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Picky Barista

4.0 (110 reviews)
ModerateCoffee & Tea
Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

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Cereese B.

Absolutely delicious combos of seasonal lattes I wish they had gluten free pastries. I wasn't sure whether to include this part in the review or not but I was super put off bit by the gnats flying around the plants-- and me-- when I sat down.

Catt S.

This place had a very cool vibe. There was literal coffee stains on the wall for the perfect over all effect of being in a café. There was even a hat display on the wall as well. The people there are very nice. I got an ice latte although I didn't have non fat milk. They offered me with 2%. Overall not bad, but would definitely like to see non fat milk added to the menu in the future.

Macchiato. Tiny but mighty.
Mardory V.

Absolutely in the higher pricepoint, but these are the times we find ourselves in on the UWS. Unfortunately for my purse I love their, tiny yet perfect, machiatto the most. The cookies aren't bad; tend to be fresh and that's a nice plus. Peaky's atmosphere is inviting, cozy and loads better than that national coffee chain that meddles with your ability to use words like large. They offer many variations of dairy and non-dairy mixing options as well as varying sweeteners. The place itself is pretty well maintained. The service is relatively fast and they seldom mess up orders. If you're a regular they will remember you. There's a total potential for a scene here if they would stay open late. Go check it out when you're in the mood for something worth forming an opinion on.

Clean and comfortable. Taken 11/08/21
Marianne W.

Peaky Barista is another of my accidental finds walking through the neighborhood. It's family owned and has a bohemian vibe. I really fell in love with the decor. They serve one of my favorite brands, Stumptown Coffee. Prices are typical for this neighborhood and business type. If you want a seat get there early because it's popular with people that settle in their seats for hours. They have delicious pastries to nibble on while you enjoy your coffee and the cool decor. There were a lot of customers but I believe you will get the feel from my photos. I plan to return as soon as I get a warmer day. I'll definitely get there early!!

Vanilla latte
Rahel N.

The service was really great and they made our drinks pretty quick. The cafe is pretty small but it was good and quick.

Counter and seating area.
Kylie L.

I don't see Balkan coffee in many shops so thought I'd try it. The barista asked me if I knew what it was, I said no. She told me and I changed my order she was really pleasant! I decided to get an iced latte, she asked which syrup I wanted. I chose lavender and it was so good! A bit sweet but very good. I also got a nutella pastry. It was ok, a bit hard at the edges and I found it to be too dry. Not overly sweet tho. There are signs all over saying to limit seating time to one hour and to show proof of vax if staying inside but i havent seen anyone show their vaccination card (i wasnt checked either). There's no wifi :( Cute interior and the music isnt distracting. The tables are a bit small and they swivel! Smart design to allow guests to squeeze into the bench seat since the tables are set so close to each other. I'd come back for the coffee. This would be a good place to do work when i dont need internet access, perhaps a nice spot to read or do some journaling.

Decor and weird swively table
Jingwen Z.

3.5/5, rounded up for Yelp. I had an iced latte, which was certainly delicious and smooth, and the shop is very well-decorated and provides a comfortable environment. There were a few issues. First, there was some new artwork going up on the walls, which was wonderful except they did the loud drilling and hanging the artwork right in the middle of the day when a lot of people were sitting and enjoying the cafe. Second, the size of the drinks is small for the price; the food there (which I did not order) also looked pricey (more so than some other cafes in NYC). Third, some of the furniture is a bit weird, i.e. small oblong desks that rotate with very little force/pressure, making them impractical. They have outlets but no wifi and no bathroom. Depending on what your needs are, this may or may not be the cafe for you.

Wall of hats
Tiffany T.

Stopped here on a recent trip in NYC and I loved that it was related to Peaky Blinders, love that show. I got a caramel iced latte and it was just okay. The caramel had a weird taste to it, and it was pretty expensive. The cafe itself is so cute and has pretty decor. I love the hats hanging on the wall and all the plants. On weekends you can't work on your laptop so keep that in mind.

Molly T.

Oh my, what a delightful addition to the neighborhood. It warmed my heart to see a storefront like this on a block that has seemingly been in decline for years. The Starbucks is atrocious, the Marrakesh hotel is as skeevy as it comes and there's a very depressing Gristedes that is always empty and always expensive. Enter Peaky Barista, a true shining light of wellness and happiness and sunny vibes. I had the pleasure of walking in here on Opening Day. My gym is on 105th St. and I'm there 5-6x a week, so anything new in the vicinity immediately stands out--especially when it's a place that's so very green in every way. Walking by, there was good energy coming out in waterfalls and I floated on over to the door, mesmerized by the novelty of it all. I peered in eagerly, attempting to read the drink menu through the glass door. I liked what I saw, but did I need a coffee? No, but I found myself inside anyway. The owners beckoned me in, noticing my leering eyes from behind the barista counter. How could I say no to that? It's rare to find employees of any cafe or restaurant attempting to shepherd new customers in with true, genuine eagerness. Something was different here. So yes, I found myself inside. Inside, it turns out, is even more idyllic. It's small but feels spacious: it's very well-lit and seating is plentiful. Fun artwork on the wall and plants for days. I found myself professing my love for a particular marble Pothos, an admission that was received quite well by the owners. The owners at Peaky Barista contribute tremendously to the overall charm of this place. A young couple from Serbia (though they've been in the States for some time now), beautiful and friendly and somehow not jaded by doldrum-esque coffeeshop smog that tends to pollute many of the chains up here. I was shocked to hear they had been in the city for a decade, because they seemed so gosh darn optimistic. Am I thought much of a cynic? Anyway, like I said, their energy feels authentic and importantly, of course, they know what good presentation and good execution looks like. Though a fairly small operation, Peaky Barista has the goods. I can't speak to the food here but the drinks are great. Great cold brew, a solid cortado AND they have tea lattes. I often hold my breath when walking into a new coffee shop--to matcha or not to matcha? There aren't any other cafes in the area that offer matcha, so I was happy to find that they serve it here. And while I haven't tried it, they have a turmeric latte on the menu, which is my all-time favorite winter drink. And don't worry, like any good new cafe, they have plenty of dairy milk alternatives. Oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, maybe a few other kinds I'm forgetting. Turmeric lattes are best with nut milks anyway, so rejoice! I'm thrilled to see Peaky Barista thriving. It's only been open for 10 days at this point but it's already been more trafficked since my first visit. I see myself spending way too much money here for the foreseeable future, but self-care is expensive as all hell these days so I might as well self-soothe with coffee, tea and plants instead of booze, compulsive shopping and ice cream, right?

No laptops or iPads on Saturday and Sunday!
Phil O.

No food besides some pastries. Fast service. The place is tiny (seating for around 20 people. No Computer Zone every Sat and Sun.

Amanda M.

The inside of this place is so cute I love the decor! Unfortunately it was a little expensive (they charge extra for ice?? lol) and not my favorite coffee I've had, but it is a cute space.

Nutella roll

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3 years ago

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25 days ago

No bathroom at location at all, huge inconvenience. Matcha was $8 and was served in a small cup.

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1 year ago

Great coffee, simple service without all the fuss, great atmosphere. Great food. If I had time to sit and read, I would!

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2 years ago

Very chill and great coffee. Loved it and went daily while in town. Good pastries but a little pricey

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

My fav coffee shop ever. Staff is so nice and customer friendly, coffee is always made with love.

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Ask the Community - Picky Barista

Is Peaky Barista allowing indoor seating?

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Is Peaky Barista still open for takeout?

Yes, they are!

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Review Highlights - Picky Barista

Peaky Barista got me through the worst of the pandemic, and now I believe I am their biggest fan.

Mentioned in 16 reviews

Read more highlights

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Banh - Bánh đập (@joeynht)

Banh

4.4(376 reviews)
0.2 miManhattan Valley
$$

I came here with a friend as a walk-in! We came early and luckily seated almost immediately!…read more We've been to the sister restaurant Banh Anh Em and the wait for that place is crazy (but of course very well worth it!). Chill and helpful staff! Cool ambience. We went for the classic pho, bun rieu, and a classic banh mi. Everything was very tasty! Would recommend checking it out!

Came here after finding out it's the origin of Banh Anh Em, which is one of my favorite Vietnamese…read morespots in the city. The hype certainly stilll lives here, as we waited about an hour before being seated. Luckily, we didn't have to wait in line the whole time and wandered the neighborhood. When we were seated, service was quick and attentive. The staff are friendly at answering questions, and the smells are fantastic. We got the pho, bun bo hue, and the Banh cuon. The banh cuon was excellent, great flavor and texture. The pho is different from BAE, with the noodles here being the classic thin pho noodles. The broth is also much lighter, almost like a southern style. The bun Bo hue was ok. Tbh, it was a bit light in flavor, and there was really just a little spice in it that carried it. Otherwise, I wouldn't get it again. Overall, the spot is good, but the flavors just weren't quite there for me. I've heard great things about the banh mis here, but given the soup I had, I wouldn't come to this spot and would rather just visit the union square location. Wish I could give 3.5 stars.

Photos
Banh - Outside

Outside

Banh - Inside of Bánh Tiêu ($13.95) - savory stuffed Vietnamese donut with sticky rice, sausage, quail egg, pork floss, patê, sc

Inside of Bánh Tiêu ($13.95) - savory stuffed Vietnamese donut with sticky rice, sausage, quail egg, pork floss, patê, sc

Banh - Bánh mì thịt nướng ($13.95) - BBQ pork banh mi. Char fired pork belly, scallion oil, mayo

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Bánh mì thịt nướng ($13.95) - BBQ pork banh mi. Char fired pork belly, scallion oil, mayo

Plowshares Coffee Roasters

Plowshares Coffee Roasters

3.8(202 reviews)
0.1 miManhattan Valley
$$

Lovely staff and A+++ coffee and pastries. Welcoming, It's pretty much a daily visit for me, with…read moregood reason. My only reservation is that there is no customer restroom, as I wish I could hang out here a bit longer ( I'd buy another cuppa fir sure). Besides that, believe the other reviews. A great place. Manager Malcolm went out of his way with an extra gesture make things right when there was a small misunderstanding with a pack of coffee I bought. That added effort really made me feel cared for. In short--- plowshares is as sublime as the other reviews suggest. I Hulu recommend you give it a try.

coffee is great but like others have mentioned the baristas can be bit entitled and rude. not…read moreeveryone but specifically the blonde one who's a bit younger was especially curt. i had gotten a bag of beans and the guy at the register was pleasant and nice and said that i can get a cup of brewed coffee for free for the bag of beans. since i didn't need more coffee as i was already having a capp - i asked if i could get it next time and the girl behind him answered for me and was like - no it's just for now - she was visibly annoyed and just rude. i saw her being rude to another patron while i was there. a woman simply asked for water with matcha. just give it to her. don't give her bs that it won't work because of the concentrations. maybe just explain it will not taste like plain matcha with water? elaborate instead of being curt and annoyed. if you are working in service, this is your job and you are being paid. people being served does not have to be served your attitude as well. we aren't paying for that. appreciate the gentleman up front who was nice. still rating them high bc i don't want to crap on a business but plz just be kind they play decent music and their cappuccinos are yum and they get their pastries from petit chou which is pretty yummy. double chocolate was a bit much but it was still good!

Photos
Plowshares Coffee Roasters - The menu

The menu

Plowshares Coffee Roasters
Plowshares Coffee Roasters

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Hungarian Pastry Shop - Mocha Cake

Hungarian Pastry Shop

3.9(961 reviews)
0.4 miMorningside Heights
$$

As someone very familiar with Hungarian cuisine, this affordable (but completely packed) little…read morebakeshop actually somewhat impressed me! First of all, I have to mention the prices: we got 6 pastries and 2 hot chocolates for just over $40: a steal in this economy. Second, it was mostly authentic: the "francia krémes" (which they call a "Napoleon" here for some reason) was quite close to how they serve it in Hungary, save for the caramelized and sickeningly sugary top (which I skipped). The "dobos torta" had the reverse problem: its top--the eponymous "drum"--was authentic, but the meat of it far, far too chocolatey. Guys, a slice of "dobos" is NOT supposed to put you in a diabetic coma! It is not even meant to be very chocolatey! It is supposed to be much more subtle, even savory. The pastries we took home, which included several "rétesek," received high reviews as well. The servers were nice, but did not speak Hungarian. My only other critique would be that the space is incredibly cramped. You will be elbow-to-elbow with various Columbia students. My companion also told me the bathroom was filthy. If you're OK with these rougher spots, though, this cozy café is worth a visit if you want a peak at the "old country."

Ambiance: I like this spot! It is in the upper west! Never sat down because there's always a line…read morebut there is seating. Service: nice service and lots to choose from Food $$: I personally like the lemon cheesecake and tiramisu Audience: Solo Trip [X] Family Friendly [ X] Friends [X] Date Spot [X] Recommendations/tips: I would go right when it opens or just get ready to wait in line haha but worth it

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Hungarian Pastry Shop - Counter and menu

Counter and menu

Hungarian Pastry Shop - Poppy Seed Strudel - left with a bitter aftertaste.  Not a fan.

Poppy Seed Strudel - left with a bitter aftertaste. Not a fan.

Hungarian Pastry Shop - Flourless Chocolate Cake

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Flourless Chocolate Cake

Moka & Co - Pistachio Latte

Moka & Co

4.4(36 reviews)
0.5 miUpper West Side

Such a spacious and cozy find on a rainy Saturday! Great hospitality, music, ambiance, and various…read moretypes of seating. Will definitely look forward to trying more refreshers and pastries. Also has a restroom, water station, and wifi.

Came here on a Sunday afternoon to get some work done. My boyfriend got an iced coffee while I got…read morea strawberry lemonade. I had a sip of my lemonade, and it tasted like strawberry syrup water and I couldn't taste the lemonade at all. The drink tasted horrible. I normally don't like to complain at cafes or restaurants but given that this lemonade was $7 before tax, we decided to ask the staff if they put lemonade in the drink. The staff answered they had no lemonade. We were very confused because they did not mention that they were out of lemonade when we ordered or even when they handed us the order. It was kinda unbelievable that they would just gave this strawberry syrup water to us when we ordered strawberry lemonade. The staff offered us another free drink after and I just got a matcha latte. Fairly poor experience here. While I appreciated them offering us another drink after we complain, not every one feels comfortable complaining. If we didn't complain, we would've wasted $7. This place would've been perfect for working otherwise. They had a lot of tables and pretty fast WiFi. All their drinks were very expensive though, with most of them being $7-9 before tax.

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Moka & Co
Moka & Co - Moka Spice Latte - Specialty

Moka Spice Latte - Specialty

Moka & Co - Iced Pistachio Matcha Latte

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Iced Pistachio Matcha Latte

Cloud Touch - Matcha Latte and Egg Sandwich

Cloud Touch

4.6(49 reviews)
0.3 miManhattan Valley

Another cafe for the win!…read more I have to say the first time i visited this business I was unsure I was going to like it. It turned out I did and ever since I have been enjoying their food/beverages. One of my favorite foods are (some) of the mochi donuts and the chicken sandwuches. If you are a food junkie and love donuts, Cloud Touch makes it twice a day and possibly more if it's busy. Brooklyn Roasting company coffee is a bonus for me since I love the taste of this brand. If you do not like your coffee strong, suggest just one shot of expresso or two (expresso shots varies by the cup size). The service in this establishment is friendly and attentive to the order you place. You get a discount when you pay with cash. Paying with card has an additional fee. There is a seating area inside the cafe as well as outside. The indoor seating has a bench and two round coffee table. The outdoor seating is wonderful for when the weather is warm. But, the plus is that there is outdoor seating year round. With so many cafes in New York City, this one is small yet stands out in its unique way.

Cute egg sandwich place. Loved the interior and design choices; it's very aesthetically pleasing…read more It's tiny inside and no bathroom (basically just a bench to sit on while you wait for your food), although there's an outdoor seating area, so it's best to grab and go. No phone orders either. It's about $9 for a sandwich, so not cheap, but there's lots of seasonal/combo promos and sales, and 10% off for paying in cash. They also sell Korean corndogs, katsu sandos, mochi donuts, and coffee/drinks. We got a pork sausage/cheese egg sandwich, and while I loved it (it's thick, fluffy, savory and very filling), it tasted basically like an elevated Egg McMuffin - no disrespect either since I consider it a compliment lol. Not the most spectacular food nor the best value, but it'll do in a pinch for a quick and tasty breakfast or lunch! I'd return whenever I'm hungry and in the area.

Photos
Cloud Touch
Cloud Touch - Avocado Egg Sandwich

Avocado Egg Sandwich

Cloud Touch - Outside  seating and front of the business.

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Outside seating and front of the business.

Picky Barista - coffee - Updated May 2026

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