This is one of my go-to spots in Crown Heights. Everyone who works here is really nice and the food…read moreis amazing. My faves are the pancakes (they come with dulce de leche butter!) and the crispy eggplant sandwich. Great coffee and I also love the horchata. Highly recommended

My boyfriend ordered me a matcha that I requested be made with lavender and oat milk. He came out…read morewith the lightest colored matcha I've ever seen. No lavender, all oat milk. Where's the matcha??! The ambiance and service is what gives the 3 stars but the matcha needs so work. I will consider that each barista makes a different drink so maybe they have better matcha made by different baristas.

Stopped by for brunch and was not disappointed. We had the…read moretuna melt, the avocado and egg bagel (added bacon) and the cinnamon salted caramel latte. Everything was excellent! The eggs were cooked to perfection, the tuna was fresh and generous, and the coffee was so good I got another one to take with us on our walk through the park. Service was also great for a counter style restaurant. The place was small but had tables in the back and a clean restroom. Really great experience. I'd come back for the coffee alone, but I'm excited to try their curry bowls. Next time.

If you're familiar with the businesses along Cortelyou, you know that one guy owns a number of…read morethem, that they all have a similar vibe, and that he iterates on the vibe of any given location a number of times. Usually the vibe is this: bright, airy, cafe featuring breakfast plates, many of them vaguely Mediterranean, with continuous additions made to the menu announced via large sign print outs taped up all over the walls and windows of the space. While he's tested out a burger spot, an ice cream concept, his most successful business has to be Cafe Madeline, directly next door to this here Atelier December. With Atelier December, and with Victorian Cafe over on Coney Island Ave and Cortelyou, he's pretty much replicated this formula with much success, as it was packed on the Monday afternoon I visited. Unique to this menu are the pancakes, which come in the flavors pistachio, hazelnut praline, lemon zest, and coconut. I opted for the coconut and it was the best thing on my table. The turmeric fried eggs plate I got sounded promising but was decidedly mediocre and way way oversalted. The cardamom latte was delicious. So some hits and one miss, but overall a solid cafe to get some work done, catch up with a friend, or to take yourself on a solo brunch date to.

This is why I come to New York City…read more 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.

My friends and I came here one afternoon a few weeks to hang out and catch up. Lips has been in the…read morecommunity 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.

Came with a group as a walk-in during the World Cup games, it only took five minutes to be seated…read more Very lovely interior and great decor! The food was good according to all guests, including the ones who recommended we eat here as it is one of their go-to place

TL;DR version- Some high highs and some very low lows. Hot Figs was a fun app. By a mile, the soups…read morewere the favorites, so I would recommend the Pepián or Caldo Tlalpeño Rojo. Nice happy hour and a large chocolate drink selection I was at this unique Guatemalan (ish) restaurant a while back with one of my groups. I said "ish" because the menu has dishes from all over, ranging from sandwiches to BBQ ribs to Guatemalan and Mexican soups. It's out there, and even though not everything works that well, it's fun, and if you can't find something you want to order here, you probably shouldn't go out to restaurants. There was also live jazz music that night, which was loud but nice to listen to. Since it was happy hour, a bunch of us got drinks. I went with a maracuya margarita, which was decent; someone else had a jalapeño margarita, someone had a beer, and someone had a mojito. There were a few nice hot sauces on the table, with the red one reminding me of salsa macha as it had a smoky kick and a spicier green sauce reminiscent of ají verde. They gave us some complimentary blue corn chips and a very mild black bean dip, which was tasty enough and hard to complain about, as it was free. From the appetizers, we got the Hot Figs for $15.95, consisting of honey goat cheese, corn tortilla chips, and plum + pumpkin seeds. This was a unique and fun blend and reminded me more of something you would find in a wine bar. The mix of sweet and salty, with a bit of crunch from the seeds, was nice. This was good, and I would recommend it for a table rather than for a solo diner. There was also The Zingy Salad for $21.95, featuring zucchini spirals, yuzu, tomato, onion, cilantro, pumpkin seeds, and a jalapeño infusion. $18.95. The salad was fine with a bit of crunch and a mild spiciness. It was fine, though a bit wet, for lack of a better word. The best dishes of the night were the soups, which each had its own distinct flavor profile. My sight presence went to the Pepián for $21.95, consisting of chicken, pumpkin/sesame seeds, green tomatillo, cinnamon, cumin, black pepper, carrots, chili coban/pasta/guaque, and potato + rice. There was plenty of tender chicken inside, with the soup having a nice roasted flavor with some spice and a bit of sourness. The potatoes and rice on the bottom added more sustenance to this dish. Almost equally delicious was the Caldo Tlalpeño Rojo for a dollar more with shredded chicken, tomato, black pepper, garlic, onions, peas, chickpeas, corn, achiote, chipotle, Monterey jack cheese, and crunchy blue corn tortilla chips. By comparison, this was a bit heartier, with the melted cheese and shredded tortilla chips inside, similar to soups found in Mexican cuisine. While I also liked the mix of veggies a bit more in this one, as it added a bit more texture, I still slightly preferred the flavor of the other soup, as I usually prefer a bit more spice. The rest of the food was fine. The TPC sandwich for $19.95 with chicken, peanut butter, coconut cream, ginger, cilantro, pickled carrots, and lime was fine. For the number of ingredients, I found it a bit sweet, likely from the cream and the peanut butter mix. The bread was nice, but it also fell apart. It came with a nice side salad with a good vinaigrette. The most expensive at $24.95 were the Slow Cooked BBQ Ribs, consisting of baby back ribs with rice and beans. The ribs were almost a bit too tender as they lacked any bite, which was nice, but the sauce was a bit too generic tasting, reminding me of Sweet Baby Ray's or something similar. The rice and beans were standard. This was also OK. Next came some dessert. There was first the $12.95 Rosemary Churros served with dulce de leche & chocolate dips. While I'm not sure if it worked, the rosemary did add a unique smell and a bit of flavor, and at least it wasn't generic. The churros themselves were hot, and the sauces were standard, with my preference being the dulce de leche. I also ordered a Champurrado for $7.95, which was fine. It wasn't as thick as I expected, though perhaps the style is a bit different than the champurrados I rarely buy from Mexican street carts. The chocolate flavor was very nice, though, and I like that it wasn't too sweet. Another person got a $4 Alfajor, which I got a bite of, which was standard. This place is a bit hard to rate. The two soups were wonderful, I liked the appetizers, and I found a couple of the other dishes just OK. Overall, it was a good meal, but I'm not craving to go back. This would be the perfect 3.5, but I'll round up as that doesn't exist.

Finding a coffee shop to work out of in this time of remote work is really challenging in many…read moreparts of Brooklyn. Most of the best places are too crowded to ever find a seat, and others are intentionally inhospitable to laptop parkers, for understandable reasons. Capitalism is a b*ch. I was hopeful when I saw photos of Nostrand Cafe's long bench that looked primed for coworking. Turns out said bench can get rather crowded, and you better hope your laptop battery holds up, because there are no outlets. I squeezed into a corner seat, but was happy to just hang out for an hour to work while I sipped on a matcha latte and ate my bibimbap. Which brings me to perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of this cafe. It's that they also serve Korean food. Find anything from kimchi fried rice to bibim gooksu and shin ramen on their menu. I also see now that they even sell soju, beer, and kombucha on tap, which I find a bit peculiar since they close by 5pm. I may add this to the coworking cafe rotation, but if anyone has cafe recommendations for a spot that's easy to work from and also serves savory food, I'm all ears.

Popped in for a breakfast wrap, added bulgogi and kimchi for extra flavor. Absolutely delicious and…read morefilling. Loved this take on a breakfast wrap! Interior is a decent size that includes multiple 2 person tables, a large communal table and a window ledge for solo seating. I also got an iced honey latte which was the perfect amount of sweetness. Service was nice and fast. I'd definitely return!

This cafe is super cute, but is also very tiny and crowded at peak times. We went there to grab…read morebrunch on a Saturday. Getting to the counter to order felt like a game of Tetris and some poor guy spilled coffee all over himself attempting to squeeze past me. I understand why it's so crowded though, because the crew that works here is so welcoming, and you have a million menu options to pick from. We ordered the an iced matcha and an iced maple latte for drinks. For food, I got the avocado lox toast with eggs, my husband got the Gandhi bagel. Overall, we were a little less impressed by the drinks. They felt a little watered down, but we both prefer bolder coffee and matcha. We both preferred the coffee over the matcha. However, the food was SO delicious. You can tell they really picked fresh, high quality ingredients. Both orders of food were extremely generously portioned. I highly recommend the food to anyone in the area seeking brunch!

This is a cute little cottagecore cafe. Quiet and a great place to study. I got a great chai latte…read moreand cherry oat scone. They had some seasonal autumn drinks too that sounded good. There is a 90 minute maximum to stay when it's busy.

Polly's is a humble little spot on a quiet tree-lined street. There is a reason this place is so…read morepopular. Delicious iced coffee and seasonal drinks. Their baked goods are the best--their buckwheat scone is mildly sweet and earthy. Their sandwiches can't be beat. I HATE BLT's. They are usually presented as triangles of toasted whole wheat bread with limp iceberg lettuce, barely a tomato and a sliver of bacon with too much mayo. Everything I do not want. But at Polly's...the humble BLT becomes an art form. They get the bread correct first of all--a delicious toasted ciabatta spread modestly with a gently garlicked mayo. Sharp, nutty micro greens and arugula instead of pointless iceberg, thick tomato slices, avocado and oh yes, bacon. That is a sandwich done right. This place is well beloved by the locals so it's best to arrive early if you still want that chocolate croissant!

'Nestled in the heart of Brooklyn, located steps away from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, our cozy…read morecafe offers a warm and inviting atmosphere paired with exceptional coffee and delicious bites. With a focus on community and comfort, we provide a haven for locals and visitors alike to relax, recharge' As my curiosity leads me to explore new coffee places, the one common thread I see is the focus on community. The cafes, coffee bars and eateries who recognize the need to connect are the real entrepreneurs. Polly's Cafe patrons are sipping coffee drinks made with La Colombe and devouring Balthazar pastries. As I waited to order my cold brew, the conversations ran the gamut from school, work, summer travel plans, catching up. I know I sound like a broken record, but today it is so much more than just grabbing a cup of coffee. It is unwinding, savoring each sip and bite with a friend or partner and just enjoying the connection. Polly's Cafe reminds me of a cafe one would find in the Hudson Valley: small, quaint and offering high end food. The interior is cozy, a few tables and a backyard garden. The menu packs a small punch: hot/cold beverages, breakfast burritos, BLT, salads and so much more. I waited around 10 minutes to order a cold brew, the pastries (croissants: chocolate, everything, goat cheese and herb, ham and cheese, butter, sticky toffee banana bread, chocolate babka crumb cake, brownies)were sold out and only olive oil cake remained. ( I arrived @2pm) I made a mental note to revisit to pack a few goodies to go for a future BBG visit. Polly's Cafe 766 Classon Avenue 10 minute walk from Brooklyn Botanic Garden 2nd location: 241 Rogers Avenue

Food, service, & ambiance were great! Our bagels were very tasty and everything was super fresh.read more

Phenomenal food and costumer service. I went in feeling welcomed, the people at the front were so…read morefriendly and the food was great. I wished I tried one of their pastry's they looked so good. It was a great experience, I ended up going twice once took it to go and the next I had to sit down at the front.