Usagi is one of those spots you wander into and end up staying longer than planned. It is part gallery, part bookstore, part café, and the whole space feels open, calm, and thoughtfully put together. I went during the week and it was not too busy, which made it easy to take my time, look around at the artwork, and just settle in for a bit. I grabbed a hot matcha latte and kept it simple. It was great, no complaints. This feels like the kind of place you come back to when you want a slower pace and a change of scenery. I would definitely return. read more

Usagi NY - matcha - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

Do not get the onigiri! The rice to filling ratio is way off. They give you like a pea sized portion of filling. Other than that, good place to grab a coffee and get some work done. read more

The matcha and hojicha latte was not nearly as sweet enough as I would want it. I did specifically ask for it to be sweetened with syrup but I'm not entirely sure if they added it. I also got a tuna rice ball. It barely had any tuna in it and was mainly just packed with rice. I also got the spam musubi, and while this was better a tiny bit of mayo and furikake seasoning would have made it much better and something I would reorder at the cafe. I don't think I would reorder any of these items. If you want riceballs I would recommend going elsewhere or making it yourself instead. read more

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EXCELLENT SAKURA MATCHA LATTE! High quality matcha in a cute japanese stationary shop, cafe and art gallery. Great for an afternoon stroll.

Food/drinks: matcha latte is good! Wish it was a little stronger matcha flavor Atmosphere: this is why you come here!! Lots of tables and things to look at. I want to buy everything!! It's also part gallery? :O Service: good service! Very busy and line gets long with 2 people running the place Price: $$ pricey but expected in this area read more

Usagi NY - Matcha Latte - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

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This is a very cute mini art gallery/quick bite/store. I brought some study materials the day I came here and was able to grab a small table with my friend along with a mugicha latte (It was the first time I've seen this and it was good! Would recommend you try if you want something outside of the usual - like matcha/hojicha latte). I love all the cute decors and they had an abundance of things displayed for sale. If I had unlimited funds, I'd definitely purchase a few things as gifts from here! I also ended up ordering an onigiri which the cashier brought out to me. It was warm and satisfied my cravings for it. Would recommend if you're in the area! read more

A really calm and beautiful place to lounge in, however the matcha latte is a bit overpriced and on the blander side. Note that they charge extra to make it iced. It's $7.75 hot and $8.50 iced. If you use a milk alternative, you're at $9.80 total. They advertise using ippodo matcha which is great, and but it would be great if they added an extra gram or two to make it stronger. I can understand paying a little more for the ambiance but just some feedback for the cafe! read more

Cute quiet cafe and gift shop with some books as well. Food was disappointing, quite underwhelming if you're familiar with Japanese food. Salmon was a bit overcooked, greens were undercooked, and onigiri sadly had perhaps 1 tablespoon of filling. Unfortunately the menu being overpriced (although perhaps not for the tourist-y vibe of the neighborhood) and the somewhat aloof/bothered staff bring it down slightly, although some staff are quite friendly! Worth coming in to take a look around if nearby and perhaps their drinks are better. read more

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Really cute concept, bookstore/gallery/cafe, could definitely have stayed here long just to vibe. The selection of Japanese home goods was very cute as well. We got matcha here and then went for a walk by the water. read more

We were hoping our experience here would be great because they advertised using high quality Ippodo Matcha. While the space is cool and quiet and has comfortable couches, the matcha latte itself was extremely disappointing. In terms of taste, they underused the matcha and added too much milk so it mostly tasted like a hot glass of milk. Additionally I ended up with a piece of the plastic chasen (matcha mixer) in my mouth which was not pleasant. When I pointed this out to the person managing the cafe, they just shrugged and didn't apologize or offer a replacement. I think it's safe to say we will not be coming back here! read more

Usagi NY - Matcha with a piece of the plastic chasen i found from the drink - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

What a lovely find while exploring Dumbo district in Brooklyn. Usagi is a wonderful combination between an art gallery and a cafe that is perfect for just relaxing and enjoying the world around you or getting some work done - there were a decent amount of people when we visited, but it was still a calm, quiet vibe. Plenty of seating options if you prefer. Both their matcha latte and Mizudashi were great choices and well-made. They also have a good food menu, and we grabbed a couple of the onigiri. While both the salmon and the spicy tuna were delicious, they didn't seem to be consistently made. For the spicy tuna, it was a good ratio of rice:tuna, but with the salmon, there was barely any meat, and most of the bites were just rice which was a bit disappointing. All the staff here are super friendly. A short walk from the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge Park, it's a great stop to just step away from the busy of NY and enjoy a coffee and enjoy the local art. read more

Usagi NY - Onigiri - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

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This place gets an A+ for vibes. The space is super nice, and there is a good amount of seating available. I liked that this place was both an art gallery and a cafe. The ambience is pretty quiet, with people quietly working on their laptops or reading a book. As for the food and drinks, I thought they were okay. The matcha latte and the onigiris were a little underwhelming. The flavor for the matcha latte felt a little bland, and the onigiris were mostly rice with little filling. read more

Usagi NY - Matcha Latte - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

Cute and quiet place to get work done or pick up a new book. Japanese cold brew was good! read more

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Love the space, such a cool selection of tea accessories and items however...girl at the register got rude when I asked her questions about teas and one of the bowls. She then proceeded to make the worst loose leaf tea- brewed for about a minute. The tea tasted like boiled water and way too much honey, and was so watered down that it was the color of the water. Upsetting when you come to a place that specializes in teas. read more

This gallery/cafe is super chill and comfy. The atmosphere overall is very quiet and chill. I got the hojicha latte and thought it was okay. It was underwhelming and tasted more like milk than actual hojicha. I had better hojicha at other cafes in nyc. As for the poke, it was pretty good. It was quite filling but the portion was quite small for the price. read more

Usagi NY - Hojicha Latte Poke Bowl - Small size - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

Minimalist bookstore and cafe - unexpected oasis for working and reading because there's so much construction and noise in this area of Dumbo. They have an art gallery in the front of the cafe with rotating exhibits. Delicious, warm Japanese meals for dine-in or takeaway. Not cheap as inflation rises, but generous portions- and worth it if you're going to spend some hours working or reading. I ordered the gyudon, which is tender and perfect with the rice. Loved being surrounded by culture and design books. I'll be back to try other items on the menu. read more

Usagi NY - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

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Got an iced matcha latte. It could've been stronger. Not the best matcha I've had. Not sweetened. A good place to sit down and relax. Seems like you can do work here. There are pieces of art you can look at as well. read more

They have an extremely poor system in giving out their food orders. I placed an order on the QR code that doesn't require an app and it says to wait until they call your name. My food was probably ready for a good 40 minutes but no one said anything. Went up to the register and the lady told me it was ready on the app so...where was it? It was hiding on the side behind the counter. I never received a ready notification anywhere. Anyways, that system is pretty shitty as they'll sometimes call names out and then won't. As such, food was mediocre. Gyudon was about $18 after tax. It had a lot of rice and onion and was just overall really mushy. Might have been the fact that it was just sitting there but I grade things as I receive them. The matcha latte was ok but cost me about $8 for the smallest serving which is fine depending on the quality of matcha used. I heard their coffee is supposedly good but never got the chance to try it. Good work space with wifi and environment but gets extremely busy during lunch. Not sure if I would come by here again in the future since it seems to be a hot mess. read more

Usagi NY - Matcha latte - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

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Cute space and like the gift shop, but the service is bad (very, very long wait) and the barista is rude and shouldn't be working in a customer facing role. Tea is very average. read more

A great spot to do work or spend an afternoon in! The location around the area has some cute spots but is mostly under constructions as of now, but doesn't impact the ambiance of this place. There are many outlets located around the area along with couches and desks to work. It's fairly quiet in the weekday mornings so you can definitely come by and take calls, but it does pick up in the afternoon and gets quite busy. The coffee is decent- matcha is not the best in my opinion. Would definitely get the food here though as it tastes super homemade and authentic. The noodles and the bulgogi both make for a great afternoon lunch. Would definitely come back to do work or just catch up with someone! read more

Usagi NY - Bulgogi - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

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It's cute inside and the matcha is nice, but it's offensively overpriced. They really must think they are superior- no, just mediocre and overpriced. read more

What's nice is it's a gallery and cafe with books and couches and also stationary to look at. It's a fun place to pop around in and meet up with a friend. I found the matcha latte bland though and it was 8 dollars. the drinks are very expensive read more

I've been trying for a while but finally made it to @usaginy on a Friday afternoon. Was planning on working there but the wifi couldn't connect to my Macbook or iPhone so that failed I really liked the idea of art + books + cafe. Reminds me a lot of the stationery and book stores back in Tokyo (thinking Iidabashi area specifically)! The drink is definitely pricey but since you can sit for a while I think it makes sense. I didn't love my drink that much, felt like the matcha got watered down by the ice, and kuromitsu jelly were diced up too tiny for me to really enjoy it. Would be down to try maybe just the regular matcha or matcha latte next time though! read more

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The mizudashi ($5) for 16 oz was underwhelming and dare I say overpriced. Maybe I am not sophisticated enough in the taste bud department to differentiate between this and other iced coffees. I will come back to try the food. The space is very meditative and nice and I saw a lot of people studying and doing other work. read more

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Cute cafe and modern furniture. The matcha cream was good, but the matcha could've been stronger. Love the atmosphere and selection of Japanese pastries, savory foods, and other Japanese drinks. The front half sells books and other cute things. Will be back to try the food. read more

Usagi NY - Matcha cream - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

I was so excited to try this place because of the gallery and atmosphere. The matcha was one of the worst matchas I've ever had, and I strive to taste ceremonial grade, high-quality matchas. It was also the most expensive I've ever paid for a matcha (which is not out of the ordinary as a LA native and frequent New Yorker). But for it to be really gross, watery, and $8.44 (with reg milk) is really disappointing. They have a menu with what looks like many options of great matcha, but my "matcha cream" looked nothing like the pictures. It looked like a cheap donut shop matcha. Not to mention the energy in there was odd upon walking in and the employees weren't very welcoming nor seemed happy to be there. read more

Usagi NY - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

They use real Japanese matcha & you can taste the difference. 10/10 Japanese food as well and a great place to work.

Usagi NY is a cute little Japanese cafe with a little art gallery in the front and small tea and poke shop in the back. They have many authentic Japanese teas, drinks, and snacks available for purchase and have a comfy sitting area for you to sip and eat just behind the art gallery. They have plenty of books to pore over while eating your food/drink. If you have any questions about the items on the menu, the person working the register at the tea shop is very knowledgeable! Usagi is the perfect pit stop if you've just finished crossing the Brooklyn Bridge! read more

Usagi NY - Genmaicha tea 12oz - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

Super aesthetic, peaceful and beautiful place. A bookstore and gallery disguised as a stunning cafe :) very specious, lots of cute and unique seats, adorable tea sets and stationary for sale! Got the beef bowl and it tastes like bulgogi/ ! Delicious. The iced latte is also really good! My sister says it's really hard to find GOOD coffee in nyc and she's so happy to have found another treasure! Lots of books around if you've finished your work and need something to fill the time here. WiFi is also fast!!! Staff are kind! Just love everything about this place. 11/10 recommend. read more

Usagi NY - Beef Bowl (Gyu Don), Iced Latte with sweetener - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

I've gone here a few times for lunch. I love their hojicha and combo soba. Their gyudon has a bit too much rice for me, and that's saying something as a rice lover. Their Inari sushi is pretty good and comes with some fresh and pickled vegetables. Similar with their onigiri (I had the spicy tuna). My friend had their chicken curry and didn't like it as much as the gyudon, but I've yet to try it myself. Eager to try other drinks and food next time. The environment is very nice, cute, fun, and quiet. The staff are sweet and hospitable. Be sure to ask for a receipt upfront if you need it; the default is to not give one, which is fine for many people these days--but not all! read more

well made matcha, i think it could've been a tad stronger for the price being so high but a solid choice for when you're in DUMBO read more

Usagi NY - matcha - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

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I got their cold brew and it was...really sour....and my friend got like a brown sugar matcha and it was too sweet..the coffee shop has a cool artistic vibe with couches and alittle shopping corner...but something about the place felt like it was fully furnished, the cafe area was in a dark corner and it just didn't feel like a well established place. Unique vibe with art gallery touches but the drinks were kinda bad and I just wouldn't come back again. The barista was very nice though read more

I really wanted to like this place because the idea of a place that's cafe, art gallery, and a bookstore was really appealing. However I'm a bit disappointed with their food. I ordered inari sushi set and a onigiri in tuna mayo flavor. I find the onigiri extremely expensive at $7 but I ordered it anyways hoping the quality is superior. Unfortunately the quality of onigiri was poor and especially the rice was mushy and the tuna mayo flavor was very blend. Inari had a good flavor but again the most important ingredient, rice, was very mushy. read more

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How can I not give this beautiful oasis 5 stars? 10 stars for ambiance and 4 stars for the hojicha pie I had, so ... still rounds up to 5. One of my visiting friends suggested that we check out Usagi, and I was delighted when I walked in. Usagi is a bookstore, art gallery, cafe, and home goods shop perfectly blended into one. I love the architecture and space, carefully designed by a Japanese architect (read about him at Usagi!). The lounge spaces are comfortable, minimalistic yet eclectic, and thoughtfully put together. I wish I had had an opportunity to try the Japanese food they had, but I had lunch plans elsewhere. I got a hojicha pie slice to share (sourced from an outside bakery) and I liked the filling a lot, though I thought the crust could be better. Overall, I'd definitely come back to chill, catch up with friends, or even do some work in a serene space. read more

What a beautiful space. You walk through a beautiful gallery space that's all clean lines and abstract art to get to their beautiful counter that is bedecked with all sorts of interesting coffee/tea contraptions and paraphernalia but still somehow manages to feel uncluttered. If you like matcha, you have to try their matcha latte. You can personalize sweetness and milk type, I always get soy and unsweetened, and it only comes in one size. Its a little pricey at around $6 but I really feel like it's just another piece of art being offered up here. Yes, I'm a matcha snob, deal with it. Oh, and I hear the coffee is really good too, and I believe it. read more

Usagi NY - Bookstores Near Me - Dumbo, New York

Pretty overpriced, nothing was that great but the space is beautiful and the design books are on point. The food was fine, too sweet though which is disappointing. Matcha too watered down. Biggest turnoff was the cashier girl. Like, your serving tea and bowls of noodles, you're not that special. Not sure how someone like this even makes it through life. Def don't recommend tipping her service, esp bc it's all overpriced anyway. read more

Having delicious Japanese food in a library. That sums it up. A gem in Brooklyn's DUMBO neighborhood (near the Brooklyn Bridge). Usagi is a Japanese art gallery, bookstore, and cafe. We stumbled upon this place while exploring the DUMBO area. Everything is so neat, clean and in modernist white lines. There is a library feel to it (behind the gallery where the cafe is). They sell cold bento boxes (though they can reheat it at the customer's request), Japanese snacks and drinks along with tea and coffee. The seating area is extremely comfortable. The atmosphere is generally pleasant, subdued (not library level hush hush but quiet), and relaxed. Love their thoughtful decor and all the books on the shelf that you can read while sipping tea or having a bento box. read more

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A one of a kind experience here! The art gallery with books and a Japanese cafe? That's literally perfection. The vibe is so unique and special it's like a gem in NYC. A perfect study spot. Their cafe items are pretty good- a bit pricey than most but I feel it's not too bad. Some of the iced drinks are not the best if I have to be honest such as the iced hot chocolate but I liked their other iced drinks like the Hojicha latte. Something like that would normally make me take away a star but i just can't give this place anything less than a 5/5. Only other thing is that the hours are so short :( but other than that I love this place so so much it's probably one of my favorite lounge spots ever. read more

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What a soothing, delicious spot. The matcha latte was the best I've had! Slightly sweetened with honey, it didn't have the grassy taste of other matchas, or the powdery taste. In fact, you can watch them make it with such detail and care, no wonder it's so good. The space itself is mostly straight, sleek and wood, full of design books, a gift shop, a cafe and even an art gallery. You really feel like you've found an oasis here, and I can't wait to come back and try their lunch bento boxes available on a weekday. 5 stars!!!!!! read more

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The matcha and coffee are both underwhelming for the high price. The service is bad and the baristas and owner are all rude. I had high hopes for this place but they are clearly happy to take your money and get you out as quickly as possible. An extremely unwelcoming atmosphere - you're better off going to one of the much better coffee shops in the area. read more