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    The Cafe at Wave Hill

    4.4 (154 reviews)
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    Services - The Cafe at Wave Hill

    Venue rental

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    THE CAFE AT WAVE HILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Cafe at Wave Hill

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    a display of fresh produce
    Emma M.

    I ordered a hot chocolate and two coffees with a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie for me and my parents. I told them that I wanted whipped cream on my hot chocolate and they went above and beyond and not only added the whipped cream but added a chocolate swirl on top too. It was delicious. The atmosphere of the cafe is so comfortable and there are plenty of places to sit there are some great food options available as well if you aren't in the mood for something sweet and want something savory instead. I would happily come here again, and I can see myself visiting a lot more in the future. Wave Hill and The Cafe at Wave Hill are serious gems in Riverdale and The Bronx. As a Manhattanite, I can say that I am very jealous.

    Shoshana R.

    A wonderful oasis in the middle of a city jungle. Once you step on the grounds it will take much convincing to believe that you are still in NYC. A slightly hidden gem, I say slightly because it's well known by those whom had the opportunity to visit but not by everyone else. They are also on the park department's website and have their own site. So Wave Hill is not exactly hiding. Lol. I must admit I've learned of this beautiful gem some time ago and just never ventured over. Unless you leave in the vicinity of the Riverdale area I must forewarn you it can be quite a bit of a trek, especially if you don't drive. However, I will go as far to say that is part of this park's beauty, romance and allure. Perfect for families (even the little ones), friends and couples. WaveHill feels like the door to a portal, where everything is green, lush, and peaceful. With amazing views of the river, the bridge and wonderfully blooming flowers in Spring & Summer and great changes of foliage colors in the Fall. Wave Hill is of course is on a smaller scale then the famed Central Park or the notable Botanical Gardens but by no means do you miss out on any of nature's wonder. This park offers visitors, a green house, garden house and a plethora activities and events for everyone. On the day of my visit there were a group of yogis in their bliss on one of the main lawns. There is also seating throughout the grounds, gray wood crafted seats for you to just relax and enjoy your own personal serenity if you so choose. You can become a member or pay as you go, however there are many things you can access for free. The park has a parking lot which I believe is at a cost of $8 dollars and be aware it is small so it fills up quickly. As alternative there is a shuttle you can take to avoid the congestion or the search for a spot. I strongly recommend you visit their site to see and learn all of what Wave Hill has to offer. Just A Note: You are allowed to bring food & snacks but signs say no picnicking. So be modest and don't bring Boo Boo and your picnic baskets.

    June S.

    A hidden gem in New York. A bit far to get there from the center of Manhattan, but it is so worth the trip for a nice, quiet relaxation. It is a 28-acre estate overlooking the Hudson River. The estate has two houses and a botanical garden, but much, much smaller than Brooklyn or other major botanical gardens. They have a small parking lot which can get full quickly. They do have offsite parking lot with free shuttle as well. My favorite part of this estate is the walking trail that goes almost all the way around the estate. If you look at the trail on their map, it looks like such a long walk, but it really isn't. Whoever designed the map was some kind of genius... The estate looks 10 times bigger that it really is on the map. Kind of funny... They have Café at Wave Hill inside the main house. They offer baked goods, salads, sandwiches, etc. You can go to the ordering counter where friendly staffs will take your order. After you get your food, you can sit wherever you like. We had a special, seasonal, off-the-menu, almost secret item. It is their quite impressive Afternoon Tea! It is offered during limited seasons, and you have to pre-reserve and pre-pay for the tea. We actually upgraded our Afternoon Tea to High Tea which adds sparkling wine along with strawberries and cream. It was a wonderful high tea experience, felt like a royalty enjoying the tea, sandwiches, desserts and champagne in "our" castle terrace somewhere. Our server, Charleen was simply amazing! She certainly elevated our fancy High Tea to the next level, thank you! So, next time you are feeling like escaping the concrete jungle, or just want to go chill out in a beautiful green space, or have a great afternoon tea in the nature, you know where to go!

    Doreen L.

    Wave Hill is a peaceful meditative gorgoues oasis in the Riverdale Bronx that you can easily drive/ take public transport to. It is a 28 acre estate with botanical gardens, greenhouses, hiking trails and beautiful view of the Hudson river and towering cliffs. Wave Hill was owned by a series of notable people. The last family to own it was Perkins, partner to J.P Morgan, who then gifted Wave Hill to New York City. Admission is free before noon on Saturday. We went Saturday morning. It was an easy commute from the City. An express takes you there from midtown East in half an hour (without traffic). When you get there, take a right from the ticketing booth. You are greeted with a gorgeous vista. There is a panorama of Hudson valley, a pavilion covered with blooming flowers and leaves. There is a greenhouse to your right. In front of that greenhouse is a garden of fragrant flowers and beautiful monarch butterflies feeding. Just a garden filled with monarch butterflies feasting on nectar. My favorites were the garden of butterflies, the aquatic garden, the greenhouse of bonsais and the view! It seems like a magical peaceful place. The aquatic garden had blooming water lilies and shimmering fish in the pond. The greenhouse of bonsais were filled with miniature plants, flowers and trees. It was so meditative just to look and appreciate the garden. People were taking pictures, and taking in the art from the Glyndor gallery. I loved my visit there! I can't wait to go back!

    Pergola Overlook.
    Amy N.

    What a beautiful sight. Yes, even during December. Could it be also the record breaking warm weather? Maybe. But who cares, this place was gorgeous even without all the greens and blooming flowers. Oh, and you can't resist the view of the Hudson River. Lots of activities for kids. We came for crafts, a family nature walk, and their bird watch on Sunday. There were basically events going on every hour. The staff was friendly. The place was quiet. The greenhouses are a bit tight to roam around, not recommended for little kids to run around, especially in the Cactus House! Theres even a trail which I would come back for without the kids. No doubt this place will be even more vibrant and stunning once the warmer weather hits. Definitely a place to bring the kids for a lovely picnic, even a romantic stroll with the husband.

    Jason P.

    Visited again years later and love it just as much as before. I used the Culture Pass via the New York Public Library which grants the cardholder free admission with up to 4 people. Lots to see with excellent views of the HUdson. Cafe was nice (pricey but that's expected) and had both indoor and outdoor tables to eat at. Keep in mind that there is limited parking in the garden itself which costs $8 to park. As an alternative (and also when the lot is filled) you can drive a few minutes away to a school parking lot and park there for free. A shuttle van will come get you and bring you to the garden and will also take you back after. Instead of waiting for the shuttle, you can walk the distance in about 10 minutes. Overall a great experience here. Lots to see here, especially in the summer once the plants and flowered have bloomed.

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    3 months ago

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    2 years ago

    The setting is lovely the food is decent and the prices are fair. Its never crowded on a weekday.

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Lovely experience here and pretty delicious food! For a park cafe, I am impressed. I hope we can come back to this hidden gem of a park.

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great Performances does a first rate job with a quality variety of sandwiches and salads at fair prices.

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    9 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Was decent, mocha was alright, nice ambiance and quick food for sure. Lot of space to eat and good view.

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Food is fresh and tasty in a lovely environment. I miss going there and also meditating after having a nice meal.

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    3 years ago

    There was a lovely outdoor terrace to enjoy your meal, but unfortunately the meal did not have a lot of flavour.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - The Cafe at Wave Hill

    Is this a good place to do a picnic, sheets on the grass etc.?

    You can do picnics, but only at designated areas - the rules (posted on wavehill.org) forbids the use of blankets on the grass.

    Lovely park! is it good for 2 years old kid? is it ok to stroller?

    Wave Hill is an excellent place for a 2-year-old to roam around! You can certainly bring your stroller.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The Cafe at Wave Hill

    Wave Hill is an estate and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.

    Mentioned in 24 reviews

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    Moss Cafe

    Moss Cafe

    3.7(207 reviews)
    1.0 miSpuyten Duyvil, Riverdale
    $$

    I love Moss Cafe- a great healthy full of variety daily breakfast lunch and dinner menu and then…read morealways fresh creative specials updated weekly! This week (2/1/2026) I was so enticed by the sesame ginger salmon salad and also conflicted between the seasonal scramble with some of my favorite veggies and the open faced biscuit and eggs. I chose the open faced buttermilk biscuit with cheddar and eggs, aoili, red balsamic onions served with a side salad and a good morning sunshine smoothie Amazing community place- always clean, great customer service, clean bathroom, accomodating of food allergies and they compost and recycle- what more could you want!

    This is a nice size coffee shop, where you can dine indoors or out. I do appreciate that they let…read moreyou know right away from a sign they have posted, there is minimal workspace available to customers. So most customers seem to come for coffee drinks or to eat. The food options they have available seem to sound tasty, like I wanted to order a special chowder they have available and I believe they told me the price for like an 8 or 10oz was about $30 bucks. I could be mistaken because I couldn't believe the price. My visit was for a drink so I decided to pass anyway on the food. I ordered a hot brown sugar cardamom matcha with coconut milk. My cup size was an average price and although it was a good drink I found the matcha to be not strong enough. I added a little honey to my drink as well for a little sweetness. I'm in this area frequently, so I probably would visit a different cafe in the neighborhood, but I'm not counting this one out. Happy Yelping

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    Moss Cafe - Various goods available to purchase and the drink menu

    Various goods available to purchase and the drink menu

    Moss Cafe
    Moss Cafe - Pastries are delicious and go fast

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    Pastries are delicious and go fast

    Com Tam Ninh Kieu - Crispy Spring Rolls Cha Gio

    Com Tam Ninh Kieu

    4.2(594 reviews)
    2.4 miBedford Park
    $$

    This place is a family favorite…read more Their wings are also a must get every time. We always take guests here and recommend to friends

    This place is incredibly easy to miss unless you're intentionally looking for it. I've gone past it…read moreso many times without a clue this establishment was even there. I loved the ambiance of the place, it was so cozy, warm and relaxing. The music they were playing matched perfectly with the vibe and aesthetics of the place, it was soft and romantic in a way. There are plenty of tables available for groups or solo dates. This is a perfect place to sit down and journal or get some work done. I literally only waited 10 minutes from start to finish to get my takeout, I sat down on one of the available tables and immediately started reading my Bible app, truly relaxing. Half of the tablets were occupied but everyone appeared to be relaxed and just enjoying their meals so the noise level was low. If you're waiting for takeout they give you a ticket and then bring your takeout to the table you're at. If you ordered in advance for a pick up you just walk to the counter and they hand over your food. The staff were friendly and graceful. While I was ordering my food at the counter, I was able to see the staff handling some of the food. They were plating, and I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that all of them were wearing gloves even while they were taking the prepared food to the tables. You get 5% off your bill if you pay with cash. There are no atms inside. Now let's talk about the actual food, the star of the show. I ordered the claypot braised pork belly and I was notttt disappointed! This meal was such a unique experience. I am used to eating very flavorful and well seasoned dishes overall so I've tasted plenty of dishes that had more flavor than this. However, I have never enjoyed a dish that was so intentional with all of its textures and tastes. The rice was soft and light, and the vegetables had the perfect amount of crunch and spice, while the pork had a mild sweetness to it. The egg was a perfect add on to put it all together. This is the kind of plate that you have to truly eat everything it's served with to fully enjoy all of the different textures and flavors that it brings. If any of the spices or flavors would've been overwhelming, it would take away from the other flavors every item on the plate has to offer. I put a little of everything with each bite, yummm. The only flaw with the dish unfortunately is that the larger portions of the pork were chewy and a bit dry, which based on other reviews seems to be a thing. The smaller pieces were very tender and delicious. I will definitely order again from here. I'm excited to try their homemade soda, coffees and their summer/spring roles Happy yelping and enjoy

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    Com Tam Ninh Kieu - Latest artwork

    Latest artwork

    Com Tam Ninh Kieu
    Com Tam Ninh Kieu

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    The Cafe at Wave Hill - venues - Updated May 2026

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