I used to love Purple Waves as a spot to get some work done or meet with friends, so I was super surprised to see how much the place shrunk. The coffee shop is now a small space with just a few tables inside, no longer a place to come with a larger group. The menu has also shrunk, I believe vanilla and mocha were the only flavors available for a latte. There used to be a salted maple latte I enjoyed but that's disappeared after whatever remodeling process they went through. They also "don't do" any disposable materials, so you can only really have your drink "for here" unless you bring your own mug. Not sure why this was the move as opposed to finding more sustainable drink packaging. I wasn't a fan of the nondairy milk they use, my vanilla oat milk latte was thin and overall subpar. The place has taken up more of a marketplace vibe with eclectic snacks/sauces/jams/etc. available for purchase. It still is a fantastic location with beautiful outdoor seating facing Central Park North, so you can't take that away from them. Unfortunately just no longer a go to for me. read more

I bought a drink and took a work call on my computer for about 25 minutes using headphones while keeping my voice low. An employee approached me after the call and said, "That would be your last call here......this isn't a WeWork". If calls aren't permitted, that's completely understandable. But please post a sign or make the policy clear. I would have been happy to follow the rules and simply wouldn't have taken the call in the first place. read more

They have a fine collection of locally sourced sauces and spreads, including almond butter and ginger syrup and white soy sauce. Very interesting and eclectic. We had a cortado and a oat milk matcha latte. The latte was a tall price and the cortado was not among the best you will find in New York. So it is not a destination solely for the drinks. read more

Purple Waves - Matcha oat latte, whole milk cortado, and their lovely flowers - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

Great cafe to study at (wifi, clean bathroom, lots of seats and even a comfy couch, people are generally quiet and hard at work, great music that is not distracting). I like how eco-friendly they are, and there's a small market section too. Tuna salad, latte, and maple sea salt latte were all pretty good. read more

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I'm very confused by this space, it feels like a country cafe that wants to be a wine bar but can't quite decide how to go about that. They have Happy Hour but wine pour for $9 is terrible. This place should be open until 10-11pm, vibrant and busy given the fact that there is no competition for anything like it close by and there are apartments EVERYWHERE! The outdoor space lacks ambience and effort, not enough umbrellas given that the sun is there all afternoon and it all just feels lackluster. Central Park is across the street but I couldn't get an iced coffee to go. Seriously?? As someone that has worked in hospitality for over 20yrs I don't understand what the owner is doing. Is it a shop or a wine bar as it doesn't seem to be very successful at either. I had high hopes for this place but after one visit I won't be going back. read more

This place may be my fav spot this summer. Decent outdoor seating although not all covered, and table near the plants hosted bees, so I moved inside. Lovely homemade lemonade with a hint of sweetness. The lox was fresh and sourdough perfect toasted to be soft in the middle and crunchy on the edges. The only weak spot was not enough labneh cheese. Looks to have been added to the toast when a wee too hot or simply too thin a schmear to start with. Basically I had a perfectly poached egg with lox on sourdough - no taste of cheese or creamy conveyance of the lox. Green salad had a savory dressing that complimented the lox. Waitstaff friendly and the place is clean. Kitchen appears small so when busy I wonder if I'll have to wait longer than I did today. I look forward to finding out. read more

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The food in this restaurant is delicious! The staff are very friendly and their coffee is always well made whenever I order. read more

Purple Waves - Chia oats with sliced apples. - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

Food 5/5 the Muhammara with crostini and honey cinamon latte. This was my first taste of muhammara and I would order it again. Light and very flavorful. Service 4/5 Ambiance 4/5 indoor and patio seating for a cutest cafe. Great location steps from Central Park read more

Purple Waves - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

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Visited this spot on a Saturday with my dad, they have a limited menu as they don't have a full kitchen. They prep food in the counter. The food was okay. Nothing extraordinary and pricey. The views however if you are into people watching or working on our laptop then this is a vibe for you. read more

I got a Too Good To Go bag from here by hap chance as I'm typically not in the area and it did not disappoint. Both the amount and the baked goods itself were fantastic. In my bag, I had a little teddy bear cookie(?) that was tasty, three banana nut muffins that were great as well and had a very generous amount of walnuts, and a couple of croissants on top of that. All in all, I'd be back whether it was through the TGTG app or in general. Also, shout out to the super nice employee who separated the goods containing nuts from the ones that didn't so nicely as my dad is allergic. 10/10 spot in my book! read more

Purple Waves - Teddy Bear cookie - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

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Have been here a week and have been here twice..the first time it was for a latte and lemon pound cake, both were great!! Then today we went back for a meal...I had the egg salad...and it was AMAZING! My friends come here often and I know why...it's a great little spot! read more

Purple Waves - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

Located on the sunny Frederick Douglass circle on Central Park North, Purple Waves is a sunlit cafe with a middle eastern twist on the menu. I tried the Muhammara (a red pepper and walnut dip) which is one of my favorite middle eastern mezze. It comes with 3 crostini and is topped with pomegranate seeds. The chef said it was inspired by their Kurdish roots. I enjoyed this take on it, though it was more oil heavy than others I tried. I also got the half sandwich half salad lunch special for $15. The ham and cheese sandwich was served on crunchy bread and the salad has a yummy yellow garnish that tasted of miso. I didn't try the roast beef sandwich but it was clearly their most popular dish since the chef made a whole line of them while I was there. My friend got the avocado toast which came with a poached egg. The egg was quite runny, so maybe ask for it to be cooked longer if that's not your style. Nicely sunlit, there was plenty of table space inside and out with free WiFi and big glass windows. I didn't try their coffee but they had both drip coffee and espresso options. It was a weekday morning, and the crowd appeared split between moms brunching and folks at work with their laptops. I'd come back especially to meet a friend or to work for a few hours. read more

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This is a fantastic local, family run cafe. Everyone is so friendly and the staff take care of you as if it were their own home. The drinks are delicious. They have locally sourced products for purchase and pastries are available. I always bring my laptop and do my writing here. I love it! I so appreciate the sustainable focus of the cafe - they really care about the planet and have put this at the front and center of their business model. read more

Such a cute coffee shop to duck into and study/get work done. It gets crowded pretty quickly, and once it gets busier, wait times can go up, but that's to be expected. The food is fantastic--though a bit on the pricier side, it's definitely delicious. The only downside is that it can be difficult to find available outlets, so if you're using your laptop, I'd recommend charging it fully before you stop by. The staff is really nice and seem to have a great connection with their regulars. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, which adds to the cozy vibe. Overall, a great spot to relax or get some work done. read more

Purple Waves - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

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Welcome addition to the neighborhood. A friend lives in the area and suggested meeting here for lunch. It is a charming place with lovely light. I am sure in good weather, outdoor seating adds to the charm. The food is very good. I got mulled wine (fantastic), lentil soup (okay, not great, maybe I prefer the denser, creamier variety) that they served with a generous portion of crusty bread. My friend got a poached egg special that looked beautiful. She also ordered sweet potato wedges that was really excellent. Service is friendly. I am not someone who likes working in a cafe but if you are one, this is a great place for that. I would absolutely love to go back. read more

Such a warm welcoming place, the staff was friendly and answered all our questions as well as offered suggestions. The food was amazing!! Such a wonderful cafe! read more

Incredibly nice staff, great coffee, dessert was nice, and it has a nice, generally chill vibe. I was mainly hanging out with a laptop & used their free wifi, and some places are annoying about that but they were very hospitable. If you're looking for a place for a nice bite or to chill for awhile, it's a really great neighborhood gem. read more

The most lovely little coffee shop, wine bar, and cafe all in one! The owner of the business took my order. She was lovely and told me all about how she wants this resturant to be a place for community. It definitely gives that vibe! This is a great place to sit, enjoy a coffee or some food, and work on your own or with others. They were selling paintings from local artists. They also host trivia nights during the week. Lots of stuff happening here! Definitely check it out. read more

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Sharon runs an amazing shop - the food and coffee are top notch but the service and vibe is not to be missed either. Indoor and outdoor seating available! read more

I want to love it but literally, no one is responsive on the staff. Not to mention, they rarely have what I'm wanting, aka a pastry that's very common. I live across the street and cannot go to the place anymore due to lack of professional service. I want to give a zero as they never try to accommodate my order. I have gone here 15 times, and I have only had 1 normal experience ! read more

Such a lovely cafe! The food and drinks are delicious, and the servers are friendly and attentive. I will be coming back next time I'm in the area. read more

Purple Waves - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

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Love this place. Great cafe to get work done. Coffee and food are good, but the people are even better. Love that they are community and environmentally friendly and conscious. Totally recommend. Great addition to the area. read more

Went to an absolutely lovely event here. Can't say enough about the wait staff, and food. They just went out of their way to make it special. It's right by the park, and totally family friendly. Food was all fresh and simple but very well done. Love this addition to Harlem as a resident. read more

Purple Waves - Outside cafe area - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

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Love the vibes, love the food and coffee, love that its a cafe and also serves alcohol. Love that I can work here on my laptop and that there are many seating options and charging ports. Love that the cafe is dedicated to sustainability. Service is amazing and they bring your food and drinks to you. Love it!!! read more

I'm writing this review because I want this beautiful cafe to survive. I really hope they give customers options for to-go cups. I'm sure that they get many Central Park visitors and for those, it's definitely nice to have paper cups for to-go drinks. Many of us do not want to carry reusable cups after finishing our drink to enjoy a walk in the park. And most importantly, drinking hot liquid out of a plastic cup is nasty. And it grosses me out that someone else has used the same plastic cup. Pastries are expensive for the neighborhood. It's like a high-end restaurant/bakery price. Food they make is very creative and delicious. And staffs are friendly and nice. I live near by and was over the moon when they opened. But I'm a bit concerned about them now because of their business hour inconsistency. I really want them to stay in business! I hope they take our feedbacks seriously! read more

So excited for another new spot in the neighborhood! Food and service was great and the cafe itself is very nice. Dog friendly outdoor seating is a plus! read more

Purple Waves - Outdoor area and special latte - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

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Highly recommend this place and their Afghani Tea. Ran by nice people, cozy ambiance, good food and drinks.

Excited to welcome @purplewaves.nyc @ #frederickdouglascircle (NE corner of #cpw & #cpn) to the neighborhood! It's the absolute best/most delicious addition to #frederickdouglasblvd #restaurantrow in a *long* time!! The cafe fare is elevated & utterly sublime (the lox are a must try, made by their amazing Chef Ella!); the coffee & chai are top notch; the vibe is cool; & the intention is community-focused. The place is light, airy, & cozy/modern. The owner (Sharon) and her team are super warm, courteous, & competent- just right attention. This is my/our new hang. Hope to see you there! . read more

Purple Waves - Scrumptious lox toast! - Cafes Near Me - New York, New York

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I wanted to try the bread pudding, but did not realize when I ordered it that they apparently prepared it fresh, and I would have to wait a good 15 - 20 minutes to receive it. In my experience, bread pudding is pre-prepared, and always served cold. When I learned how long it would take to prepare, I attempted to cancel the order, but was not permitted to do so. I did not raise my voice, or develop an attitude, but the worker I was corresponding with became so upset at me asking for a refund that she had to leave. I was confused. I ended up walking away with the worst bread pudding I'd ever tasted. Overpriced, too. I never returned. read more

Following up 7 months later on my previous review. The service is as slow if not slower. Please improve! Your drinks and food are great. read more

I worked with Sharon, owner of Purple Waves, to arrange a luncheon for 12 members of my Board. She was very easy to work with; she worked within our budget and dietary requests; was communicative about logistics. She responded quickly to changes. The sandwiches and salads we had were very good and had unusual combinations. The group was very pleased. This was exactly what we wanted - a large table in a restaurant where we could talk, enjoy being together as a group with perfect, smiling service and good lunch food. I highly recommend read more

Great coffee, friendly service, phenomenal avocado toast & paninis (plus some interesting specials like torshi - kurdish pickled vegetables), in a bright & airy atmosphere - great addition to the neighborhood! read more

Purple Waves is a beautiful cafe with lots of light and space, a focus on sustainability and a nice selection of food options. I do think the restaurant needs to work on its management, particularly around ensuring food/drinks come out on time. Waited 45 minutes for a sandwich that does not need to be cooked, while my friend's food came out in 15 min. When you make a lunch date with a friend it would be nice for the food to come out at the same time so you can eat together. It was midday and the place was busy, but I just don't know why it should take that long. In addition the menu states the sandwiches come with a side salad but no salad was provided. The menu prices are a premium so I hope they can work things out on timing and including what is advertised on the menu, as the place is lovely and the staff are friendly. read more

Beautiful space with great coffee, good place to get work done or read a book and people watch out the big windows.

This is my new happy place. I love a nice cafe to relax and read in. The outdoor seating is great when weather is good. The coffee and food are both good. The matbucha and labne are really nice. Love the ambiance and nice staff. read more

Tried this place back in June and this place is awesome with such a cool vibe. My favorite is the egg salad sandwich which they make their own mayonnaise. They also turn into a wine bar in the evening. A must place if you're in the area. read more

They're leaving good business and money on the table by not offering counter / to-go service. It's coffee shop 101! It's a bright sunny space with a nice staff and great location. But the layout is wrong, furniture uncomfortable and the food is overpriced and unremarkable. They have an identity crisis and I wish they'd be smarter about their offering and their customer. read more

Was here for happy hour this past Friday. Had a really great, summery glass of red, the smoked salmon nigiri, and Mediterranean panini. Everything was delicious and would highly recommend giving this place a try for HH and in general. Also hve been here for coffee and was also really good! Especially the bread pudding! Chef did smn special with that dish :) read more

The staff is so friendly! Nice environment. Perfect place to sit with someone for chatting. You can breathe peace at this place. Cocktails are great. read more

What an overly-complicated and unorganized business. We tried it, the coffee was good and we were given cups that needed to be returned within three weeks or we would be charged for them. Cool, good excuse to come back. When we attempted to return, they opened ten minutes later than advertised and prevented us from entering as they were "still setting up". Why advertise an opening time if it's actually whenever you feel like it? We left their silly cups without getting the deposit back - the cost was worth avoiding them and the service was better a block west, at a less complex cafe. I rarely post on Yelp, it was just so silly and if businesses doing whatever they'd like isn't your thing... you should know about it. read more