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Balancero

4.8 (109 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

Balancero Photos

Business Info

BALANCERO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for working
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Balancero

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Reviews With Photos

Outside
Joseline B.

I found this small spot while walking around Astoria and really impressed me the amount of people were walking away with their sandwich, just made me want to grab one! The place is small but pretty cozy, they even gave me a free mini donut which I found really sweet! The sandwich could not be warm up cause their policy is to eat it fresh, and it was DELICIOUS!!! There was not much of space to sit but their service was pretty fast!

Chocolate strawberry croissant
Nancy C.

Whenever someone asks for a coffee recommendation in Astoria, I always say "Balancero." Why? It's a local hole in the wall (quite literally, almost) grab-and-go coffee shop that makes really, really good drinks. From espressos, to lattes, to matchas, everything I've tried tasted delicious--strong and memorable. Other than the great drinks, I also love seeing everyone lining up and chatting it up at the window counter. And for regulars, they'll always say hello when you visit ... or ask where you've been if you haven't in awhile. Definitely a local spot with the nice neighborhood vibe here. If you'd like something to pair with your beverage, they also have donuts, sweet + savory croissants, pastries, and more. Pro tip: get a punch card so you can get a free drink after it's done.

Vanilla iced latte
Leila A.

Best coffee ever! The service was fast and great too. Can't wait to come back, thank you :)

Jason T.

Ate and brought here today while working as a substitute paraprofessional at P.S. 234 Q on a rainy day. I had ate and brought the prosciutto croissant sandwich with a side of seasonal iced tea that it tasted really good and delicious. The service there was also attentive and pleasant that I even got a complimentary donut for trying for the first time. Finally, I would definitely eat and come back again next time.

Iced Caffe Latte (~$6) with oat milk (+$1)
Aya E.

Ordered: Iced Caffe Latte (~$6) with oat milk (+$1) Mini Donut - Hazelnut Cream (~$2) Mini Donut - Vanilla Cream (complimentary) Aya's take: Balancero is somewhat of a hole in the wall coffee spot but you'll know you're there when you see the line of people outside and smell the fresh coffee beans. The Iced Latte was exactly what I needed and really well-made! It was creamy, silky, and strong. I was debating between the 2 flavors of Mini Donuts and ended up choosing the Hazelnut Cream. The worker threw in a Vanilla Cream one so I can try it and see which one I like better. This was so appreciated; great customer service! I ended up liking the Hazelnut Cream more as it tasted fresher and was more filled than the Vanilla Cream. Great local coffee spot to support if you're in Astoria!

Carol S.

One of my favorite coffee shops in Astoria! They don't have seating since it's a window, but they have a bench outside. There's usually a line because their coffee and pastries are delicious! It's a local hotspot. Get the strawberry croissant.

Diane L.

Great little coffee shop with good coffee drinks and pastry. I got the plain croissant with a regular drip coffee. Croissant is nice and crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. I love a fresh baked croissant with my coffee and didn't know they baked on premise here so this was a pleasant surprise. Cute local neighborhood vibe. Busy. Service is good. Happy to support this local business.

Croissant
Beryce G.

Food (5/5) - Didn't get to try their coffee since I already had some earlier in the day but I did try their prosciutto sandwich which was yummy and well-portioned for roughly $9! - Also got a free croissant which was nice and flakey Service (5/5) - Really great service. I told them it was my first time and they threw in a free croissant Ambiance - They don't really have any seating inside. They had a few seats outside. - Could possible stop by here to grab coffee with a friend and sit on one of the chairs or walk around, especially on a nice day

Croissants
Jenny C.

Didn't know what the hype was about since this place has a 5 star rating but I think my experience was pretty average. The croissants were probably the best part! The turkey croissant was about to be sold out and it had some arugula, cheese and pesto which was pretty big for a croissant sandwich! The service was average and the place was packed on the weekend in Astoria however I felt like the coffee was quite average as the espresso was slightly more on the acidic side and the flat white didn't have the flat white foam... it had a quite thick foam for a flat white which isn't really what a flat white is. The drip was typical. There were a few chairs outside but seems like there's no room to stand inside because of how busy it was and just in general the vibe was nothing special. I wish there were some seating inside or at least some tables outside to sit down but it's mainly for take out here.

Nutella strawberry croissant, apricot croissant, leek and cheese burke
Kimberly H.

Great coffee (double shot americano and cortado), really friendly neighborly service, and fun pastries to boot!

Iced chai latte. Mini vanilla donut. Mini Nutella donut.
Danielle M.

New favorite coffee shop in Astoria! I went today for a drink; I ended up getting an Iced Chai Latte at their to-go service window. The woman helping me (I wish I got her name) walked me through all the questions for my drink order (size, type of milk, if I'd like it dirty) with warmth, patience and a bright smile on her face! I also wanted to try one of their mini donuts; they had Nutella and Vanilla flavors. I decided to go with the Nutella and the woman helping me gave me a Vanilla Donut for free for me to try as well! It was so sweet of her and made my day! Incredible service and a delicious drink and donuts! I would highly recommend checking this place out if you haven't already! And I can't wait to go back!

Koob V.

Had a delightful time visiting this place. It was recommended by a friend. Though it's tucked in the neighborhood, it was easy to find because there was always a group of people gathered right outside the coffee shop. I love the simplicity of it and even though it's only about 200 ft.² they utilize the space very well. Espresso was well-balanced. Not too bitter, well rounded, but still cut through my cortado. Got to meet Zoki, who was very friendly and welcoming. He explained the philosophy of this place and told me that they're opened 7-4, 365 of the year because people will need coffee every day and they want to be there for their customers.

matcha latte

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

Stopped by on a rainy day and such great lattes!!! Amazing service and super cute too :-)

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5 years ago

Excellent coffee every time. Staff is very friendly. I just wish it were a larger shop. I'd absolutely stay for a while.

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6 years ago

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7 years ago

Best coffee in the area... Hopefully this review sticks... Since bullies at yelp are deleting reviews in order to extort $$ from businesses.

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5 years ago

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6 years ago

Awesome espresso bar on a side street in Astoria. These Serbian guys make the best espresso drinks in the area.

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7 years ago

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Inès

Inès

4.4(163 reviews)
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Wanted to write this review based on the wheelchair accessibility and laptop areas…read more There are coffee shops in the neighborhood with laptop rules that say you have to sit at the high tables. Obviously as a wheelchair user, I cannot sit at the high tables, and when I have asked the staff for understanding, other places have denied me. Ines let me use my laptop at a wheelchair accessible table without any fuss. Mark was very gracious. When I asked, he said, "we will make an exception." I felt heard without advocating for common sense and I greatly appreciate the humility. Thank you!

Ines is the jack of all trades of neighborhood cafes - whether you're just starting your day with a…read morestrong cup of coffee or winding down with a glass of wine after a night shift, there is something for everyone here. The coffee is excellent - I believe it's roasted by devocion. I also love how they serve their coffee in glass/ceramic cups and glasses for those dining in. I usually will get the healthy start - I love their dressing and the eggs are always seasoned perfectly. The staff are nice but can seem a little stressed when things get busy. They adhere to strict "no laptops and tablets before 2pm" and "no outside coffee" policies.

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Breads Bakery - Upper East Side - Black & white cookie

Breads Bakery - Upper East Side

4.2(108 reviews)
2.3 mi•Upper East Side, Yorkville
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Breads Bakery does a fab job with holiday preorders. The process was seamless and so much better…read morethan stressing out and running to multiple locations to try to get doughnuts. They have a table to pickup preorders so you don't have to wait in the main line. I ordered a dozen for $39. You can select your assortment. Here's my review in order from the best to the least desirable, according to our group. Vanilla custard- the filling was thick and speckled with vanilla beans. It wasn't too sweet. This was the best according to our group. Strawberry filled- this is most traditional and Breads Bakery does a nice job. The jam is homemade. Pistachio- this doughnut was filled with smooth pistachio cream and was topped with a few pieces of pistachio. Not traditional, but they did a good job. Chocolate- the filling tasted like a semisweet or bittersweet cream/custard. Like the others, it was smooth. The vanilla was more popular among our group and I personally didn't love this doughnut. Mango- this was the one that those in my group felt missed the mark. It wasn't cloyingly sweet, so that was good, but the filling didn't do anything for us either. If you're looking for a mango dessert the one at Lysée is a real winner.

It pays to have a loyalty card because today I was able to get an iced cappuccino free! FREE is the…read moreoperative and a happy word. Normally, I frequent the Union Square location where I got the loyalty card and finally was able to have this iced drink on such a hot day. David, the barista, made my coffee and I am sitting inside an air conditioned space enjoying the Java treat!

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Oslo Coffee Roasters

Oslo Coffee Roasters

4.3(299 reviews)
1.9 mi•Upper East Side, Yorkville
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This is not a sit down and yap/sit down and work kind of coffee spot. It's small and there's only…read moreone table in the tiny corner of the shop where it's mainly people sitting to quickly drink their coffee or wait for their friends to get coffee. Most people are in and out. The coffee is rich and flavorful. The pastries are not bad either. Definitely a good neighborhood spot for those that aren't looking to spend their whole day in a coffee spot but instead are looking to grab and go.

Let me tell you why this coffee shop stands above the rest:…read more 1. They use quality beans. I'm a home barista and use Oslo's beans for my americanos. When I moved to the UES, I was worried finding a new local roaster. I've had bad experiences where the beans are too oily or something is off that messes with my usually grind size/extraction time. No issues with Oslo's beans. 2. They actually know how to make a proper americano. Every coffee shop takes a standard cup, puts in the espresso shot, and then fills hot water to the brim of the cup. This destroys the flavor of the espresso. You end up with hot water that tastes slightly like coffee. Oslo chooses quality over quantity. They don't fill the water up to the brim, so you have a cup with 2/3 of liquid; however, this is a proper americano. You can taste the difference. At other shops, I just get drip coffee because they don't know what they're doing. Oslo knows what they're doing. That's why I come here.

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Oslo Coffee Roasters
Oslo Coffee Roasters - Cappuccino

Cappuccino

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San Babila

San Babila

4.4(59 reviews)
2.2 mi•Upper East Side

Perfect spot for a girls night! I'm so glad San Babila opened on the UES - it's a great addition to…read morethe neighborhood. Came on a friday night with my girlfriends. We were a little late for our reservation, and they gave our table away, which was quite annoying. However, the service, hospitality, and food more than made up for it. Someone came over to apologize for the mix up and offered us complimentary white wine while we waited for another table to open up. The wine was delicious! When we were finally seated, we started with some drinks. I got the Speranza, and it was light, fresh, and delicious! We were pleasantly surprised by the complimentary bread basket brought to the table, as it's a rarity in nyc these days. We split a burrata amongst the table. Loved the addition of figs. I ordered the rigatoni all'aragosta for my dish, which was beautifully presented and tasted even better than it looked. There was a decent portion of lobster in the dish, and I couldn't even finish all of it, I was so full. One of the best pasta dishes I've had in a while. My friends ordered the bolognese and the fettuccine alla nerano, and they enjoyed their dishes as well! We skipped dessert this time, but I would definitely be back for it. I also want to try the paccheri next time, as well as their coffee shop in the mornings! Overall, a well executed restaurant with great ambience (would be great for a date night with the dim lighting and ability to hear each other speak). They just need to get a bigger dining room so they can seat more parties because they always seem to be booked full!

Place looks nice, service was good but unfortunately, food was fair. Started with the burrata…read more Visually appealing and looked like a large portion with all of the accoutrements. Unfortunately, it was totally bland and not large at all. The side sauce added nothing and over 30$ with tax/tip. For entrees, we shared the lobster pasta and the guazzetto di Pesci. The pasta was good. Reasonable amount of pasta but we would have liked some more chunks of lobster for the price. I thought the sauce was only ok but my girlfriend liked it. The guazzetto di Pesci was only fair. The sauce was lacking flavor. Also a very small bowl of broth with maybe 3 small shrimp and muscles, a few small chunks of fish. and two sad, tiny pieces of bread on the side. Since we were still quite hungry after the meal, we ordered the lotus chocolate caramel dessert. This was the only dish we really liked. kinda hard to mess up gelato though. It came with a hard outer candy shell and a very small cookie center that was sweet and delicious. Overall, an average meal at best that we both felt was lacking in taste and size. Won't return.

Photos
San Babila - Front bar area

Front bar area

San Babila
San Babila - Dining room area

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Dining room area

Balancero - coffee - Updated May 2026

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