Drinks: This is a small coffee shop in Manhattan Chinatown. Black coffee is very strong, smooth,…read moreand flavorful. The chai latte was perfect and not too sweet. Overall, we enjoyed our drinks. Service: Staff were friendly! Ambiance: The coffee shop is very small with a few small tables inside and a couple of tables outside. The cafe is very cozy and a nice spot to hang out in. Overall, I would highly recommend this spot!

Absolutely loved the ambiance. Service was pretty good as well. I liked the coffee a lot. The…read morebiscuit was yummy and had a good texture. The s'mores cookie was good. Overall would say the pastries were over salted.

Delicious drinks and pastries!! The matcha was smooth and creamy, which paired perfectly with the…read moresweet strawberry puree. And the staff are so kind, they made me feel welcomed in the establishment rather than rushed, which was much appreciated.

((4.5 stars)) a…read moresmall coffee shop + soft serve ice cream spot located on the Lower East Side. very cozy coffee shop with a couple of seats inside and a few outside (during warmer weather). Creme serves a full coffee menu as well as some other hot and cold drinks (like teas and such). there's also a small menu of soft serve ice cream in cups as well as cones. the coffee is good--i have enjoyed Americanos, here, during colder months when i walk around the LES. and I'd say the soft serve match ice cream is so good and hits the spot on warm days and nights.---the soft is smooth and creamy, not overly sweet. the service is friendly and quick. overall, a very small shop with lots to offer when you're in need a moment to catch your breath and treat yourself.

more coffee shop reviews on Instagram @coffeehonglics !…read more Hot matcha latte - 7/10 first couple of sips were good! matcha was a bit grainy and a lot of it settled after a couple of minutes otherwise, matcha flavor was light loved the little heart latte art Overall - 7/10 This was the first cafe we hit up on our NY trip and we loved the interior and the atmosphere! We stumbled on this cafe after deciding not to wait 2 hours for Golden Diner , which was only a couple minutes away by foot . The stone interior and big windows were so aesthetic. We got hot matcha lattes that were a bit grainy but otherwise not bad. We didn't do any work this time but it seems like a chill place to get some stuff done. There's a big table and a couple smaller tables that may be a little small depending on your set up. We think we might have seen some outlets(?) Overall, we loved the vibes of this little cafe and we might come back during our next NY trip

Great place to sit and sip if you're waiting for a table at Golden Diner but also a great place to…read morechill or to grab coffee to go. There's not a lot of space, but the tables are pretty and the booths are comfy, perfect for escaping the summer heat or winter cold. We got the Guava Matcha and Salted Miso Caramel Latte, both of which are delicious and superbly balanced. We didn't get to stay long, but I remember this place very well. Would definitely come back for coffee!

Amazing staff and drinks!…read more The Iced Black Sesame Expresso is my favorite. I've been trying to incorporate more black sesame into my diet given the health benefits. The combination of black sesame and the espresso hit just seemed like the best of both worlds in one drink. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The recommendation hit and I've been back a few times already. I also lost an item recently in the shop and was able to retrieve it with care and convenience. For sure I'll keep coming back!

Pretty good coffee and friendly staff in the middle of Chinatown. Worth a stop if you are in the…read morearea. Some home made pastries that I didn't try looked good. They also had a clean bathroom which is important for a coffee shop. You have to walk up a small flight of stairs to get in and it's easy to miss.

What a cute, small coffee shop this is. It has some fun art all around on the walls too. They have…read moresome interesting coffee drinks as well. I got the banana bread Iced latte. I do not think I have ever had one of these before. Also, the cup that it comes in are very cute. The barista was very nice and helped me choose what would be the best coffee drink for me to try. If you are in this area I highly recommend stoping in.

Literally THE CUTEST place…read more I was very intrigued by the unusual caffeinated offerings of this place so this won our patronage the Sunday morning of our stay in the LES. I saw somewhere that the pandan vanilla latte was worth getting even though I have no idea what that is. That was my plan until GF made that her plan and I had to pivot. Black sesame latte seemed interesting so I attempted to order that but they were out. Whomp whomp. I pivoted again and ordered the banana bread latte. They serve them in those famous ny-affiliated coffee cups I've seen so much but have never had before so I can check that off the box. The banana bread latte was absolutely incredible. Idk how they do it but it tastes exactly like banana bread in coffee form. The pandan vanilla latte was disappointing, I should probably look up what that actually is before complaining. I will say that it was not aggressively sweetened like probably every other flavored latte sold. Such a cute little place I would love to try their matcha shit also.

((4.75 stars)) if…read moreyou're in NoLita, have time, and in need of well-made coffee, then stop by % Arabica. i have been here a few times in the past and more often recently...it really depends on if i have things to do that involve traversing Prince Street. the airy coffee shop lets in a lot of natural light and has good lighting inside to keep the interior vibe bright, energetic, but not frenetic. the space exudes a clean modern aesthetic--off-white plus warm woods. a really good amount of seating in the forms of a large sofa area as well as the stools at the front windows. while the Arabica is often busy, the interior has that neat organized energy even with people milling about waiting for their coffee. while they do serve a small variety of baked items like croissants and brownies....the star is the menu of finely crafted coffee drinks. if you enjoy the flavor of coffee, order an espresso or Americano--the coffee doesn't miss. i believe it's a medium roast of Brazilian and Ethiopian coffee beans, but i think they have different bean choices or two if you prefer a different roast/blend. the Americanos, iced Americanos and espressos have a really satisfying flavorful coffee --kinda dark chocolatey, somewhat nutty, a low acidity, and almost a natural sweetness. really good stuff. the baristas here do not rush coffee drinks and that is a big reason why the drinks are consistently well-made beyond the talent of the staff. even when there is no line to the order counter, you'll often have a little wait because typically people sitting or standing around are all waiting for their orders. but the wait is worth it. trust. i will say the the folks typically taking orders feel a bit frosty and not authentic in interactions--just my read on the vibe. it's always a friendly veneer not a deep warmth especially if you have questions about the coffee roast or blend...maybe it's because lack of knowledge but often times it feels like they're distracted. but in their defense, everyone behind the counter seems to be doing 8 million things beyond a singular role which is a great and all, but I feel like this is why when i order let's say an "iced Americano"--the order will be inputted as a "hot Americano" as this happened the last time i was here. when i pointed this out, it still took a bit of time for my order to get corrected mainly because the counter person seemed to be doing too much or is tasked with doing too much. again, not a big deal but this is not the first time this happened. nonetheless, eventually i got my iced Americano and all was good. another snag ate % Arabica is the coffee condiment area. it's small and neatly arranged, but it ends up getting too crowded with people taking an exorbitant amount of time lallygagging while adding simple syrup or a lid to their coffees or the area is just too cramped because often the line to order snakes across this area which is only a couple of feet away. it's not the greatest placement for the condiments or lids imo. this can be (not always) be fairly frustrating when the shop is busy and you've already waited for you coffee and now you have to wait for someone to lacksadaisically pout a lid on their coffee, add sugar, their drink, etc. these are not reasons to avoid % Arabica, but to temper expectations when it comes to when it's busy or you want some down-to-earth hospitality along with your coffee. all that said, this is must for your morning or afternoon caffeine fix when you want a drink that is carefully made and represents that in the pleasant flavor of their coffee.

Some really solid coffee in New York. It's a great spot for a pick-me-up…read more I got an iced Kyoto Latte and my friend got a hot Americano. My palette isn't delicate enough to pick apart the tasting notes of the beans, but it went down smooth and it wasn't too sweet either. The interior was lively, service was quick. Drinks came out in a reasonable time, despite it being quite busy when we went. I've been recommended this place by friends in the past, and I will continue to recco this place to more friends in the future,

Hidden down an alley, this spot serves some great specialty drinks! The workers are friendly and…read morethe drinks are all tasty - I've had the black camo and the green one too and both are solid. Not too sweet and great flavor. Don't come here if you're trying to work because there's not much sitting space and it's kinda busy since it's a shared space.

Sawada Coffee shop is located inside Au Cheval restaurant for shared retail space that sits on a…read morevery obscurity alley in Chinatown, Manhattan, NYC. After reading this coffee shop that was mention in "Eater New York" on June 13, 2019, it lured me for a visit. https://ny.eater.com/2019/6/13/18677588/sawada-au-cheval-nyc-coffee-review Indeed, both Sawada Coffee and Au Cheval originated in Chicago, IL and now have a NYC location. I do not drink coffee in any form. However, I am intrigued with the military latte artisan craftsmanship creation and wish there was a military pastry or baked good in honor of my beloved family member who was a service member. I came to Sawada on a business day morning in the passage of time during my professional duties. My desiderium for a cold cup of tea to continue battling NYC's summer plaguing heat and humidity by staying hydrated prior to my professional duties and to battle the excessive poor air quality index (AQI) of horrible air pollution for consequence of Canada's wildfire smoke amid wearing a face mask. Customer service is very attentive welcoming and friendly whom my male server/cashier took the time to make suggestion with understanding of my needs and requests. This male server was not curt, but assisted me with respect, patience and perspective as I matter. He permitted me to take photos without question which are posted to this review. My eyes were affixed with captivation for the pastries/ baked goods particularly the gargantuan chocolate chip cookie $4.99. Oh! There are several limited seating with actual tables. The decor is dark intimate and cozy of wooden wall panels, and warm lighting. Sawada Coffee features a stylized, half-face half-skull caricature of founder and world-champion barista Hiroshi Sawada. The self-serve condiment station is abundant comprehensive well stocked including honey, brown sugar, coffee sweeteners, syrups, coffee lids and cold cup lids. Sustainable paper straws are available which tasted disgusting for an undesirable cardboard-like flavor totally impair enjoyment of my drink. Oh! Sawada's post cards and stickers are available for grabs. Au Cheval restaurant business card is also available for grabs. I would surely return for this coveted chocolate chip cookie. Jasmine cold brew, $5.95 I always have a strong predilection for Jasmine tea. I love the pleasant aromatic scent. Jasmine green tea (hot) is stocked in my home. It surely awaken my soul filling with renewed hope and optimism. There were abundant large block square ice cubes which amazingly sustained my drink's coldness the entire sipping time while I was in the vicinity. My cup was finally sweating with condensation from the ice. At long last! I always drink slowly for full immerse enjoyment especially wine. The tea was refreshing for taste and to intake antioxidants for health benefits. It is then I was able to achieve equanimity state of being.

While in Chinatown, Manhattan, NYC during my professional duties all day which my desiderium was…read morebubble tea, but precious time prevented me to travel beyond the vicinity range. Yelp mobile application takes me to Cafe Diem that is adjacent to Confucius Plaza and the outskirt peripherals of Chinatown. While scanning the menu, I could not decide but inquired if any drinks were offered cold or chilled rather than hot beverage. My goal is to battle NYC's summer plaguing heat and humidity to stay hydrated with the added stress of carrying a large heavy bag all day for my professional duties. Further adding implication to the situation, NYC became victim of Canada's wildfire smoke impacting air quality which I was also battling amid wearing a face mask. Customer service is average. I did inquire if there were any teas served cold or chilled. Background music was boisterously loud that I was befuddled unable to hear the server/cashier for clarity of a better understanding. A small selection of breakfast pastries are available. There were no chocolate chip cookie, unfortunately to no avail. There is a condiment station where milk, sweetener, sugar and cup sleeve holders are available self-serve. Napkins are abundantly available for grabs. The cup sleeve holders are pretty decorated with a blue floral pattern. There is indoor seating with small tables with small white flowers are available of high chairs. I admire how the tables contain a small white flower as decoration which does not occupy the entire table. For a fleeting moment of phlegmatic disposition I did achieve equanimity state in a air conditioning atmospheric environment. Sustainable paper straws are available which tasted disgusting for an undesirable cardboard-like flavor totally impair enjoyment of my drink. Oolong cold tea, small $4.00 The ice was very minimal of minuscule pieces which melted entirely during my professional duties return. As a consequence the tea became room temperature and tasted awful. The tea was mediocre. Price is realistic and reasonable especially for small size. It foot the budget for my wallet. Nota Bene: Cafe Diem offers 9% cash discount for payment. Yes, cash is still widely accepted as a valid form of legal tender payment.

Service: 3.8/5 Drink: 4.5/5…read morePrice: $5-$10 Small coffee shop at one end of Confucius Plaza, slightly away from the center of Chinatown. Pretty quiet during the weekday with conveniently placed outlets amongst the limited seating, which makes it good for getting work done. What I Ordered: - Cafe Diem: not as strong as i'm used to for viet coffee, slightly acidic