This is a cool cafe with a warm vibe. They have unique seating options like wooden benches and reclaimed theatre seats, which is pretty cool. They make the standard espresso drinks and have a variety of baked goods and made-to-order bagels available for sale. I only ordered a latte since I'd just had lunch. I appreciated that it was carefully and quickly prepared, but the baristas weren't all that friendly. I didn't stay for long because the bathroom seemed to be perpetually occupied, however I can definitely see myself hanging out here for a while with a friend or a date. They are cash only, but the grocery store next door has an ATM inside in case you are out. read more

Beautifully drawn leaf On top of my macchiato... I've only taken a sip. But I just hold it like a hot treasure In this cold Polar Vortex winter weather. A whiff of aroma from french presses Filling the spacious room... To wake up my senses. Music echoes brick walls and I want to sing, My heart warming up under Swallow's wings. ... (Oh, and they have free wi-fi too) read more

Swallow Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Cute, quiet, unpretentious place to do work or study at in Bushwick near the L train. Enjoyed my Chai latte. Although the place is cash only, there is an ATM located inside. Enjoyed my visit and would come back if I'm back in the neighborhood. read more

This is hipster heaven. I ended up here because I was at the Vegan Shop-up at the Pine Box Rock Shop around the corner. I needed coffee to go with the very excellent sticky bun I got there; but this place doesn't have decaf, so I asked for a soy chai latte. I didn't know they had punch cards, but it's probably just as well since I'm out in the 'Schwick once a month or less; my wallet is getting pretty fat, and unfortunately not with money. The steep industrial metal stairs are par for the course, since it's a former factory district--NOTE: *NOT* ACCESSIBLE--but were difficult to navigate as I left balancing my sticky bun and now my steaming latte--in my *own* cup. The bun took a tumble and landed icing-side down on the sidewalk. A helpful hipster went to pick it up for me and I commanded, "DON'T touch it!" so he left it alone. Guess I should have eaten in. read more

Swallow Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I just wanted to leave this picture... When your neighborhood feels like the chill opening day of an EDM festival at all times, it's scenes like these that really get your heart fluttering. This should keep the stroller set out for another 2 years. read more

Swallow Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Nothing there. Nothing to see, or to eat. Coffee is so small, that it realy is a water down espresso. Will never come again!!!!

Giving this place 5 stars because so far it is one of my favorite places to do my schoolwork at. I come here about 2-3 times a week and I have never had a bad experience with any of the baristas. I usually just order coffee so I cannot rate them on the quality of their other beverages. Its a very cool ambiance overall. ps. they take cash only, but they have an atm machine read more

Tea, Coffee, Cookies and Sandwiches where Archive was by manager of El Beit. read more

Swallow Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Hipster coffee heaven. Yeah, I said it. Another coffee shop blaring old-school hip-hop and serving up $3 iced coffee. I can dig it. I can get wit' it. The coffee was decent. Definitely a tad bitter, but nothing that some milk didn't fix. The staff was pretty nice. I also like that they knew how to work a french press. read more

I was sitting here with a PC...and people made me feel funny about it. I mean, listen cool people, some people dont have Macs. Actually, truth be told, there ARE people out there that dont even like Macs. Swallow that down.. (see what I did there?) That said, I like the space. I like the coffee and I think the service is fine. Dont be a dick and you wont get treated like a dick. Write that down and thank me later. Cool little spot for a stop over. Wifi not killer and when too many people are there...its slows to a crawl. Other than that, this place works. read more

Cute spot near the L. Unfortunately won't recommend nor be back due to the shitty customer service from the guy at the register. Very rude and condescending to any questions about the menu. read more

Swallow Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The long hair guy is amazing. The Asian girl is very rude. Coffee is very good. read more

If you want a busy/chill vibe place to work this is it. Swallow Cafe provides good foods and drinks to be able to add a little fuel to started or to keep going. When I have gone in I ordered a hot chocolate and a plain bagel. I know it's a weird combination but I have them separately, plain bagel before I start my work and then the hot chocolate to have while working. Their plain bagel with cream cheese is okay. In the times I have ordered sometimes the bagel is a bit burnt sometimes it isn't. The hot chocolate is good. I was a good amount of sweet. In terms of a working environment there were plenty of outlets among the wall and tables to sit at. The tables were pretty big so if you are a person that spreads their stuff out you can. read more

Luscious creamy soy cappuccinos with a beautiful leaf drawn on. Very pretty crowd makes things taste better. Some gluten free treats for an afternoon pick-me-up. Just ask, as they are not marked. Richie: it's a thumbs up from me! Peter: very yummy oat bar (gluten free) helping with flatulence condition while still delectable. Cappuccino on point! Lovely view. Baristas perfect balance of apathetic and knowledgeable. read more

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My typical go-to coffee drink when I don't know what to get or when nothing else seems appealing is a good old Vanilla latte. For the most part, vanilla lattes seem to taste pretty much the same anywhere I go. Standard stuff. But here...was a pretty damn tasty vanilla latte. It almost had a hint of lavender. If only this place were in LA, this would be my go-to for my (new) standard vanilla latte. I don't know if it's a special coffee? maybe it's home grown vanilla? or who knows maybe they have special cows giving them their creamy milk?! Whatever it was, it was a very memorable yet simple vanilla latte. read more

Amazing coffee, tea and delicious pastries! The staff is super friendly, engaging and always gives the best service. The wait time here is a little obnoxious I feel like there's always only one person working their tail off while there's a long line of people waiting to order. If you have time, dear God don't come here if you are in a rush because you're going to be late to wherever you're going, you should try this place out. They only accept cash so beware of that too! Luckily they have an ATM in shop so I guess it's not too bad. I adore the atmosphere and environment of this place I just wish it didn't take so long to order a drink. Check it out if you want to relax and unwind in Brooklyn. read more

Swallow Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The chick with short black hair is the worst and super rude. Didn't even cut my bagel. I would come back if she got fired. If that happens let me know... howbowdah? read more

This is my absolute favorite coffee shop in all of NYC. I'm a mocha connoisseur and I've never had a better mocha... seriously. The chocolate they use is top notch and they even mix it with a tiny whisk to make sure everything is blended together evenly before pouring in the milk. You can tell they really care about their craft here. Latte art is beautifully done... even if I order a chai latte with almond milk. The regular coffee is all French press. Bagels are also delicious for a quick snack. Oh and punch cards! Definitely a great perk. Not sure what all the bad hype is about the service. It's fast and friendly and I've never had an issue. Maybe try tipping once in a while and order with a smile? I really wonder why people will tip $1 for someone to pour a beer, but won't tip when someone prepares a perfectly crafted latte for you. I'm sad to say I recently moved away from the neighborhood and I miss Swallow dearly. I've been on a tireless search to find something comparable with no luck. This place is definitely a gem and I would highly recommend it to anyone! read more

Swallow Cafe - Chai almond latte! Delish! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This place fires and mistreats it's workers. It fired one worker who didn't show up because her roommate died. And it just fired another because she didn't show up because she was having a miscarriage. Boycott them! read more

I didn't enjoy my experience. Very run down. In times of COVID also, I can't eat an outside pastry with the drink I bought from here..? Also it's 2021, where are the cashless options?? That and the way the cashier carries themselves is pointed. Customer service is everything!! The drinks were great tho! read more

Full disclosure, I only had a coffee here (no food). That said, from my experience, they're pretty good! It's an eclectic coffee shop that's right off the Morgan L stop. As many folks have already shared, they're cash only so if that's something that's not doable for you, you might need to find somewhere else. That said, their prices were good, they were a solid no frills coffee shop with LOTS of seating, even for the solo person just popping in and don't want to take up a whole table. read more

I stumbled on this place after working at another coffee shop nearby which didn't have a bathroom- luckily this one does! (Not super clean or anything but I'm not picky) I am glad I found this place! It's a great place to do work - quiet, spacious, and free wifi. It is cash only however so that is a downside. Overall a great place if you are looking for a place to catch up on some work - most people in the shop came alone and were quiet. I was with a friend and we were the only ones talking really. Also try the chai latte! read more

After landing in NY in the middle of a blizzard (or was it just a snowstorm? This Californian doesn't know her snow terms very well), it was a relief to duck into this cozy, quiet coffee shop for a cup and a simple bagel and just hang for a bit. It's spacious with plenty of surface space to get laptop work done, and the people who work there are sweet. A few days later, I stopped in again to grab some bagels and cream cheese to take back to my friends, and was disappointed to find that they left out several items in my order. Disappointing, but it was way too cold to venture back outside to get my missing treats. Other than that slip up, I really like the atmosphere, and would totally make it a regular stop if I lived in the area! read more

Decor: 2/5 -I didn't feel like I fit in with my shirt & tie, like I was getting stares and looks. -Interesting decor -Air seemed stagnant Service: 2.5/5 Food: 2/5 We tried three varieties: -Blueberry muffin & Almond croissant were purchased by my party and they claimed it to be decent. -Vegan Chocolate chip cookie - I dislike wasting food and I had the hardest time trying to finish this cookie. It was hard and dry. No thanks. (1/5) read more

Swallow Cafe - Chocolate Chip - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Show me how you do that trick The one that makes me scream she said The one that makes me laugh she said And threw her arms around my neck Show me how you do it And I promise you I promise that I'll run away with you. You so soft and lonely You, JUST LIKE HEAVEN. read more

My wife and I were visiting friends in the neighborhood and we had some time to kill before our rendezvous. First thing my wife asks for is Dunkin donuts coffee! As we were walking, I see this artsy cafe with a craft specialty coffee menu. I must say, my wife is never adventurous with her caffeine but we decided to walk in and give it a try. Nice ambiance, rustic and really cozy place. We were greeted by the cashier and given attention immediately. I ordered the cold brew and my wife had an Apollo espresso. Prices were decent although 7$ compared to $4 we normally spend at DD was a bit more than I'm used to spending on coffee. The truth is you get what you pay for. I was buzzing all night and my wife a chatter box. Nice place, we would recommend and definitely return. read more

This dude spilled his coffee and the Barista was rude and said "well I didn't drop it". It was already embarrassing and I had to experience second hand embarrassment. I just don't see why being rude is necessary. read more

I don't drink coffee so I've never come here much (or to Archive, the former space), but I do stop for green juice from time to time. There are now a fair number of places to get green juice in the neighborhood but Swallow was one of the first spots, so thank you! My mom comes here for coffee whenever she's in town and she even has a frequent purchaser card. How cute. My only issue with Swallow is that they always have this Mexican guy make the juice but he doesn't get in on the tips. That's not cool, and that's why I've deducted 2 stars. I noticed the tip jar for the 2 baristas (is that what they're called?), who were friendly enough but somewhat lazy. I put my tip in there but then asked if the guy making the juice gets in on the tips. They said no! I asked why not, since he's making all the juices, and they said they didn't know. I asked if I could give him my tip directly and they said fine. They seemed a little shocked so my guess is that this guy has always made the juice and nobody has ever given him a tip. Not cool. PLEASE TIP THE JUICE GUY DIRECTLY! read more

Ever walked into a place and felt like you don't belong? Yea.. if you're walking into this joint with a dude in a suit (my main squeeze) and a guy that looks like hipster Goku (main squeeze's bestie) .. you might get a few stares and feel out of place. The other reviewers said people are mostly working here, I'm not sure about that. They seemed to be pretty lively and chill. The blueberry muffin and almond croissants delivered.The campfire cookie was ok. It didn't really hit the spot. I'm more of a Stumptown kind of girl so you probably won't see me back here. +1 for selling vegan chocolate chip cookie. My gf ,Mandy, would be thrilled. Too bad they were all sold out. **Cash only** read more

3.5 stars in my opinion... Cash only? Lame! There are NO banks remotely closeby, so if u want their coffee and have no cash, have fun paying extra fees at an ATM for a freaking cup of coffee. Your $2.50 cup of small coffee just turned into a $4.50 or potentially $6.50 cup, depending on your bank. It's 2014 Swallow, get a Freakin credit card swiper...how much tax evasion and unclaimed coffee sales are u really claiming at a coffee shop by making it cash only? As far as coffee goes, this place is good! Both their hot coffee and iced coffee are made properly. Their bagels are also averagely good (got a plain cinnamon raisin around 9am on a Saturday) not much of a grab-n-go selection though. Seems like more vegan options n stuff, bleh. Haven't tried their espresso Decor is clean and neat... But the atmosphere is a bit too quiet and slightly uncomfortable bc of it. Could be the dismal lighting too. It feels like u are walking into a college library top floor, where you aren't even allowed to drop a pen or listen to headphones. Barista dude seemed friendly, cashier seemed friendly enough. I felt a bit awkward in here though. I dunno. They lose a star for being cash only. Still a great spot though, if u need a coffee in the immediate location read more

AWESOME coffee. Super friendly staff. Ask and do EXACTLY what you want. Not that arrogant barista that will roll the eyes in the back of their hands. Down to earth coffee shop. Feels super solid. Go there instead of SEY!! read more

This place struck me as an oasis for white people, which was only heightened by the homeless person of color sleeping on the bench outside. Theater seats and church pews make up the majority of the indoor seating. As for the coffee, I hate coffee, so I can't judge as to its quality since it all tastes like crap to me. I got a "Simply Lemonade" and a cookie with M&Ms inside. The cookie was big, but nothing too special. A little on the cakey and dry side, but hell, they don't even bake the cookies there (so it would seem). I'm not going to judge this place solely on a second-tier cookie and a mass market lemonade drink produced by the Coca-Cola company (or maybe I am...). Though if you're a white person in Bushwick and you want a place to take a load off and sit amongst your kind while pretending those "ethnic types" who've been living and working in the neighborhood for years don't exist, don't hesitate to find Swallow. Oh, and if that homeless guy is still out there sleeping, why not buy a bagel and leave it for him (lord knows I didn't). read more

I knew the moment I walked in the door what I was getting into - the Wolverine boots and Bohemian facial hair gave it away even more than the kinda-sounds-like-deathcab-for-cutie-but-hipsters-don't-listen-to-them-anymore soundtrack. Browsing around for a bit the pastries and bagels looked pretty good, but with dinner plans none were all that appealing so I ordered a coffee - no drip, just French Presses. The coffee was good and the barista was nice enough - so kudos for that - and the space is actually quite nice....but seriously, the customers - quit trying so hard to act like you're too cool to care - you clearly care enough to try to look just like the dude sitting at the table next to you. read more

Where to start with this place?? Called in today to kill a little time. Nice enough surroundings etc. Asked for 2 small Lattes...the 'Barista' (dark curly hair) who appeared to have ongoing mental issues, responded like I'd insulted her. The result was 2 coffees in what resembled gargling cups. I then asked for a cookie. This resulted in much muttering under the breath and more of the same seriously bad manner. The coffees and cookie cost over $10 btw. Yes, the coffee was good...but then it's a coffee shop. You have one job to do. Do it, and ditch the bad staff. Avoid this one, seriously... read more

I'm torn...they honestly have the best iced vanilla lattes but they have the worst customer service I have ever encountered. The people who take your order have a terrible attitude and are just rude and they either mess up your order or forget it and when you bring this to their attention they fire back with again more attitude where you just feel crappy being there. My partner refuses to go here and has told me multiple times to stop going there because that's not how a business should run or people should be treated so I don't go here any more :( Important... make sure they charge you the right amount, there had been multiple times they would charge me a range from $5.50-$7.00 for a latte... read more

These guys are always just a bit short of rolling their eyes at you. It's as if they want you to feel terrible about yourself for stepping in there. I give up on this place. Also, learn how to toast a bagel. read more

In an effort to find ever more creative and exotic names for cafes, someone got a little carried away with this one. My guess is the name is supposed to conjure up images of savoring a fine espresso in my mouth before i send it to my tummy for further gastric rumination. But when I think of the name *swallow* all it reminds me of is a creepy film studio standing haplessly in the middle of porn valley. That said I did want to give it a try, what with the fabulous graphiti art adorning the front of the building, some superb spray paint work if you ask me. Walk up the steps and slip through the front door and be transported to another place and time. Music can do this, and so can rustic furniture. Today there was some Southern country music hearkening the Texas outback, complete with truckers and other friendly folk. As I vibe with the music, I order an espresso at the counter, and find a seat in the back. The walls are adorned with fabulous oil paintings of faces. Real talent I could only dream of, spilling forth from someone's brush. The seat I grab is an old movie theatre seat retrofitted in front of a coffee table made from a large wheeled platform. A curved floor lamp hangs over one side of my seat, perfectly illuminating my reading position. It's right about this time that barrista announces my espresso is ready, and I rush over to grab it. The crema is thick like chocolate milk, and the taste is smooth and perfect. I'm very happy they know how to drive one of those Marzocco's. I flip open 1Q84 again. I'm on the last hundred pages of Murakami's opus. Life is good. read more

The owner is smug and kinda douchey. The coffee is decent but over the past few years they keep raising the prices to the point where it's getting absurd. I guess gouging people is one way to be "selective" with your clientele... I'd rather spend a fraction of the price on a bodega coffee, at least it goes towards a store that isn't an active part of gentrification. read more

The coffee sucks. Seriously, why are you making huge batches of french press? It's called drip coffee. It's made for exactly what you need, big batches of hot filtered coffee. I do not understand. 5 hour old, watery, grainy, cold french press coffee from a huge container, seriously, why? They don't have a real menu. The staff is what you expect, cool, but they could really care less. The atmosphere is nice if you can find a seat and the internet crawls. The hot hipster patrons is all the place has going for it. read more

Been going here a lot recently. The coffee is good, the employees are polie and happy to chat. The food is pricey, but yummy. They put a ton of ice in the iced coffee. Like, they completely fill the cup up with ice, to the point where a 16 ounce cup will only hold 8 ounces of coffee. Whatever, its solid. read more