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    Daily Grind

    3.6 (193 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Daily Grind Takeout or Delivery

    Daily Grind Coffee & Tea Photos

    Business Info

    DAILY GRIND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for working
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Daily Grind

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    Stacy M.

    Highly recommended by Airbnb host. Friendly service, amazing variety of cold/hot brews, juice, muffins and breakfast sandwiches to wake up your morning. Also yummy sandwiches if you need a to go lunch!! Bar stool seating. Bustling little cafe!!

    Steak Bomb
    Santaliz G.

    I ordered the steak bomb breakfast sandwich and it honestly was delicious! The food was ready very quickly, and the staff were welcoming. The place is very cute overall. A sandwich order comes with a water or coffee!

    Berry Blast Muffin
    Zakkai P.

    Whether your day is just beginning or, like me, your night is winding down as the morning comes to a close--there's no better time to treat yourself to a solid breakfast or a good cup of coffee. And let me tell you, The Daily Grind in Albany, NY is the spot. Open since 1976--that's 48 years of serving the community--this place is nothing short of legendary. From the moment I stepped into this cozy little café, I was met with a warm, inviting vibe that instantly made me feel at home. The atmosphere? Charming. The service? Phenomenal. I didn't catch her name, but the woman who helped me was absolutely delightful. Bright personality, striking tattoos, and a super cool hair design--she radiated individuality and kindness. A true hidden gem working in one of Albany's best-kept secrets. Let's talk prices--because this place is beyond reasonable. I grabbed a large coffee for just $3. But this wasn't just any coffee. I asked for a recommendation and was blessed with the suggestion of a Lavender Vanilla Latte. It may sound simple, but trust me--it was otherworldly. I've never had anything like it, and now I don't think I'll ever want anything else. Smooth, fragrant, flavorful--and again, just three bucks. As if that wasn't enough, I also ordered the Berry Blast muffin (another steal at $3). Here's the kicker--the barista asked if I wanted it toasted. Toasted. Muffin. Never in my life has a café offered that, and let me just say--it took that muffin from good to extraordinary. The Daily Grind doesn't just serve coffee and pastries--they serve experience, comfort, and character, all without breaking your wallet. I've officially found my new go-to spot. Highly, highly recommend.

    Build Your Own Egg Sandwich
    Mallory B.

    This cute little place is perfect for a quick, delicious and quality breakfast! It's fresh made with REAL ingredients. The bagels are delish and the French toast was awesome. The breakfast plates are filling. Been here a few times and everything always comes out to order. Staff is great too, definitely chipper for a morning grind. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

    Build Your Own Egg Sandwich

    Felt the need to leave a great review. We were visiting Albany for the CrossFit Games and found the Daily Grind on our search for a bagel. We came back the next day for breakfast sandwiches again and had tons of people ask where we got our bagels. They were delicious! The staff is also great, very nice and efficient even when busy. Highly recommend!

    Chorizo Egg Sandwich
    Michael K.

    Do you want a quick tasty breakfast sandwich? Then this is the place to try out! The parking situation is street parking which is not bad. My brotha Dylan was able to find parking within a few seconds. Its not difficult to find the restaurant. You just have to put the address into the GPS and it will lead you to the Cafe. Its the cafe on Lark street. Once you get to the door you have to walk down the stairs and it will lead you to the cafe. You have to walk in and turn around to see the full menu of different sandwiches. The cafe is very cozy and the staff are very friendly. If they get annoyed then it means you are doing something wrong. The service was pretty fast even though they were really busy. We only had to wait a few minutes. Highly recommend coming with company so that time goes by quicker. What I ordered was the Chorizo Egg Sandwich since my brotha Ethan said he got it before which was very tasty. If you are craving a spicy meat sandwich then this is the sandwich to get. It comes with coffee, tea or water which is nice. Dylan and Julie got the steak wrap sandwich which looked very tasty as well. I would recommend this place if you are craving breakfast sandwiches! It is worth the wait and drive.

    California
    Josie L.

    These breakfast sandwiches and drinks were wonderful. I really loved this entire space and the food was delicious and I would definitely return. I'm only scooting it down one peg because it is pretty expensive. I loved my California sandwich but I didn't think it was worth 10$ The steak bomb was basically the same price and it's a lot more filling. I love the sandwiches and drinks but I think I would just like the prices to better reflect what you're getting. I would definitely recommend this place but just make sure you have some extra cash for this space. She's a little pricey

    Lark Street egg sandwich
    Caitlin W.

    Updating my review to reflect the current Daily Grind reality. I still have warm feelings toward this local icon, but post-COVID it really isn't quite the place I fell in love with. The downstairs seating where the old-timers used to gather has all been removed, along with a lot of the things I used to enjoy on the now much more pared-down menu. The cool Daily Grind mugs that you could get refills in seem to no longer be in use -- they definitely have moved to a model that emphasizes takeout vs being a neighborhood gathering place. There's still seating upstairs where they roast the beans, though, which is nice if there's free seats available, and very cozy when it's cold and grey outside. Also, the classic breakfast sandwiches remain among the best in town, making this still a worthy stop for a quick takeout breakfast.

    Salmon, cream cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion and capers on a toasted everything bagel, with a "bucket of ice".
    Paul J.

    A true gem hidden in the bowels of Lark Street, the Daily Grind is one of those places where they probably know every customer's name and what their "usual" is. It's tiny and cramped inside, and pretty dingy, but everyone is friendly and chipper and they served up every order, made to go. I got the salmon bagel and it was dee-licious! Smooth, silky waves of salmon on a schmear of cream cheese, along with lettuce and tomato, with red onions and capers. Every bite was full of flavor. I also got a large iced coffee, and the guy behind the bar called it a "bucket of ice." That's a new term for me, but it was appropriate. Dark and smooth, slightly bitter, just the way I like it. The Daily Grind has no pretense - it's a basic coffee joint with good, wholesome food and plenty of coffee to go. I recommend it to anyone working downtown Albany. Drop in, it's worth it!

    The town's best Reuben...perhaps so
    G-Dawg ..

    They say their "Rubens (sic) are the best in town". While I can't yet attest to that since this was my first in town, I can say it's a darn good sandwich! There were three folks ahead of me ordering food and coffees but the line and the kitchen moved swiftly. Menus are listed on blackboards in various areas and offer a good selection of breakfasts, sandwiches, wraps, soups, and salads. I ordered a decaf, sugar-free latte and the Reuben. Of course, I had to try the town's best! The coffee is great so, yes, friends don't let friends drink Starbucks ;) I took my sandwich home which is less than a five-minute walk. It was still steaming hot! Piled high with corned beef, sweet sauerkraut, a spicy Russian dressing, and stringy Swiss cheese, I can see why they tout themselves as the best. The sandwich came with a bag of chips. Since they didn't ask, I figured it would be a bag of plain chips but instead, it was Sour Cream & Onion. I happen to really like that flavor so I was happy to see them in my bag. My only suggestion to the restaurant is to use parchment paper instead of wax to wrap your cheesy sandwiches as the wax paper too easily falls apart and sticks to the gooey, stringy, delicious cheese. I look forward to many coffees from the Daily Grind as well as trying other items on their menu...next up: The Corned Beef Hash breakfast! I'm coming for ya!

    Steak Bomb on everything bagel...pepperjack cheese and habanero sauce (not as hot as I thought it would be...it's perfect!)
    Erin H.

    Love coming by in the morning for a quick espresso drink...or the random Saturday brunch...today was a steak bomb...

    Really nice Belgian waffle meal
    Courtney N.

    I was pretty disappointed with downtown Albany. There seems to be one section on Lark Street with any interesting restaurants and shops and that's where we found the Daily Grind. Staff was very nice. The menu is huge and some of the breakfast items sounded amazing. We entered and were the only customers. We went with the coffee of the day (mudslide - just okay) and a Belgian waffle dish. While we were waiting it really filled up. There were at least 12 people by the time we left which was very concerning. The waffle took quite awhile and I was thinking of leaving without receiving it since we were all crowded together and definitely not enforcing social distancing guidelines. We finally got the waffle. It was very good. Tons of fruit salad, three waffle pieces and just very tasty. I probably would not return during these times as I didn't feel very safe waiting for the food.

    Banger. Two eggs, two sausage, and cheddar cheese.  Yuummm!

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    LEE C.

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    2 months ago

    The ambiance was great. Very calm place to enjoy a good breakfast, everyone there was very friendly too.

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    1 year ago

    Best espresso you can get delivered in Albany I'd say. One of the last old spots for coffee. Respect

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    2 years ago

    Just ate the best breakfast sandwich of my life (the California) and drank an amazing lavender latte 10/10

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Daily Grind

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    Herbie's Burgers - Fries

    Herbie's Burgers

    3.9(11 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Place is interesting & possibly a local chain but they do good & opted for "The Herbie" which is…read moretwo patties smashed with onions & ketchup & fries side. Service was swift/efficient/notify when it's time.

    While attending the Train Extravaganza at Empire State Plaza we took a break for lunch at Herbie's…read moreBurgers. First of all, let me tell you, this little food court in the Empire State Arterial Mall is cool as all get out!. I had no idea there was anything inside this structure other than the parking garage because most of the time I am hanging on the roof which is the ground level of Empire State Plaza with reflecting pools and this time of year, an ice skating rink. Now back to Herbie's, nearly every on the menu has a vegan counterpart. The burger patties are homemade and really good, no processed Impossible burgers here! The shake was really good, the birthday cake flavor was a special this month and although they ran out of rainbow sprinkles the flavor was still delicious. I love that hint of tahini! The cashier was very apologetic about not having sprinkles but it was totally cool. You can't go wrong with shoestring fries and the large size is enough to share. If you have never been, check it out. This location also offer new chicken bites and has a coffee bar.

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    Herbie's Burgers - Herbie's at Empire State Plaza

    Herbie's at Empire State Plaza

    Herbie's Burgers - Vegan double and a birthday shake for me with fries and a traditional double and coffee for my friend

    Vegan double and a birthday shake for me with fries and a traditional double and coffee for my friend

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    McDonalds

    McDonalds

    2.0(7 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $

    The nugs were horrible under cooked!!!!! and the service…read moretalked back to me!!!!!!! to noisy in there !!!!!!!! in a summary HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    This is your typical McDonalds. It mainly serves state employees and visitors to the plaza. At…read moretimes it can get super busy (like, 20-40 people in line busy) and at other times there is no one at all in the lobby. The cafeteria adjoining it is used for all restaurants in the concourse, and it is a decent place to eat even though it is really dark (lighting wise, and color choice wise). They have your usual suspects that are found at most McDonalds. However, my favorite item (the McChicken sandwich) is not available. Not even at a marked-up price. They just don't offer that size chicken patty at this location. If they did, it would likely sell too fast to keep up with demand. As a result, my diet has gone a lot better than expected. You can order on your smartphone via an app., but since I have a flip phone I can't. That's okay with me, as I pay them to take my order. When they pay me to take my order, I will consider using the app. It opens early (6:30) and closes at 6PM. Those hours are for all seven days of the week, though I am not sure if they are accurate. I have seen them open on weekends during special events at the plaza, but never came here during a normal, non-event weekend. Fun fact: If you go to the McDonalds website and look up this location, it lists drive through hours. If you try that, the Police Department located next door would arrest you on the spot.

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    McDonalds
    McDonalds - Btw this is me

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    Cornerstone at the Plaza

    Cornerstone at the Plaza

    3.7(3 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I had a work conference here and had the pleasure of having both a buffet style breakfast and a…read morebuffet style lunch. Breakfast was basic, but good. Eggs, potatoes, bacon, bagels. A few other pickings, but I don't remember. Potatoes were seasoned well and bacon was super crispy, just the way I like it! Lunch was different kinds deli sandwiches. Italian, tuna, and turkey. Chicken noodle soup, salad, chips and cookies. I had the turkey sandwich. It was tasty, until I had a bite of what I suppose was raspberry spread/jam? I felt it was out of place and not necessary. The chicken noodle soup was delish! Hearty and big pieces of chicken. Definitely made my insides warm on the cold day that Albany had yesterday. Service was great. Waitress made sure to clear out table of plates and utensils as soon as we had finished our meal. My only complaint that I have is that the bathrooms are all the way downstairs. So technically it's not fully part of the restaurant space as a whole.

    I came here with coworkers while celebrating a special Office occasion. It was an interesting…read moreexperience that I might be willing to try again. First off, we made reservations and had our own table but I don't think they were entirely necessary as we saw lots of people come and go without them. Dress is very relaxes, with some people coming from work for lunch in suits and others in torn up jeans and t-shirts. Getting here was odd. It is off of a hallway off of the concourse, and though there is a sign it isn't obvious and I was glad I came with friends who knew the way. Upon entering the elevator, there were two options: restaurant (floor 2) and bathrooms (floor 1). Yup, they are on separate floors. The elevator dumps you in the very middle of the restaurant which I considered awkward. Leaving to use the restroom involves waiting in the middle again for the elevator, and then returning via the same manner. The buffets were wooden boards that were set up on saw horses in the middle of the room with power cords to the heaters and heat lamps. It seemed a bit amateurish but I suppose since they only do the buffet once a week they have to keep it easy to set up and break down. Every Thursday they do an Italian buffet lunch (and I don't think they do any other regular meal service) which apparently has various items that rotate. Today it was: Appetizers: Caesar Salad; Chopped Garden Salad; Grilled Vegetable Salad; Frittata with Four Cheeses; Eggplant & Tomato Compote; Crusty Bread Main dishes: Penne Primavera with Oil and Garlic; Rigatoni Bolognese; Chicken Parmesan; Porchetta; Grilled Vegetable Medley Desserts: Assorted Italian Desserts & Pastries (They had about 6 different dessert options.) The food on average decent. It is all served buffet style so dishes may get dried, sauces will congeal, and vegetables will weep water. I thought the chicken parm. was decent, I enjoyed the rigatoni Bolognese, and considered the frittata a standout dish. I took what I thought was a cream puff for dessert but it was filled with chocolate chip cannoli filling instead (I think). The staff were pleasant and frequently refilled the buffet. However, they kept taking our plates but wanted us to keep our dirty silverware which we had to put on the table cloth. By the end of the meal service, that cloth must look pretty bad. Prices were fair, I think $13 a person. However, it just felt really awkward at times. It felt like a restaurant was being crammed into a space that didn't really work (and at one time this was a really nice restaurant so I have been told). While it has the luxury of boasting the only buffet at the Plaza, I don't think I would come back unless there was another special Office function.

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    Cornerstone at the Plaza
    Cornerstone at the Plaza
    Cornerstone at the Plaza

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    Au Bon Pain - Pecan croissant and coffee

    Au Bon Pain

    2.7(7 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $

    I have eaten from here on occasion and it is pretty good. They mostly do sandwiches and salads, and…read morethe sandwiches I have ordered were freshly made and not skimpy on the fillings. Prices are equivalent to the other areas around the ESP- not cheap, but not expensive. My favorite things that they have are their baked goods (cookies, brownies, croissants, etc.) I don't have them often, but now and again something sweet isn't a bad thing. There are many places in the ESP that have coffee, including DD, here and McDonalds. I don't drink coffee so I can't say which is best. They close mid-afternoon, and the two other areas do the same, so if you get a hankering towards the end of the day you might be out of luck.

    Use to be my favorite place to stop in NYC for some treats to bring home but been going now near…read morehome and I'm loving it. A great place to stop in for lunch. Many sandwiches, soups and treats to pick from. My favorite things are the jalapeno bagels and the chipotle turkey and avocado. Oh my is it so good. Don't get me wrong the other stuff is just as delicious too but we all have our favorites. Occasionally they will run out of the roasted tomatoes used for the chipotle turkey and avocado and am very disappointed to get regular tomatoes on my sandwich, and it's never a good surprise when I get back to work to eat lunch. The prices are on the higher side but once in a while it's a good splurge.

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    Au Bon Pain - Chipotle turkey with avocado

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    Chipotle turkey with avocado

    Daily Grind - coffee - Updated May 2026

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