A group of about 50 people, mostly Guinean immigrants, gathered on a recent afternoon in a cafe with a twist: The food was free. On the menu that day: Sloppy Joes, potato wedges and kale salad.

In the East Village, a new cafe is combining free meals, job training, and a rare safe space for migrants, particularly those from Guinea, West Africa. Cafewal, which springs from Fulani, meaning ...