This coffee shop is under an NYU dorm, and is one of very few places in Manhattan that encourages hanging out on a laptop and studying. The shop itself aims for function over style and has been thoughtfully laid out to maximize seating space. In addition, the shop has much longer hours than most Manhattan coffee shops, closing at 10 p.m. They offer a large selection of Asian comfort meals, pastries, sandwiches, and a large variety of drinks ranging from coffee and lattes to bubble tea. I am actually surprised how much variety the shop seems to have, given they generally have one barista and one cook working. In terms of the products themselves, it's comfort food, so don't expect it to be the best version of whatever you are having. Generally, most food and drinks are going to be "good" rather than "excellent/mind-blowing." If you happen to come on a day when Sammy is the barista, order a cappuccino, latte, or a pour-over, as Sammy is an award-winning barista. However, recognize that this isn't a third wave coffee shop an instead a neighborhood shop. Coffee enthusiasts should consider La Cabra or Hi Collar which are around the corner and have excellent pour over coffee programs. If you are looking for a Manhattan based coffee shop that suitable for hanging out for hours, this is one of the only places in Lower Manhattan that is suitable for extended work sessions. read more

Stopped by before a job interview on a Friday afternoon at 2:20pm. I went straight to the self service screen and ordered a mango matcha with oat milk. The ambiance in here was nice and welcoming, lots of open tables to sit at and a handful of customers on laptops. It was nice and peaceful with music playing at a good volume. My drink came out quick. I was a bit worried about the color of the matcha since it was a little oxidized but the drink was really good. The mango milk used in the matcha wasn't too sweet and the drink tasted good when mixed together. Thought it was a bit on the pricier side - $9.26 for the small (docked a star off for that), I'd probably order it again. I def want to try the food on the menu next time I come in. read more

Sammy L Coffee - Mango matcha latte with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

While in a crunch for time I decided to stop by this coffee shop which was recommended to me by a fellow coffee enthusiast. The service was affable and prompt but the food and drink offerings left much to be desired. ENVIRONMENT This is a prime place to study and/or get some work done. There is no shortage of seating areas and great angles when you need get distracted(like myself)with a yearning for people watching on the street. The service was both and thoughtful as the barrista suggested I heat up the cookie which I happily obliged. FOOD I love a quality chai latte and their offering missed the mark. It lacked strength and all the notes tasted a bit flat. In addition, I ordered a chocolate cookie which was warmed(much appreciated) but upon eating it tasted a bit stale. Having traversed a diverse landscape of coffee shops from Philly to NY, this may rank amongst my least favorite experience. I may give the benefit of the doubt that I should've chosen one of their more favored selections(see pistachio latte or mango matcha) but I can't downplay my experience. Due to the warm customer service I would certainly try them again for different items. If you're in seek of a study spot, they offer quality cozy nooks. Happy studies! read more

Sammy L Coffee - Front Entrance - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I was really excited to try this place out. I walk by it often and see the banner outside with the specialty drinks. The Orange tonic one kept catching my eye. So One day I was like I need to try it out. I did not really enjoy it at all it was an odd taste. Tasted like Orange juice even though the person working there said its orange concentrate or something liken that. I did like the sitting area in the front it was cozy feeling but also it was very warm here. read more

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Sammy L Coffee is currently my favorite coffee shop and study spot in Manhattan. The drinks are cool and refreshing. There's a wide variety of menu items, ranging from a sweet braised pork bowl to a hamburger on rice bowl. You can grab a convenient lunch or dinner while studying or working here. The kitchen does close at 8:30, slightly before the cafes closing hours. The AC isn't set at too hot or too cold. The workers there are also very friendly. read more

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Cute little coffee spot and hangout on 3rd ave where a lot of students were busy on laptops. We used the kiosk to order which was great because you can see pictures of everything. I got the orange iced americano which is almost like a regular americano, but has espresso and orange juice instead of espresso and water. If you haven't tried one you definitely should. It reminds me of an espresso Romano where you rub a lemon peel on the rim, squeeze it, or drop it into your cup to release the oils. Delicious. Bathroom was sort of clean, just a little stinky and wet. They also have a small rack of clothes from Korea for sale, fun! read more

Sammy L Coffee - Double espresso & orange iced americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

This coffee shop is a cute spot to catch up with a friend or get some work done. The interior is a bit tighter than I expected, but there are plenty of tables. You can order here at the counter or at a kiosk. Their menu has a variety of specialty coffee drinks as well as Korean fusion dishes (ie. bulgogi bowls or Korean toasts) and desserts. My friend and I just got a refresher and a mango matcha. The refresher was light and fruity; my friend really liked it. The mango in the mango matcha was good, but the matcha quality wasn't the best + they didn't add much. Overall, not a bad spot for WFH or chatting with friends. read more

Sammy L Coffee - Mango matcha and refresher - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Went to try the Dubai coffeeand it was pretty good !! 8/10!! Will come back try the Vienna coffee read more

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Stopped in because I'd heard about their fun drinks but this was not it. I got the iced taro latte, which had good taro flavor, but the one at Hidden Grounds down the block is better. Also it's $7 and doesn't even have caffeine lol. Mildew smell inside by the register made me not want to linger (other reviewers have mentioned this as well)... read more

Sammy L Coffee - Taro Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

this seemed like a popular study spot and and they had interesting drink flavors. tried their mango matcha but didn't think the matcha was very fresh. mango was good but a little sweet. drinks were alright but a cozy cafe to study at with a good amount of seating for busy 3rd ave read more

Sammy L Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

This is one of my favorite coffee shops in East Village. They have some Asian inspired food and drinks but also serve traditional menu items as well. There's a decent amount of seating, but it can get pretty packed on the weekends in the afternoon. They have free WiFi and allow laptop usage on weekends which can be hard to find in the city. Perfect place to do some work, read a book, or catch up with a friend here. I've tried both their chai latte and taro latte. Both are good, but I usually go for the taro latte since it's less common at other coffee shops. read more

Sammy L Coffee - Taro latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I love Sammy L! It's been one of my favorite places to study since freshman year. They have great coffee and food and always refresh the menu with fun choices. They have outlets and WiFi too :) sometimes it gets crowded but it's great for computer work!! read more

Stopped in here for a coffee and saw they had a bunch of interesting Asian inspired drinks. I got the iced osmanthus latte and sat in. The space was very cozy and they really maximize the space with a ton of seats. The latte was pretty sweet with a strong osmanthus flavor and some osmanthus blossoms sprinkled on top. A great place for a drink in the East Village area. read more

Sammy L Coffee - Osmanthus Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

It was so hot outside, my friend and I ran into the nearest coffee shop we could find. This was the coffee shop. Meh. The shop was ventilated by a huge fan which did the bare minimum of keeping the heat out. But my friend and I were so exhausted we decided to order from the kiosk. My friend got a Tiramisu Latte and I got a Rose Latte. When I asked the employee for clarification on the drinks, his attitude was blah. While I know for a fact he probably doesn't get paid enough, if I'm gonna pay Manhattan prices for a latte, I would've went to a cafe where the staff don't appear to be miserable. Ambiance is ok, furniture is slightly run down and the bathroom was warm and smelled of mildew. Not great. At least my coffee was decent. The rose latte was mild and fragrant but I've had better rose lattes. The tiramisu latte was boring but my friend liked it fine. So unless I'm walking by in dire need of caffeine, I'll skip this spot. read more

Sammy L Coffee - Rose Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Picked up the Vienna which was pretty cool coffee. Pretty cafe with a lot of non basic coffee options, claimed largely by NYU students. I'd try some of their other options. read more

This spot is so cute and has a ambience with good coffee and the Service was good. I ordered the latte with chocolate chip cookie read more

Sammy L Coffee - Latte with chocolate chip cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

I was in the area and was tempted to come here after reading favorable reviews of their taro latte and osmanthus latte. The service is fine and the coffee shop has a cozy/bright vibe with a nice amount of seating (but seats are close to each other). I saw that most people were studying or working on their laptops. I might be drinking the osmanthus latte completely wrong when I grabbed a spoon and completely mixed up the flowers and latte together. I didn't have the foresight that with every sip, the dried flowers would constantly tickle my throat. At the end, there was still a huge amount of osmanthus at the bottom of my cup (it seems they were a bit too generous with their scoop). If you do get it, scoop all or most of the flowers on top off to avoid the uncomfortable tickle. Other than that, the taste was ok - bitter with slight floral taste and a heaping side of osmanthus. It's not my type of latte, but I did enjoy trying something new and I appreciate any cafe that allows people to work/study on their laptops. Would defs come again to try their sandwiches and pastries. read more

Sammy L Coffee - Osmanthus latte (front), taro latte (back) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Pammy L., was excited to meet owner, Sammy L., who is known for his amazing latte art. Unfortunately he was not there when I visited. Instead all I got was a blob on my matcha latte. But all is good because all the drinks were sipping amazing. read more

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The staff was rude and the quality of the coffee was just average. There's quite a wait from placing the order to getting your coffee ready. read more

Nicole and I discovered this hidden gem on our way to a city concert and was glad we did. They appear to be a korean based coffee shop with coffee and hot food available to order. Their service was also exceptionally fast as I was able to get my food within 5 minutes of waiting. I tried out the pork rice bowl and sushi combo as well as a latte. The staff was also very friendly and I loved the warm cafe styled atmosphere. read more

Sammy L Coffee - California eel roll - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

My order took 25 minutes to make and it came out completely cold and overcooked. They seemed busy and by then I was starving so I didn't cause a commotion and just ate it. But was pretty disappointed read more

Sammy L Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

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Very busy on a Thursday afternoon. Most of the seats were taken already. I had their rose latte which was good, not too sweet and had a balanced rose flavor. They also have a ton of food options that I would like to try next time. Good working environment. read more

Sammy L Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite places to stop by at when i'm visiting New York! The coffee shop is so cute, a little cramped with seating, but honestly that means there's never an issue to find somewhere to sit! The Matcha Cheesecake is my kryptonite, I quite literally dream of it. I usually get some sort of latte, but the matcha and specialty drinks there are always a hit! The workers there are also kind and attentive, there always helpful in making a decision haha! read more

Really awesome spot. I came here on a Sunday afternoon to get some work done, and this is the best spot I've found in NY for that. Lots of seating, water jug, bathroom, well air conditioned, and super friendly staff (almost too friendly, I felt people were just coming in to use their bathroom and take water, and they seemed fine with it!) As for their coffee, it's actually really good. I got a large iced latte, and solid mix of coffee flavor balanced with the milk. I do think that the milk was helping mask the darkness of their beans, but I didn't mind. I also don't think this is a traditional coffee shop; they served my latte in a boba cup, but I personally didn't mind. I would have to try my standard order of a cortado to really test their coffee, but will save that for next time. Overall, definitely give this place a try! read more

Sammy L Coffee - Large Iced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Still ever so delicious about the basque burnt cheesecake ($6.50) and the beautifully drawn design on the cappuccino ($5.00). If you want to ask for a face to be drawn on the cappuccino, the owner will gladly do it for you. Fast service from friendly staff and owner. If you go the cafe often enough, the owner will remember your face or maybe even your name too. Very pleasant to see that the place gets lots of customers. Lots of outlets to charge your devices even though tables are a bit cramped. Bathroom can get dirty at times but usually pretty clean most of the time. Ambiance wise still has very cozy vibes and a great place to stay away from the cold. Accepts cash and credit/debit card as forms of payment. read more

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NYUish coffee shop with food options. lots of laptop heads--the nearly inaudible buzz of electronics broken up by a rhythm keyboard fingers. there's some seating, but turnover is slow though. grabbed an Americano to go on a chilly afternoon--and did its job of providing warmth. service is quick, not very chatty. read more

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The cafe gets really crowded, so it might be hard to find a seat. If you're lucky enough to find one, it's a perfect place to get work done. The Vienna coffee was great. The coffee itself wasn't really sweetened, but the whipped cream on top provided enough sugar. Even though I got it decaf, the coffee flavor was strong. The price isn't bad considering the neighborhood. When I went they played RnB in the background, which I really enjoyed. It's not too loud. It's mostly filled with students doing work. There are plenty of outlets, free wifi, and they have a restroom. It is a little bit cramped since the tables and seating are very close to each other. There was also a group of students filming when I went, but they weren't loud. They give a student discount, but only to NYU and Parsons students. If I'm able to get a seat the next time, I would definitely come back for the coffee and to get more work done. read more

Sammy L Coffee - Iced Vienna Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Superb espresso drinks. Very comfortable seatings. I'll be a regular here. The service is great. read more

Sammy L Coffee - My cappuccino was a work of art... it was a perfect balance of espresso, milk, and foam. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Had the pistachio iced latte and it was incredibly boring, could barely taste the pistachio. Overall very average. Not worth the price. Also very crowded on weekend. read more

Solid 4.5 stars! The service is really nice and they have a wide variety of food, drinks, and snacks. It was extremely packed when I went and mostly filled with uni kids because NYU is so close. Perfect place to relax, study, work, etc. I got the taro latte with regular milk and it was just okay to me. I would have preferred a stronger taro flavor since I mostly tasted the milk. They have lovely complimentary fruit infused water too! read more

Good coffee shop with a lot of space to do work. They have good coffee selection and wifi. Plenty of places to sit and do work. read more

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my iced latte was just meh. the entire shop was a bit messy, with too many selections from snacks to pastries. i had high expectations since it has been on my list for a long time, but it just didn't feel like a typical coffee shop. i would consider this place to be a café or brunch spot as it has a full-service kitchen. i met up with my friend here but we ended up going somewhere else because everyone was studying or working on their laptops. so, if you're in the neighborhood looking for a place to study and/or work with just meh coffee, this would not be a bad option. read more

The food here is great! I order delivery from this place and their lunch menu is tasty

I had a rose latte which was ok. I enjoyed the chill ambiance most of all and sitting near the window. I must come back and try out a few more drinks. Bathroom and outlets. Barista was down to earth. Good service. read more

The iced coconut milk latte is so good. Love this place for the ambiance, coffee, and baked goods

I have been on the hunt for the best brown sugar boba milk tea in the city, and Sammy L Coffee is in 1st place right now! It has the perfect caramel flavor and the right amount of sweetness that doesn't disappear after the first couple of sips. The boba has a really nice chew to it as well. They also offer a wide variety of coffees and other teas, as well as baked goods, ready-made asian foods, and even sushi (granted, it looks like grocery grade sushi haha). The interior is very cute and the staff are very friendly and welcoming. There's plenty of seats and tables inside and outside; it's a good environment to do work as well! read more

Their ambiance is so awesome. I was here on Monday around noon and what I love about this place is that they have delicious drinks like Taro Latte and Rose Latte. In addition, it has a good amount of charging outlets. read more

Sammy L Coffee - Interior of Sammy L Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Came on a weekday noon wanted to grab a sandwich and a coffee, surprised that they got some very Asian inspired items. Ended up getting the cola wings rice bowl with an iced latte. The rice bowl is quite decent and cola wings is a dish that I haven't had for so long, maybe better if it has a bit more sauce but it tastes great after I added a bit soy sauce in it. The latte is really good too - the espresso used in it is a bit on the lighter side. I got a takeout but the interior of the cafe is quite spacious and cozy, feel like would be a great cafe to do some work as well. read more

Sammy L Coffee - cola wings rice bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - New York, New York

Came to this place after work on a weekday and it was such a hidden gem! I love the amount of seating available indoors and outdoors. They have free wifi, but you just need to ask for the password. So that makes it a great cafe to work from as well (saw three tables with laptops out). The girls working there were also so sweet. I bought one treat to snack on and one of them threw in an additional one for free. In addition, when my friend wanted to switch her iced drink to a hot one since her stomach hurt, they did that for her as well. There is also an accessible bathroom (although it may only be available for paying customers). read more

Nice coffee shop but not my type to be honest. It's a bit too clustered for me and has uncomfortable seats. There is a wide selection of Asian candies and bottles which is super cute. However I didn't like how packed the place is and that tables were so close to each other. It's worth a try though. There is wifi and it's a good place for group meetings or friends gathering. read more