I was excited for try the coffee after reading the reviews. Once I stepped inside I was impressed by how spacious it is. I also noticed that at night this place transforms into a poetry/ comedy space, which I thought was really cool. The barista wasn't so pleasant and not really helpful. I ordered a coffee and bagel with cream cheese. Sadly, I was disappointed with the taste of the bagel and coffee. Not sure I will be coming back with all the other great coffee shops around. read more

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Black Cat has been around forever and is a staple in the neighborhood. Despite what others write, I do think the coffee shop is cozy. The space was not loud, just a few people talking and some soft music. I had a chai latte that was decently priced. The barista wasn't too friendly but at least she made my drink quick. I sat in a cozy seat in the back and worked a bit in the quiet. There's a pretty clean bathroom to use on site which was appreciated. Unfortunately, about an hour into working from the shop, they started blasting music for some karaoke thing so I had to leave as it was so loud. I would have stayed longer if the shop had remained a quiet place to work, and would certainly come back read more

Black Cat LES - Cozy corner - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I came here around 10:30am on a Saturday. There was only one person working behind the register/bar. I ordered a hot coffee with milk, which was fine. The menu was huge- tons of drink options, syrups, etc. I don't know how one person could manage all that! There were lots of couches and different seating options, which I liked, but it didn't necessarily feel cozy to me. There was so much stuff around (board games, paintings, etc.) that it almost felt like sitting down in an antique shop. read more

This place looks really cool! The sofás are confortable. But, it just doesn't feel cozy once inside. The woman at the front seemed unhappy with every customer, question, etc. The good and coffee were both fine, but with the multitude of other delicious places around, a comfy couch and kitschy name aren't enough to draw me back. read more

Lots of seatings inside but it's really dark. Coffee was decent and staff was great. Nice place to go for a rainy day. They also have stand up comedy in the evenings on select nights. read more

The barista was extremely unfriendly, exhibiting passive-aggressive behavior and clearly hating her job (evident from her shouting at guests towards the end). I visited this cafe for an event, and when I ordered an iced matcha latte (and tipped), the barista was not only passive-aggressive but also impatient. She/they made me feel as though I couldn't speak English while I ordered, even though I have lived in the U.S. for 10 years, speak fluent English, and work in a communication-heavy job. Towards the end of the event at 9pm (despite the cafe's closing time being listed as 10pm), the barista shouted at everyone, saying, "The cafe was supposed to close an hour ago! Nobody is paying me for this hour! Please leave!" This was unprofessional and unacceptable behavior. No professional staff member should ever shout at guests. Despite paying for drinks and tipping, the experience was terrible. Based on this, I cannot recommend this cafe to anyone. If you are the business owner, please address this rude behavior that occurred on June 26 (Wednesday) during the night shift. Improving staff behavior is crucial for customer satisfaction and the reputation of your cafe. read more

Black Cat LES - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Cute, cozy coffee shop that serves mediocre coffee and pastries. Went in to have a drink and received one of the worst cappuccinos I've had (extremely bitter and scalded milk) and a muffin that tasted like a big-box grocer bakery. Total spent: $10. What really disappoints me is that their location and atmosphere are great - dark wood and old leather couches and armchairs - and they have professional-grade espresso machines and grinders, so they absolutely could make a decent cup of coffee - but for whatever reason (lack of training?) they fall short of the mark. If they fixed their coffee and pastry situation this place would be an easy five-star shop, and I'll come here again because I WANT it to be good. That being said, the quality of the food and drink here just isn't good enough to support a higher review. read more

Love this place. Vibes are on. Coffees and sandwiches are super good and prices are good.

Says there is wifi but there isn't any. Would have been nice to know before ordering expensive latte

Trying to really figure out if this place has closed down or the business hours aren't updated. Passed by here twice between 8am - 9am on weekdays and the shutters have always been down, unless there's a secret entrance I don't know about. Online hours say they're open by 7 or 8 in the morning, but it's been closed. read more

By the time I came around 2pm, there were still seats available. Most people were inside doing work, but there were a few groups that were using the space to hang out. They did run out of a few of the drinks and some of the syrups they offer. Ended up getting a latte. The pricing is so good considering they're located in the LES. I believe it was less than $6, maybe closer to $5. However, the coffee wasn't great. It tasted very much burnt. Bathroom is usable. Not the cleanest, but it's not exactly dirty. Wifi is a hit or miss. Don't rely on being able to access it. There's also signs that state the employees are not responsible for troubleshooting. If you don't mind the quality of the drinks and are just looking for a place to work, Black Cat isn't a bad option. read more

I came here for their free Friday night comedy show, which starts at 9. They didn't check tickets. The cafe itself was cozy with couches, soft chairs, and several tables. A few students were studying in one section. Since I was there after hours, I didn't try any of their drinks. The comedy show was pretty good but the audience was very small, making it a bit awkward. There were only six or seven people in the crowd at any given time. Still, the comics tried their best. They were a little more amateur than others I've seen, but still entertaining. They interacted a lot with the audience to keep things interesting. read more

A wheelchair-accessible cafe in a basement on the Lower East Side? Surely you must be joking! But no, Black Cat is the real deal. Cozy AF (which means it's tight maneuvering, but you will make fast friends), with tasty cappuccinos and hot chocolate for those chilly winter evenings in the City. Bonus for the vintage board games which make excellent decor, but you can actually play, too, if you ask nicely. read more

Such a cute place. Perfect to get work done. Lots of seating and a few different plugs. Strong WIFI although my friend couldn't access .org websites/other more secure sites on the wifi, while he could on his hotspot. Lots of coffee options, and decent food selection--sandwiches, bagels, muffins, even smoothies. Nice music that wasn't too loud, AC wasn't too strong, and it never got overwhelmingly crowded. Love the vibe and will add this to my rotation of cafes. read more

Black Cat LES - View from corner looking toward the back - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Love the old school living room vibes! I specially came here to kill a couple of hours on my laptop and write. Love the comfy couches and different table books, and the free WiFi. Food: I tried the "Turkey Club" sandwich - no vegetable in site here but still good! (Egg, bacon, turkey) and for drinks I got an iced "Dirty Kitty" - very sweet but very good. read more

Black Cat LES - Iced Dirty Kitty - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Quintessential NYC cafe. Great music, comfortable seating, quiet. A lot of people working on laptops comfortably if that's what you're looking for. Iced matcha is great. read more

The door was a bit hard to find, but once inside, I felt it was a nice, cozy little place with a decent number of tables for reading, studying, working, etc. Friendly staff and good coffee as well. read more

Black Cat LES - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Service was slow and kind of rude. One of the people working was giving another worker a haircut in the food/drink prep area (6/6 at 6pm)-- obviously breaking major health codes!! Will definitely recommend to people to NOT go here. read more

A reallly cute coffee spot with affordable options, evening programming that is amazing and engaging! My qualms rest with the fact they no longer offer lids or carriers for to go coffee - which only make a mess, and also don't update their website at all An extensive food menu is offered on their site that hasn't been served for 'five years' (words from their morning barista) read more

Cozy and cute! I was looking for a cafe where I could print paper because I don't have a printer and I was so glad I found this gem. Printing is made super fast and easy here. They have a kiosk and the instructions provided was very simple. This is a great work/study spot. It's quiet and low key. I think the seller of this place is the coffee! I got the caramel macchiato with macadamia milk and it's delicious! The only time I had the option to have macadamia milk in my coffee was Hawaii, so I'm glad I found a coffee shop in NYC with that choice of milk. read more

Just paid $6 for milk. I ordered a latte and while my coffee came out quick, it wasn't strong at all and barely tasted like coffee An important note would be that you'll need to spend a minimum of $5 to get the WiFi password. read more

Coffee is fine. Pretty average, a little burned, pretty overpriced at over $3.50 for a large cup with almond milk. Service was standard, nothing amazing. What I liked most about Black Cat was the vibe. It's really chill and quirky, and feels like you're hanging out in a friend's living room, what with all the sofas and art. It's so quiet during the day, with some really subtle jazz playing in the background, so I loved it for kicking back and doing some reading. It's mainly taken up by people on their laptops or books, so don't come here for volume. Also, they have a printer - that's how geared towards students they are. Standup comedy every Wednesday and Friday - cute touch! read more

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I've been here for a few comedy nights; this is a chill place to hang out, with great matcha! I love the comfortable "living-room" atmosphere. They also have a great selection of comics on comedy nights--quirky, relatable, and most of all funny as hell. Yeah, I'll give it five stars! read more

Black Cat LES - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I've walked by this place so many times and never walkedddd in. The outside is not inviting at ALL. I never knew this place served breakfast. I wanted to find a place that was open at 8:30am for sit in breakfast. Surprisingly Black Cat came up on yelp so i gave it a try. I was welcomed upon entering. Someone was already inside talking to the lady working. When she wrapped up his order, she helped me. I noticed they have a really small space for prepping food but they still serve food. I asked for an ice coffee and The LES (Guac toast with bacon and eggs). It was okay. The bacon was a little on the uncooked side. The homemade guacamole didnt happen, but i did have slices of Avocado which was still fine. Overall it was tasty. The coffee was also good. I seen alot of people come in for coffee. No one wears mask here btw. Not even the employees. Guest were walking in and making orders with no mask as well. I def wore mines although i am fully vaccinated. I did stay to eat inside. The seating here is all different. Which gives the space a unique feel. I actually liked it alot. Not sure if i will return anytime soon but I'm glad i tried it out. read more

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This is a cozy little cafe in the lower east side and it's perfect for you if you are looking for a lowkey place to do some work. There aren't that many seats though, and the tables are pretty small, so it's not too ideal if you're with a lot of friends or if you need a large set-up. I also wish there were more outlets close to the tables. I got an iced green tea and it was pretty tasty. One cool part about this place is that there is open mic stand up, which was a pleasant surprise. read more

Black Cat LES - Iced Tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

The coziest coffee shop!!! I want this place to stay in business forever because this is what we need. Good prices, loads of drinks, ample seating, good customer service, an events calendar and a bunch of vintage board games to play with your friends. Long live Black Cat LES. read more

Black Cat LES - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Would not go back. Unfriendly barista. Mediocre coffee. And walked in on open mic comedy night. Not funny and quite offensive.

If you are looking for a quiet place to study, this may not be the best spot given it's acoustics and patroons whom are close proximity of you however, if you are looking for a place to catch up with friends or old acquaintances, this may be the spot for you! Overall a good experience. The Nutella coffee was made well to where it wasn't too sweet and had the perfect warmth. Toasted cream cheese bagel was a good complimented to the coffee. read more

A funky, moody cafe in the LES! I came here on a Thursday afternoon around 2pm to grab a quick drink/lunch and do some writing. The wifi is pretty strong here and there's a fairly clean bathroom. I sat in the couches in the back and had a great time. I had their avocado sandwich and a Nutella latte. Both were just ok, but I think this is the kind of place where you come for the ambiance anyway. Come here to get some work done or catch up with friends! read more

I did give black cat another try with their avocado toast. This time the cash register did let me know it's kind of spicy because they add peppers, I said I'm aware it's okay. And this is how they packed it for me to go. This is not worth $10. Pretty disappointed. I'm not going to try food from there again, I'm just going to stick with the drinks. read more

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I walked passed this cute little coffee shop tucked in between boarded up store fronts and thought I'd try their coffee. It was Saturday morning and I was the only one in the shop, which allowed me the opportunity to take in the vibe. There are cozy chairs to enjoy a drink or a comedy show at night. I tried the pumpkin spice coffee and it was good but the flavor was not as rich as i like. Definitely a cool place to stop in for a reasonably priced coffee. read more

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Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you, Black Cat Less is a hidden gem for getting work done. Despite there being a lot of people, the superb food, drinks, and customer service make it a standout spot. Everyone here is friendly, and you might just meet some awesome people while enjoying a perfect work-friendly environment. read more

Recommend getting the drinks hot instead of cold! They're significantly better (especially the matcha ones)! Great place to work and they have nightly events that remind you to take a pause read more

Did not take pictures as it's a fairly darkly lit establishment, and none of my pictures that I did take turned out really well. Came here to get some work done virtually after a great lunch nearby and also catch up with a friend. Got a basic tea, PROS: - great service from ordering to receiving my drink. - staff is knowledgeable about the menu - Turnaround time is very fast - Free Wi-Fi that was reliable enough to work - Not too crowded around the time that we went. CONS: - there are limited outlets, and those are always highly coveted. - Certain spots inside are right by the AC vent, so I would bring a jacket just in case - Some of the furniture is really old, and doesn't make for the best ergonomic positions to work long hours. I would definitely come back though just to catch up with a friend or even just to do a quick game or read a book or even just like a couple of hours to do work (2-3). read more

Very chill atmosphere with plenty of interesting decor to gaze at. Lots of boardgames lining the walls; I hope we bring back playing those in common spaces soon. Got the Dirty Kitty latte which was fantastically mocha-y. Intrigued by the actual menu items; will come back and see how they fare. read more

Black Cat LES - Dirty Kitty latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

out of the way coffee house. feels v local. great place to get a marginal/average beverage and loiter/work. not sure how barista gets tips bc interaction was quick/v transactional (took order at lightening speed and wasn't attentive to hear milk in coffee pls. ok. whatever les barista.). def not worth going out of ur way to check out. read more

Cool for comedy. I didn't realize food was served. They need some better seating accommodations. One chair sucks you in so far you need two friends to get you out. One clean bathroom, but needs more. The light kept going out during the comedian's 2nd set that it was throwing off the comics. Very friendly warm staff and cool despite description above. The comedians there are great, especially Eagle Witt great with improv. read more

Black Cat LES - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Nice place to relax and work. Very comfortable. This might be my new place to spot for long stretches of working.

Can a place be warm and cool at the same time? This is. Oh so cozy and chill. The lights are low but plenty of natural light comes in the large front window. Seating is uber-comfy. It's intimate but big enough to not be cramped. We shared a communal wooden table with a gent and his laptop. The male barista was very sweet and cheerful. I tried desperately to get him to sell me his Black Cat shirt- he knew I was mostly kidding and was a good sport about it. They sell their own branded coffee to take home as well as baseball caps with the logo but sadly not the shirts. He even called the boss for me. I besought him to urge the owner to order a stock of the logo shirt and put 'em up for sale as they are adorable. Service is slow but friendly. This is not a FAST casual place. Come here to chill and be patient. It's a perfect place for hanging out and talking, or playing one of the classic board games or reading one of the available books. Cold brew was good, nothing special. Food was worth the wait! Guacamole Toast, one with egg, one with smoked salmon. Wicked spicy guacamole. Lovely thick sourdough bread. Wine is available and you get a big pour for 7 bucks and it's pretty darn good wine, too. They have a loyalty point program too and happy to say I earned two points today. I'd return next time we're down here in my favorite part of town. read more

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Right on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, this is a cozy, comfortable place that has a bohemian vibe to it. Mismatched chairs and couches to lounge on, random tables and an overall welcoming atmosphere. The place offers coffee, tea, snacks, muffins, cookies etc. It does draw the local crowd as they have open Mic where either a stand up routine or a poetry, singing is being performed. The staff itself is knowledgeable and feels like they invite their friends to the open mic. Good place to chill out if you are in that area. read more