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    Third Rail Coffee

    4.2 (488 reviews)
    InexpensiveCoffee & Tea
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Third Rail Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    THIRD RAIL COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Third Rail Coffee

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    a cup of cappuccino on a table
    Cherie C.

    Was looking for coffee in the early afternoon after wandering the area near my +1's Alma mater, NYU. The name caught my eye in an online search, so we headed over. We walked into a tiny old store front with wood, brick, and iron. A 1980s Smith's album was playing. There were black and white photos on the wall. I felt like I'd time traveled, and I liked it. The counter person/baristo took our order but let us know they were closing soon. It was fine, as we ordered espresso and a cortado, which aren't drinks over which I'd linger. Plus, we had other places to go. But the setting reminded me of coffee shops where I'd sit a while and read a book over coffee. I could pass some time here and be quite happy. Coffee was good. Not as harsh as the espresso of the 80s and 90s, thank goodness.

    Vlad I.

    Thx Caroline for the great single espresso And KU who prepared it . Will be back soon . Service + Ambience +

    a hand holding a cup of coffee
    Sabrina S.

    LOVE this spot! I have only been there during the pandemic so I can really only speak to the actual coffee itself and the nice service...oh and the LOCATION! This spot is the perfect place for your "coffee & a walk" dates/hangouts. This cozy spot is located just a block away from Washington Square Park. It is also located by a bunch of great food in the NYU area. So it's a great spot to grab a little pick-me-up after enjoying lunch at a nearby spot! I tried the Mocha here and I have to say I was pretty impressed! It wasn't overpowering in sweetness, they used a single-origin cocoa, the milk was the perfect temperature (not too hot!). I feel like burnt espresso taste and over-steamed milk is far too common in cafes, but this place knows what they're doing! I truly enjoyed this beverage, zero complaints! I will definitely be making this a spot to stop by next time I'm in that part of the city!

    Warning sign
    Christine R.

    Solid coffee, friendly staff! It's the closest coffee place to Pop Up Bagels, but do not plan on eating your Pop Up Bagels inside, though (see picture)

    Mocha
    Edward W.

    Cute little coffee shop with a wickedly delicious mocha with oat milk. The perfect balance, not too acidic or basic. Has a hint of chocolate and not sweet at all. This isn't really a place where you work from since the tables are so tiny and there aren't any outlets. It's perfect for catching up with a friend or just grabbing a quick to-go coffee!

    Joe K.

    Let me premise this by saying I'm not a big coffee drinker. However I do appreciate a good cup of iced coffee. A friend of mine who appreciates fine coffee invited me here and I'm glad he did. Third Rail is small, and the offerings are limited. Yet this works perfectly for Third Rail as they make exceptionally good iced brew coffee and some mighty delicious looking pastries. I enjoyed the bold, deep, rich flavors Third Rails Iced brew delivered. Genuine flavors of a fine roasted coffee, not simply a bean that has been burnt beyond recognition and called "coffee". The inside is small but we got a small table to enjoy our beverages. The ambiance is pleasant, a balance of people working/studying and those of us small groups of friends that just were enjoying a damn good cup of coffee. I traveled about and hour in both directions just to taste this coffee and it was well worth it. I highly recommend a visit. Or two, or more....... Enjoy!

    James R.

    What I like about the Third Rail Coffee on Sullivan is the vibe. It has a very neighborhood feeling and more importantly, not the rushed feeling you get from many coffee houses in NYC. However, it is very small and seating can sometimes be a premium. The coffee is very good. I ordered latte and found the baristas knew what they were doing. Also, interesting place to people watch if you have the time.

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    5 months ago

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    1 year ago

    This has been my favorite place near NYU to grab an iced mocha recently! Super friendly and quick service!

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I went here last week and the coffee was great. Baristas were incredibly kind and the environment was very welcoming.

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Omg! Grade of C!? No thank you! Until this is back to an A...we are going elsewhere :-(

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    11 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Third Rail Coffee

    You think we can bring outside food in and grab a coffee from here?

    Within “reason” we’ve always been ok with it for our regulars and if done respectfully. That would entail being neat about it, not eating anything that’s overly smelly and not using our garbage cans for whatever waste. Oh and if you’re thinking… Read more

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    Culture Espresso - Chocolate Chip Cookie

    Culture Espresso

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    1.7 miMidtown West
    $$

    I was on a mission to try all the best chocolate chip cookies in NYC and this place was high on the…read morelist!! This place was in walking distance from our hotel and I was THRILLED!! We walked in and the shop was cozy and clean. We were greeted by the staff. They were very friendly and helped us promptly. I was impressed to see that Culture had won several blind taste test competitions - my hippies were high!! The cookie came out gooey and hot - let's just say it didn't last long. I really should have bought more than one! Learn from my mistakes and get one chocolate chip cookie to share and one chocolate chip cookie for yourself!

    Stopped by Culture Espresso to grab some of their famous cookies and they were great! There was a…read moreshort line when we got there, but we waited less than ten minutes to order so it went quickly. The cookie I was most excited for was the corn cookie and the chocolate chip also looked really good. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed by the black & white cookie because for some reason I thought it was a chocolate cookie with white chocolate chips, but it was actually just a regular cookie with black and white chips lol. The cookies themselves were really solid though. Nice light crisp around the edges with a chewy center without being overly gooey or underbaked. Definitely on the thicker side too, which I liked. Next time I'll have to try one of their espresso drinks!

    Photos
    Culture Espresso - Oatmeal cranberry cookie

    Oatmeal cranberry cookie

    Culture Espresso - Black & White

    Black & White

    Culture Espresso - Chocolate Chip Cookie (~$5)

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    Chocolate Chip Cookie (~$5)

    Ten Thousand Coffee - Iced Matcha Einspanner (~$7)

    Ten Thousand Coffee

    4.4(436 reviews)
    1.7 miMidtown West
    $$

    I've had Ten Thousand Coffee on my to-go list for the LONGEST. I finally went for the first time…read moreand there were so many drinks I wanted to try so I ended up buying 3. 1. The Jeju Green Tangerine Matcha honestly just tastes like a tangerine selter drink but in the best way, because I don't typically enjoy seltzer or carbonated beverages. I really enjoy the flavor and the carbonation isn't too strong, probably because I brought it home to drink. I don't really taste the matcha but I would definitely still order this again. 2. Matcha Einspanner. This is my first time having an Einspanner so I have no idea what I was expecting but this is DELICIOUS. It's so silky and smooth and the TASTE is just right up my alley. The matcha is light but you can still taste it. Absolutely, would drink this all the time if I could. 3. Purple Sweet Potato Latte. This. This. Omg, why haven't I tried this sooner?! The first sip and initial taste, I almost tasted nothing, just milk. And then all of a sudden, there's an explosion of flavor in your mouth. As a sweet potato lover, I was in heaven. I have absolutely no words for this drink, just try it. 100/10 recommend. This is probably my favorite one out of the 3 that I bought. I went around ... 2:45PM on a Friday and most of the seats were taken, if I remember correctly. There were a decent amount of seats and the space was decent. I liked the minimal aesthetic they had for the design of the interior. Not to forget, the staff at the register was absolutely wonderful, she answered all my questions, she's so sweet. I think I'm disappointed that I haven't tried this place sooner. Y'all get out of your comfort zone and try the Purple Sweet Potato Latte !! Or if not, just try this place out. I will definitely be recommending the Purple Sweet Potato Latte to all my family and friends.

    Overall: 4.5/5 The…read morestore has a really aesthetic vibe, similar to % Arabica. I came in on a Wednesday morning and luckily there was no line. I ordered an iced matcha einspanner ($6.95) with oat milk ($0.75) and loved that it already comes with a shot of espresso, so it was essentially a dirty matcha einspanner. I tried each layer on its own before mixing everything together and it was all really good. The matcha cream is the right amount of sweet and creamy and you can taste the matcha with just a hint of coffee. Since I'm a coffee fiend I added a bit more espresso when I got back to the hotel and it tasted even better while still keeping the matcha as the dominant flavor. Next time I would ask for less ice since it was freezing that morning, but on a warmer day the ice level would be perfect. Would love to come back to try their other drinks or order the einspanner again as a hot drink.

    Photos
    Ten Thousand Coffee - Iced Matcha Einspanner (~$7)

    Iced Matcha Einspanner (~$7)

    Ten Thousand Coffee - Iced matcha einspanner

    Iced matcha einspanner

    Ten Thousand Coffee - Seating area

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    Seating area

    Kijitora - Dirty Black Sesame with white chocolate

    Kijitora

    4.5(227 reviews)
    2.4 miWilliamsburg - North Side

    RATING: 4.5/5 | Came on a Saturday late afternoon and it was busy! The line moves, thankfully. It's…read morerelatively spacious for a cafe, but there's minimal seating. There is some counter space, but mainly for standing purposes. I ordered a standard Iced Matcha Latte with Oat Milk ($7.35) and my friend got her usual Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte ($8). Docking 1/2 point bc the matcha is pre-made. I'm a fan of the whisking process bc I do believe there's a craft to matcha overall. Surprisingly, my drink tasted fine and my bev was a good color, so I was pleasantly happy. We waited less than 10 min for a table to open up, but you have to be there at the right time, otherwise you prob just grab your drink + go. Overall, glad I tried Kijitora. It's not my first matcha choice, but it was decent for a standard matcha latte. Their specialty matcha drinks look to have mixed reviews, but I'm personally not a fan of sweet drinks.

    Went in with high expectations, but it was just alright. The staff was friendly and made our drinks…read morepretty quick. The interior was cute, perfect for working or catching up with a friend. The azuki matcha was a dud. It was missing the earthiness and sweetness of the azuki bean. Instead, it just tasted like chunky matcha. The black sesame latte was sweeter than expected. It was still pretty good, but I just feel like I would've gotten sick had I finished the whole thing. I would probably just try the strawberry matcha latte next time.

    Photos
    Kijitora - Matcha Latte

    Matcha Latte

    Kijitora - Strawberry Matcha, Chestnut Matcha

    Strawberry Matcha, Chestnut Matcha

    Kijitora - Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte (~$8)

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    Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte (~$8)

    Evil Twin Brewing - Dumbo Taproom - Fructus Danica and Evil Fusion Autumn, 9oz pours, and Pepper Acid.

    Evil Twin Brewing - Dumbo Taproom

    4.5(131 reviews)
    1.9 miDUMBO
    $$

    we had a little time before our flight leaving nyc - so we did the impossible. we drank every…read moresingle beer that evil twin brewing (dumbo location) had on draft. yes, you heard that right. every. single. one. was it a lot of beer? yes. would i do it again? in a heartbeat. how about one of your evil-twin-type long beer names? extra fancy gourmet, artisanal and uber hand selected style ale tlatoani marlon trillikini no more dumplings v.5 dumb fruit 1 woody's orange cream make it fruity pancake edition even more horchata greenhouse multi grain lager - conditioned on american oak foudre ekiden beer 2026 chardonnale greenhouse dunkel conditioned on american oak foudre greenhouse baltic porter conditioned on american oak foudre i swear this red isn't wearing green make it fruity white sangria: this kihoskh needs an even even more more much much bigger bigger beer selection body by etnyc et stay home 19 - frosty winter edition ___________

    I probably never leave reviews in general, especially negative ones, but this experience was so…read moreegregious that I honestly felt like I had to say something. I've worked in restaurants and bars long enough to understand that staff drinking happens, but this was on another level entirely. I came in with a group of friends and one of the bartenders, Will, was so visibly drunk that it made the entire experience uncomfortable. Slurred speech, wobbling behind the bar, taking orders while chewing food with his mouth open -- it was honestly embarrassing to watch. He looked like he absolutely did not want to be there. At one point, my group had been trying to get his attention for another round for quite a while while he stood around talking with coworkers. We then watched staff take a shot together, and when he finally came over he burped mid-conversation and literally had whatever he had just been drinking dribbling down his neckbeard. That was the moment where the whole thing went from unprofessional to just gross. What made it worse was that it didn't seem isolated to one employee. Throughout the night we watched staff openly taking shots and drinking behind the bar like it was a house party instead of a business. There's a difference between bar culture and complete lack of professionalism, and this crossed that line hard. One of the friends I was with actually frequents the DUMBO location and said that the last time she was there, the same bartender also seemed intoxicated, which makes this feel less like a bad night and more like an ongoing issue. The DUMBO location itself is in an amazing spot, which makes it even more disappointing. But ownership seriously needs to get control of what's going on there before someone gets hurt or the place develops a reputation for having drunk staff on the clock. Unfortunately, the experience was uncomfortable enough that my girlfriends and I won't be coming back. I genuinely hope the employee mentioned gets help if this is a regular thing, because nobody should be working service in that condition.

    Photos
    Evil Twin Brewing - Dumbo Taproom - Posted offerings

    Posted offerings

    Evil Twin Brewing - Dumbo Taproom - Luxurious Volume 15 and Allegory

    Luxurious Volume 15 and Allegory

    Evil Twin Brewing - Dumbo Taproom - Interior

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    Interior

    Third Rail Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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