72 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • JUNE 13, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
dining out
Photo: Allison Kridle/BORO
Peace and caff eine
at the Chakra Cafe
BY ALLISON KRIDLE
BORO Magazine
Special to The Courier
If you feel crazed and overwhelmed by
New York City’s 24/7 bustle, you might
be searching for a peaceful place to take
a deep breath and relax here in western
Queens. I recently found a spot to unwind
in Sunnyside’s newly opened business
called Chakra Cafe, located on Queens
Boulevard.
Chakra Cafe owner Ahmet Albayrak and
manager Daria Kostyshkina started working
together two years ago at Albayrak’s
other cafe, Cute Cat Cafe in Ridgewood.
Albayrak recruited Kostyshkina to help
him run Chakra Cafe, which opened in
March. While Albayrak is from Turkey
and Kostyshkina is from Russia, they both
found their home in Queens.
“Ahmet did a good job searching for
areas to open Chakra and there a lot of
Turkish people in Sunnyside, so he can
speak easily with people in the community
and it’s close to Manhattan,”
Kostyshinka said. “Sunnyside is a community
that we are happy to be a part of.”
Chakra Cafe certainly stands out in
Sunnyside. Th e interior screams “oasis,”
with its light teal store signage and their
lotus fl ower logo that blooms next to their
sign. Albayrak wisely chose to add little
hints of nature on the inside with hanging
pots of fl owers on the walls and using
round, wooden tables that look like they
came straight from tree trunks.
Anyone who walks into Chakra Cafe
can automatically tell that it is a space for
relaxation and a place to reset mentally.
It is decorated like a home, fi lled with
tinted glass hanging lights, neutral colors
and comfortable pillows that rest on the
booth seats.
“‘Chakra’ is an energy section in body,
Chakra Cafe
4401 Queens Blvd., Sunnyside
929-462-0051
INSTAGRAM: @chakracafenyc
so we tried to make the cafe harmonious.
A place where people can stay and get
a mental rest. Listen to music with friendly
people around,” Kostyshkina said.
Th e atmosphere in Chakra feels like
a spiritual getaway and fi ts well into
Sunnyside, since locals and those who
frequent the area come from all walks of
life, hail from various places and practice
many diff erent cultures.
Albayrak has enjoyed getting to know
his new customers over the past month
and said that some people have become
regulars very quickly.
Not only does the energy of Chakra add
and fi t into Sunnyside, but their menu
brings something unlike any other cafe in
the area while also remaining familiar. I
indulged in Chakra’s iced oat latte, which
was better than the lattes I usually fi nd in
the city, and bakclava, which was nothing
less than superb.
Chakra Cafe’s menu contains anything
you could ever want for breakfast, such
as various types of omelettes and waffl es
(even Nutella) and six diff erent types of
bagels. Th eir coff ee selection takes over
half of their menu and includes standard
drinks like drip, espresso, lattes, cappuccinos,
but Chakra also off ers specialty
drinks like golden and matcha lattes, as
well as a signature Turkish blend.
Th e lunch menu overfl ows with items
for vegan and vegetarians. Th ey have creative
light bites like leafy and fi lling salads
and sandwiches packed with veggies,
plus meat options like salmon, turkey and
chicken.
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