I was deceived at first. I saw the pics of the moody interior online, but that's not what you see when you first walk up. The drinks were great, reasonably priced and the pastries were pretty good too. The space was fantastic. read more

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Came here at 4pm on a weekday, no problem finding a spot. Coffee was good as well As the vegan carrot cake. Love the chill, casual, charming vibe of this place. Feels like grandma's living room. Will comeback! read more

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High-end coffee, pastries, sandwiches in this chill spot with a motorcycle parked in the lounge area Location: On West 158th street close to Broadway, this narrow store front has bevy of pastries and breakfast offerings with excellent coffee. In the front area, it is a normal cafe vibe with comfy and utilitarian seats. In the back, there is a lounge vibe, I am not of the exact WiFi password but it is something like no laptops in the backroom. I also noticed a sign today that said no laptops after 5 pm in this area which is the standard cafe area not the back room. Over the past two years, the backroom has definitely expanded to have a bar. Food/Drink: We have had a various drinks, lattes hot and cold. The Bourbon Pecan Latte is a long time special and favorite. They take their time to make high quality drinks and put them in mugs if you are eating in. They also heat up the food items. The Parisian, Turkey, ham and Swiss on a croissant was good with their cruller and pistachio croissant. We also tried the Cardamon bun too Service: The level of friendliness at this place feels elusive because there are some regulars who get a warm welcome since we are irregulars and stop by from time to time. They are kind of Brooklyn-type friendly which is welcoming and kind but at the same time cool in a hipster utilitarian way which is not a negative way of looking. It is what it is. Overall: I am a huge fan of the vibe and energy. The backroom is the star to relax with your drinks and food. They also seem to have events at night which sound cool. read more

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The matcha was a very unpleasant yellow green color. The taste matched how it looked. When I brought the matcha to the counter just to let them know, they seemed to not believe that it tasted bad. I am a frequent matcha drinker and so I know what good/bad matcha tastes like. This was the latter. I didn't feel like their response to me was very good customer service. I offered that maybe the milk was bad and they tested the milk in front of me and said I was fine. This felt very undermining and condescending. Only after they asked me a bunch of questions to prove that it tasted bad, did they reluctantly ask if I wanted a new drink. I said no because why would I want another bad matcha that was $8 read more

Since our first visit to this spot many months ago, we have been going back quite a few times. They have a small seating area up front, "working" area for customers with laptop, and a large room in the back with more seating. They have all sorts of baked goods and some other items such as sandwiches. The offering changes all the time, so that you can get something different each time you visit. They are also vegan friendly, so you can get vegan goods and drinks here. The back room is furnished with old/antique looking chairs and sofas, very cozy. No laptop is allowed in this area. We really love this back room. They used to have a motorcycle in this room, which I thought was super cool, but it has been removed, I assume to make room for weekly events and such. We tried a few different drinks and baked goods over the several visits. Maple Brown Sugar Latte, Bourbon Pecan Maple Latte were our favorites so far. I had them hot and cold. Not too sweet, deep flavor, I loved them. Maple Glazed Cruller is my favorite baked goods so far. Pistachio Croissant is pretty good too. Loads of crushed pistachios on the top! Their quiche is good, but small and pricey. Panouzzo was HUGE and filled with nice amount of tasty ingredients. Vegan Lemon Matcha Bread was a-ok. Very thick and dense, not so moist nor light. The flavor was not great either. Parisian sandwich was basically a ham and cheese in a croissant, and it was just a-ok. Nothing really special. There are some hit and miss when it comes to the food, but the drinks have been great. The staffs are not friendly, unless they know you. They might not be polite, or greet you with a warm smile, but they are efficient. I hope they will get more friendly staff so that we feel more welcomed, but other than that, we love the atmosphere and the coffee, that keep making us go back again and again... read more

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The service and food are great. The ambiance is very cool. Nice place to sip coffee and ease into your day

Maple brown sugar late w oat 10/10. Back room is super cute. It's giving romantic coffee shop meets antique shop/ private coffee lounge vibes. read more

Five Flies Coffee - Back area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I came to Five Flies with one of my friends for coffee/tea on a Sunday afternoon around 3PM. When we arrived, the place had a healthy number of people, enough to add a nice ambient noise without being too loud or feeling too busy. We were kindly greeted by a very nice staff member at the front. The woman who helped me was super nice: she gave me a rundown of all their baked goods, as well as their varied selection of flavored syrups to add to coffee. I was surprised at how broad their drink selection was, ranging from seasonal espresso drinks, to matcha, to different teas. They also have a pretty impressive baked goods selection that all looked amazing. I appreciated how they had sweets, gluten free options, and also appetizing savory options to accommodate for all tastes and dietary preferences. My friend ordered a latte and I got some hot tea (I selected the Moroccan Mint tea). I wanted to try a cinnamon roll but they were out. Luckily for me, they still had a cardamom bun which I got. I think what struck me most about this place was the unique ambiance. There is a small section in the front with bar stools that is more modern and is the laptop zone. However, when you go to the back, there is a very open space, with high ceilings, tall windows, mismatched furniture, and very eclectic decor which makes it feel like you are in someone else's loft in NYC-- it is unfamiliar, but cozy all at once. I loved how much seating there was available and loved the energy of this quiet room where people were either catching up with friends or reading since this is the no laptop zone. My friend and I talked for three and a half hours and no one batted an eyelash or tried to kick us out! My tea was pretty standard so I definitely want to try their coffee next time which I feel would be the more unique offering here. I ended up trying the cardamom bun the following day and it was delicious! I have never had one of these, but my first impression was very positive. The pastry was flaky but not too buttery and still had some doughy component to it. It had a delicious balance of sweetness and spices that were subtle but had a unique punch to them. This was a perfect item to have on a cold early spring day. I had a very pleasant experience at Five Flies and will definitely be coming back again. The pastry selection was varied and the quality of what I tried was very good, the coffee smelled delicious, and their space was just so cozy and unique-- I could stay there forever! What a great addition to the Washington Heights Community. Highly recommend this place! read more

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A frustrating experience. First off, there are signs everywhere telling you what not to do, which I can understand given the challenging economics of running a coffee shop (that is more than just a laptop study hall), but still, it comes across as a bit over the top. Secondly, laptop users are confined to this bleak, double-sided counter where you are staring at a wall and crammed next to other lap-toppers speaking too loudly into their Zoom calls (while prohibited tables and chairs elsewhere, in the back and front, sit empty). Thirdly, the Wi-Fi signal does not work. I was told by a barista that it's "just because there are a lot of other people using it at the moment... keep trying." Which I did, to no avail. Ultimately I had to rely on my hotspot. And BTW, the excuse provided by the barista just does not cut it in the year 2025. Not an establishment I will visit again. read more

Coffee is great, and I love that they have a dedicated spaces for people who want to bring their laptop and work, and a separate cozy back room for people to chill or talk. Really great atmosphere. read more

Five Flies Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Really cool coffee spot in the neighborhood by a business owner who's been here for a while. The coffee was delicious and the sitting area is really neat. A great place to stop by! Great service. read more

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A cute cafe on the upper west side. The wifi is excellent and this is a great place to study. Mind you there is a back room where computers are not allowed, so that was pretty cool. The service was excellent and friendly and they prefer you pay with card or Apple Pay. I ordered a croissant which was good and buttery. I also ordered an iced matcha lattes oat, not strong but it does the job. I would like to try their lattes next time. The only thing that is off putting is on the health inspection grade they received "Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area." Which is quite unsettling. But I couraged myself to not assume it based off of a guideline found on Yelp, I'm sure they improved this as I saw none. read more

We had a nice coffee waiting for our daughter to show. Service was pleasant. Worth a stop if you want coffee.

I came on a Saturday afternoon to catch up with my sisters; it's a nice coffee shop in Washington Heights with an interesting decor. I had the brown sugar latte, would definitely recommend. read more

I love that there is dedicated space to work here, and dedicated space to socialize. They have really good coffee and a wide selection of food. read more

Five Flies Coffee - Pistachio croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

My daughters loved the matcha here ... aside from the interesting art display , definitely will come back again read more

Five Flies Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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I'd walked by this place numerous time & had no idea what it was called--if there is exterior signage, I've never seen it--but when a friend suggested we meet here for a book swap, I jumped at the opportunity. Having just had a huge breakfast, I didn't eat anything, but had two of their hibiscus iced teas & they were delicious. I will also say that, although the place was SLAMMED, they were well-staffed & worked well together, so the wait was surprisingly short. I had no idea this place is so large. In addition to the front room & outdoor seating, there is a huge, eclectic back room that gives Central-Perk-meets-TGI Fridays vibe. One could say the decor between the two rooms is quite disjointed, but it also provides options depending on one's mood. My only complaint is that, upon arriving, there was loud dance music playing in the front room & a pianist in the back room, making it VERY noisy, to the point that it was difficult to have a conversation...let alone read a book. Eventually someone figured it out, though, & turned off the music 'til the pianist had finished. Will definitely be back. read more

Five Flies Coffee - This is the back room you'd never know was there, just walking by. It has very classic cafe vibes. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing service , and the coffee there is a 10/10 The ambiance is so chill and welcoming. read more

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Enjoy coffee, light bites, gelato and relax in the front room or the computer free zone room in the back filled with oversized windows, sofas, chairs, and wooden tables. Debby Klein read more

Five Flies Coffee - Back room at Five Flies Coffee on West 158th Street. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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This cafe has a beautiful back area (no computers allowed) with huge windows and gorgeous decor. It was truly immersive and such a cool space to chat and catch up--that said, I do have a comment about the spacious front section where computers are allowed. While I appreciated the many tables and seating choices, the space is akin to the movie Snowpiercer--only backwards. The back section of the cafe is refined and welcoming while the long front section where people are allowed to work looks like a post-apocalyptic classroom without any personality. It reminded me of a government building or a seating area of a DMV. I'm not sure why they chose to go with this theme but working on my computer in that section was a bit drab to the point the surroundings sapped my energy. I really hope they change their mind and bring a bit of that back room energy forward. Us computer workers need some love too. Other than that, the coffee was great and my panini just what I wanted. I am looking forward to returning. read more

Welcoming staff, good selection of food (pastries and paninis), diversity of customers, chill overhead music. Always tip! Support local! read more

Five Flies Coffee - Lounge in the back circa July 2023 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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I came here on a recommendation of a friend that lives in the area. They have great coffee which is the most important thing. A great variety of pastries are also available. In the back they have a big open area to relax and enjoy although computes are not allowed in this area. You can work in the front part of the establishment. read more

Five Flies Coffee - a living room filled with furniture - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is a hit, the ambiance, coffee, and areas are a vibe. They have a working area for you working folks with about 20 seats where you have space for you work and two "no computer zone" areas. Coffee date and I had a blast read more

While the coffee and food is okay, the staff is a bit rude and unpleasant. Also, for whoever goes in there wanting to work please note that they have a time limit of 90mins. The seating area for working is uncomfortable and feels like I'm in my cubicle at work, no aesthetics at all. The ambience just pushes you to want to get out of there as fast as you can which is maybe their goal hence the time limit. read more

Fabulous ambiance, service, coffee. Great back room ("the chateau" -- no computers allowed) and plenty of work room up front. Hidden gem for sure! read more

Great new coffee place with a huge and comfortable space in the back. I like that the computer space and the relaxing areas are separated.

well to start the cashier tried to short change me. maybe he was lazy or maybe he can't count. had the hibiscus tea. it was dreadful. the atmosphere is good. the added music is annoying. people just want to work or talk. why do we have to listen to someone else's music choices so bad service bad tea bad music read more

the bourbon pecan latte was great, would recommend to anyone trying. went back and ordered an iced matcha latte and it was quite honestly the worst matcha i've ever had. the drink itself was a really dull yellow-green color, with a ton of matcha clumps at the bottom. you could tell just by looking at it that it was going to taste bad. had two sips and threw it out, it was pretty unpleasant. also to note, their pastries are served from display on the counter--normally not an issue, but both days i was there i saw flies crawling around on the food and still being sold. might not be the biggest deal in the world but not the most sanitary practice either. The ambiance itself is very nice and pleasant, a lot of space to work/sit/talk in the front and a really large quiet, no tech space in the back that gives a dark academia vibe. will be returning for that alone, but *definitely* not drinking the matcha again. read more

Cute vibe, enjoyed the coffee and good energy from the employees But there was not many people there eating and our two paninis took a good 20 minutes. The chorizo panini was great, the chicken pesto one was decent, very little chicken on it and had a sauce of sorts on it that was not in the description that I didn't really enjoy. read more

Nice spot. There is a designated area for computer use; it's bland and sterile. The non-computer area is fantastic, with a variety of seating/lounging options. The decor is great. Good coffee and pastries. read more

Wonderful. A large, comfortable space in back to hang. Definitely walk back past the entrance area, it opens up in a surprising way. Delicious treats. A real slice-of-life, neighborhood vibe. Great place to go solo for a read or to meet friends to chat. read more

A haven of elegance and culture. In my visit from Sydney, Australia. (yes, I came just for the Flies!) the Flies offered a place to work if necessary, and a place to relax with the music provided by talented self-accompanied singer, Kevin, and great conversation with new found friends. The coffee was the best I've had on my travels in the US and was altogether welcoming. In my view, the stylist deserves an A and the styling just gets better as you venture further into this sanctuary of civility. I'm writing this at the business end of the cafe, in accordance with the rules limiting the range of keyboard technologies. Should I have the good fortune to fly back to the Big Apple, I'll be sure to be heading for the Flies. read more