Visited Sawada on a rainy weekend afternoon and the place was absolutely packed. The coffee counter itself is just a small wall tucked inside a restaurant, and both sides were buzzing with people, but the line moved quickly and I got my drink pretty fast. I ordered the famous Black Camo Latte after hearing so many good things about both that and the Military Latte, and it definitely lived up to the hype. As someone who's a longtime tea enthusiast but relatively new to espresso drinks, I really loved the balance of flavors. It wasn't overly sweet, and the espresso was smooth without that harsh, bitter aftertaste that heavily roasted coffee sometimes has. The space itself has such a cool vibe, its dark, moody, and a little edgy in the best way. The skateboard decor and illustrated coffee holders were such fun details that added to the atmosphere. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to so I can try more of their drinks. read more

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Spacious, expert coffee shop located inside Au Cheval. Plenty of comfortable seating and most importantly, delicious and unique Japanese-esque drink offerings. One of the few places that makes matcha and hojicha beverages well -- no floating powder here! Friendly and efficient staff, too. Not much in the way of snacks, though; just a few large-format cookies, a savory scone, and blueberry muffins -- wish they had more (pro-tip: head over to Grandaisy Bakery down the street for their citrus almond torta to pair with your coffee). If you have time, have the drink to stay, served in heavy ceramic mugs. Clean bathrooms are available to freshen up downstairs. And don't sleep on the expensive but delicious cold-brew jasmine tea! read more

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Finally checked off Sawada off my coffee shop lists! It was a busy afternoon with most guests waiting for a table for Au Cheval as the reviews mentioned they share a space with the restaurant with 3 tables for 2 people and 3 counter tops. I was able to snag a table and asked the kind barista for recs for my first time and honestly forgot the name of what I ordered read more

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This coffee shop is inside of the Au cheval restaurant right as you walk in you will see it. They have a few seating spots to enjoy your coffee at. You cannot bring your coffee and sit in the restaurant area though ( or at least I din't think you can) . I tried one of their specialty coffees called the black camo latte which has green tea in it ( Matcha). I am not a green tea lover but I figured I would try it out and It definitely was not for me! I told the barista and asked if I could get something else instead and I would pay for it. They were so sweet and gave it to me on the house. I got a regular Iced latte. Much better in my opinion. I would not go out of my way to come back but I do want to maybe try another one of their non green tea speciality drinks. read more

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My momma once taught me to never go into a dark alley when in NYC. I broke all the rules & did just that to find Sawada. And the risk was worth it. Darkness is the theme. The alley is dark, the entry to the coffee shop is dark, & the lighting inside is dark. The worker kindly guided me toward trying a Latte Tokyo Style. That means some sort of molasses, brown sugar has been added. What I received was a smooth, mellow delicious latte. There was no sugar overload, just a comforting, extra soothing, relaxing latte. Please don't tell my momma, but I am coming back. read more

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Sawada coffee is one of my most favorite coffee places in Manhattan. Definitely get the Tokyo style. They're hidden inside an alley near Soho area and can be hard to locate. Very cozy vibe inside with adjacent restaurant. Service was fantastic. Very limited seating for cafe - maybe in total only 10 spots. read more

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A little hip and trendy hidden gem! This spot is located inside Au Chavel. It can get busy early in the morning because of all the coffee runs so it does make things slow and feels packed. They do have a selection of sweet treats, such as things like a marcha chocolate sesame cookie. read more

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

Amazing scenery down alley to find, into a very clean and elegant Restaurant. Try the military latte very very good. Service was great and wait time wasn't long. read more

Sawada Coffee - Military Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Highly recommend this cafe! It is near Chinatown, and you walk through a narrow side street where you will see the sign Au Cheval (restaurant), and right under the sign you see a tiny sign for Sawada Coffee. Sawada coffee has a tiny space inside the restaurant (it probably has maybe 3-4 tables). Fortunately, we were able to grab a 2 seater as soon as a customer left. The service here was so friendly and helpful despite being busy and packed. We ordered Military Latte (matcha vanilla espresso), and Black Camo Latte ( Hojicha vanilla espresso). Both drinks showcased all these flavours and we enjoyed the drinks a lot. Really appreciated that it was not sweet, but had subtle sweetness. Would love to come back again! read more

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Sawada is one of the easiest five star reviews I've written about a cafe! This spot is tucked away next to Au Cheval, and currently only open Wednesday through Sunday. They serve some "usual" espresso drinks, as well as matcha and hojicha lattes. I've tried the hojicha (Military Latte, in Sawada speak) and it was phenomenal. You can also order any drink "Tokyo style" for a unique twist on an already-delicious drink. The space is warm and inviting, though there isn't a lot of seating, and there can be a lot of foot traffic in the shared entrance with Au Cheval. Well worth a visit for a delicious beverage, I'd recommend taking one to go! read more

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I first discovered Sawada in Chicago and fell in love with the military latte, part matcha and part espresso. The latte art is gorgeous. I continue with the love affair by visiting Streamers in Tokyo on every visit, which is the original chain. When I was in NY, I had to visit the NY store. The military latte is still a favorite. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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Such unique offerings! An absolute gem of a cafe tucked away in Chinatown. I ordered their iced military latte, which is a hojicha matcha mixed with vanilla and espresso (I got it without the cocoa powder option). I was between this and the Tokyo style latte. The barista was so sweet, after explaining the entire flavor profiles they offered me a sample of the hojicha so that I could make my choice with confidence. They also offered me a complimentary cookie, I chose the sesame matcha cookie. The cookie was really good, had a great texture, the matcha wasn't overwhelming at all, and the sesame was perfectly sweet, tasted like chocolate pretty much. The latte was also really good, the hojicha offered a nice subtly nutty flavor without drowning out the espresso coffee flavor. I'll definitely be back to try their other lattes in the future read more

Sawada Coffee - Military Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Was in town and saw this cafe while I was looking for a coffee place on Yelp and decided to give it a go. The cafe is right next to a restaurant, sharing the same entrance and common space. So, if you ever walk in and saw a huge crowd, most likely they are there for the restaurant. The cafe has some interesting drinks options, including latte with Hojicha! Quite interesting as you get the coffee bitter/tartness from espresso, smokiness from hojicha and creaminess from the milk. Service was fairly quite as well. Interior is quite dark-ish and loud as it's right next to a restaurant in an open space read more

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

This tiny coffee shop is hidden inside Au Cheval. Though I recently had a bad experience at the restaurant, the drinks from this place impressed. I especially liked their signature Black Camo Latte. I will definitely be back to try some other beverages. read more

Sawada Coffee - Black Camo Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I came here with the intention of trying the Black Camo Latte, since I've heard such good things about it -- and it was very good. The flavor was a blend of nutty and bitter and sweet, and it combines into a really good drink, eminently drinkable. I was lucky enough to have arrived before a long line formed, so I was able to hang out for a bit at the coffee bar. read more

Nice cozy coffee shop tucked away inside a steakhouse. Highly recommend trying their match and pastries! Service was great and we were well taken care of, even during busy hours. read more

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Come, seek, and find! Wonderfully crafted coffee with a cool industrial vibe down a sketch street. Friendly baristas. Worth it! read more

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

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Ordered the Tokyo style latte. Surprisingly good and worth the hype. Not too bitter, but also not too sweet. Very smooth and rich. Would love to go back to try their other menu items. read more

Sawada Coffee - Tokyo style latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Phenomenal coffee. Once you have Japanese ingenuity poured what else need to be said Verdict - just go and njoy the coffee read more

Sawada Coffee - High five mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Great vibe, solid skilled staff Black Camo Latte and Matcha Latte were on point One of those places where substance holds up to the style :) read more

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

Sawada was my favorite stop during this last trip to NY. The hubby and I had added it to our list a few trips back but never got around to it. Well we had nothing but time to kill any went during the work week, which was perfect because it was quiet and we got the seat of our choice. The barista was super friendly and working on his latte art, so offered us a couple of free drinks after we finished ours. Had we not been so full, we would've taken him up on it. I ordered an iced chai which was superb. It was creamy but very spice forward and had all the right notes. The hubby ordered an iced vanilla latte with almond milk. His was perfectly balance, coffee forward with a subtle sweetness from the vanilla. There's a bar that seats 4 and a few tables that seat 2. It's attached to a restaurant that I'd love to go back to and try. read more

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Ordered the drinks with matcha and coffee. Surprisingly it was pretty good. I didn't realize it was so close to me and it's in the au cheval restaurant. read more

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Ok, in truth I haven't been here since I moved out of the city. I'm a coffee fanatic and I travel extensively so I visit a lot of coffee shops and this one is still in my top 3. Go in, have a cortado and drink it there. Enjoy!! read more

Hidden gem! Highly recommend. Good coffee and huge blueberry muffins. Staff is friendly and engaging.

Absolutely delicious coffee shop tucked away in Cortland alley. Don't miss out. It's a great place to get some caffeine and work done at the same time. read more

(Overall: D) - Sawada Coffee offers a Japanese take on coffee, where I tried the Hojicha Vanilla Latte. While I was quite excited about the flavor profile and the distinctive earthiness of the drink, I was rather disappointed with how my drink was served. The latte art looked beautiful online, but not only did I not get that, the cup overfilled and spilled on the side, and the barista was rather absent-minded to notice this. While I am hopeful that this was an experience that was at least a standard deviation below the mean and a return visit would be better, this experience definitely left a negative first impression from wanting to do that. Food: +1 Presentation: -2 Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: -1 Menu: +1 Overall: -1 D Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats read more

Sawada Coffee - Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Very dark roasted cortado that looked/tasted like your local cup of Starbucks. Hojicha latte tasted fine though. read more

Sawada Coffee - Cortado & Black Camo Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

This cafe was so so nice. I was extremely surprised of how pretty and cozy it was inside. All the staff was amazing and the coffee looked beautiful and delicious. Juan Camilo helped us with some recommendations and we absolutely loved it and would definitely come back. read more

Sawada Coffee - Signature Military Latte and Black Camo Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Slightly hidden away spot in a nice dark ambiance kind of location. The sit down area always seems to be chaotic and I've only done grab and go. The coffee itself is great read more

I was looking for a non coffee chain in Chinatown and stumbled upon Sawada coffee, which shares a space with Au Cheval. Pricey for what it was but effective in quality and taste. Coffee was strong just the way I like it. read more

Beautiful and swanky coffee shop! I met a friend here to catch up and was glad that we found a table beside the coffee bar as there were just a few 2 person tables available. I'm not sure on the seating options for the actual restaurant. The ambiance was unusual for a coffee shop as it's located inside Au Cheval, but that's a good thing! The Military Latte was good but next time I think I wouldn't prefer to mix coffee and matcha (personal preference). The matcha pistachio cookie was the perfect accompaniment to the drink. Would definitely return if in the area and prefer to grab a table to enjoy my drink. read more

Sawada Coffee - Military Latte and Matcha White Chocolate Pistachio Matcha Cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

if you're a matcha drinker, this place is a must try. my friend and I got the military latte and black camo latte & they were both amazing!! The black camo latte was definitely a stronger tasting matcha flavor, but I personally loved the military latte which was basically a dirty matcha. & they have non dairy milk options for an additional charge It's located right inside Au Chaval but to the right when you enter & there's a few tables and some high top seating as well. The servers were very nice!! Highly recommend!! read more

Sawada Coffee - Military Latte & Black Camo Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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This little hidden gem is such a cool spot! I love the design and décor--it's stylish but still really cozy, the kind of place you instantly feel comfortable in. The staff are always so friendly and welcoming, which makes the vibe even better. It's the perfect spot to hang out with friends, get some work done, or just enjoy a quiet drink. Definitely one of those places you'll want to keep coming back to. read more

Black camo coffee was a little too on the bitter side for more of a dessert coffee enjoyer like me, but you could definitely taste the toastiness of the coffee in a pleasant way. On the weekend we came by there was a long line of customers and only two staff members who were putting their everything into running the machine. Because of that, the coffee took quite a while to come out, but the quality was not sacrificed--their latte art is divine! The manager here should consider hiring more staff to accommodate for the bustling nature of weekend mornings! The cookie here was outstanding--I believe it was some sort of berry oatmeal variety. It was humongous, filling, not to sweet, and addicting to munch on while we waited for our caffeine. There is some counter stools on either side of the bar but not much as they share the space with Au Cheval. If you're considering eating at it's neighbor, it might be a good idea for you to just put your name down at the restaurant and have your coffee with your food (they offer it as an option on the menu). Overall if I wanted a more authentic, simple, yet bold coffee I would return if in the area. read more

Coffee was so god dam delicious, 20/10 ambiance, fast service, & awesome baristas. Couldn't recommend more read more

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

Super chill with vibes. Inside NYC Chinatown's Au Cheval. Fresh brew with nice staff. read more

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Just based on the iced oat milk latte I had there: 10/10. The oat milk they use is so smooth! There was no line on a Sunday afternoon (around 12). Not too many places to sit but there are a couple of tables. The entrance is kind of confusing bc they are in the same space as au cheval. Overall great coffee and the pastries looked amazing too! read more

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

My favorite Japanese cafe in the states. Ambience is amazing - located inside one of my favorite burger joints in city, . This place has its own section where you can enjoy your coffee. Latte art is second to none, and the flavor is just as amazing as the Chicago location in west loop. Always will make a stop fr the amazing service here at sawada. read more

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Lives up to everything you have read. Want to gatekeep, but would rather them thrive! Special approach and style. read more

Hidden Coffee, Matcha, and Pastry spot in Chinatown!! The staff here are super knowledgeable and friendly about their coffee and do great latte art! I always forget about this place because it's soo hidden. But I love their coffee and chocolate chip cookie!!! read more

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