This is why I come to New York City. There is something about experiencing Black excellence here that touches a part of me I don't find anywhere else. This café is a perfect example. It's run by a young Black man with a genuine love for culture, art, and community. The space features a beautiful display of Black fashion and books, creating an atmosphere that feels intentional, creative, and deeply connected to culture. Both the owner and the staff member were incredibly friendly, warm, and personable. From the moment I walked in, the experience felt welcoming. I asked the owner to create something I would love, with a few parameters: decaf, no dairy, and not too sweet. He absolutely delivered. The drink had the perfect touch of cinnamon, honey, and vanilla - simple & balanced. But honestly, it was more than the coffee. The vibe here is superior. The culture, the warmth, the creativity, the Black excellence - it all made this feel like exactly the kind of New York City experience I came looking for. read more

Lips Cafe - Lovely coffee/maple/vanilla/cinnamon - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My friends and I came here one afternoon a few weeks to hang out and catch up. Lips has been in the community for a bit and it's a black owned mother and son cafe, so please go and support. It's a super chill spot right by the 2/5 train at Church Avenue. They have a decent amount of seating at both tables as well as along the windows. The space is bright and inviting with lots of fun accents and memorabilia. They had a great playlist of mainly R&B and throwbacks. The menu has lots of yummy drinks, many with a Caribbean flavor profile and food items including pastries and sandwiches. The service was really good and I'd definitely come back here the next time I'm in the area. read more

Always love the amazing service. Perfect place to go to have community, good food, and conversation. If you want a breakfast vibes or brunch vibes with a cocktail. Here is the place to go with little social battery commitment. The community spot read more

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Wraps were really great, especially the jerk chicken one. I did have to wait about 20 min for them but they came out piping hot and so good. A few years ago I also got to try some of their catering at my old office and remember loving the food. Very cozy and chill ambiance. Will need to return to try the rest of their pretty extensive menu, which is pleasantly surprising to see for a cafe. read more

Lips Cafe - Jerk Chicken Wrap - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This place has my heart. The owner is very down to earth and a warm person. The drinks and food are always spot on. Walked in while he was still opening, without hesitation, he took my order and had it ready right away. A delicious triple shot, oat milk pistachio latte. The day after valentines, ordered from here via DoorDash. Iced pistachio latte, salmon wrap, delicious!! The mango salsa and moist salmon so good.... Also ordered a jerk chicken wrap, which my partner also enjoyed. :) read more

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Do you want a cafe that has good lighting, good music, and good ambiance and vibes? That's what you are getting when you come to Lips Cafe. I had never been here before, but right when I got there I saw a lot of folks in there on their work machines vibing and listening to music. We got a pistachio and banana matcha latte; it was very good. I will definitely be back to work here in the future, and could also take a potential date here as well :) read more

Lips Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Slowest service ever. Staff completely disengaged. Food bad. The cashier probably got through 6 levels of angry birds before taking my order

Definitely left crying this morning because of a misunderstanding with the owner. When I go to a little cafe just want to be considered and treated nice, things are hard enough. To sit there (not knowing the shop hadn't opened for 10 mins) and wait was fine, even if there was no one there. The owner came in later setting things up and we said good morning to each other. And I waited until there was some indication that he was ready to take orders at the front. His friend comes in and he serves him and at that point I just feel like if I would've known I would've already placed my order but I was trying to be considerate and not breathe down his neck while it seemed like he was setting up the coffee machines. I left and came back bc I thought: you know what? I don't have to go. I can just express how I feel and stay. I talked to him about it and said I'm not a confrontational person and I just need to get this off my heart before I start my day bc I wanna start it positive. At the very least, a sorry for the misunderstanding would've been fine. It just turned into a lecture of: 1) you come up to the front to order; 2) we don't even open until 9; 3) well I said hi to you when I came in; 4) everyone comes to the front, I don't come to you. I've been to this cafe 3 times and had a great experience each time with the Black woman who took my order. But as another Black woman who is just trying to start her day off, this really hurt my feelings. I feel embarrassed and don't even feel like showing my face there despite the banging saltfish and dutty chai latte. Good place to work at a cafe, good food, just a bad experience this time. read more

Here i am standing at the counter waiting. Its been about 3 minutes. Its 1:15 on a thursday and no one is here to take orders. No employee in site. Pretty bad business. Worker just finally strolled in with lunch and just said hi no apology lmao. Got my drink, it was pretty good ! read more

Lips Cafe - No one here to take my order. - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Such a cute addition to the neighborhood. The staff is great. Food has been consistently good. Will return a very chill spot. Good music also read more

This place is a neighborhood staple. Great food, coffee and vibes. Versatile space with a community aura.

Back again for a quick lunch. The food took way longer this time but I was given another drink for my troubles. Lips cafe drinks and food is consistently good-- hence why I always come back! Was about to get a seat and get a little work done too. As always the music was good and the staff were friendly. read more

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Coffee was so delicious, food order did take a little while to come out but was worth the wait. The turkey bacon, egg & cheese on a bagel was soo good! read more

The coffee, the treats, the ambiance, of course the team members. Went once..going for 2nd time soon read more

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The Lips Cafe looked so cute from across the street. I was enticed to go inside. The server was cool and the space gave good vibes. I ordered a matcha with a splash of coconut syrup. Each sip was absolutely delightful. If I lived near, l'd be a regular. read more

Lips Cafe - Matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My lattes are always 10/10 and I love how if you ask them to surprise you with a drink they do and it tasted delicious. Customer service 10/10 and the space is a vibe . I haven't tried the food but it always looks really good. read more

Lips Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This was a very tasty meal. My only issue is I thought it was a sandwich. I didn't appreciate having to do work and put my sandwich together myself. I ordered through ubereats and so I cannot comment on ambiance. I will say my food arrived steaming hot. I also ordered an americano coffee and that was also tasty. I live a few blocks away and definitely will stop by soon. read more

Lips Cafe - Bake and Saltfish - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I've since moved away from nyc but I still think about Lips often. I love their lattes and smoothie, I miss it sm!

The atmosphere of the place was cool. There were different books around the place for decor. Sweaters and shirts hung up for sale. Pastries, multi flavored lemon-aid and cocktails for purchase. I came to this place from the Bronx for a book release event. AMAZING TURNOUT KIANA ST. LOUIS. Get The Book "Love Trauma Healing" If You Haven't Already! The cons were the people working at the place, didn't seem to have knowledge of their merchandise prices. Someone asked how much a sweater was, and they didn't know. They also didn't seem too enthusiastic about being there that night, with the amount of people making purchases and the crowd in the café. read more

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Really cool atmosphere and interior design. Very friendly staff, and the pasta I had was delicious! I got the plain cheese, and you get a large serving; I was surprised by how much there was. Will definitely be returning here! read more

We had a decent visit to this black-owned establishment that came recommended by someone from the neighborhood. The person who took our order was moderately personable, but answered all of our questions. The vibe was quaint, but cool. The restroom was clean with black toilet. Random, but cool. It took almost 30 minutes to get my order and I suppose it was worth the wait. I had the chicken and waffles. The waffles were the star. The chicken was cooked well, but covered in sweet Thai chili sauce which was a surprise. Still tasty. My sister had the avocado toast with salt fish. She was just middle of the road on it. We ordered a side of plantain to share. Those were cooked to perfection. She loved her ginger pineapple sorrel and my OJ was fresh and delicious. I want to give this close to 3.75 stars. Overall it was a decent breakfast to start our Brooklyn morning. read more

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I've come to this cafe on several occasions to get some work done, or unwind. Lips Cafe always hits the mark! Things I love: - Calm atmosphere - Friendly staff - There's a wide variety of food options. My favorite things to get here are the Lemon Loaf, Bake & Saltfish, Salmon Wrap, and Sorrel. Things to Note: - The food is made fresh, so the wait time for your order will vary depending on your meal. - They have reusable utensils, so be sure to note if you're dining in. - This spot is always a vibe on the weekends, so keep an eye out for different social events. read more

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Variety of seating with spacious window counters, big table in the middle, armchairs and booths. Kind of art deco/eclectic. The drinks and food can be on the expensive side, and are more culinary/restaurant rather than cafe. The drip coffee is pretty good and I've gotten a "specialty" drink a couple times and they're very tasty. Great place that's open late after most cafes are closed and they sometimes host networking events. The music is chill. read more

Lips has the best vibes. My go-to order, an iced matcha with coconut syrup, was recommended by the barista and it's the only thing i've ordered since. The sweetness from the coconut helps bring out the earthy matcha flavor. The matcha is creamy and is the perfect drink iced or hot. This was the first cafe I've seen a blue matcha offered and it was splendid as well. It's a cute shade of blue and had a light vanilla taste. I enjoy studying here but finding a seat can be difficult at times. I recommend coming in the mornings or early afternoon to find a seat. read more

Lips Cafe - Green Matcha - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Cute cafe I believe it's Caribbean owned. I hear they also host networking events. The multi color lips on the cups is a cute idea to accompany the brand name and make a staple! The eclectic vibe with the thrifty dining chairs and tables works well for the vibe and audience there. Definitely worth checking out! read more

I got the salt fish wrap, I was a bit hesitant because I have never had salt fish before. However, I am so happy the cashier steered me in the right direction. Moving forward because of my experience here I have a high standard of how salt-fish should taste. The mango salsa added to the flavor profile, and the menu was clearly well thought out. The chefs bring the food up from the lower level and deserve all the props in the world! Note that you order with the cashier and the food gets bought to you to your table or you could pick up to go. It's a great spot to hang out and chill. read more

I followed their Instagram before coming in. As soon as there was a day I didn't want to cook lunch, I ordered their tempting jerk salmon wrap and saltfish wrap for pick up. The wraps were delicious. The mango sauce is on another level and the food overall tasted fresh. It was perfectly curated. The downside is that it does take AWHILE. I took my time picking up and when I arrived myself and two other patrons were waiting for our food for about 30 minutes. 30 minutes past the pickup time. I love their food. I love all the community events they have (check them out on their Instagram) but hoping their wait times improve. Definitely will be back. Oh, they are innovative! An espresso shot with beets?! read more

Lips Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Blue lip drink . So delicious. Soft and mellow. The energy and environment is very calm and relaxing. read more

Lips Cafe - Blue lip: Dark rum, lime, agave - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I've been here four times already and I just love this laid back chill vibes here. I came last night 7/30/21 for their premiere of having cocktails and happy hour. The DJ was good. Let's talk about everything I've tried here. Their jerk salmon wrap is divine. Like it had pieces of mango in it. The wrap was so flavorful and filling. I've had the rice bowl with the sweet chili shrimp and I the chicken, with the sides of rice, spinach made with coconut milk ( so good), and cabbage, and plantain. I order the sweet chili over the chicken. I'm obsessed with their ginger lemonade prefer over the sorrel. As for the cocktails I like the rum punch. I also tried the ginger pineapple with tequila and the strawberry passionfruit with rum. They make really good juices that's are addictive. This is owned by West Indian mother and son and they are always so friendly and smiling. Come support this local cafe. Follow my food Instagram: @eatingwithetienne read more

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Lips Cafe has been on my places to see for a minute. I went in to get some work done after the gym and was super hungry. This is a Carribbean cafe that serves coffee and hot food. I liked the interior; for the most part everyone was spaced out and could see each other so it feels warm/inviting. Now, for the food. I got the Jerk Chicken panini wrap and a sorrel refresher. Both were better than expected. The sorrel drink was large and not too sweet, and my jerk wrap was so satisfying (well seasoned, filled with jerk and spicy ). read more

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So I had heard of this cafe from another page I follow that displays black-owned businesses and I said to myself I'd support one day. I was in the neighborhood and figured why not. Upon entering there is nice music playing and a really nice vibe which I loved. You can definitely come and work ons a project, being your laptop and just chill. Very chill and upscale at the same time. The price menu was moderately priced but kinda high but in nyc it's like to eat you spend 20$. Easy. I ordered the Jerk Salmon Wrap after reading raving reviews of others and also because I prefer fish as my meat base. I was helped by Jermaine who was very welcoming and greeted me upon entry and another gentlemen with highlighted dreads. My and my pup felt good and the young lady who made my meal did her thang. It taste SO GOOOOD! I was shocked actually it has a chipotle mayo dressing with diced pieces mangos in the salads and on a whole wheat wrap. I also got the reg size sorrel & mixed itch with passion fruit lemonade and it was the BOMB. I LOVE SUPPORTING ,BLACK OWNED BUSINESS THAT ARE RUN WELL AND WHERE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE MAIN FOCUS. ALL I ASK IS THAT THEY CONTINUE TO KEE THE FOOD TASTING AS GOOD AS IT DOES NOW & continue to have the experience read more

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If you're like me and wanna be productive, I head to a Cafe! & one of my favorites that I find myself at is LIPS! . . The decor is cozy; decorated by their merchandise, and black artwork/literature. Some noticeable pieces are: Artwork by @pstudios_, "Black Boy Fly" By @joshuarenfroe_, pieces by @theattieproject, and even Jean Michael Basquiat. You can easily get your coffee and end up staying here for HOURS (like me). .. . It is a decent size inside, but it can get packed quickly. There is wifi which works pretty well most of the time, sometimes I found the Wifi to occasionally drop, but refreshing would always help. The music is always low and very laid back. Lips isn't our typical cafe, they serve breakfast pastries and lunch/dinner entrees, and also they have a bar! I always start with an iced vanilla latte with oat milk, and either a Rasta Pasta Dish or a Wrap. I recently had their passionfruit lemonade and it is so good! It's about 50/50 in which the service will be delayed, however, if it does take long, someone has always updated me. If I'm drinking, I'll end up with a Yellow Lip (which is good). I even had a pound cake for dessert one day, and they warmed it up for me.... (I almost collapsed because it was so tasty). Everyone is always attentive and will make you feel at home. You can even catch the owners in there as well, and it's Black Owned !! . . Lips is a unique space, so I recommend it for: getting work done, (It's open late, which is a plus because not many cafes are open late) grabbing drinks with friends, or having a casual date. They even host an array of events, from art exhibitions to networking events. . . A true gem. read more

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Lips Cafe is such a great addition to the neighborhood! Everything from their food to customer service is really spot on. They take healthy food and elevate it with a Caribbean twist. My favorite item is the bake and saltfish. The bakes are made fresh and are delivered nice and warm and the saltfish has nice flavor! I was thinking about that bake all day after I ate it lol! I was a little disappointed when I ordered my shrimp wrap and noticed how small of a portion it was. For $11.99 plus tax, I was expecting something more hearty or filling. Despite the small size, the flavor is good. The food will take a little longer because everything is made fresh, so I usually will come and order and step out to run a quick errand. All in all, great place! read more

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I waited a year to write this review, wanting to give this adorable neighborhood cafe a few visits before I was overly critical about what could be anomaly experiences. Over the course of several visits I now know that a good amount of patience is required to reap the benefits of the tasty bites and nicely caffeinated drinks this mother-son duo create. I've admittedly come away from this cafe feeling frustrated-- on one visit the food took an hour to prepare, without warning. I called ahead to place an order before another visit, and still it didn't seem to save any time-- but I don't think this cafe should be written off because of it. They've created a nice community space in a neighborhood that could use more hubs like it, featuring merchandise from local artists and introducing people to their own unique twist on Caribbean food. Their wraps are sizeable and delicious, with a generous amount of protein and plenty of flavor. I tried the shrimp wrap on my first visit a year ago and though it took a very long time to make, it was really delicious. More recently I've enjoyed their rice bowls, which came with a side of creamed spinach, sliced avocado, plantains, and a protein. Both the chicken rice bowl and salmon rice bowl I ordered contained a huge portion of protein, almost enough to eat over two meals. I'm really not a fan of their pastries, especially not their cookies, but I don't think they make them in house. They taste like they're mass produced. The food on the other hand, tastes like it was made with love and very fresh. Visit for their savory food, but prepare to stay a while. read more

Lips Cafe - Salmon rice bowl - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This local cafe is a gem in the neighborhood. The owners are a mom and son duo with Caribbean roots. Their care and passion shines in the items they serve. The menu features salads, wraps, panini's, hot food, breakfast items, and tons of amazing beverages. I love all the cold drinks including the spiced sorrel and all of the flavored lemonades. The salad is Bomb. It's not just a bowl of greens. It has a mango salsa along with crumbly cheese, nuts (if requested), and tons of yummy fresh fruits like grapes, strawberries, blueberries, and dried cranberries. I had the ham wrap with melty cheese. I also love the saltfish and bakes for breakfast. It's sooo good and comes with sliced avocado. Yummm! I love supporting local. I love supporting Black owned businesses. And they're also reppin St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Stop in for your morning coffee, a decadent pastries or go with an empty stomach and try their hot foods and sammiches! Check out my Foodie Adventures on @saltandsavor on Insta! read more

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A little ashamed it took me so long to visit lips cafe. They carry a modest (wraps, salads, paninis, bake and saltfish) super tasty menu and nice selection of coffees, teas, and cold drinks. If you're there in the morning try the bake and saltfish and add in a matcha infused ginger lemonade or something warm if its chilly. Its covid times so you may not be able to find a seat at its limited capacity but if you can theyve got really comfy chairs and tables to enjoy your meal or get some work done. The music is a mix of soul neo soul and r&b which sets the right vibes to chill or work. read more

Lips Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Yooooo! This spot is "THAT PLACE!!!" I had avocado spread on a toasted "everything" bagel ! .com There was limited seating so they made space for us outside (on a beautiful Saturday afternoon). Everyone enjoyed their meals and the vibe was on point! I love Brooklyn & this will be one of my stops every time I touch down! read more

2nd visit in 2 days. Fully in love. I had Oatmilk lattes, salmon rice bowl, special Wakanda happy hour cocktail, ginger lemonade, ginger sorrel pineapple and everything was divine. Please please do not waste the perfectly prepared plantain! If you don't want plantain, please tell them to exclude it from your order instead of wasting it! read more

Lips Cafe - Oatmilk matcha rose vanilla latte made with pure love - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Lips Cafe is always a fun place to visit. There's drinks, there's food, there's music and a vibe. It can get crowded in here at times. On some days there might be a Dj. During the week you may find people in here working. read more

After the first visit, I thought it would be good vibes and this would be my go to spot to get some work done but I've been back twice since and each time I would come in and I would either be ignored by the girls or they weren't prepared to have customers. The final straw for me was when I come in and the girl was at the cashier register didn't know if they were making food at the time, it was literally an hour after the open. So I was like cool, I'll order a drink, the girl who was in charge of the drinks continued to scroll on her phone and said drinks weren't being severed right now. It took everything in me not to release my inner West Indian woman on them and ask why they were open if they were not serving food or drinks. read more

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