After hearing all the hype about Verse Cafe, I had to check it out for myself and it definitely lived up to it. I originally wanted to try their persimmon matcha, but sadly it wasn't available when I went since it's a seasonal drink. Ended up trying the strawberry matcha instead and wow... it was so good. The in-house strawberry syrup was fantastic and tasted fresh without being overly sweet or artificial. You can also tell they use quality matcha because the flavor really comes through. It had a strong matcha taste without crossing into bitterness, and the balance between the earthy matcha and sweet strawberry was super well done. Not too sweet, not too bitter! Just really smooth and balanced overall. Definitely understand why this place gets so much love on social media. Excited to come back and hopefully try the persimmon matcha next season. read more

Verse - Strawberry matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

I've heard so much about the matchas that are sold here, so it's been on my list for awhile. And I finally made my way over. I've noticed that this cafe has a good stream of people always coming in. You do have to wait a bit for your order because they bulk prepare their orders. But, it's definitely worth a try. I personally got to try the strawberry matcha. The matcha flavor was good. As for the strawberry bottom, it was more jam-y than I expected. It was the exact taste of strawberry jam that you would put on a toast than pure crushed strawberries. Although this particular one isn't my preferred strawberry matcha, I think some people would enjoy it. I did like the sweetness that came from it. read more

Verse - Matcha Einspanner & Strawberry Matcha - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Honestly this is my favorite spot in Astoria/LIC for matcha and in my top 5 for NYC without a doubt. The outside might not strike you as a cafe as they have dark tinted windows of very minimalist design and just the word 'verse' printed in white. When you walk in the cafe has some seating and most people were on laptops working. It's a very lowkey vibe with calm music playing in the background. The highlight are the seasonal drinks! I first came when they had the persimmon matcha and I was MINDBLOWN- can't wait for it to come back. This time I went and grabbed the earl grey lavender matcha and the strawberry matcha both delicious. The flavor of matcha is rich and good. Would highly encourage you to try it out. Friend said the strawberry matcha was one of the best she ever had. From what I know as well they make all their jams and purees fresh in house! The matcha is at a bit of a hefty price tag of $8 just about after tax but in my option -- worth it! Unfortunately don't have the pic of the persimmon matcha but it was the star out of all 3. read more

Verse - Strawberry matcha - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

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4.5 stars. The interior design at this cafe was SO nice. Dark warm wood walls, modern short glasses for drinks, jewel-tone dinnerware, plants in ceramic pots; yes I did take a picture of their bathroom for inspiration. The detail of the strip of the same color wood sectioning off the tile wall was so smart. Was influenced & finally made my way here. I got an iced matcha einspänner with oatmilk. Total was about $8.75 ish. It was really good, a medium flavored unsweetened matcha. VERY smooth, their powder seems well ground. The sweet cream top was thick & just the right amount. It's on the sweeter side, but since the Matcha is unsweetened, it works well but leans more towards dessert sweet. Really appreciate the amount of ice that the barista used, which wasn't that much & a small block of it. I will say that the Matcha had a stronger flavor at the beginning, but later on it tasted more on the milkly side. The cups are a bit shorter then a regular iced coffee cup, but also a bit more wide. I feel like the dine-in glassware is a smaller portion than the takeaway. The sizing falls between an American and a drink in Asia size. But I'm happy with the drink & sizing seems appropriate for the quality. The environment is very relaxed - great mellow jazz playlist! A lot of people were working on laptops when I was there (12:30pm Thursday). There was a steady stream of families, workers from the area, dog owners, 2 newish mothers came in with their strollers, people sitting outside. It felt like a cross-section of NYC & customers of all different backgrounds, essentially Astoria represented (Eastern European, Muslim, Black, Asian, White). The staff was very calm and whisking diligently! They didn't rush you when ordering or serving. The cafe is only a block or 2 away from the subway & actually more convenient than I thought. I wouldn't say the walk is very pretty, kind of like a through side avenue you walk down to get to the subway quickly. There's a few small businesses & a new apartment building across from the café. Glad to support this small biz. May have to come back and try the Strawberry Matcha, Black Sesame Latte, maybe a version of Hojicha Einspänner? Too bad I missed the Persimmon Matcha. read more

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Matcha and egg sando were both good! Was able to get a seat at the counter as well and service was relatively quick even though it was busy read more

Verse - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

The hype is absolutely real, the matcha here is incredible. Setting: Bright cafe with seating (but gets full quickly) and a long line. Service: Quick, kind, and efficient. The lines are long though - I waited 20 mins. for this matcha! Drinks: I ordered the Iced matcha einspanner (with whole milk); the earthy matcha was delicately complemented by the lightly sweet, thick einspanner cream. read more

Verse - Matcha Einspanner - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Tried one of their signature drinks, the earl grey lavender matcha latte, and it was beautifully balanced: earthy, refreshing, with just the right hint of sweetness. I also ordered the soy-marinated tuna rice bowl, which contained both lean tuna and otoro (fatty tuna). The rice was perfectly seasoned, honestly I probably could've finished two bowls myself. The space itself was inviting, with a cute interior, a mix of table and bar seating, and outdoor seating which is perfect on a nice sunny day. Just be prepared to wait bc the line was really long and didn't seem to end even when I left the cafe. read more

Verse - earl grey lavender matcha latte, strawberry matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Famous for their matcha, this spot was not a let down. Located in Astoria, this neighborhood coffee shop was bustling when I came. It has some bar seating and table seating inside as well as outdoor seating. I got their strawberry matcha with their housemade strawberry jam and thought that it was amazing. Matcha was rich and bright and the strawberry puree wasn't too sweet. With free wifi as well, it wouldn't be a bad spot to get some work done! read more

Verse - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Ordered: Osmanthus Honey Latte (~$7): Espresso, Milk, & Osmanthus Honey Aya's take: I'm sad my beloved Verse is gaining so much popularity! (Happy for them and sad for me, of course). They've gotten so busy with lines out the door and despite that, I'm happy to say the quality hasn't gone down one bit. This is my first time trying an espresso-based drink here and dare I say, it might be top 2! The Osmanthus Honey Latte was so delicately balanced. The espresso was bold and you can actually taste it in every sip and the Osmanthus honey was so well incorporated that it didn't even feel like a separate ingredient. It wasn't too sweet but just enough to offset the bitterness of the espresso, and the milk gave it a nice creamy element too. It's one of those drinks you never want to end. Kudos to the staff for continuing to do an incredible job and until next time! read more

Verse - Osmanthus Honey Latte (~$7) - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Cute space inside, very hipster feeling. I like the bar they have for seating. Black Sesame Latte (seasonal) - My cousin loved her drink! I had a small taste and it hit the spot. Iced Matcha Einspanner - Sweet cream top and sugarless matcha mixed together was perfection. Tastes just like einspanners in LA. Hojicha Latte - One of my bf's favorite adventures is trying hojicha at cafes to compare. Unfortunately, this didn't have a strong hojicha flavor and while there is milk, there's no sugar added so he poured a little simple syrup. Overall, service was standard and worth giving this place a try! read more

Verse - Iced matcha einspanner, hojicha latte, black sesame latte (seasonal) - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

In my quest to find the best matcha in the city, I stumbled upon Verse, known for the matcha einspanners. I decided to try that, and I would say it's comparable to the good matcha lattes in LA (LA has some of the best matcha lattes, no argument). I recommend pairing the einspanner with oat milk as the cream top is already thick and creamy. The preset sweetness it comes with is also perfect, not too sweet, and allows the matcha's smooth flavor to come through. It's such a trek for me to get to Verse from my apartment in Manhattan but totally worth it. I will have to try the strawberry matcha and hochija next! read more

Verse - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Loveee a good matcha. The strawberry in the matcha strawberry tasted fresh. The matcha powder wasn't that grassy. Overall, it did taste a bit milky but still, the whole drink itself was yum. Sesame latte: wowww! So rich in flavor, thick and creamy. I would highly recommend this. I think it's like the underdog. Matcha Einspanner was good as well. Definitely slightly tasted creamier and milkier than matcha strawberry. read more

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Solid matcha! I love the taste of the Einspanner (cold foam). The space is cute, but there's not much room to sit. My partner and I ended up finding a table, and it was nice. Long line, but nice experience overall. read more

Verse - Einspanner - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Probably gonna be my new favorite coffee shop in town. Although unassuming from the outside, as soon as you step inside, the atmosphere is home-y, giving off a very tranquil vibe. Got their strawberry matcha with almond milk to go. Although there is a short wait, worth sitting by and waiting for your order. It is definitely not cheap (almost $9), relative to Astoria standards, it is a great small treat. I feel like it would be a great spot to work from or read in. I might drop by another time with a book to enjoy one of their seasonal offerings! read more

Verse - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

This is one of my favorite cafes and some of the best matcha i've had in NYC. I got the Earl Grey Matcha Latte ($7.50) and it was delicious. I thought the earl grey syrup paired perfectly with the matcha and the consistency was just right. I will say it was a bit on the sweeter side so if you don't like sweet drinks then definitely ask for less syrup. It can get pretty crowded on weekends so keep that in mind when it comes to seating. You will most likely need to take the drink to-go. read more

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I had seen this place all over TikTok so naturally I was influenced, but also returning to my favorite neighborhood in NYC really sealed the deal. I'm definitely more of a coffee than matcha person but it has grown on me over the years. I love a good soft top so I ordered the iced matcha einspanner. Super flavorful and if you're a matcha fanatic you will love it. I want to return to try the food and the hojicha! read more

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A beautiful addition to Astoria; finally a matcha spot I can vouch for. Wonderful baristas that are so talented in their matcha making skills! The einspanner was indulgent and creamy; so delish. The strawberry matcha was perfect, the matcha complimented the house made strawberry jam; balanced and light. The star of the show was the earl grey lavender matcha; holy moly it was to die for; best creation I have ever tasted. I will be back to try new creations, to have my daily matcha dose or to sit down and study read more

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such a cute and cozy cafe!!! I had the strawberry matcha and egg sando and had some of the smoked salmon toast. the food was such high quality I was actually pleasantly surprised. egg sando was very light and bread was very soft. the smoked salmon toast was the star of the show, never seen anything like this where it's deconstructed and you kind of make it yourself or dip it. this was soo flavorful, fish was great quality, and the olive oil was also such high quality. I will be back to try other food items!! As for the matcha, it's very good but I think a little light. Paired with the strawberry, it's a bit too sweet but you can adjust the sweetness. I've also tried the seasonal persimmon matcha in the fall and it was the best matcha latte i've ever had in my life. Such a gem in Astoria! read more

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AMAZING MATCHA! I have been a huge enthusiast for Matcha for many years and this place has one of the BEST matcha lattes you can find. The iced persimmon matcha latte was the star for me, which was smooth, earthy matcha balanced with a subtle natural sweetness from the persimmon that felt seasonal. It was refreshing without being overly sweet. Only downside was that it can only be served cold due to the persimmon jam and it was single digits outside; however, definitely would get this again. The Earl Grey Lavender Matcha Latte was also solid and the beautiful floral notes from the lavender paired so well with the bergamot in the earl grey. This was a solid hot drink option. They also had a few food options that seemed really interesting to me, which included handrolls, toast, and various sandwiches. I got the egg sando salad, which had soft, fluffy eggs with enough mayonaise to make it so creamy. It wasn't too heavy and filling enough for breakfast. This place is extremely popular with long lines so come early. People come and go every few minutes so it wasn't hard to get a seat. They also have a lot of staff working to make all the drinks and food, especially on the weekend so that wait was not that bad. I will definitely be back for my next matcha fix! read more

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Very cute. I always thinking of ordering something different but I love the strawberry matcha, it's always the perfect color and the sweetness from the strawberries compliments the matcha. The staff is friendly. read more

Verse - Strawberry matcha - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

their matcha einspanner is great. tbh I would've been very happy with the base matcha latte -- smooth and full-bodied, no astringency -- but the cream was done exceptionally well too, and fulfilled the sweet cravings! this with a strawberry matcha was $17.15 post-tax read more

Verse - matcha einspanner, strawberry matcha - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Quite literally my favorite neighborhood cafe. My only wish is that they would serve brunch all week & that the lines weren't so long lol. I love their matcha, especially the matcha einspanner. I wish I got to try the viral persimmon one but I didn't get to go when it was in season. My go to brunch items are the egg sandwich, the soy marinated tuna bowl and the salmon toast. The fish is so fresh and that's because they get their delivery in the morning of! The service is great, although a bit slow. However, that does mean they take their time and effort with each drink which I can't complain about. read more

Verse - Soy marinated tuna bowl to go - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

This cafe was one of the most highly recommended cafes in Astoria and I knew I had to go there for their matcha. I got there around 5pm and there was a huge crowd. They hand whisk their matcha for each drink so that is why the wait is so long but it is so worth it. Their Earl Grey Lavender Matcha Latte is probably one of the best matcha drinks I've had in my life!! You can taste each element in the syrup and the matcha flavor also shines through in the drink. I love this cafe and I will def come back! read more

Verse - Earl Grey Lavender Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Service: 4/5 Food: 4.3/5 Price: $20-$30 Pretty bustling café + popular spot, which is surprising to me since the surrounding neighborhood seems quiet. I think it's because they do well on social media. Good co-working café with plentiful outlets, good lighting + generally low background noise. Efficient use of space in terms of seating (tables + bar) + line management. Clean + simple aesthetic. The self-service water station is a nice touch. What I Ordered: - Egg Sando: little messy, light bite - Andouille Sausage Egg + Cheese: not spicy like I expected, well balanced - Persimmon Matcha Latte (seasonal): mild taste, fresh persimmon jam, balanced sweetness read more

Verse - Andouille Sausage Egg + Cheese, Egg Sando, Persimmon Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

After getting KBBQ in Queens and discovering that Verse was nearby, we stopped by. The inside was packed and people had their laptops out despite it being too busy at that time for it to be a laptop-friendly cafe. Regardless, we were able to find a table for the four of us. I had wanted the persimmon matcha but it turned out to be out of season :( so I got the strawberry matcha instead. The matcha was so good and I finished in within probably 10 minutes. It was definitely in the top 5 matchas I have ever had and I would definitely return if I'm in the area. read more

Verse - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Loved the vibes and the undertone of the coffee shop overall. Went very early and it was quiet, dimly lit and fairly empty though I suspect it gets pretty busy on the weekend. There's free WiFi and an ample amount of space to work remotely from. Also surprised to see there was not a laptop policy enforced on the weekend. Known for their matcha, they also offer small bites and other drink alternatives as well. The Earl Grey Lavendar Matcha was beautiful but a bit sweet for my taste. Highly recommend the Iced Matcha Eispanner!!! Matcha quality was supreme and the foam top was so yummy! It wasn't too sweet and tasted absolutely divine. Not usually a fan of coffee but enjoyed their Osmanthus Honey Latte as well! Additionally, there is a small food menu only available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday. The Tuna Handroll was only $10 and pretty good. The Egg Sando was also calling my name but atlas I did not have time to try it! read more

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Been waiting to try this place for a while. It was a busy Saturday waited about 20/30 in line. Place was packed but the match was worth the wait. Place is small and every table is as taken even the outside ones but staff was very accommodating and willing to help and even thanked everyone for being so patient. Didn't get to have food this time around but everything that was coming out looked delicious. Place is nice and cozy but busy be ready to wait on busy weekends. read more

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Manhattan-quality cafe at Queens prices!! Verse is with Little Flower for my favorite coffee shop/cafe in the borough right now. Visited twice in the span of a few weeks and tried: + Iced strawberry matcha - just wow. I don't often order strawberry matcha but I'm glad I did here because it's the best one I've ever had. The chunks of fresh strawb are divine. + cold brew - excellent + Tamago sando - perfect + Horchata latte - great + Osmanthus honey latte - perfect + Apple oatmeal cookie -perfect Believe the food menu is weekends only. Also, they brew Sey coffee! read more

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Love having Verse in the neighborhood! Verse has a very calming and warm ambiance. We've had a little brunch here on the weekend, we've come here to do some laptop work when it's less busy, we've come here for just some good drinks and quality conversation time. The weekend menu food itself is pretty good but a tad expensive for smaller portions - at the same time, you can't really find similar food in the Astoria area. The drinks vary from good to amazing - I haven't had a bad drink from Verse but there are true standouts like the yuzu espresso tonic that is super well-balanced. read more

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This has been on my list for a while, and I was in the area and stopped by on a Friday morning. I've heard from friends that the lines on the weekend have gotten really long, but luckily there wasn't really a line when I went. The cafe was full and people were there doing work, so I ended up getting take out. I got the persimmon matcha latte and the egg sando. The persimmon matcha was pretty tasty - it has some cinnamon and spices in it so it felt very fall and cozy! The matcha flavor was also strong. I also appreciate that they have a lactaid option for free (other alternative milks are 50 cents). The egg sando was decent and the bread was super soft and fluffy, but I wish the filling as a bit more seasoned! (PS: They only serve food Friday - Sunday!) When the hype dies down a bit and the weekend lines are shorter, I would definitely go back! read more

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Coffee itself is great, but the ambiance every time I go stresses me out. I think we need a better laptop policy, at least on the weekends, since it's impossible to find a seat and people can camp out at the cafe for hours. It would be fine if there was more seating or if it wasn't this popular, but it truly has been overcrowded every time I go. A bit odd that they serve an extensive food menu on the weekends when seating is the busiest as well. Love the salted maple mandarin latte, so good and it's what brings me back here. But, I don't know if I can recommend the matcha, it's just okay. read more

I drove through crazy traffic (since LIRR on strike) for 30mins today just to come here, but ended up they are closed. I checked on google that they are opened today before I head over!! Plus I spent money for in the car meter for nothing now!! Very disappointed!! read more

Overall 3.5/5 I found the matcha here to be quite light bodied, lacking the deep nutty notes I typically enjoy. If you prefer a milder matcha flavor, it might be good enough. Be prepared for a wait if you go on a Saturday, the line was quite long during a late afternoon. read more

I came here to try the famous strawberry matcha drink! My friend ordered the persimmon matcha drink. The strawberry is sweet and delicious with a good balance of matcha that really balances out the sweetness. The persimmon taste more like a cinnamon, but it was still delicious! In terms of seating, we went on a Saturday morning, so it was extremely busy and a bit difficult to find a seat, but it was a really cute spot to check out. read more

Verse - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Love the ambiance in the cafe. They have some bar seats and tables for people doing work or studying. The matcha is so good! We tried both Strawberry Matcha and Matcha Einspanner. They use fresh strawberries so it's not syrupy or too sweet. The cream on the einspanner was so good, also not too sweet. Excited to try the persimmon matcha and some of their other seasonal drinks read more

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Went here a couple times and it's gotten more and more popular each time. Great place to work if you can grab a table. Drinks are great, they're a bit small but they don't skimp out on the matcha. The egg toast was good as well but a little bit pricy. Ambiance as a whole was really nice and calm and it's great that Astoria has a nice local cafe like this. read more

Verse - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Let's start this off by saying I am not a matcha guy. My buddy who is a connoisseur though rated this a 7.5/10. The line was pretty long because this place got picked up by the algorithm recently. We chatted with a girl in the line who is a regular and she gave us some recommendations. We got the ICED MATCHA EINSPÄNNER and this was a religious experience for me I had them add vanilla and it was the perfect balance of sweet and bitter. We were lucky to be able to grab a table as some people were leaving, but don't expect to get a table in peak hours, it's packed. read more

Always a solid choice for a little matcha or espresso!! The service is amazing as per usual they make drinks super quick even though the lines are long. It's nice and cozy with seats inside and outside. There's always seats when we go (usually the outsides ones because it's cold out). The employees are super friendly! The matcha einspanner is probably my favorite drink I've had so far! The salted maple mandarin latte is excellent too but I'm a matcha girl and my husband loves maple highly recommend read more

Verse - hot salted maple mandarin latte and Iced Matcha einspanner - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

Really amazing matcha -- the quality is so good and they whisk it to order. I'm so sick of bad quality matcha but this place does it right. I got the strawberry matcha and it was perfectly sweet while also striking a great balance with the matcha. I also got the egg sando takeaway, which was delish. Perfectly soft milk bread with the edges cut off, and the egg salad inside was creamy and just eggy enough. The cafe itself is also so cute. The woodsy interior makes it really cosy and elegant, with decent amount of seating. It would be perfect to sit and stay for a bit -- whether it's reading or chit chatting. Will be back again! read more

Verse - Egg sando - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

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A cute cafe in LIC! I loved the vibe of the place. I placed my order and took a seat. You can enjoy your drink to stay or to go. I opted to stay and my drink was brought out to me very quickly after placing my order. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating along with seating at a bar in the cafe which I haven't seen in a long time. It was really relaxing. Great music that isn't too loud and a comfortable environment to read or get work done. I got a lavander matcha latte and it was delicious. I definitely have to go back to enjoy their lunch menu and other specialty drinks read more

Verse - Cafes Near Me - Astoria, New York

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