Black Cat LES

A lovely cafe with a dark ambiance, comfy couches and ample variety seating. WiFi, bathroom, great to get work done in or watch some stand up comedy (free every night @7pm!) It does fill up fast. The drinks are your standard cafe fare, reasonably priced, the barista can be a little cold but it matches the overall mood of the establishment!

Bad music. Bad atmosphere. Definitely not a place to relax during your coffee brake. A customer walked in with his dog without a leash and put dog food on the table that I had my coffee. It’s pity for that place. No coming back.

The coziest coffee shop!!! I want this place to stay in business forever because this is what we need. Good prices, loads of drinks, ample seating, good customer service, an events calendar and a bunch of vintage board games to play with your friends. Long live Black Cat LES.

I got a coffee to do some work for a bit but felt super uncomfortable by the two baristas/staff who were yelling/cursing and being super unprofessional. This was during a midday coffee run and the shop was not even busy so Im confused to why they were so unprofessional. This space seems super cozy but these two staff members, especially the Asian man (wears glasses), made the atmosphere unwelcoming. I understand that we might not always be having a good day but it just got super uncomfortable with him yelling and cursing every other second because of whatever issue he was addressing, and this was even with his co-worker. Just made everything feel super uncomfortable despite the cafe itself being a really nice space.

For everyone who’s leaving bad reviews saying baristas are rude probably have never been in service industry themselves and never faced stressful environment they face every day. I walk in occasionally and have never felt anything like that. Come on, just be respectful. Coffee is ok, nothing special. Just a good place to do your work done.

Black Cat LES has an inconspicuous storefront for a Lower East Side cafe. once through the door, the interior opens up into a surprisingly medium/large space. it’s well-maintained and clean. the vibe is very community living room with a variety of seating options. lots of laptop-pers & tablet-ers at work when here last. there’s WiFi for those who need it. there are live events at night like music, readings, comedy, etc.there’s a variety coffee & tea drinks on the menu as well as variety of simple savory eats like sandwiches, toasts, and bagels. got a large drip coffee to fight a chilly weekday off with hot caffeine and it did the job. strong coffee, nice caffeine kick. it was a huge cup of coffee and it warmed up and sped up my walk of endless errands in the neighborhood.the staff is very chill and kind. cafes like this are becoming the rarity in NYC. cherish the neighborhood gems.

Nice cozy cafe. They had decaf latte and I was able to stay for 30 min or so without feeling like I have to rush or anything. It was a Wednesday night, last day of July in 2019 around 2030 and the place was about 1/3 full. It has a free WiFi too, no password needed. The AC was the right temperature and the music volume was low so you can talk without screaming.

Perfect cozy place to grab a hot drink on a cold day! I love that they have great teas in addition to coffee for my non-caffeinated friends.

Wifi has A LOT of pages blocked, so dont expect to work there. The coffee was meh, the service was a little bit rude and the food didnt look good at all. The atmosphere is kinda cool tho, a lot of people are studying and reading.

It was amazing to find a coffee shop still bustling late at night. Getting to the city before my friends gave me the chance to enjoy the experience alone, savoring a delicious mocha at 9 pm. As soon as I walked in, a comedy show started, filling the place with laughter. Without a doubt, it was a trendy and lively spot.

This delightful café boasts a snug, softly illuminated ambiance, complete with comfy couches and ample seating choices. With WiFi and restroom facilities available, it’s perfect for working or catching a stand-up comedy show (offered for free every evening at 7 PM!). The venue fills up rapidly. The beverages are standard café fare and fairly priced. Although the barista may seem a bit distant, it complements the café’s overall atmosphere.

Never tried the food but they have awesome service and coffee while providing a great atmosphere. One of my favorite places in the LES✨

Super cool vibes feels like a living room / old library. wifi password available if you purchase $5+. wine comes in a mason jar which is a nice touch. also there is a bathroom which is great

I had the smoothie, it was good but not special. The atmosphere however was, definitely an interesting experience.

Should be excellent, except wifi/internet performance has some sort of DNS issue, where website access is inconsistent. The usual trick of using Google/Cloudflare DNS servers does not work. I couldnt even connect to the NYU VPN...

Love this place. Got an iced caramel macchiato and it was super yummy. Food could be better though. I got a caprese sandwich and it was fine just nothing special. Also they didn’t toast the bread.

Cute place. That printer is kinda cool. Fix the toilet! Come read and study. Super cozy atmosphere

Nice little quaint coffee shop. Great espresso drinks and fresh pastries served in a nice vibe.

Cute place to relax and work, however the wifi is horrible. You won’t be able to access to some websites that are heavy like Pinterests, design websites…

The barista was extremely unfriendly, exhibiting passive-aggressive behavior and clearly hating her job (evident from her shouting at guests towards the end). I visited this cafe for an event, and when I ordered an iced matcha latte (and tipped), the barista was not only passive-aggressive but also impatient. She/they made me feel as though I couldnt speak English while I ordered, even though I have lived in the U.S. for 10 years, speak fluent English, and work in a communication-heavy job.Towards the end of the event at 9pm (despite the cafes closing time being listed as 10pm), the barista shouted at everyone, saying, The cafe was supposed to close an hour ago! Nobody is paying me for this hour! Please leave! This was unprofessional and unacceptable behavior.No professional staff member should ever shout at guests. Despite paying for drinks and tipping, the experience was terrible. Based on this, I cannot recommend this cafe to anyone.If you are the business owner, please address this rude behavior that occurred on June 26 (Wednesday) during the night shift. Improving staff behavior is crucial for customer satisfaction and the reputation of your cafe.

Has a chill atmosphere to relax, until you are forced to listen to someone loudly take a multi-hour video call for work. tried to bring a book here and read but concentrate with all the tech bro chatter. if this place banned taking calls it’s back to 5 stars, but unfortunately this issue makes it pretty hard to enjoy the vibe

BLACK CAT BABY 🐈‍⬛You never know when you’ll need a chill spot to vibe and think. BCLES has got you covered whether you are in a pinch or not in a pinch. It’s a good place.Due to unfortunate childhoods, there is a lotta not very fun folks out there but you’re probably not going to find them here.Only complaint is I didn’t see any cats. Maybe next time!!There’s couches and seats and plenty of drink options. CHECK IT 🤙thanks

3rd time back, wanted to give it every chance. Decor and cozy vibe is good, coffee was okay. Had a weirdly long wait for just smearing some cream cheese on an untoasted bagel. No air circulation, so really stuffy when hot. Theyd benefit from a policy for people to get out after maybe an hour, two? Couldnt sit anywhere while no less than 4 people were on laptops with empty drink cups - or NO cups/food items. I get it, its nice to work at a cafe, but when seating is THAT limited? I dunno. You could absolutely find better coffee, service, and actual seats elsewhere.

I love this place, but it’s a coffee shop and the WiFi is terrible. That’s like #2 on the list of things when you own a coffee shop.1)Great Coffee2)Solid WiFiBaristas are great though!

Cute place! Great music good coffee!!! Great to do work!

The baristas working here are actually a joke. It almost feels like they are trying their best to be the rudest possible to you. I have been here several times (only for the cozy atmosphere), and every time the baristas are so rude that it makes you uncomfortable.EVERYTIME I’m here one of the girls is sitting on a stool behind the counter and does not say a word and refuses to take your order. The other girl, I think she is European usually roles her eyes and look at you with a disgusted look, takes your order and then takes about 20-30 minutes to make a simple latte that also tastes horrible. Honestly, she does not know how to make coffee. I don’t know how she got hired. It’s ridiculous actually.The owner however, is the cutest ever, I’ve met her once and you can tell that the vibes are so much better when she is there. I hope she sees all bad reviews about the baristas and hire better ones, for her own sake and for the sake of her cafe.

Wifi is really bad… like doesn’t connect at all. Music is too loud if you want a good place to read or do work. Otherwise it has cool ambience and is definitely cozy on a rainy day.

Cute little coffee shop, awesome staff who are efficient with their service with a warm and friendly demeanor. Seating is varied, from couches to chairs. I wouldnt come here to do work, but rather have a great time with friends. Had the Nutella latte and it was absolutely delicious. Seating can be limited during peak hours, but that should also be an indicator of how excellent of a coffee joint it is! Will come back in the future.

If you want to come here to study, do NOT attempt to do so on Saturday night. I came here hoping to get work done for finals week (which pretty much all students in the city are dealing with) and I was pretty taken aback when they started BLASTING loud music half an hour before a stand up night. In my opinion, there was no reason to play the music so loudly, and there was definitely no reason to start it so early.I’m pretty let down because this was the only study café in the area that was open late. It was full of students before the music started, so it’s not like they needed to bring in more people using a comedy night. If they hadn’t done all this, it would have been a perfect evening study spot, instead of a dime-a-dozen crummy comedy venue

Coffee and service were gross. Sorry, I know the baristas are young but your conversation can wait until you take care of the next customer. And eye contact would be nice.

Such a cool little shop. Place was packed. Must be very popular.

Came here on a rainy day to meet up with two friends. Such a lovely atmosphere and efficient, warm service!! I was floored by the consistent soft decor and warm lighting, just a very romantic, calming vibe. There’s seating for one or for groups, on couches and cushiony chairs!! Plus free internet and places to charge your tech. I loveeee the barista specials, those unique touches are hard to find these days and one of the reasons I come to spots like this over boring sterilized chains. Also seems like 90% of people with warm vibes come in here and hang regularly, so nice vibes all around ^_^

Coming from someone who often works from home, this place is a nice, quiet place to come do work during the week. Decent coffee and tea, free wifi, a community printer, and lots of table space for you to spread out on. That being said, service isnt the most friendly and sometimes is even a bit rude and abrupt. The other day, I saw a man and his wife storm out because the person working the counter was in the back room on their phone, even after the customers called for their attention. Overall, decent coffee, okay customer service, free wifi and an accessible printer. Wouldnt go out of my way to come here, but is a nice option when Im in the area and need a place to stop by and get some work done.

Wifi is garbage. They are aware it doesn’t work and seem uninterested in fixing it. Would be nice to know before sitting down to work there. Lesson learned.The drip coffee is not good.Otherwise it’s a cute cafe with free comedy shows daily.

I came here for a nice cup of tea. Black Cats website, not to mention Google, say this place is known for good quality loose leaf tea. But the tea menu on their wall is out of stock, and all they serve now are bagged Stash teas you can get at any grocery store.So I got my dusty-tasting bag of oolong and sat down, hoping to at least get some work done ... but their wifi is really slow! Worse, it doesnt work at all for some websites and apps. I ended up just leaving.Im really sad because it seems so charming inside. But I wont be coming back.

This is the best coffee shop I have ever been to. One of the employees seemed very wound up and was pacing around and laughing hysterically and then was running around outside picking up garbage in the street. Lots of seating, free fast wifi, and excellent affordable drinks.

The staff is VERY rude and clearly unhappy at this job. No effort with customers. The man wearing glasses burst out and used the F words multiple times, yelling for no reason. The woman was just nonchalant and couldn’t care less of what she was doing. The coffee was cold ans the avo toast over priced !Oh and the wifi does not work !

Best Cafè in the city of New York. Customer Service is Phenomenal, while the food and coffee is even better!!

Absolutely shocking how rude the European female barista is. Never experienced anything like it… so much so I felt the need to write this review in the hope that her manager sees it. Funnily enough, many other reviews mention the same thing! Bizarre how she gets away with it and keeps her job. You just can’t speak to people like that - people that are spending money in the place where you work which pays your wages.On a second note the matcha latte was the worst I’ve ever had. Sweet and not the proper stuff. I would stay away from this cafe.

Really cozy and comfy place with a relaxing ambiance. A nice place to get work done while sipping on delicious coffee and munching on great treats and sandwiches. Their ham and cheese sandwich was amazing and the staff is really kind. Definitely a nice place to chill or relax on a cold winter day or a blazing summer afternoon.

The best place to work with a laptop and enjoy a quiet environment and an excellent coffee.

Great cozy couches and coffee! Had a cappuccino and caprese toast both were yummy. Was good for doing work on my laptop

I came here with a group of 10 to get coffee and had a great time.Its probably a much better place to just get some work done without being bothered. Theres ample seating and light jazz music playing in the background. As for the staff, the guys who tended to us were pretty sweet and the coffee was well-made. My personal recommendation would be to get the Shot in the Dark.A welcome addition to the list of glowing places in the neighborhood

The space itself is really cool. Nice design, comfy seating, quiet. The Danish I got was quite good, too. The coffee is entirely inoffensive simply because it lacks sufficient flavor to make much of an impression. If what you want is a quiet space to eat a pastry and drink hot watery coffee, then this is the space for you. If, however, you actually want some coffee, I suggest trying someplace else.

Nice, cozy ambiance. Ordered an iced chai and chatted with a friend. I have it on their good authority that their smoothies are also good. The music was great as well

Man this place was cool. I walked in and it was very quiet inside for the middle of a Saturday. It was dimly light but not in a dark why, more of a warm and inviting way. Everyone seemed to be sitting and reading or having quiet conversations. I saw something on the wall about let us be your living room and this place 100% gave me that feel. I wished I had time and a book with me to sit and read and drink my coffee. Which, being the most important part of a coffee shop, was excellent.

I’ve been looking for a cafe like this my whole life. so chill and cozy to hang out and/or work for a while. thank you for being here black cat.

My favorite coffee shop in the city. Nothing special food or coffee wise but it’s a great vibe. So sad they got rid of the old busted chairs :(

The barista that is here on Wednesday but is usually here is so angry at life, and projects it on to her customers. She’s incredibly rude, and racist. She has turned away serval customers just because she is lazy!!! When I asked for water she looked at me like I had 10 heads. Good vibe in the cafe, but not friendly staff. RBF alll morning !!

The place itself is wonderful! Great interior, nice worn chairs and sofas with huge pillows and generally a very chill mood. People were sitting there working.Ill only give it three stars, though, because they didnt have half of what was on the menu. The person behind the counter didnt even know what gluten free was. Disappointing.

Beautiful place. It actually reminds me to the Friends coffee Central Perk its full of art and really comfortable sofas. Ill be back for sure 😁

Prices on the menu on the wall are NOT accurate. Got charged way more for my drink that they were missing an ingredient for, and when I said it’s fine to just make something simpler from the menu I still got charged for the more expensive thing. Hate it when a place does this kind of thing. Either take the wrong prices down entirely or replace them with the right ones.

Too small and overcrowded. No place to sit after ordering. The muffins were old not fresh. Your coffee was put to the side without telling you it was ready. When you finally found a place to sit it was with a stranger. Other people came and crowded in on your space. Loud noise from the workers and people around you. Reading hard to concentrate on. Would not go again. Would not recommend.

I came to this place late one evening not knowing what to expect and was immediately charmed. From outside it looks unassuming, but the wooden interior is friendly, nicely decorated, and smells great. I had a chai, not what I normally order, and it was quite good. They have a good tea selection for casual tea drinkers, but theyre lacking any single-origin and high-quality teas. Its worth going here for the calm and pleasant atmosphere.

Finally good coffee in NYC, and comfy chair 💺

I love BC LES! I go often for their Friday night comedy show. Its FREE, and a fun way to begin a night or end a work week. The space is rustic, the cookies are huge and delicious. The weekly comedy show is worth the trip, man. The comedians are friendly and awesome. Sure they are working new material, trying out bits. It falsely makes me feel like Im a part of their process, lol! Just Go! Laugh and have a good time.

Great place w/ WIFI if you want to work out of your laptop. Very comfy, well lit, with nice background instrumental music and awesome coffee. Not too many places like this around. The decoration inside is simply beautiful. I´ll rate this 6-stars if I could!

To the racist female barista ( brunette, European accent) who shouted, did not provide any help and gave the worst attitude for a simple question on the printer, I hope your day gets better! The color of someone’s skin should not mean you treat one person completely differently to another.Please be aware that not everyone is out to get you and if you dislike your job so much that may be a sign to find something else that fulfills you in life (:Other than that love the overall vibe and character of the establishment. Change up the Barista please!

A nice space to meet a friend or get some work done! They have a lot of seating, fast wifi, and friendly staff. Coffee was good (but nothing extraordinary) and reasonably priced. They have a few vegan non-dairy milk options.

Lemonade was great. WiFi does not work. Don’t go if you need to work or study

Staff is super unfriendly and off putting. This place is always packed and crowded - you bump into people left and right. The printing process is complicated and expensive and tucked into the smallest corner. You have to spend at least $5 to get the wifi? I mean come on - none of this fosters an environment that people want to be in.

Stopped by for some coffee on my way to a CPR/AED class, looked it up on my phone. If id seen it from the outside I would have walked passed without realizing what it is (its pretty shabby looking from the outside). This place very much feels like a college coffee shop: small, quiet & filled to the brim with young adults on their laptops in a shamble of chairs & sofas. Feels like a place where you would go to write your lit paper. Would come back when there s space to sit.

Good coffee with a cozy layout and feel. Leather couches and seating to do your own thing or bring some friends, play games, and enjoy the AC.

My FAVORITE cafe on the east side of Manhattan, HANDS DOWN. Id make the daily 15-minute trek there (even in a heavy blizzard 🥶) from mine and my boyfriends place on E. 12th St. & Avenue A in the East Village JUST to hang there for awhile in the ambience. I live in California now, and HORRIBLY miss the Black Cat LES.

Very cozy neighborhood spot. We live around the corner and come in fairly often, one morning we ordered breakfast sammiches and there was something wrong with our order and we were charged a little extra. Sent an email to management and they responded very quickly and were very apologetic, and treated us to a whole extra breakfast the next time we went in. Great spot for a snack and a coffee

Not what I expected - everything was sticky, the coffee was okay, didnt purchase any food. However, the service was fantastic, friendly and efficient. I can see why this is an attractive spot for the locals.

LOVED IT!!!! I went around 8 a.m. and spent all morning there. Their Wi-Fi is fast, had great coffee and a muffin. There was various space to sit down, and very comfortable couches and chairs. You can go sit and read a book. The music was nice, not overwhelming or annoying. I looked around and saw that no one had headphones on, a good sign. I also didnt get the feeling that I over stayed my welcome, like it has happened in some cafes. Had a great productive morning thanks to Black Cat Coffee.

Great vibes and awesome to find a coffee shop open late. I got into the city before my friends and was able to enjoy myself here at 9pm with a delicious mocha. A comedy show started as a walked in and I had some laughs. Cool spot for sure.

I went for the Hack City Comedy Show and had a great time. Be sure to get there early because seating is limited! Free shows pretty much every night here, including comedy open mics on Mondays.

Fun place to chill, but not really a place to work out of - the dirty kitty was delicious though. I would think that the hot dirty kitty is better than the iced, especially good for cold weather. Id come back for a hot dirty kitty. The chairs here are so old that you sink in - not into that feeling too much!

The atmosphere is what makes it special. Its the kind of place that feels as comfortable as your living room, though they could stand to turn down the heat.

Ive been going to this cafe for the past few weeks to do work on my laptop. I am basically their only black customer whos been going to the cafe consistently as far as Ive seen. Every time I order food the first thing they ask me is is it to go? Ive noticed that question is never asked to other customers. Today I tried to log into their wifi like I usually do and my laptop hasnt allowed me to do it. I keep getting a notification that says Failed to connect to network:bad password. I turned off my laptop and turned it back on to see if it just need a rest, the same issue. I even have the option to show my password on my laptop to ensure that Im typing it in correctly. I decided to try logging onto the wifi network with my phone since Ive never done it because I always use my laptop when I go there and use my data for my phone. I was instantly able to log on. I even asked the barista if they have reset/changed their password recently to which she said no. My guess is that Ive been added to a direct blacklist that prevents my device from logging in. Ive checked to make sure Ive been using the correct password which is gato1234. I have been nothing but courteous and quiet when I go there. I have not been loud/disrespectful in anyway. I go there to do work in the corner by the window when it is available. I will not be going to the cafe again, congrats.

Really cute and warm coffee shop. Roomy and inviting. Try the pretty, healthy and delicious oatmeals (or “oatmeow” haha).

Beautiful cafe for what it is. Free wifi, lots of seating and tables, wine/performances during the night. Food is nice and fairly priced. Coffee can be a bit hit-or-miss, but its made up for by the ambience of the cafe.

Took shelter from the rain here and discovered a fantastic spot to grab coffee while waiting it out. Very homely and cozy, ideal for quiet work or 1-on-1s.

This is a recent addition to the dozen coffee shops in the area. What distinguishes this place from others is the spacious downstairs interior. There are several nooks and crannies where you can hang out, furnished with comfortable couches and armchairs. Unlike other cafes they do not restrict wifi usage. I guess they have the space to accommodate. Also, unlike other cafes that get most of their pastries from Ceci Cela, these guys make their own croissants and pain au chocolats. You have to give them some points for effort on this. They also have a wider selection of sweets and goodies. Overall the only thing bad about this place is its location. Its not as centrally located. Otherwise its a great neighborhood hangout spot.

Cool vibes and good coffee. Lots of seat space though only a few power outlets. Very nice Sunday vibes

Closed - took the train here at 8:30am on a Tuesday but they were closed. Their website says they’re open. Bummer.

The Black Cat is a hidden gem of the LES!Everything there is about comfort and coziness.The people there are also very nice.Its a great place to relax, get some work done, meet with friends, or to study.

Black Cat has a great ambiance with decent food and coffee. Its a relaxed place to sit, hang out, get work done, with lots of evening programming like music or comedy.

The wifi has most websites blocked, couldnt get anything done

Terrible experience, the barista is very rude and stereotypical. There are plenty of decent coffee shops in the city and this one is far from one. I don’t recommend anybody to come here if you don’t want your day ruined for being treated improperly.

Rude staff, overpriced, bad wifi, and cramped

Lovely place with a great ambiente. Our coffee, bagles and bowls were delightful. Beautiful art hangs everywhere for you to purchase which looks great and makes it cozy and individual.

A good place to focus on do some work, with plenty of power outlets and decent wifi. The avocado sandwich was more tasty than the caprese one.

I was searching for a simple breakfast, I found a relaxed atmosphere, friendly waiters and a gorgeous bagel

Great place to hang out and enjoy coffee. Its very nice and cozy there with great coffee and great service as well. Has a lot of amenities and events here too which are amazing! A+++

Come for the cozy and random assortment of furniture this delightful coffee house. It has a real Central Perk vibe going on that I cant help but enjoy. The tea is amazing, specifically Jasmine and Ginger teas. Everynight so far that Ive seen in February they host small stand up comedy performances and on some nights they have open mic. The comedians are decently funny. The staff is friendly and helpful. There is one bathroom inside and a tea costs $4.00. They also have a printer there for use for all the students in need of printing. Take your time and relax everybody. Hope this review helps!

The Black Cat LES is a cozy lil spot on Rivington street that can best be described as someones living room turned into an eclectic little coffee lounge. Its got vintage board games you can play, just be gentle with em, theyre not yours after all. Just try to control yourself after you land on Boardwalk with two hotels on it. They make a super refreshing strawberry lemonade with mint that is pretty dope, so check for that when you visit. They even have cool events, like comedy shows and the like, so definitely check them out for THAT. If youre lucky, you might even catch yours truly, Pumkin Escobar, delivering a few comedy BARZ.

The schedule is wrong for sundays i went and was closed

Super cute place, my drink was so good!

Very cozy, hip coffeeshop with an eclectic vibe. Theres enough space to settle in for a couple of hours of productivity and the staff (who are very friendly and accommodating) dont make you feel guilty for doing so.

I ordered a flat white but got a bucket white

Fantastic coffee shop, lots of seating, great food and drink options, games and free events in the evening.

Very cool, quiet and laid back environment. The barista pulls espresso through their lever espresso machine, making an excellent latte each morning that Ive visited. Friendly and customer barista too.

Saw this on their door today, very disappointing wont be going here any longer

La Colombe coffee, great pastry selection, stand-up comedy most evenings. During the day, its ideal for chill conversation, reading or board games

The barista was so nice she said she didnt want a tip. So I made sure to give her one.Be sure to catch Comedians on the Loose open mic hosted by the charming funny and beautiful Sonja. One of the most solid open mics in town.

Cheap, cool, casual and fun spot! Open mic comedy nights. Regular comedy nights. Great bar, café and seating. I go here regularly.

It is cute and cozy but the staff isn’t very welcoming or friendly. Felt like a inconvenience for her. Ruined the whole vibe.

Good comedy show overall. And nice crowd. Im not too fond of animals being able to come in an establishment though. Thats nasty and Im afraid of dogs!!

Nice vibe, pleasant, many folks working… The coffee isn’t amazing though the attitude is nice.

So cozy!!! Love the illumination and abundance of comfy, broken-in chairs and couches.

Great place. Best service. Good location to theatres. And they have a printer and couches! 10/10 would recommend!

Great cute neighborhood coffee shop

Great atmosphere. Background music is perfect and its a quite and cozy place to study or work. Pastry is good too

Didnt really know what to expect..easy going place..lots of back on the day board games..to play...nice house wineYou can actually talk with who your with and hear them...great comfy couches and chairs..definitely great place to relax at the end of the day..going back again..

No cats here. Just great coffee, food, and people. Skip the national chains, this is a must stop for coffee lovers from around the world.

Classic cozy indie coffee shop. Went on a Monday evening and caught a free open mic comedy night. The coffee and show were both great. Definitely coming back soon.

A nook of chill.I went today for the first time.The cold brew is good, and Brian was very inclusive.I recommend ur next Lower Eastside cup of joe here

Cozy space with free comedy on weekends! No cover charge and no over-priced drinks either! All in all a good time.

Very cozy. Great spot for study.

A laid back more comfortable and ultimately more unique cafe. Good for some solo time or a group games. Caring staff, for sure.

Barista was nice. Menu is well priced.

Coffee is mid and this girl rolled her eyes at me when I asked which cup was size small. I do not need attitude first thing in the morning thank u

Lovely place with nice workers! This place sets a calm mood to enjoy with hot chocolate in a cold day.

THIS IS THE COOLEST COFFEE SHOP EVER. as an 80s baby who saw so many episodes of friends on basic cable as a child, this is what i have always imagined a coffee shop in manhattan to be like. an adorably nice barista, hip jazz playing on the radio, the decor is adorably mismatched yet coherent in its vintage feel, theres a mini upright piano, the walls are all brick or reclaimed wood, and THERE ARE COUCHES AND COMFY CHAIRS. 😍😍 the coffee is only drip, so dont expect a fresh pour over or french press or any other similarly fancy cups, but the espresso is great and snacks are served too.

Today was vey slow service. We had to remind them for our food. Decent prices. I had mint lemonade and a banana nut muffin.

Great atmosphere, drinks are well priced and they do a comedy night sometimes which is always a good laugh

Very FRIENDS/Phoebe Buffet vibe in here. Coffee is good but the best thing they have on the menu is the LES toast. Guacamole base, fried egg in the middle and crispy bacon on top. Incredible. Small business family run, expect to be patient. Took like 30 minutes to get my toast but it’s worth it.

I highly recommend the Nutella Latte! Its delicious! Perfectly balanced! Plus, what a comfortable, cozy place to drink my coffee! Plenty of seating including stools, chairs, armchairs, loveseats, and couches with coffee tables, tables, and a coffee bar along the wall. An artfully decorated space with an assortment of lovingly-worn board games available to play while at the cafe. The person who served me was extremely welcoming and with a pleasant attitude that started my day off right!

Went there for the CAFFEINE COMEDY show with comics Rachel Lenihan and Dan Abraham on a Wednesday night and it was awesome. Great comedy and micro brewery beer made it a fun evening. Highly recommended and a very “cozy” setting.

Seriously the best most chill coffee shop Ive found in Nyc, I really believe that the city would be better with more of these type coffee shops

No ice for iced drink. Twice in a row. Understand the chilled vibe here, but come on.

A great place to connect with the community.

Almost an hour waiting for food and an unbelievably rude woman behind the counter. Perhaps someone else should take over this space if they don’t know how to run it.

Great food, but rude and distracted staff

Cute little coffee shop with a handy printer.Barista and servers are very rude though (as a few other reviewers have mentioned).

Great spot. Easy to miss. A local favorite, and almost a destination location. Makes me want to live here.

I theme in my reviews is coffee shops I like them. This one has a great vibe.

Coffee spot with outdoor seating during covid.

Good espresso & Great vibe.

Chill vibes cafe. Very relaxing and comfortable space. Love it

Came here on a sunday to read and hang out with a friend, breakfast sandwiches were solid and so was the coffee. We got an oat latte and a cappuccino.As far as service goes…Eli was the only one working and was absolutely swamped the whole 1-1.5hrs we were there, and he did a FANTASTIC job managing the varying levels of impatience and complicated customers. He’s a rockstar. He either needs a raise or some help on Sundays.

This place is so cozy, I love it! They also have a lot of teas to pick from.

This place has the feel of a comfy living room. They make a good chai latte.

I hate to leave this review because the owner seemed really nice, but I will never get back to this place. The baristas where so freaking rude, like they made an effort to be mean. Other than that, the place seems like great spot to hang out and work online but I honestly felt the atmosphere and vibe of the place got ruined by the baristas. Would go again if its self serviced 😂

Great place! Great atmosphere and great comedians! 100% recommend

It’s so cozy. Very nice couch area. Great for reading or wfh.

Coffee and atmosphere are great, but the service is unsatisfactory.

Great cozy coffee shop. Had some great afternoons working from there

Black Cat is a small coffee shop in lower East Side. It has a really good hangout vibe with couches and an almost cozy basement look. The staff were super friendly, and gave great and quick service even when there was a line. The cold brew I got was really good at a pretty good price for Manhattan.

I wish I understood the buzz around this spot, as there are certainly many things to love (such as the adorable logo and cozy seating areas!), but I was very disappointed in my experience. On a hot day, it gets unbearably stuffy, an inconvenience compounded by slow service from an indifferent barista. The quality of the espresso is okay, but the commercial brand syrups made for a replicable latte lacking any flair. What I was assured is a LES staple and local favorite turned out to be a caffeine detour I could have personally done without.

The chicken panini 👌🏻

Good place but not too many vegetarian choices

Came in one chilly Monday morning. And the place was nice and quiet. With lovely ambience, cozy chairs, and amazing music. If I would have one complaint, is that the barista was a tad bit rude. But hey. It’s Monday, and 9AM at that. I can let that slide.Overall, would recommend if you are in the area

Best coffee shop in the city for hanging out and getting work done.

Cozy cafe with stand up most nights. Chill atmosphere

Cozy and chill, I love this place. Great to get some work done/study.

Perfect coffee spot to hit up if you’re working from home

Horrible coffee, horrible service

Lots of character in this charmer of a coffee shop and the quiche is excellent!

My favorite coffee in LES.

Great spot to have a nice coffee and read a book or study.

Closed on Wednesday, June 15, 09:18, open hours say 7am. No note on the door.

Cute place, gets busy and seating might be limited

Very dark and dungeon atmosphere, nothing good about it. Food was disgusting and service, was horrible needed napkins, and the service people were outside smoking.

Nice low-key coffee shop. Interesting takes on classics (Nutella latte, chocolate cappuccino, etc.).

Black Cat LES - Home of the Joyless Barista.Ordered a bagel, the response was, No food today, all bread is frozen. I was staring at a toaster.Got my coffee, asked if they had any half-and-half or cream, answer was, No.Customer after us asked what the drink called Dirty Kitty was. Barista said,  Its a chocolate chai. Customer ordered it, barista responded, We dont have any chocolate.Coffee was average and the experience left us entertained.

Great vibes to hangout!

Nice people, yummy drink, good vibes

Rude barista, will never come back plus pending grade at door

This is a nice place to get some coffee in the lower east side. Calm atmosphere and nice lighting are nice features. Also the coffee is pretty good too.

The space is wonderful. Dont come for the coffee

Being a grad student I can not find much to do that is cheap in the city! This is a fine option. The free comedy and comfy seating is awesome of youre willing to be a target for the comedians. This is my new hang out spot for good. Such a great find!

My favorite cafe to work in nyc! And I love their strawberry limonade :)

Super cozy place to get work done or read.

Superb place with rustic setting, brick wall and sofas

Coffee shop with board games I could spend hours in, I was sold. They have great bagel combinations that are well made and taste good. Comfy couches to sit on. Refreshing coffee to wake you up. Yes... Go here

Mint lemonade was good dont get the acai bowl

Place is nice and chill. Usually a lot of people but there is many sitting options. Is a good place to read, do some work or study. Its also very cozy. Coffee is decent and not super expensive like other places.

Definitely a bit of a hipster joint, but all in all this place is great. Theyve got good coffee and tea, a solid beer selection, and a decent food menu thats quite cheap. The place is full of comfy mismatched chairs, tables and antiques, with plenty of outlets for electronics. The wifi is pretty fast, and theres even a little bit of fenced-in outdoor seating. Its nice and quiet (but not too quiet), and theyve got excellent taste in low-key music. Combined with friendly staff and free board games, this place is really hard to beat.

Such a cozy, friendly atmosphere. Theres a great selection of drinks and food - I will definitely be coming back.

So heres the situation... met up with some friends around 9 in the morning. There was one girl working there. This is a very popular place. Its in a real hip spot in the neighborhood. I ordered a breakfast, my other friends ordered breakfast.. it took almost 45 minutes to get our breakfast. I understand fully why it took 45 minutes as every time someone walked in the door she had to stop and make them coffee or tea. Then sometime around 10 it was a group of three that were working there. Its a nice cozy place dont get me wrong, but they should never have one person opening like that.

Good food. Good service. Fun board games

Awesome spot, amazing energy. Friendly staff quality drinks. Will come again :)

I liked the place and the people very much but their outdoor dining space was a such a monstrous FU to the neighborhood. It looked like garbage, had exposed nails and attracted more garbage. I just dont understand why they did it. Generally, they have been good neighbors.

Coffee was super mediocre and the place was super packed and hot. Not really my vibe. Had decent room to work from though.

Comfy cafe with delicious chicken humus crepe and fresh orange juice

Lovely space, reminiscent of college common rooms or friends’ basement rec rooms. Very good coffee, though the espresso drinks with milk are not exactly prepared according to tradition. Food is always fresh and portions are more generous than at many other cafes in NYC.

Best vibe of any cafe in Manhattan. Great coffee too.

One of the last true cafes in the area. A relaxed atmosphere and decently priced, Black Cat is always my go to when I need somewhere to grab a coffee and hang out for a bit. Plus! Stand up here is always entertaining!

The coffee was terrible. There were so many coffee grounds at the bottom of my cup. My friend waited 25 minutes for her drink. Also her matcha latte tasted super artificial

Came out for a comedy show and it was cancelled without any notice. Lady tells me they are closed and to drink at the bar next door 🤦🏻‍♀️

Black Cat Cafe is a hidden gem. Already an institution in the Lower East Side. Always loosely packed with comedians sharpening their craft on life, polite tourists, and locals. A laid back, comfortable spot. Coffee brewed the way you want it to be. Free Wifi too, free Comedy/ Open Mic.

Very cute shop, lots of outlet accessibility and drink variety. Would love to return!

Black cat serves a strong latte. Im an avid espresso drinker and I think they put two to three shots of espresso in there house coffee. They also have cool art. I went there on a Wednesday and stayed for a great free comedy show. The cafe boasts itself as a community cafe for like minded intellects and lives up to it. They could charge admission for the shows, but the owner informed us that all the shows are free for customers to connect with each other.

The decor is very lower east side. Nice and quiet to do work and meet friends. Will come back for the free comedy shows that people seem to talk about a lot.

What I imagine all New York cafes were like, circa 1990. Very cozy, filled with plushy chairs and couches and the chillest vibes. They also give a percentage discount to teachers, which is nice.

Turkey club was FIRE. Iced coffee was more than serviceable. Great spot if you can grab a seat! Chill. Living room vibes.

Great quaint place for a meeting of friends or business. Friendly staff, appropriate lighting and music, and a great espresso. No complaints.

Oh boy, did I waste cash here. Pastry tasted like it been around since I was born and an espresso coming in lukewarm... atmosphere is nice though. Good place to chill and get work done.

Cozy spot that would live up to its potential if the wifi actually worked. They don’t tell you when the wifi is not working. Everyone around me has been using hotspots instead. Defeats the purpose of having a work friendly cafe. It’s fine if you don’t need wifi to get your work done. It took almost an hour of me being here for the wifi to start working.

Dingy yet cozy furniture, a printer, key cafe, light bites, good coffee and decent service. Great for studying, having a quiet chat and relaxing on a cool day. During the summer it gets a little too warm for me.

This place is warm and cozy, offers up awesome live entertainment, and even hosts live video game themed jam sessions. Its lovely.

A great place to grab some coffee and some snacks. The staff is friendly and provide excellent service. The coffee, pastries, and macaroons are very good. I enjoy the quaint atmosphere.

Not your average blasé cafe. A true gem, Black Cat feels more like the neighborhoods local living room. With sunken couches and cozy nooks, communal books and board games, nightly activities (comedy shows, movie nights), and a staff thats friendly, chill and cares, Black Cat makes you feel like youre among friends even if there alone. Did I mention the foods legit too? PS: dont overlook the art on their walls; theres some pretty big name stuff up there.

The coffee and crossaint are delicious. Tiny space.

Come here to check out the fun events in a relaxed hipster environment