Third Rail Coffee

Third rail is the best coffee in the Island. I have been to every coffee shop probably. Or at least 5. And this is great. I also use their beans to make cold brew. It is not decaf. I also bring bagels here. But not pop up bagels. That is not allowed.

One of the best places for a quick coffee in the NYU neighborhood. They don’t allow people inside since covid but still worth stopping by for a quick brew. My favorite is their cold brew and the iced latte. Add some oat milk in there if that’s your style.

I have been going to third rail since college days pre-covid. It was always one of my favorite cafes near wsp. This was also always on the list of cafes I recommended to friends visiting the area from out of state.Though, it no longer will be as of today. I visited with my bf and he was skeptical because they had their ‘grade pending’ sticked to the door, but I reassured him that it’s going to be good.we got an iced americano and an iced latte with whole milk.Right after we walked out and tasted our drinks, I was surprised and was sure the milk had spoiled as my latte tasted sour.We went back and I quietly told the staff that I think the milk has gone bad.I was stood back because there was no immediate sorry, but i thought hey maybe they just want to make sure first and they will once they tasted the milk. They went to taste the milk themselves in front of us. One of the baristas asked the other barista to taste the milk and he said something in the lines of ‘oh yeah this is no good’ after tasting the milk.Still. No apologies. No next action offered.I was so shocked at how awful their customer service was and I asked for a refund immediately. That is when one of the baristas asked if I was sure I didn’t want anything else. Didn’t take that belated offer and just walked out after we got the refund for just the latte.Extremely disappointed with the quality. And even more so with the customer service.Will not be returning. Ever.

What I like about the Third Rail Coffee on Sullivan is the vibe. It has a very neighborhood feeling and more importantly, not the rushed feeling you get from many coffee houses in NYC. However, it is very small and seating can sometimes be a premium. The coffee is very good. I ordered latte and found the baristas knew what they were doing. Also, interesting place to people watch if you have the time.

Music is way too loud, baristas are not friendly and act as if they’re doing you a favor by serving you coffee. They take their time making your coffee and didn’t want to give me a for here cup at 4pm even though the shop closes at 5pm. Would not recommend!

Truly awful customer service every time I’ve been here. The baristas seem miserable to be there and I’ve never had any of them smile at me over the past two years. Anytime I ask a question, I feel like an inconvenience to them. It’s an extremely uncomfortable experience getting coffee here, so I just try to rush through it as quickly as possible.I held off on writing a review hoping that service would improve as I live in the neighborhood and the coffee itself is decent, but sadly it has not. I would love to support a local business, but I’m going to start going to Irving Farm around the corner because the employees are friendly there. Please hire nice people or train existing employees on good customer service.

I love it !

Nicest staff. Great coffee. Great vibes.

Great food and experience!

Awesome coffee, I absolutely loved the overall vibe. Was actually pleasantly surprised how you can get such a good coffee just around the corner. There were a couple of small benches and tables infrint of the shop where you can sit and enjoy your morning coffee.

I was sitting down enjoying my flat white when I noticed not one, but two MICE under the seating area from across the cafe. I left immediately and threw out my drink. I will not be coming back here anytime soon

Very cute and comfortable coffee shop. Good and strong coffee. No Wifi available nor bathroom. Surprisingly there were 3 people working in this very very tiny coffee shop.

The coffee is good and this place has good prices in general. The only thing I didn’t get is the pumpkin-banana bread. The pumpkin bread itself is good and the banana thing is just not right.The venue is not so cool and it’s somewhat dirty outside. Also, the service could improve a lot.

Coffee was good. Overpriced. No toilet. No wifi. They get espresso in their can firstly and then pure it to the espresso cup...))

Rude staff. I spent 7$ on a coffee and was told I couldn’t eat in there store bc I had a bagel from a different shop. Do not recommend

Just walk right up and get your cuppa coffee! Beautiful spot right off the park!

Yummy always a oat and honey latte

Coffee was fine, alright, nothing superb. Service was ok, nothing to complain, nothing to highlight.Sitting wasn’t too comfortable, if you’re just there for one coffee is fine though. Plus: there are some free books:)

Absolutely one of the best lattes Ive had in the city. It was so smooth and rich tasting (I had mine with almond milk) and just the right temperature.The barista was friendly and prompt. Im not in this area too often, but I wouldnt hesitate to return to 3rd Rail.

I love third rail, it is fairly expensive but my drinks are always awesome. I love their Mocha and get it all winter long. In the summer their cold brew and iced coffees are good, also an iced mocha is delicious. They have a cute atmosphere in the shop itself, and the crowd is always interesting inside with a wide variety of people from NYU students doing homework to local writers typing away on their laptops. Its so close to Washington Square Park that getting a coffee and walking over to sit by the fountain is a great year round activity!

This café is one of the best places for a quick coffee in the NYU area. Even though indoor seating is no longer available due to COVID-19, its still a great spot for a fast caffeine boost. I especially recommend their cold brew and iced latte. For an extra touch, you can add oat milk.

Just popped in on way to Washington square park. Best flat white I’ve had in the city. I’ve been searching for a good one. Highly recommend. Great taste and service ✌️

Should have stopped at seeing the C rating from health inspection posted in the window, though I’m sure ultimately my iced latte was fine, after the wrong thing was made the first time. Was going to try to get some work done but left once I had my coffee. Layout is super cramped. In their favor: they use Counter Culture beans.

Pretty small. Looks like a really good coffeeshop for the neighborhood. There are a lot of regular customers and the staff is really nice. I got a flat white. It was okay. If you can find a spot sit, a bit loud though during the day.

Exceptional coffee and baked goods (I really like their ginger/cinnamon cookie and almond bear). Tiny space with neither WiFi nor restroom. Loud background music and stylish people chatting...so not ideal for studying. Good for Instagram though if you’re into that.

This is still my favorite espresso in NYC, hav Ebsen going there for years now. Very consistent always have a rotation of guest roasters. Amazing peanut butter cookie. Other pastries are also good. A must if you are a coffe lover.

Loved this coffee shop so much. The tea was excellent and the sun shines through the large windows, making the small space seem so much bigger. The view is actually nice with brick church and other nice architecture. Staff was super friendly and prices were very good. Wonderful vibe. It felt spacious, a great spot for reading or journaling or relaxing. Can’t wait to go back!!!

This shop has some of the better espresso in Manhattan, along with Blue Sky Bakery muffins (come early: they sell out!). Its disadvantages: seats too close together, with oo many dogs underfoot. It is not a place to enjoy a conversation or a book. The lone bench outside is prey to excitable characters and cigarette-smokers.Third Rail Coffee has a second location, on East 10th St. near Stuyvesant St. That shop has better lighting, more interior space, and fewer dogs.

Cool little spot. Impressive amount of seating for such a small place -- I dig that this is well executed. Add good coffee on top of that,and Im sold!

I read the above reviews and thought this might finally be my chance to find great espresso in an indie shop in NYC. Was a little disappointed by the bitterness of the espresso I ordered. Maybe their lattes or brewed coffees are better

The hot chocolate was not very good. It tasted very artificial and like watered down chocolate syrup. The vibes were nice though.

Cute place, great quality coffee. $3.25 for a medium size drip coffee. Not much seating but good option for to-go on the way to work.

Great coffee, friendly atmosphere, and knowledgeable baristas--what more do you need to know? This is my favorite coffee shop in the city, and I try to stop in whenever Im close by!

Oat milk Cortado… yummy

Tiny espresso shop with some pastries. enough space for 5 or 6 people to sit in the shop. The cappuccino had a great flavor and was the right temperature.

Unfriendly barista. In addition to that they added tips themselves. 30% tip for a regular coffee kind of to much. Especially with the lack of basic service. But coffee was good

Coffee is delicious, they treated the almond milk perfect. Not much to offer more than coffee though.

The most wonderful espresso. Friendly staff, cozy interior, and once again, great coffee.

Extremely expensive - a full $1 over the price of nearby Stumptown. Small oatmilk latte: $5.75! Fairly blase/non-caring attitude from baristas, too.

Good coffee and pastry but service staff & barista rude and rush you to get out of the store. Quite over priced at $5.75 for an oat latte

Such a sweet hipster coffee shop on the way to Washington square park. I got my regular oat milk latte and loved it . While waiting I had nice chat with the barista .

Hands down the best espresso and drip in Manhattan. Opens early at 7:00am. Its small, but grab something an walk a block up to the park.

Excellent coffee, a very cute and chill place to go for an inbetween class coffee break! Not a lot of space, so be prepared to take your stuff to-go.

I love their coffee but you cant sit down anywhere because of the tiny size of the shop!

Great coffee!pickup only

Great coffee. I would go with the cappuccino instead of the latte. Not sure what coffee to water ratio is used but you probably can tell the barista your preference

My usual coffee treat to myself but today the latte was disappointing 😔. The expresso just didn’t taste as strong or “clean,” for a lack of a better term.I love the latte art from this place which is why I come here a lot and that often makes my days, but yeah for some reason these past two trips, yesterday for a cold brew and today for a latte (12oz) the coffee has not been as strong or tasty.

This is one of the best coffee shops in the city. Small and cozy, very talented baristas and tasty brews.

Great little independent coffee place near NYU. Worth a visit for the peanut butter and jam doughnuts alone!

Hi Humberto ..Love your place and your muffins are very good. But service is beyond unfriendly. I live on Thompson and stop by there often on my way to work. No one greets you with a good morning, nor a thank you ever! Except a pretty girl with a beautiful smile. I.asked her why and she says I am not the first one to comment. And on top of that there is a sign there with tips please .Really? Many times I avoid going there when I see some baristas specially a guy who is kind of new, he blasts his awfully loud music at 8 am..rude is all over his vibe. Please let your employees know that it is important to be nice and pleasant especially in the MORNING! thanks

Had a gorgeous cappuccino but on a return visit got served an over-extracted, bitter espresso (which looked more like a caffe lungo).

Coffee is great, but the space is very tiny - which can be quite good, if you can get a table.

Lovely place with nice interior, relaxed atmosphere, and good espresso. Furthermore you get nice sweet and salty delights, a pretty fast service, perfect latte art, mainly charming staff, no wifi, and high prices. In total: not a bad choice for a short coffee break, but there are better and less expensive stores just around the corner...

Hidden coffee shop with a homey and ambiant feel. Its really small so come off peak hours and enjoy this tiny space

Very very good coffee... u may want to try it black here. Costa Rican is awesome

Small coffee shop with some small seats. Coffee was decent. Some power outlets for a quick charge if you need it. Was very warm inside too which I appreciated.

Coffee is good but the staff are rude.

I loved their cold brew. Must try. Very cheap and best coffee around the corner

Right near Washington Square park. Small but cozy. You can usually grab a seat. They sell Stumptown and Intelligentsia beans

The best place to get cheap Stumptown coffee in Greenwich Village. We love the baked goods too!

Caroline is the best! She’s super friendly and makes the best coffee!

As a picky Brazilian/Italian I think I have some espresso-reputation. this is one of the best, creamy, macchiatos Ive had in New York

I agree with other peoples that the store is cramped and the coffee is overpriced.It is good,but not worth what they are charging.

Small place, but warm.

Great little place serving Counter Culture Coffee. Latte was tastee.

Excellent zucchini muffinDrip coffee was delicious without any bitterness

One of the greatest 3rd wave coffee shops in New York.

Awesome coffee for a fussy Australian. La Marzocco and two types of beans.

Idk I thought this place was pretty avg. The guy working wasnt pleased to be there and when they got talking to each other, I just wondered why they were sharing those views in public

Ive gone here once and it was pretty good i had to wait a while but it was rush hour so oh well.

Bring your changes and dont forget your credit card when you coming here.Wanted to tryout espresso and cold brew coffee here andW/Boy said, we dont have much chang after I pay with $50 dollar bill so I said I will break $50 and come back soon and the boys said, dont you have a credit card? I said No and he just stood there.. and customer trying to pay me with hes own money I said no thanksBye bye

Dry and stale croissants , weak coffee.

Quick service, great coffee, close to WSP. Cant go wrong!

Great, strong coffee. Metallic interior, not a place to hang, but good for a pickup

10/10 Espresso.

Favorite coffee shop in the city.

Nice their wave coffee! Cortado and mocha are great !

Love, love, love this place! Came in for an Americano and a baked good item, got to get a common social experience I guess Im not usually privy to. All seats taken, but one, and after about fifteen minutes, about six more people came in. Maybe three made chit-chat. Lana del Rey plays faintly in the background as the two experienced baristas talked shop.Behold, a casual regular, an NYU undergrad, wearing a hybrid of pajamas and streetwear, shot the breeze about the weekend with our Brewmasters. Went by too fast, and just stayed around the house, vibes as Lana sings, All the special times... in the background. Nice kid; off to a class with a teacher who is an old lady from Brooklyn.Door shuts as our co-ed customer pal exists; baristas with observable vocal fry lament that they couldnt imagine just staying around the house for the weekend and certainly did not miss the boring life of the under 21 class.The Americano was pretty good btw. A buck for almond milk, however.

Small spot draws serious caffeine lovers with wide selection of brews & baked goods.

Rude staff and coffee had grounds in it. Left a tip still and not even a thank you from the staff. Will not be returning

Traveling from out of state and wasn’t too picky on where to get some coffee but this place was by far superb. Loved it all from the coffee to the treats.

Small coffee shop serving good coffee typically roasted by others.

Pretty racist service attitude. I came here from home with much expectation and got so disappointed by how I was treated by the staff members. Definitely the worst among all cafes Ive ever been in not only nyc but the entire country. Coffee not as good as Everyman Espresso but much much worse service. Probably good if you are white since I observed very different service attitude towards white customers.

Very small. Have to get there early to get a seat. I dont recommend that because the seats are not comfortable.

Coffee is just OK-folks behind counter not friendly, air of apathy

Not very friendly barista, lukewarm latte. Meh.

This is a nice little coffee shop. Very good mocha

Great roast in the late and service very friendy and laid back. Would recommend!

Cold brew will keep you awake for hours. Excellent spot.

Amazing capuccino! They know how to serve a great coffee.

The almond croissant was really good. Great service!

The drip coffee is very tasty.

For a years, one of my favorite espresso spots in all of NYC. But its still takeaway only?? who wants to pay $4 to drink espresso out of cardboard on the sidewalk? Plenty of other coffee options nearby.

Good coffee near NYU

Absolutely the best espresso I haveHad in nyc. I weNot to much higherRated places which don’tCompare

Nice cosy spot to sit in if its 1-2 people and the coffee is solid but not amazing the 3 or 4 times Ive been. Not very welcoming vibe though.

Hi awesome foods, simple and price good ... great to me.

The coffee is amazing. Cash only. Small.

Small, friendly place with excellent coffee and croissants.

Probably one of the best coffee places in NYC.

Not very good espresso. Blond shot without any flavor...

Service is good but coffee is horribly bitter and its not cheap

Regular coffee was terrible, Couldnt finish a small lol.

Got a takeaway coffee, small size. Very nice. Good staff. Served at door. There are regularly people here

Served at the door (no idea why) but door doesn’t stay open so it’s banging against your back. Menu not easy to find. Lady stood behind trestle table super bored and disengaged. Homeless guy asking me for money while I’m mid-order. Totally bang average cold brew for $4.50. It’s a “no” from me.

Pretty good coffee. Limited food selection

A little small coffee shop.Good coffee :)

I got 12 oz of drip coffee for under 4 bucks.Coffee tastes good and the price is impressive. Would definitely come here to get my second dose of caffeine every day!

Got coffee and banana bread. It was ok. No wifi.

Great neighborhood coffee spot. Used to be cash only, now taking cards. Small seating sections and cozy. Very talented baristas. Try the tasty mocha. Not uncommon to see the neighborhoods celebrities in the shop. They also serve outsourced but excellent pastries. Check it out.

I came in for my latte craving, it was good. It was, however, lukewarm. On a cold day, you’d like for ya latte to be pretty hot... at least, I do. I wouldn’t go back unless I was in the area and hadn’t already had my fix. Also, service was lackluster. It’s a small place, so it’s be nicer for the interactions to be more pleasant.*** UPDATE 11/24/18 *** The owner personally reached out to me via email to get a more in depth explanation so he could better the experience for us all. I really appreciate that, changed it to 4 stars, and would def go back for another latte. Thanks H!

Just a coffee snob, but this place was pretty darn good. Their pour-over was great but I have had better. Could have just been the beans that I wasnt used to. Regardless, the flavor was good. Not sure if their recent roasts were a little burnt or not though. Will be back to try more of their menu though.Great little place to come chill to, that is if you can find a table. With very limited seating here, you may just have to enjoy your cup of whatever outside. Come winter, this may be an issue.

Small and really nice relaxing coffee place for students

A cute little coffee place with tasty sweets!

Not friendly at all- I guess the shop is back to covid rules - the resguarde was at the door and that made placing the order very inconvenient (you have to hold the door while you go through the process of ordering/paying/ waiting) -“ran out “ of chai tea- did not offered/gave a sleeve on a burning coffee-got the wrong size cup as well- I guess it hit all the buttons for a bad coffee experience

Great service, espresso drinks and pastries.

If your looking for a real local feel coffee shop, this is the spot! Its a very small store front type of store with a very homey feel when you come in, on top of the fact that they only accept cash, it completes the hometown, local feel. Ive had iced and hot drinks here and they were both well made and tasted high quality. They even have real spoons for you to stir with! Really cool place to get a quick cup of joe and not crazy expensive either.

Great coffee and location, friendly staff

Pretty sure the manager doesn’t want them to talk to anyone. Was sort of neat though to order and receive my Americano by a series of nods and gestures.Planned to hang for a bit. Wasn’t asked. Enjoying a standard Americano in a paper cup.

Third Rail Coffee is one of the places in NYC serving Intelligentsia Coffee. It has a great location, and the quality of the coffee is pretty good. Drips are better than their espresso based drinks. Unfortunately they do not have wireless, and seating is quite limited, otherwise I would visit more often.

Great coffee, but pricy.

I agree with other reviewers that the store is cramped and the coffee is overpriced. It is good, but not worth what theyre charging. The staff can also be surly and at times will ignore customers in favor of their own conversations. There are other places in the Village where you can get a better cup of coffee for less.

Chill small place. Music isnt loud but present and enjoyable. Coffee is good. I got the latte and it wasnt overpowered by milk. Very good.

Coffee brewing is an art form here, and the staff is anything but snobby about it. Good people, cozy vibe. Just wish I could afford it more than once a month, considering its half a block from my apt. Anyway, highly recommended.

Good coffee and really nice staff.

Pour over coffee I ordered was burnt. Bad music and atmosphere. Not a coffee shop to hangout, relax or do work in. Very mediocre overall.

Coffee was weak - poor quality and the price did not reflect this

Cozy storefront that served up single-origin espresso from Counter Culture during my visit. Didnt mind that the shop only takes cash or that seating is limited, especially when given such great coffee, but I was a little uncomfortable with the volume that the staff used to gossip with a customer (I learned a lot about their roommates). I havent read any other reviews with similar complaints, so this may have been an anomaly. Still, it was a little difficult to hear my wife, though Im easily distracted. All in all, great shop to stop in for coffee and warmth on a cold December night.

I had a couple of natural processed, Ethiopian pour overs here. Quaint little spot with only a few seats, but I overheard interesting conversation all around each time I went.

Found this little gem and have been back 3 times this week. Great coffee !

Great cortado. Counter Culture coffee. I like that the espresso take out cup had the little handles. Not sure if everyone had the hand-drawn rainbow though :-)

Very cute and comfortable coffee shop.Good and strong coffee.Surprisingly No wifi available.

Great coffee, intimate space, good crew

Very cute shop with good coffee. Don’t expect much seating though.

Fantastic espresso and cortado. Personal service. Owner operated. Third wave. Coffee gem near Washington Square and NYU in the West village.

Very sweet spot :)

Small and friendly coffee place, great to grab a latte with a heart on it. Really good baristas and a nice vibe. They dont have decaf.

I went in simply because of the name. LOL But it was good.

A long time ago, when I was much younger, there used to be a café in this part of the Village that I would hang out all night and study. The coffee was mediocre, but you could be there forever. Well, this isnt really that kind of place. This is really small, which I guess is appropriate for Manhattan. It has like three tables, and when the line gets long, the place fills up quickly. I dont think there is WiFi. I have come here and read or worked for an hour or so, but I dont think you can plan on that.But what I like about the place is that the coffee is good. I dont think there are too many good coffee places in this neighborhood (on closed last year). It is not so fancy as Caffè Dante, which is probably a good thing. I always order the espresso They usually give me glass of water, too. The croissants are pretty good. So the bottom line is if you are looking for a good coffee this is a good option. If you are looking for a place to rent a table for a couple of dollars, I wouldnt recommend it.

Third Rail is in a cool part of town (close to NYU) and is a small, inviting space with good coffee.

Great little place serving Counter Culture Coffee. Latte was a bit bitter for my taste.

Great coffee!

One of my all time favorite coffee places in the city. Great americanos, limited spacing, but really worth it if you can grab a seat by the windows.

Taste of home! Great coffee and the small and cosy feel to remind us of Melbourne.

Relaxed and friendly staff who are quite articulate about the fine points of every origin they offer as pour over preparations.

Smallish but great coffee and none of those feral flavourings (because they make good coffee!!!!) Well done guys!!!

Small joint. Good coffee and warm atmosphere for meeting with someone, but like other reviewers have said: dont plan to do work here. No Wi-Fi.

Currently sitting here with no Wi-Fi as they ask me to connect to AND PAY FOR the time Warner cable city wide internet after they told me I had to go use the bathroom at Starbucks. If you are a rich east village kid that likes to drink coffee and chat maybe this is the place for you, but dont come here and expect to get work done.

Great coffee. Small space, so not much room for meeting people, doing work, etc.

Quickly served pour overs, not much space to sit, but good if youre passing by or taking your dog to the park a block away.

We will definitely go again very soon

Didn’t enjoy the coffee as much as I thought I would based on previous reviews. The donut was good though.

Probably one of the best coffee places in NYC

Really enjoyed the matzo ball soup.

Excellent coffee. Super nice baristas!

The Americano coffee is great and there green tea is delicious

Great Lattes at this small spot.

Decent coffee and cosy atmosphere, but not particularly remarkable and slightly pricy.

Stumptown esspresso and new roaster every month. Very knowledgable staff laid back and artistic approach to espresso. Had the Guatemalan on a warm day and was impressed!

Great coffee shops for hot espresso based drinks. Their cold drinks are seriously underwhelming and I would find another place if you wanted a cold brew.

The best. Also not cash only anymore

Great macciatto and they had a tasty peanut butter cup treat that was delicious.

No Wifi !! Terrible !! poor quality coffee!!

This tiny space serves some of the best pulled espressos in New York.

Great coffee. Not so much space and no restrooms.

Chilled place to sit drink coffee and people watch.

Have great decaf coffee too!

I loved the expresso. I will come back.

This place more horrible with flowers where. Not fun .

Very expensive and the coffee isnt that great.

Great caffeinated coffee - no decaf coffee

Ice latte might be the best in town.

Good stuff! Just a little too expensive...

Nice Place to sit and enjoy coffee here..........

Classy and cool. Except that the coffee is hot.

Ok coffee, no restrooms, slightly snobbish vibe

My favorite coffee in the area and theres rarely a line up.

Agree with others - their cold brew is weak and underwhelming.

Nice spot for spot coffee and a quick break

Amazing small coffee shop. Recommended

Poor attention and poor coffe test and expensive...

Manhattan prices, but quality to match.

The Baristas looking at you like

Nice aesthetics, coffee is good

Another New York excellent coffee.

Really good espresso!

Legit coffee! And by that I mean espresso.

So placeStuff are so rude

The latte is super delicious.

Well done

Amazing coffee, hot and cold

Still 100% OFFICIAL

Great coffee in nyu area

Best coffee and staff in NYC

Great coffee and atmosphere

Great service, good latte

Best coffee Shop

Good neighborhood brew

The best