Excellent cafe!!!! I ordered chai latte. It's yummy!!! read more

Perk Coffee - Hot Chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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First thing I noticed was how bright it was inside. Many of the coffee shops I visit are a little darker inside and people on computers or reading. Perk Kafe is not that atmosphere at all, and it's not a bad thing. There's a ton of sunshine through the windows and a large display window with baked goods. With the exception of a few people, most of the guests were engaged in conversation so much more rowdy than a coffee shop I'd study in. The employees have much more pep than your typical very calm demeanor, which is a nice change. The coffee is all stumptown, but with imported beans that I've never seen before. Also have donuts from Dough, which I am all about. I'd probably never come here to study, but I would for a good cup of coffee and conversation. read more

I love cute cafes as much as the next person, even more now that my building has decided to start hammering and drilling at the lovely hour of 8 each day. Perk Kafe opens its doors at 7 am (!!), but even on an early Wednesday morning, almost all of the tables were already taken. There's one long communal table to your left when you walk in, two smaller tables to your right, and some stools running along the windows, so not as much space as I had originally thought based on the pictures, but if you come on the early side and you don't mind sitting next to and across from strangers, there's usually a seat. Perk Kafe boasts the best cold brew but I was feeling boring, so opted for a decaffeinated berry hibiscus tea instead. The coffee menu isn't too extensive and I didn't see any food options other than the standard baked goods, but I'd love to come back and try those pillowy Dough donuts that were the size of my hand. The guy working the cashier was very nice and warmly greeted everyone who walked in, not just the regulars. This is a dependable neighborhood spot to grab some joe and get some work done or read a book (not sure about chatting here with friends, everyone looked serious about maintaining the quiet), I'd definitely come back. NEXT TIME: the donuts, the rice crispy treats hanging out by the side read more

I used to be a big fan of Perk and frequented it often as it's super close to the hospital I work. However, over the past several months the quality of the drinks has really gone down. I've gotten the regular lattes, matcha lattes, and chai lattes and every one of them tastes almost watered down..like too much milk and not enough espresso, matcha, chai flavor. Also a few employees don't seem to care about their job. To name an example, we ordered an iced matcha latte, and the barista accidentally made it hot and proceeded to pour the hot latte over ice to correct the mistake..who does that?! It's been disappointing to the point where I feel like taking my business elsewhere. It's not all bad though...I do still love the pastries(especially the ham & cheese croissant and danishes) and the place itself is cute and a nice place to study/work. I hope they fix the other issues since I loved Perk and feel like they could do better. read more

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Nice clean coffee shop. Great location. Delicious Latte. Huge Donuts. Super nice barista. Good amount of seating mid-day. read more

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Fine range of pastries, most of them not too sweet. This is uptown version of this operation, unfortunately on a seedy block that needs more police presence. But convenient to the outset of the Q train! read more

Hours should be updated. They close at 5 since Covid. If you go in at 4:30, no espresso. They turn off the machines.

I love this lil' cafe. Always great coffee and great atmosphere. Love introducing it to friends in the neighborhood. Anyway, this is also a missed connection to the barista who was wearing a Nationals hat, a tshirt for the movie Drive, and also from my home state, how about instead of you serving me an iced coffee, we get coffee together in the new year? read more

This my favorite coffee place in all NYC. I just love their coffee and their pastries! They always welcome u with a smile and its warm and nice to just sit there and watch people walk on the 2nd avenue from thieves big windows. They have a free wifi and a restrooms which is not so common in most if the coffeeshops in nyc. Try the latte or the chai latte , also all their pastries are fresh and unique and taste so good, love it read more

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A new Perk Kafe in the Upper East Side! Great coffee, I love the Honey Almond Latte they make. Besides the usual espresso drinks, they also have a strong matcha latte and some special tea lattes (ask the barista for which ones they have). There's a display with a variety of croissants, cookies and Dough doughnuts as well. I like coming here to get some reading done. It's usually not crowded at all and relatively quiet inside the cafe. But there is some construction going on outside. I also see a lot of people coming with their laptops. Free wifi, customer bathroom, comfortable seating, sometimes I forget exactly how long I stay at the cafe. I definitely recommend anyone who needs a good study spot to come here, even though it is a bit out of the way. They also take CUPS! Use 18RS4 for $10 off your first plan! read more

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First time here. Based on my assessment 1. Blk coffee was somewhat of sour bitter flavor. 2. I went for an americano/aulait mix instead. It was good but didn't leave me wanting for more. Things I would work on. 1. Use a barista blend of almond milk instead of the regular old silk almond milk. 2. Coffee cups could be upgraded to a more personalized cup with company logo. Using 2 generic coffee cups because you don't have sleeves downgrades the quality of the brand. 3. Including more dairy free treats would be an added bonus. read more

Good choice over Starbucks. Cold brew is perfect. Saw some bad reviews over decor but I think it's great! Signs outside are always catchy. Staff is nice! Good place to get coffee if you live or work in the area. Probably wouldn't go out my way to come. read more

Perk Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Perk Kafe has quickly become my favorite coffee shop in the city! The baristas are friendly and make a killer latte. Consistent always. We make sure we have time to stop by Perk every morning on the way to the train. Thank you for making our mornings so great! read more

Great Cold Brew! Great Service! Gotta love a coffee shop with Simple Syrup! Not a ton of seating so come prepared to grab and go, unless you luck up and find a spot. Super cute, super hipster chic, loved the signage and the baristas are super helpful! read more

Perk Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I Enjoyed The Atmosphere Of This Place. I Ordered A Medium Cold Brew Coffee. The Gentleman That Helped Me Was Welcoming And Very Nice. One Thing About This Place Is The Coffee Is Expensive. Very Good Though!!! I Would Go Back Again In I Am In Town. read more

I was in the area because I had to attend orientation for my new gig and saw this cute, hipster-like cafe as I walked by. I was totally mislead by their exterior. Hence, my experience below. As soon as I walked in, I waited on the line and observed what they had available. They didn't serve bagels or created sandwiches; they had only croissants, huge donuts and sweet buns. I was next on the line and very excited; I was in a good mood. I guess my excitement was a turn-off. I was met with such a nasty attitude from the barista. He was like "what do you want?" in such a tense manner, I was ready to pull the stick out of his behind. I requested a croissant and a decaf espresso and placed my Fiji water on the counter. The other barista was like "well, how do you want it?" in such a stank voice. My response was firm but full of attitude, "I will take just take a shot of it". My smile was totally gone by the time I paid. I waited for the other male barista to finish making the espresso, got my stuff and walked out in a hurry. You would've thought the cafe was filled with a happy aura because of the cool music and the edible-looking pastries but nah. I wasn't impressed with the customer service. They were so rude. Even the shot of the espresso tasted like unpleasant 'ish. The croissant was actually okay. But I will never come here again. read more

Adorable cafe. Exposed brick wall. Cost atmosphere. Interesting artwork. Well made latte. Organic and vegan snack options available. read more

As one approaches East Harlem from the Upper East side you quickly enter a strange limbo zone devoid of any decent cafes. But then, amidst the barren streets void of any quality coffee, sits Perk Cafe. Right across the from Q train entrance on 96th st, with plenty of natural sunlight, communal and individual tables, Perk is a great spot to grab a cup or sit down and do some work. The staff has been nothing but friendly, the coffee is delicious, and you should definitely try some of their baked goods. I would recommend their hibiscus donut. Donuts....mmmmmm. read more

I live across the street and stumbled into Perk when I was looking for a coffee shop to get some work done. I was pleasantly surprised by how much open seating there was when I walked in. They have a communal table that seats about 6 people, a couple of two-seat tables, and some seats at the bar (perfect for people watching). Once I found out they brewed stumptown, had wifi, and multiple outlets, I was sold on Perk! The baristas are always incredibly friendly and in a good mood, which makes this place that much more appealing. I haven't come here enough to be on a first-name basis yet, but at this rate, I'm likely trending towards that, hah. When you walk up to the counter to order, you'll look down to see a good set of pastries and donuts available. I haven't tried any yet, but they definitely look amazing (donuts from doughnut plant!) They also have a fridge stocked with various drinks. I stick to my basic iced latte each time and have not been disappointed. The coffee is pretty good (stumptown!!!) They have stamp cards, which is a HUGE thing for me (maybe it's the Asian in me..??) The price point matches the "higher end" coffee shops in the city, but I've likely grown desensitized to this and have no issue paying 4/5 bucks for a good cup of coffee. Weekends can get a bit crowded and it may get hard to snag a seat. Weekdays are a bit better for obvious reasons, but overall, I've actually never had an issue finding a seat. I will forewarn anyone trying to get work done: if it's relatively crowded, I've found the wifi to be kind of spotty, but the connection isn't bad enough to stop me from coming to get work done. When it's a little less crowded, the wifi is great! All in all, I'd 100% recommend this coffee shop if you're in the area, need a good cup of coffee and/or need to get some work done!! read more

Small place in a cheaper part of the neighborhood, but tea was like $6, so I'd say a bit above its price range for the area and the place itself. It's small and cute, but didn't seem worth the higher price tags read more

I admit i actually tried Perk after i read Marianne W's beautiful review. Lol. One fall morning i had to go to 86th and Lex. Then my mind started saying "hey let's go to Perk!". So i got off at the last stop of Q and went inside. I was mesmerized with the pastry selection but thinking it was still early so i settled on cappucino. Nicely brewed and tasted just right. I spent my morning hour sipping a good cuppa joe while looking at random New Yorkers out and about with their business from the window. read more

Perk Coffee - Cappucino is spot on! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I can not say enough wonderful things about this place. The almond latte is the best!!! Everyone that works there is polite, kind and pleasant. Excellent chill vibe. read more

Perk Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I am not a big cafe fan. I was originally looking for a place to do some work on my notebook and enjoy a nice atmosphere. This place was perfect! Really nice and bright cafe with free Wi-Fi. There are a few window seats but the entire place is really bright. It was a Sunday evening and it wasn't packed as other places I have seen on my way here. I enjoyed a cold brew matcha and a chocolate doughnut for 8$. read more

Perk Coffee - Chocolate doughnut and cold brew matcha - 8$ - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I really like the staff here, they are all super nice and keep the place open until the last possible moment for those of us who get carried away working on our laptop for hours at a time :) I'm a regular here at this point because it is the closest coffee shop to my apartment and I work from home most days. I really like their coffee and espresso. Their baked treats are of exceptional quality and super tempting- I usually cave and order one. I also like the music selection most days. Several of the employees are musicians so they know whats up. read more

Steps away from the Q or bus, nice little coffee shop. It was around 11am, so easy to find a seat. Like everyone said, not too many pastries left but had a satisfactory choice for me. Coffee was really good, lots of dairy free choices. Very sweet and mellow guy working, nice music, free WiFi, clean bathroom- what else do you need? read more

I love this place! They have the best matcha latte I have ever had. I've tried other places and they do not compare.

Nice service/place/music. That goes to the three stars. My wish to better the coffee experience itself. Too strong too acidic for me. I always drink mine black and strong but the coffee is just not...my cup of coffee. I was planning of giving two stars but the service was good and the place is clean. Also consider placing seat cushion esp fall-winter. The metal chairs are cold to sit onto. read more

Great spot to get some work done at! One large communal table for 4-6 on the left as you walk in, two smaller tables on the right, and two window spots on both sides. Outlets are available and easily accessible. Sadly, they were sold out of most of their pastries - I came by in the mid afternoon. The thai iced tea was okay - nothing spectacular but I was mostly looking for a place to be productive and do work at. No problems with the wifi either! read more

Coffee was strong and hot, perfect for today's rainy Tuesday. It's not a large space but there are two window booths, one communal table and 2 pair tables. There were outlets around, and wifi with a password given by purchase. There were dough planet donuts - not my favorite but definitely a plus if you're a fan. The GF peanut butter cookies were delicious and there were quite a few options if you are gluten free. I was excited by their stocked fridge section as well - mostly by GT's gingerade kombucha ($5 // about to be expected). Also, there were quite a few yogurt options if you wanted to grab a bite too. When I first arrived around noon, there was a lunch bustle (re noise level not service). By 12:30, it settled down and it was quiet enough to concentrate with the coffee tunes in the background. Bathroom was clean and located in the back corner. No code or anything required! Also they have those key drop off boxes in the back in case you want to leave keys (or love notes) to a beau which is always a nice extra. Highly recommend - need to try more pastries though. read more

you would think that a coffee place named Perk Kafe would give you a sense of more "perkiness." However, this place sadly disappoints its name. First of all, the AC is barely on in the summertime -- i got an iced coffee and tried to stay, but it was so bad that even my knees were sweating. I gave it a second try during this fall, but to no avail, i still left w a sense of feeling cheated. Nothing special about the drinks. NY price for OK drinks. Limited seating- one medium length community table (fits about 6 if willing to squeeze) and two small tables in the corner - fits two each Perk Kafe, i think it's time for a name change- maybe just Kafe read more

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Cute coffee spot right next to the new 2nd ave Q subway stop. I ordered a honey almond latte which was honey, almond milk and espresso. I normally am a French roast, French press type of girl (I like it black) but thought I would try one of Perk's creations to see how I liked it compared to other lattes I have tasted in the past. The honey, almond latte was slightly sweet from the honey and tasted wonderful! They even added an adorable double heart in my foam which was a nice touch. A 12 ounce coffee costs $5 which seems a little steep for a coffee. The coffee is from stumphouse coffee roasters and they also sell bags in the cafe. The cafe is a small coffee shop with a large community table that fits approx 10, two bar seats along the windows and a couple of tables along the wall. They also sell donuts from Dough that looked amazing and have a nice handful of bottled juices and beverages for purchase. read more

This place makes a great cappuccino. The almond chocolate croissants are my favorite. Stay away from the muffins, they're always dry or stale. read more

Ummm I feel no more 'perk'ed than before I got here. I was expecting to be really impressed based on the reviews, but I was completely underwhelmed! I came in first on a Saturday afternoon and got the honey almond latte, the flavor was very nutty...and that's about it. Came in the following Sunday morning and the place was pretty empty. I got the chai latte this time and it was awful! It tasted like frothy, watered down milk with the slightest aftertaste of chai spice. The place is very cute, limited seating and the baristas have been very friendly..I might just try the coffee next time and skip the specialty drinks. I really want to like this place, but don't have a reason to yet! read more

I usually don't drink coffee but this place might change that. Very good cappuccino and espresso. That's what I expect from a cafe with a very short menu. Not about quantity, but quality. Down side- not a lot of open seats on a weekday evening. A lot of people use it as a study spot which is chill but can also be frustrating if you can't find a seat. read more

I live in the neighborhood and I didn't know Perk existed. Now, I do believe they are relatively new but my ignorance is mostly due to the terrible 2nd avenue subway construction. Unfortunately Perk is blocked by an awful blur of orange and yellow hard hats. I've been here twice, once for a regular iced latte (which I was not very impressed by based solely on the quality and taste of their espresso) and the second time I decided on their honey almond latte. "What is it?" I ask the half-interested barista/cashier. "Espresso, honey, and almond milk" he responds and so I go for it because it sounds delicious AND I'm not much of a cow-milk drinker nowadays so almond milk sounds perfect. Once he begins my drink I realize that I failed to ask for it iced. I quickly ask him for an iced version instead. He hesitates to say "OK." I mean, I know it's annoying to switch things up but the cafe was essentially empty, with the exception of two people glued to their laptops, so there wasn't the pressure of a long line. He eventually says "no problem" but after I'm apologetic and ask him if it was ok. The latte was darn good. Better than their lattes with cow milk. The honey gives it a little more sweetness than I'm accustomed to but it was comforting to know that it's a natural sweetener and works REALLY well with the almond milk. I really want to love this cafe because I'm a coffee lover and wanted nothing more than a cool cafe in my neighborhood to get some work done while sipping away. But I don't see this cafe being more than a stop & go place for me. What coffee do they brew? Stumptown. Which makes for good espresso but I'm not a fan of Stumptown "house" drip. read more

I come to this coffee shop every morning, and every time I get great service and great coffee. But it seems as if the quality of both coffee and service seizes to exist once the morning crew is out, or when Julien isn't around. I refuse to get coffee from here in the afternoon bc they half ass my drinks. read more

Perk Coffee - Supposed to be a "cappuccino" - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Pricey but doesn't disappoint. I come here often. I get the espresso and it's rich and tastes high quality to me. The croissants are very good too. read more

Nice quiet spot to get some work done and drink some coffee. The menu is simple and they offer a couple different options. read more

Perk Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Since my one bad experience at Perk I have had many good experiences at the cafe since. Many sweet baristas come and go too and they will make you a great mint matcha with oat milk among other specialty lattes. Sometimes good to give places second chances - especially when it's your local coffee watering hole :) read more

The coffee is good, service is fast and friendly, and there are about 15 seats available for doing some computer work or reading. There is a ton of construction hiding this place so look for the McDonald's on the west side of 2nd ave between 96th and 97th. read more

Perk Coffee - Simple syrup, sugar in the raw, and appropriate milk options. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York