Food/Drinks: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Do not let the name El Barrista or El Barrista Cafe fool you. This place has its own smooth, cool kind of energy that stands out in the neighborhood. It has been open for a little while and I have visited a few times. Honestly, I wish I lived closer. It is a social spot without being overwhelming. You can go in, get something to eat or drink, sit quietly, work on your laptop, or just relax without feeling rushed. The interior design is exceptional, especially for that neighborhood. You can tell everything was well thought out. The space is elongated, with a front area by the bar and a back section that feels extra cozy. The design elevates your mood the moment you walk in. It is comfortable, stylish, and intentional. Whoever planned it deserves a handshake and a plate of food. In the summertime they sometimes use a little of the outside space for events. They do not set up outdoor seating, but I have seen photos of special food setups out front that draw people in or are part of a special event that day. I often check their social media because they host trivia nights, social nights, and other community events. The owner clearly works hard to create a fun, safe, welcoming atmosphere. Now, just to be clear, this is not a Ghanaian food spot. It is your normal all American style coffee shop, just with the owner's twist added in. And his twist is excellent. I believe the owner is Ghanaian, and once upon a time they hosted an event with Ghanaian food, which caught my attention. I am still waiting for the day they bring back the jollof. When that happens, I am showing up with five people and an empty stomach. Overall, the prices are excellent, the quality of the food is good, the staff is friendly, and the vibe is always positive. El Barrista Cafe is a great addition to the neighborhood, and I am giving them a solid five. Cheers. read more

You want to like it, but you just can't bring yourself too on account of the food being way overpriced and way undersized, and the coffee just not tasting good. I'm sorry. I wish them them luck. read more

This was my first time coming here. When I arrived, I was the second person in line. There appeared to be some sort of event happening, and several people began jumping in line ahead of me to join their friends, so I ended up waiting about 15 minutes just to place my order. While I was waiting, the employee was making sandwiches for the customers ahead of me, but when it was finally my turn and I asked for one, he said there were no sandwiches available. I assumed it was due to the rush and didn't make an issue of it, so I ordered a regular iced latte and a banana muffin instead. When he asked me what milk I said whole milk. When my drink was made, I watched the employee pour chai from a carton and oat milk into a cup and put it on the counter. I assumed it was for someone else, but then he put the banana bread on top and called me over. I told him this wasn't what I ordered, and he insisted that I was wrong. My mom heard the interaction and encouraged me to clarify again that I had ordered an iced latte, not chai, and that this was the wrong milk. He told me that what he made was an iced latte. At that point I maybe assumed this was a tea only cafe and asked, "Do you guys make coffee?" and he replied, "I'm not sure." When I tried to rephrase my question, he turned away mid-sentence and called "NEXT CUSTOMER!" I tried to get his attention one more time, but he seemed to be intentionally ignoring me and there was that whole event ordering after me so I left. Update: I now see the muffin he gave me isn't even the banana muffin it's some sort of bread pudding read more

So I must say, the bathrooms are clean! The space is clean and comfortable. They play jazz bistro music so it's very peaceful. My friend ordered the chai latte and she loved it. The place was a bit hot but I think it's because it was cool outside. I ordered the chocolate chip cookie which wasn't bad but not the best in town. The guava croissant tasted stale so they gave me a blueberry muffin instead and it was blah. This may be a spot just good for the vibe and maybe the drink. Definitely would come back though! read more

service is always friendly and environment is very relaxed if you're coming to stay for a while! my only downside is no cold brew :,( but the iced americano was a pretty good substitute read more

El Barrista Cafe - Americano Iced - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Truly a gem of a neighborhood shop. Small business staffed by the owner. Great coffee, excellent food, lovely staff, and wonderful seating with really lovely clientele. Together, everything makes for the perfect atmosphere. Great work space or place to get together with friends. read more

Wasn't busy and I felt rushed I ordered a cortado and got some mystery item. wouldn't recommend if your looking for really authentic coffee the place looked good that's all there is to it read more

El Barrista Cafe - Cortado with a cup of cold Milk - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Review: EL BARRISTA Café If you're looking for a cozy little gem that feels like it came straight out of a coffeehouse movie scene, EL BARRISTA is it. The environment is super clean, inviting, and honestly just cute--it has that perfect laid-back vibe that makes you want to sit and stay awhile. The customer service was a highlight. I was greeted by a charming barista whose warm, innocent smile made the experience that much more pleasant. Friendly, attentive, and just the kind of energy you want when you're grabbing your caffeine fix. I ordered the Harlem Club, and let me tell you--it was hands down the best club sandwich I've had in a long time. Meaty, savory, layered perfectly... just packed with flavor. Seriously, it was the kind of sandwich you think about later and want again. I also got a simple iced latte--not anything fancy, but solid. Good balance, not too bitter, and refreshing. The drink itself was just okay, but the great service and the overall vibe definitely made it a satisfying experience. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to--good food, great energy, and that warm, movie-scene charm. read more

El Barrista Cafe - Environment - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

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This is one of my new go to cafes in Harlem. The owner is friendly and they have these amazing fresh ginger based juices that I try to get at-least twice a week. This is a great spot for doing work, because it is laptop friendly. They also have good food with reasonable prices. read more

El Barrista Cafe - Chicken Wings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

I just moved to NYC & it's been rough but this has became a nice spot for me to just feel comfortable. This is literally my favorite coffee shop. The owner is amazing and very nice. The almond cookie is 10/10. The coffee is great! You can tell that the owner really enjoys and loves what he does. Also, the ambience is amazing. It's a GREAT (if not the BEST) place to study and get work done. The ambience is nice and the jazz music is a great touch. Only thing I would suggest is during the day to lower the music a TAD BIT but honestly if you have headphones or don't mind jazz then you're good! It didn't bother me. GOOD WIFI & PLUGS TOO!!! read more

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Convenient cafe located near Silberman school of social work--- where there aren't any other small cafes or coffee shops around. & it's black owned! Service is always friendly and the cafe has a calming and charming vibe to it. This visit I got a chai latte and a blueberry scone. Both were delicious. A little overpriced but I'll be back either way. I see they have a happy hour so I'll have to stop by for that. read more

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It's so hard to find a cute cafe with good coffee and this is it! Highly highly recommend from a picky cafe reviewer! Also giving credit where credit is due, the employees are great! read more

Can we say more than coffee and muffins? More like a vibe . More like you have arrived. Black excellence? Yes ! The service was great Mr Alex was attentive. I asked for a Latino cafe with a French roll. I saw the owner pass by and greet me as we knew each other for years. Definitely going to be a regular. The place makes you wanna cosy up with a good book. Rainy,cold days a plus . Can't wait to the owner adds a fire place read more

El Barrista Cafe - Bustelo coffee with half &half caramel vanilla Americano - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

I've only had 5/5 experiences with this place after order after order. I've ordered atleast 6 egg veggies sandwiches at this point for delivery and every single time it comes nice and warm, the egg is cooked perfectly and the seasoning is spot on . Croissant nice and buttery and a nice portion. Very happy with these breakfasts. There is so many ways you can mess up an egg sandwich , but these guys know what the are doing man. Delicious. Don't change anything :) I got two cappuccino's today and they came over piping hot , wrapped nice and neat and feeling nice and strong. Very happy once again. Now, here's my favorite part of the review. A couple of times I ordered something that they were out of stock of. Now instead of sending what they have and suggesting a refund from Uber eats like many restaurants lazily do these days, they personally called me both times and worked through potential replacements for the items. Both times I was very satisfied with what I got instead. Yesterday I placed an order for my usual sandwiches and coffee and ordered a bureka . I didn't receive it, and called to see if they may have forgotten it, it happens. The owner answered and immediately knew why I was calling , and we both agreed that when I order next they could send it with it. Not only did he send the bureka as promised, but he sent an extra Quiche for me to try as well! And wowww it's yummy. I found one of my new favorite spots! 5/5 food. 5/5 delivery. 5/5 customer service read more

El Barrista Cafe - Veggie Morning On Croissant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

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this spot is my go to for a coffee and baked good and it never disappoints. it's so cozy inside with plenty of seating and jazz playing. i also love that's it's a cafe by day and bar by night. it's also a great place to study or do some work if that's what you're looking for. the service is always so quick and helpful and makes sure you're happy and content with what you ordered. read more

El Barrista Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

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I met up with my girlfriend on a weekday morning. There are definitely people hanging out here a while as well as some people taking things to go. I appreciate the variety of food and beverage options. I got the Harlem Breakfast Sandwich and cappuccino and was satisfied. I didn't find the person working in the front to be very warm, but that's ok. Mornings are hard. It also took a bit of time to get the food, but a good conversation kept us going while we waited. Love the decor and homage to Harlem. Lots of seating options. read more

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I spent over $20 for a small sandwich and a watered down juice in this place that looked pretty nice inside. The sandwich was small for the price, and I had the namesake El Barrista which came with a homemade prosciutto. The prosciutto had a good flavor but it was too tough to chew as the fatty edges were not trimmed off, and this made for an unpleasant eating experience. At the end, my plate ended up having a lot of inedible fatty bits, which for a sandwich of this size and pricing is unacceptable. The orange juice was fresh squeezed but they also cut corners here - filling the cup all the way with ice, and then orange juice 2/3 up (totaling one whole orange), and topping it with tap water (despite it being already over the top with ice), the orange juice ended up tasting watered down and for it being over the $7 mark, it is also unacceptable. When visiting the restroom, there were no soap. When eating at the counter, the napkin dispensers were all emptied out. Sadly, I don't think I'll be coming back until they're better managed and improve on not cutting corners. read more

I found this spot after looking for places that offer frozen drinks and was surprised that this cafe popped up. I swung by and noticed that they have quite an extensive list of alcoholic drinks for a cafe. I got the frozen lemonade with passion fruit flavor and tequila. The drink was sweet and I initially thought had very little liquor. By the time I got up, I realized that the drink was pretty strong. I noticed that the cafe also offers cafe and had plenty of outlets-imagine hookah and work?! I'm definitely coming back. read more

El Barrista Cafe - Passion fruit frozen lemonade with tequila shots - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

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I am so surprised that I haven't written this review sooner because I have been coming to this cafe since September 2019. I am in no way a regular, just someone who works in the neighborhood and enjoys a relaxing atmosphere, good vibes, and good coffee or matcha in her spare time. Every time I have walked into El Barrista Cafe I have always been greeted and if the server was occupied attending to another customer , they've politely informed me that they will attend to me shortly. Truthfully if I were closer to the cafe I would make this place my daily lunch spot. read more

Cold Brew delivers a bold, clean coffee flavor with a slightly bitter finish. No sugar or milk, just pure and satisfying for those who enjoy a strong, straightforward brew. read more

This restaurant is so beautiful ever since the first day i stopped in i been back twice a week and the service it just keep getting better. The food always 5 stars its pet friendly and i have 2 small dogs that's a bonus they have hookah and the best hot drinks. It's really a perfect spot and they have happy hour just run now read more

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The vibes are nice and chill. They have fresh homemade juices. I got a beat, ginger pineapple juice, I believe, and it was very refreshing. I sat in the front area and there was continuous people coming in and going to the back, which had more seating. The place was still calming and good to do work and eat at the same time. The service was good and the owner was courteous. read more

El Barrista Cafe - Fresh juice - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Oh, my goodness! I knew their scones and pastries here were good, but the other day, I tried this babka custard pastry that was croissant meets dan tah / pastilles de nata. It has light sugar glaze, pull-apart buttery layers, and a perfectly smooth custard in the middle. I also met the owner, Emmanuel, who employs folks from Exodus Transitional community. It's great to eat delicious food and support East Harlem at the same time! read more

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Prices aren't listed for most items. I understand that they're more expensive than grab-and-go spots, given the spacious interior for chatting, working, reading, and general relaxation. That said, paying $8.50 for a large mocha with oatmilk and $10+ for each sandwich still took me a minute to get over. In this rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, it signals who the spot is "for" and would be an unwelcome surprise if someone ordered assuming standard East Harlem prices. Coffee and sandwiches were solid, but nothing special. I don't necessarily mind paying more if I'm going to be there awhile nursing a drink (or working on a laptop), but it shouldn't be a surprise. The back room is dark during the day, which I guess is helpful for laptop work (no glare). The front area is a bit nicer for daytime coffee + snacks; the book nook with the big round table is my vibe. read more

This cafe is such a cozy space. The seating is super comfortable and there's a lot of it. A room in the front and in the back. Both rooms have a ton of outlets and beautiful wood tables. The back room has lovely photography of the neighborhood. There's even a "fireplace". Only thing is that I wish the menu had prices listed. But other than that it's a wonderful space. read more

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The coffee and breakfast sandwiches always hit. People working at the register are welcoming and a great spot to work at if you need a place outside of the office. read more

I got a Groupon for El Barrista Cafe for $3 to be used anytime toward $6 anything. I decided to get a Dirty Chai. The Dirty Chai was delicious and was a good size. El Barrista is located in Harlem. The barrista here was super nice and friendly. The atmosphere of El Barrista is really nice and trendy. The bronze color gives it a nice touch/décor. They have sandwiches and pies here. Unfortunately, I ate before coming here. I am not a coffee fan but I am sure there coffee must be awesome. I see the fancy coffee/espresso machine here. If you are in Harlem, I suggest coming here. read more

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I love this place! This has become my go to cafe since it's utterly impossible for me to write at home (I always end up falling asleep - lol). Nonetheless, the staff is friendly, the food & beverages are always delicious, and the space is extremely cozy. I absolutely love it! read more

The food here is delicious, and the staff was friendly. I order a Harlem breakfast sandwich and an iced coffee. The coffee was delicious; it had the perfect balance of coffee and milk- typically when I order ice coffee from other places, its mostly milk and some coffee. The sandwich took longer than expected to prepare, so by the time I sat down to eat it I was ravenous. It was delightful! The two things I enjoyed most about the sandwich were that the bread was perfectly toasted, and that the cheese was actually melted (other places barely melt the cheese). I went back later for a pastry (pictured). I forgot the name of it, but it's a croissant filled with a lemon custard. I'll definitely be returning here! read more

El Barrista Cafe - Croissant filled with lemon cream - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

This is a lovely little gem. I went there to get some work done. Enjoyed a lovely quiche and glass of wine, but there's the option obviously of coffee and tea. I worked in their little room at the back and comfy chairs with lovely book themed wallpaper. The staff are super friendly and super helpful. They also have game nights so if you sign up for their club, you'll get notifications. read more

El Barrista Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

This review is long overdue, as this is one of my favorite coffee shops/places in the city, if not THE best cafe in the city (Manhattan). Food here is incredible, the best sandwiches I have had in a long time. Service too - Titi is so sweet and fun, always takes so much care every time I am there. And she makes a amazing flavored latte too. Warm, intimate, yet inviting - reminds me coffee shops that used to dominate in the 90s (and it's sitcoms lol) before Starbucks took over. There is nothing quite like it left, and this place gives all the nostalgia feels. read more

It was going to be my first time; beautiful ambiance . However, the barista had her headphones in and was VERY rude. No hospitality what so ever. I asked where can I view the menu she said ugh right up here. I just walked out. Simple questions. Difficult answers. Hopefully i go back and she will not be there. read more

This place is adorable! I did not expect to find something like this in East Harlem. The storefront is distinctly noticeable from the rest on the block. They have a variety of cute pastries and sandwiches, and they also have a liquor license so they can whip you up some cocktails. The vibe is immaculate, and so is the decor! I love the little "urban library" theme they got going on. With REAL BOOKS TOO. There's a front section and then go in the back and there's more relaxed seating with comfy chairs too. And I believe 3 bathrooms, which is pretty unheard of haha. Note, they crank the AC in the back if you're into that sort of thing. The owner is also mad down to earth and friendly. This would be an awesome little spot to bring your laptop to and get some work done, as it's quiet and chill. Stop by! read more

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My go to cafe! I work out of here a few times a week. Lots of caffeinated and non-caffeinated drink options; great hours (open till 8 p.m.), friendly service. Fridays are a vibe: Open Mic, Game Night and more starting at 7:30p.m. Follow on Instagram @elbarristanyc to keep up with the event schedule. read more

El Barrista Cafe - Avocado Toast + tea - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

Great place to drink dark roast or a strong cocktail, socialize, eat a light brunch/lunch, work, study or chill. Dedicated owner (and his family), diverse mix of customers from East Harlem and wider Harlem. Open till 6, 8 or 10 depending on day. Wifi can be weak - blame Spectrum. read more

You have to check out EL Barrista uptown Harlem on 3rd ave and 118th. I was just scrolling through my IG and this place popped up. The staff and the ambiance is amazing . I just had a coffee that was so good, they let me smoke my cigar on the outside patio area. So if you fine yourself in Harlem check them out. You won't be disappointed. I will be back up there for there brunch real soon. read more

El Barrista Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

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diff Drink: 4/5 Latte Food: 5/5 Almond Croissant Vibes: 4/5 clean Study: 5/5 seating, wifi, outlets, vibes Total: $12.47 before tip I loved the seating space in the back that also had skylight windows. It gave dark, reading room vibes while also having a colorful wall of artworks. It was fairly empty when I went so I felt excited to be there. The coffee was tasty, I could tell the beans were good quality and roasted well. The almond croissant was heated up for me and it was so delicious. The buttery, crispy croissant with the almond slices that weren't overly dried out? yummm read more

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A few things I appreciate about this coffee shop. One: they always open on time. I love that, nothing says more "we are professional" than being ready at the time of their listed business hours on the door. Two: they always have pastries no matter of the time of the day. As someone who loves baked goods I can say that is a fully earned star. Restroom is a really big deal at places where you eat/drink. Theirs is clean and the whole shop is well kept. The only negative is their prices I would say. I like a mocha and it will cost whopping 8.50? So it's not my every day stop before work I'd say. They also sell alcohol so I'd take into account that a license+ rent runs a pretty bill to this business owner. All the best! read more

The barista Emanuel, was extremely nice and personable, the babka and hot chocolate was perfect for warming me up from the cold weather. And of course! The books! I was visiting from Connecticut but I will be sure to come again! read more

El Barrista Cafe - Hot Chocolate with oat milk - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - New York, New York

It's always a delight to visit El Barrista in my morning walks with my pup and walking in and seeing smiling employees in a buzzy environment and not only that remember regulars drinks like myself ! Love the ambiance and Manny is very much involved in the community and hosting various events of all kinds to support local creatives and businesses in the are. read more

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