellow at Newsweek, where she gained experience in writing, breaking news reporting, interviewing, and editing. She was also nominated for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy. Outside of work, Courtney enjoys cooking and exploring new restaurants, coffee shops, and cocktail bars.
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *