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    The Balcony Lounge

    4.2 (20 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    THE BALCONY LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

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    Qin Z.

    Very nice place to relax and hide away from the crowd. Food tasted good, a bit expensive for what it was but it tasted good. So why the 1 star? After eating the hamachi shortly after I started to feel unwell. About 20-30 minutes after ingestion of the food I started to get a headache and nausea. This persisted until I forced myself to throw up. The nausea improved but the headache persisted. Took a day to recover. In short got food poisoning from what is likely improperly stored hamachi. Should've know something was off when it felt a little warmer than it should be.

    Greek Yogurt

    A Hidden Gem for MET Members. Tucked away from the bustle of the galleries, the Balcony Lounge feels like a quiet sanctuary above the art. The atmosphere is serene -- soft light reflecting off the museum's marble tones, with an understated elegance that makes you slow down and savor every moment. The food is beautifully presented and thoughtfully portioned. The cake I tried was perfectly toasted on the outside, with a smooth, creamy center and a touch of rich chocolate sauce that tied it all together. The pairing of chips and dip that came before it was simple but satisfying, a reminder that the lounge values quality over extravagance. Service was also great, but sometimes a little slow. When it's crowded, service will be pretty ordinary. This is one of those rare corners of New York that make you feel like the city has paused just for you.

    Kristi L.

    The Balcony Lounge really is a little oasis in the Met. My boyfriend and I always walk around so much, trying to soak everything in, and our feet inevitably start to hurt. It's so nice to be able to go to a members only area to relax and eat some good food. The service here is prompt and friendly. No qualms. You can call to make reservations or walk in. The latter is a bit risky, but there are definitely times when they are less busy that you can score a table or sofa. The varied seating options in the Lounge give the environment a classy yet comfortable ambience. As for the food, I've really enjoyed the lobster roll. It's packed with lobster and is well seasoned. My only piece of constructive criticism is that I wish the food menu had a little more variety. There were many cold options, but some hot dishes (besides soup) would be very welcome, especially during the colder months.

    a view of a cloudy sky
    Micah M.

    I've come here several times. I've dined at both the tables and the couches. There is never a broad enough choice of food when I visit here. Today, the naan & hummus/feta/babagnoush was excellent. The chicken BLT was plentiful but overdressed. The flavor of the Earl grey tea was Impeccable but it was brought out already made; I was unable to regulate the strength. The chocolate cake portion was ample. The vanilla ice cream was tasty but the portion was miniscule. The capuchino was adequate. There was a long wait for the check.

    Steak tartar
    Joyce H.

    A little great gem in the museum!! I love the vibe - it definitely screams "lounge" with the sofa seating and that's what I came here to do. I love how secluded and quiet this lounge is compared to the other dining areas in the museum - granted, that's what you pay the membership for. To be honest, I didn't really have expectations of the food and thought that they would overcharge given the location and establishment, but was pleasantly surprised to see everything was reasonably priced (at least for New York). Yes, the hot dog stand outside would still be cheaper, but other restaurants around central park would be charging the same if not more. The food itself is good, plated nicely, and filling. If you're planning to spend a few hours at the museum, this is a really good rest stop or even just to stop by for a bite if you're strolling in the area!

    Lobster creste de gallo
    Elizabeth e.

    We came for our anniversary dinner - it was lovely. Next time I'd make sure we book reservations at sunset to ensure we can take advantage of the beautiful view. Dinner was delicious- highly recommend the mushroom tart, creste de gallo, short rib and mascarpone cheesecake with yuzu for dessert. YUM!!

    fall menu
    Andrew D.

    I am loving the newly reopened Member's Balcony Lounge. Bill Telepan's menu is excellent and uses seasonal ingredients some of it grown on the museum's roof garden. I loved the Turkey Cubano, salmon tartine and the french onion soup. The ambiance is quiet and peaceful compared to the other dining venues in the museum. Definitely try the moist and creamy member's chocolate cake.

    Steak tartare
    Eugenia Y.

    I was honestly a little shocked at how much of an oasis the Balcony Lounge is. There is ample seating in the lounge, and it's a mix of tables and sofas. The food is fancier and expensive, but surprisingly not as expensive as I would've expected. My party had lunch here and we did enjoy a lot of what we had. I felt the coffee wasn't amazingly done, but that's not a huge issue. I do wish that the Balcony Lounge was a lot less formal though, and could just be a place to relax and hang out. When I was there last, it seemed to have more of a restaurant vibe, where you would walk in, be seated, order, pay, and leave. I wish I would be able to walk in and sit wherever I'd like and have a less time-constrained visit!

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    3 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Nice to steal away somewhere quiet while visiting the often-crowded Met. Food is good, service can be a tad slow.

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    7 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Delicious food, lovely atmosphere and excellent service. Such a perfect place to have drinks and hors d'oeuvres right inside the Met!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great ambiance and friendly staff. Food was quick and tasty. Will definitely be going back

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    Grace Street

    Grace Street

    4.2
    (3.8k reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Locally sourced ingredients

    This a great, casual place to get dessert in Koreatown. The food came out quickly although the…read morerestaurant was very crowded. We especially enjoyed the matcha beignets with a side of ice cream. I would love to go back and try their shaved snow.

    Every time I have walked up the street from my hotel the past few days there is this giant sign,…read morelike the size you use as a bus stop poster, literally me-sized that makes me want 1) to visit Hawaii again and 2) to get a shaved ice. And I'm from Maryland (Murlyn), I don't mean a sno-ball. I mean that flaky, instantly melting ice carved mechanically using some kind of drill motor with all the torque, off a block the size of a dorm fridge and then topped with syrupy fruits and condensed milk and such. And this wasn't that either, but I now need to find a place for this near me. It was more like regular ice cream at a soft-serve consistency, topped with all the things-- that part was as expected. Hubs & I were thinking of getting two different things but we both wanted the mango madness, and then the checkout person said it was the size of a quart container. So just one then. I wish we got to see it being made up but it was full in there (at 10p, after the theaters let out), and they seated us and gave us a buzzer that went off almost immediately. We almost didn't finish it even between the two of us. Absolutely delicious, just overwhelmingly enormous. It could be a low-grade food challenge to complete it! And with all that fruit, actual mango chunks and a banana, it's practically a healthy snack. Gotta find one of these closer to home!

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    Grace Street
    Grace Street
    Sunset Lemonade ($5.50)

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    Sunset Lemonade ($5.50)
    Mika’s Direction

    Mika’s Direction

    4.5
    (113 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Note: Rating is for the area and price per quality. In terms of flavor/complexity, I'd put it at a…read moresimilar level as Kettl, but below Sorate and Setsugekka. I was at this quaint tea shop east of Koreatown earlier in the evening before going to a meal at the excellent new Thai place, Wanglang. The staff was very friendly, and they specialize in matcha, along with having hojicha, genmaicha, black tea, and sencha. Along with more traditional drinks, they also have fruit options as well as black sugar jelly (I presume kuromitsu) and a Japanese citrus that's not seen much here, hyuganatsu. Along with the citrus, this place is rather unique as they had three different matcha options in terms of variety. As I tend to prefer teas pure and without add-ons, I ordered the Matcha Americano, which is simply matcha and water. I went with the 12-oz version for $6 + tax and ordered the Hajime, though I would likely get the Fuku No Midori next time based on descriptions online. The matcha was solid and had a mild sweetness and a light earthiness. However, it lacked some of the mouth coating found in very high-quality drinks from Sorate or Setsugekka, while being similar in price. Still, that is comparing to some of the best, and this was still very tasty and a lot better than 90% of the places in the city, being more comparable to Kettl. I wouldn't mind going back and ordering the other matcha varietal to see whether that is a better comparison. Outside of this, I enjoyed my drink, and the staff was friendly. I hope they do well.

    Mika's Direction is a small matcha-focused shop tucked slightly off the main flow of Koreatown,…read moreeasy to miss if you are not actively looking for it. The space is extremely compact, functioning more like a takeout counter than a café, with only minimal room inside. The main focus here is matcha, with a distinctive approach that lets you choose between three blends: Hinata, which leans creamy and nutty; Hajime, which is more smoky and earthy; and a more traditional-style matcha profile. Drinks like the mango matcha show how they play with these bases, though fruit purées can sometimes overshadow the matcha depending on the combination. They also offer matcha powder for home use and occasional fresh pastries that add a warm, baked aroma to the space. Service is one of the strongest parts of the experience. The staff is consistently warm, attentive, and willing to explain the differences between blends in detail. The atmosphere is cozy but extremely tight, built for short visits rather than lingering. It is not a workspace or hangout café, but more of a quick stop that stands out because of its hospitality and focus on craft. Even in a busy area, it leaves a memorable impression through its matcha quality and genuinely personable service.

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    Matcha Hot Chocolate
    Matcha Hot Chocolate
    Strawberry Matcha Latte
    Strawberry Matcha Latte
    Inside

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    Prince Tea House

    Prince Tea House

    4.2
    (229 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    I am a frequent Prince Tea House goer, but I've never been to the KTown location which has always…read morebeen on my bucket list because of the nice wall decors! And I commonly see the upstairs for private events like baby showers, bridal showers, or birthday parties on social media. After dinner with my friends, I was looking for dessert and I was glad to see this location closes relatively late on a weekday night at 11 pm. Upon walking in, I was greeted by a waiter who led us to one of the purple velvet chair booths that was perfect for two people and another waiter brought us a pitcher of water almost immediately. The menu is on a QR code already on the table and we were given ample of time to decide. My friend and I both already knew what we wanted to order. I got the purple Yam Souffle which takes 25 minutes to make and my friend got the fried squid tails. We also got a signature Rose Green Milk Tea to share. The waitress who took our order has great memory and recalled all of our items without writing it down. She also reminded me that I could adjust the ice and sugar levels of my drink which I had completely forgotten and would have got annoyed if my drink came out 100% sweetness. Another thing is that my drink order frequently comes out wrong at other locations so I was glad she got it right! Green tea instead of black tea and with milk instead of without milk. The purple Yam Souffle is just like the other locations. Hot, soft cakey texture balanced with an ice cold red bean Ice-Cream. So delicious! The squid tails on the other hand was not what we expected. It came out burnt and hard. The outer batter was not crispy either. We informed one of the waiters and he brought it back to inform the kitchen staff. We received a new batch that was not as burnt and had more flavoring this time around. However, the squid was still hard and not like the ones we get from other locations with smaller crispier pieces. Overall, it was still a good experience and I love the decorations at this location! This might be my second favorite location after the Flushing one. Would love to come back for brunch or hi-tea. Or regular food options when I have not already eaten dinner. My usual go-tos are the twister fries, Santa Fe chicken rolls, fried salted crispy chicken, and the trio dessert combo. However, this location has a lot more variety! FYI - there are two unisex restrooms in the rear for customers to use with really cute wallpapers too.

    This is always my favorite spot to go for desserts and hangout. The interior decor is very modern,…read moresophisticated and stylish. We ordered potted rose milk tea to share, Dubai affogato and Brown Sugar Boba Mille Crêpes Cake. We came on a Friday around 4pm. Originally I wanted to try the strawberry matchamisu, however, was told that it sold out. What a bummer. The rose milk tea came with a themed pot and cups which is really cute. The rose fragrant smelled so good and the milk tea also tasted good and has a hint of rose taste. The cake was good, the boba was well cooked, chewy and flavorful! This time there was an unpleasant experience. At first when the Dubai affogato was served, we did not realize that the amount of the coffee was little until we saw another customer's dish that the volume of their coffee looked significantly more than ours. My friend brought it to the waitress attention but the waitress brushed it off and did not acknowledge our concern. When we finished and were about to leave, the same waitress came over and showed us that the container of the coffee was different and hence the volume of the coffee looked different. At this point, we did not care for it anymore. We would have been fine if the staff acknowledged our concern. We thought that maybe using standardized containers for the coffee would avoid this problem. Other than that, the food and drinks were good.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Mango Mille Crpes Cake
    Mango Mille Crpes Cake
    Too

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    Paris Baguette

    Paris Baguette

    3.8
    (839 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Got a crossiant filled with Nutella it was so good…read more The cashier asked if I wanted it for here or to go and I said to go and asked if he could warm it up. He warned me that it might be messy if I took it to go but I didn't mind. Honestly, the chocolate croissant was so good. It was warm and gooey and melted in my mouth. I love it. Ambiance in the bakery was chill.

    During my time in New York City, I stopped by Paris Baguette on W 32nd St twice and absolutely…read moreenjoyed the cozy French bakery café vibe and fresh baked pastries. Paris Baguette is a neighborhood bakery café, bringing expertly crafted baked and brewed goods to the community. Their bakers, cakers, and baristas serve up handcrafted cakes, freshly baked pastries and breads, delicious Lavazza coffee, and more. One thing that really stood out is their PB Rewards program. It's super easy to join via their app, and you earn 1 point per $1 spent toward free pastries, drinks, cake slices, and more and i even got a free pastry just for signing up. I ordered a chai latte and my free strawberry croissant pastry filled with soft custard cream and strawberries, dusted with powdered sugar. The strawberry croissant had fresh strawberries and cream and it was the perfect breakfast after a run in Central Park. The second visit was to take advantage of their BOGO cake slice deal through the rewards app. It's a fun way to explore their cake selection without paying full price. I ordered the Blueberry chiffon cake slice filled with soft cream, topped with blueberry yogurt soft cream and blueberries and the strawberry soft cream cake slice, a vanilla cake filled with soft cream and fresh strawberries, topped with more berries. Service was friendly and the line moved quickly. Prices are typical for midtown NYC, but all the reward app perks make it more reasonable. I will definitely be back to earn more rewards and try more of their pastries.

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    Paris Baguette
    Paris Baguette
    Tray, wax paper and tongs for items

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    Tray, wax paper and tongs for items

    The Balcony Lounge - cafes - Updated June 2026

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