Albany is the 338th largest city in the US. Jacob Alejandro would be right at home in some of the…read morelargest cities! The vibe is impeccable, truly comfortable and well designed! The staff were professional, pleasant, and coffee/tea focused! My wife enjoyed a black tea chai latte and I loved the reserve pour over coffee experience! I order pour over pretty much every time it's available at a coffee shop. Jacob Alejandro's pour over service is pretty much ceremonial! They serve it on a tray. The tray has the "pitcher", a glass for service, and a glass of palate cleansing jade tea in the middle. (I did have to ask what the jade tea was) The palate cleanse was the perfect start. The Costa Rican coffee was heavenly, one of those drinking experiences where even my amateur palate was engaged. It was truly nice to sit for a while and enjoy a great cup of coffee at Jacob Alejandro! Yes, they would fit in a larger city but smaller cities deserve great coffee also!

After going on a lovely walk through Albany's Washington Park on Easter Sunday, I noticed some…read moreactivity across the street at Jacob Alejandro. I was so surprised. Could they really be open on Easter Sunday? It seemed too good to be true. A great cup of caffeine was just what I needed at that very moment. So my friend and I crossed Madison Avenue and peeked into the tinted windows. Not only were they open, but the place was bustling. The inside of Jacob Alejandro is elegant and beautifully decorated. Furniture, plants, music and wall art are arranged to set moods. It feels more like a club than a coffee house. The baristas are super friendly, helpful and patient. As I tried to make up my mind on what to order, they offered suggestions. I wound up with matcha. I think my friend had some kind of latte. I remember both beverages were delicious. They were made to be savored slowly. We took in our surroundings and it was very relaxing. We'll visit again. Thanks Jacob Alejandro for a nice experience.

Best espresso I've had in Albany, and if you order for here, they'll plate it with sparkling water…read more Sweet! There's a big ordering and waiting area, so even when it's busy there's plenty of space. Local art on the walls, a variety of seating options downstairs, and one relatively clean restroom. Upstairs is the computer lounge, theoretically, except that the advertised WiFi doesn't work. There is no network with that name. Friendly baristas, some food options, although not a lot for vegetarians. Great location close to the park.

New location. Bigger location just across from where it was originally. Huge upstairs to do…read morecomputer work. Seasonal coffees available. There's a large seating area downstairs. I had a Seasonal latte and bagel and egg. Fair prices. They have a rewards system now so be sure to sign up. Employees were nice and explained the different Seasonal drinks. The new location is nice but I feel it might be to big and actually prefer the smaller orginal location.

We were helping our daughter move into off campus housing in the neighborhood. So lucky to have…read moreIron Coffee within easy walking distance! The woman working there is friendly and professional! Ethiopian Yirgacheffe pour over made building furniture tolerable, cold brew a few hours later kept us going!

Iron Coffee is a tiny café just a block from the pond at Washington Park. When I visited, there…read morewere only a couple of other customers, and the space felt cozy. There's no indoor seating, but in warmer months, a few tables are set up on the sidewalk. Service is fast, . The menu is small but covers all the classics, and every drink I've tried has been delicious. I love iced drinks on a warm day, but I'll have to come back for a hot coffee soon. Glad to have this spot in the neighborhood!

Love their seasonal/rotating coffee options! Coconut brews for the summer. Everyone is always so…read morefriendly and orders come up quickly!

I could have worked here all day. I love the relaxed decor with plants everywhere. My almond…read morecroissant was very good. My chai with almond milk was a bit too watery for me, but it tasted fine. I loom forward to returning and tasting their coffee.

Nice spot for a coffee near Washington Park! I stopped in…read moreon a weeknight as I'm one of the few people who drink caffeine in the evening and was looking for a coffee shop that was open later. They close at 7pm on weeknights, which is great. I love how beautiful the cafe is. There are tons of tables and good wifi too. I ordered an iced mocha, which was great, and the barista was helpful and friendly. I do wish they had a specialty coffee latte and some more dessert options. There were several savory pastries available when I went and I was having a major sweet tooth moment but thankfully the iced mocha hit the spot!

Albany's Washington Park is a gem in itself but it's also fortunate to have a number of great cafes…read moreand restaurants nearby. Among the more recent arrivals is Java Cafe on Madison Ave. It offers a nice variety of coffees, teas, other beverages and baked goods, all in a relaxing setting. What's more, they tell me that small dogs are welcome. I stopped in recently after taking a stroll in the park with my West Highland Terrier. I was surprised when they told me that my little dog could come in, too. I ordered the most wonderful hot chai latte with coconut milk and a dash of cinnamon. Since I was staying, it was served up in a stoneware cup with saucer. I also ordered a potato borek, which they explained was a small Turkish-style mashed potato pie. It was good. My friend ordered a delicious large house coffee with cream. The cafe is small but inviting with exposed brick walls. There's nice furniture and interesting wall art, including a banjo hung from one wall. But my favorite is the amoeba-shaped full length mirror with the words,"You look amazing," painted above it. How's that for giving customers encouragement? My little dog stood under our table and smiled. She was well behaved. There were several other customers but most of them looked lost- in -concentration over their laptops. It was a delicious and very calming experience for us after a nice walk in the park. Thanks, Java Cafe.

The evening crew is absolutely lovely -- from warm welcome to coffee, they were kind,…read moreknowledgeable, and keen. It looks like various food items were already sold out (I have a 8p train), but the selection was still decent and the café very clean. My mocha was piping hot! I'm not sure what brand of coffee they use, but the espresso was nice and bold. The mocha itself was fine, a underwhelming complement to the espresso. (Please note: there is a "Chocolate Espresso" on the menu which differs from a "Mocha" as there is no milk in the former.)

This is a small little cafe that gets overwhelmed with customers quickly when there is a connecting…read moretrain that will be there for a while. There are a few tables that fill up quickly as the bustling crowd lines up all around the store. While convenient in theory, I would encourage others to just wait until the cafe car on your train is open and grab something from there. Unfortunately this food is among the worst I've eaten while traveling. Sure, the food was not outrageously priced like at other stations or airports, but it wasn't good for what it was. I paid about $8 for a BLT that consisted of two plain, barely toasted pieces of bread with two pieces of bacon, 2 slices of tomato and a bunch of lettuce. That's it. I had to go back for a packet of mayo and it just made me sad. I also paid about $4.50 for a "fresh cup of fruit" which was just melon sitting in a cup that clearly was not freshly cut that day. I would say to avoid the "fresh" foods here and only purchase prepackaged snacks and drinks.

It's been so long since I've visited the Daily Grind. I really cannot say why I stopped going. It…read moreis a local gem that has served the area for decades. The breakfasts and coffee are solid. The staff is helpful and courteous. I showed up for breakfast recently. I ordered the Chorizo. Two eggs, two chorizo sausages with pepper jack cheese and spicy mayo on a sandwich roll. It was as good as I remembered. I also enjoyed the coffee included in the $11.45 price. I took the meal upstairs where there's additional seating. I ate it while seated inside the picture window, which is a good place to the activity along Lark St. The eatery is as eclectic as ever. There are signs and artwork on the walls from different eras that don't go together. The place is old and perhaps a bit musty. Still this place had so much history with the area and its mismatched decor is a part of its charm. Change may be good. But in the case of the Daily Grind, I'm happy to still be able to get a delicious meal at a reasonable price from a nice staff after all of these years. Comfort food at its best.

Still thinking about this sandwich!! Daily Grind is definitely going to be my new go to spot for a…read morebreakfast sandwich and coffee! It's no wonder why they are so popular and also one of the oldest cafes in Albany and still doing so well today! The cafe is a cute spot, with stool seating indoor and some tables outside. It's a bit unassuming but the bustle of the place definitely reflects how popular it is. They have so many options of sandwiches and to create your own and it is delicious!! The rolls were perfect and not tough at all, the sandwiches were so well done, I highly recommend the Lark street, the eggplant was so crispy and yum! They have fun specialty lattes and coffee as well. The girls working were welcoming and nice. While there was a bit of a wait, it's worth it and the do have an order ahead option too.

Best hookah lounge in upstate ! The owner Adam is amazing…read moregreat customer service make you feel at home and like family Hookah is amazing and such a great ambiance open late night, highly recommend !!

This is really just Sheba Al Yemen, but they changed their name and moved a couple doors up into a…read morenew location. The menu is the same and the people are as well. Food is delicious. Options for everyone. I always get tea there, but will have to try the coffee next time. The ambiance upstairs is beautiful. It feels like you're in the Middle East for real up there. I always get the foul with a Yemeni bread for breakfast and it's perfect. Service is super friendly.