Ost Café

This review is based solely on the teas, as I haven’t tried their coffee. This is a coffee shop, so expecting tea that ‘wows’ is perhaps a lofty goal, but if I’m paying 4 bucks for a ‘large’ cup smaller than my iPhone 6 (not plus), then my expectations rise.
I’ve been twice. The first time I had the iced black tea, which is an Earl Grey. I asked for just a splash of milk. I found the tea watery after a few sips. I honestly felt like I was drinking milk and water :-/​
Round two. I came back because it’s such a nice place décor wise and I kind of just wanted to sip on something delicious in a nice space and this would be the place. This time around I ordered the hibiscus berry iced tea and asked for light ice hoping to counter the anticipated watered down taste. While it wasn’t bad (and the ice was more than light) it tasted identical to Starbucks’ hibiscus berry, which I could’ve gotten a Venti (20 oz) for the same price.
In the future, if I do return (it’s such a nice setup in here), it’ll be strictly for coffee.

Good café to get some work done as they’ve got solid wifi and more power outlets than a lot of other places in the area. It gets pretty busy though so you’ll want to try to get there earlier if possible. I thought the iced tea and iced coffee I had were both pretty solid.

The iced tea I had was disgusting… Far worse than Starbucks. Also they charge a quarter for using your credit card.

I’m no coffee expert but the cappuccino I had here was definitely special. Thick, creamy, and full of flavors.
The place is spacious with both bar tables and little two-​person seats. The decors are trendy and comfortably colored — feeling natural and down-​to-​earth. It’s also pretty quiet in the coffee shop. Seems like a cool place to read, study, or just chill out with friends.
The window seats are my favorite!

such a cute, great café. definitely recommend the Nutella cookie sandwiches. It’s so cozy inside, makes you feel like your at home :) wish they opened earlier though so I can grab a coffee or a cookie before school, but still great.

Thank you very much for opening up on Memorial Day, so that I don’t have to wander around east village just to look for a small cup of cappuccino.
Very cosy feelings inside with enough seating, coffee itself was also well balanced. However if you are paying by card, there’s extra fee charged. Their free wifi was only supplied during weekdays.
They have recently opened up another location a couple of blocks away at LES.

I can see why those who live in the neighborhood would love this café because it seems like the only other option as most good cafes are located closer to Nolita. I ordered an ice coffee on a hot day and it was just watery and bland, maybe I should’ve tried another drink? But it was disappointing. I asked for their WiFi password and it didn’t even work, so not sure what thats about. Otherwise interesting music and lots of seating area: bar area, mini tables with chairs by the entrance, high chairs and a bar table by the windows that fits a macbook, and seating by the walls.

Thank God for this place and not having to go to FUCKING STARBUCKS … I’ll take a nice little independent café of Starbucks any day of the week. You don’t see many around (independent Cafes) as it’s hard to make enough Money to cover the Rent, labor and all their expenses, so Thank You to the owners of Ost Café, it’s much appreciated.
D

Busy but still plenty of seats and friendly service! The Nutella Cookie was too Delicious. Waited here for a reservation at a place next door that my friend really wanted to go to. The coffee kept me a awake in the meantime. Didn’t try the wine but how can that not be a plus+++!

This is a great chill café to hang out and cowork, assuming you can get a spot. Weekdays makes it easier though.
The place offers plenty of power, and wifi (only during the weekdays and daytime though).

Had some time to kill so I stopped by around 1pm on a Sunday. Wifi is offered M-​F only. There was still seating available for study groups.
What a great place for a coffee break!

Best jasmine green tea in the hood.
The place of s always full during the day. Decent coffee and there are other baked goods for breakfast. Good vibe.

They have a Drink and Draw event every Thursday with a live model. I think I’m in love already!
They’re open until 10PM, which is also a huge plus, especially since most coffee places around me — except Starbucks and Dunkin — are closed by dinnertime. In addition to a coffee bar, they also have a wine bar — which I’m assuming is why they stay open later into the night. Either way, I’m a fan.
My friend and I each ordered an americano from the VERY patient barista who waited as we discussed all the options on the menu (and what we thought would go best with Bailey’s). The coffee was nice and strong and hot enough to last us our entire walk home, which was quite long because we got turned around and headed downtown instead of uptown… oh St. Patty’s day…
I can’t wait to be back to drink and draw. ;)

I came in here a few weeks ago and ordered a cold brew and a blueberry muffin. I sat at the bar and spoke with one of the girls behind the counter (wish I could remember her name, she was so nice!) and enjoyed a very nice mid-​morning coffee and snack. The ambiance is really cute. It gives off the trendy NYC coffee shop vibe with an adorable, cozy twist. I also learned that they serve wine and beer at night time which is totally awesome. The only reason why I am giving 4 stars is because despite the amazing ambiance, the place is a bit small. I am only upset about this because I feel like the likelihood of finding a seat during morning hours is slim to none, and this is the type of place I would like to sit at for a few hours, enjoy my coffee, and get some writing done. However, I will definitely be back here again for another delicious cold brew and muffin!

Important preface: I don’t really dig coffee joints. I hate overpaying for things I can make at home. Coffee is one of them. I have a wonderful coffee machine that makes wonderful coffee that I buy in bulk (read: Costco) for a wonderfully low price.
I think this place took it to a whole new level, though. $ 4.50 for a tea that comes in one size, which I would describe as a medium trying to be a large. Listen, i understand that good tea is not cheap. But when your tea nears the $ 5 Subway Footlong range with tax included, I start to get a bit skeptical. The tea bag is tied up in a very aesthetically pleasing manner, sure. The aroma was pleasing, sure. But I can’t comprehend buying hot water and tea leaves in a cup for more than $ 2.50.
I don’t want this post to veer off into a rant about the gentrifying East Village and the trappings of bougie coffee cafes. I will say that the location is gorgeous, especially in the morning. The sun floods right in and you have a great spot for people-​watching. But that’s about it that’ll bring me back to this place.

I LOVE this little neighborhood café. I come here at least 3 – 4 days a week and am greeted by the same familiar faces.
What’s great about Ost: friendly service, free wifi on weekdays, evening vino, book clubs, sip and paint, and delicious coffee– very much a community café.
Personally, I usually go for a cold brew, but sometimes I mix it up with a flat white or a mocha. Every time I deviate from my cold brew and go back to it, I find myself wondering why I ever switched it up… Perfectly strong, no burnt after taste, no shakiness from putting illegal amounts of caffeine. Just the perfect everything.
Another thing I love is that Ost keeps it simple. There’s no exotic latte flavorings, or silly little mocha choka carmel crunch sprinkles on top, or angry baristas that hate their lives (cough cough Café Bene.) It’s just good. Period.

Maybe I just caught them on a bad day, but I was really not a fan of this place. Came here with a friend one evening and the barista kind of ignored me, which was frustrating. I’ll admit, the tea and lemon-​poppy biscotti were really good, but pricey (that credit card surcharge was a bummer). However, what sealed the deal were the other patrons there… the people all around us were pushy and a little rude, literally claiming my seat when I got up to leave before I was even fully upright, so they could save it for friends they were expecting (which I understand, but that’s so easy to do politely). Between the vibe of the staff and the clientele, I just feel no need to come back when there are plenty of other coffee shops in Manhattan.

Really didn’t want to be the person with the unpopular opinion but I tried justifying giving it 3 stars and I just couldn’t.
I found this place on Unilocal while eating at the Northern Spy not too far away. I was excited because the pictures looked almost too good to be true… and it turns out that it was indeed overhyped.
The place was pretty packed on an early Saturday afternoon and every other customer seemed to be headed for the cookie jar.
The décor was cozy and homey — looks like a perfect setting for an indie music video or a hipster photo shoot spot. The interior decorations are also why I’m giving it two stars.
I ordered a soy latte ($ 4.50), teeny bit pricier than Starbucks but I was also foolishly believing that it was way superior. The picture does it pretty good justice — no fancy latte art, which I was slightly disappointed but okay with. I was reallyyyyyy not expecting how weak the espresso was considering the fancy espresso machine they have (not sure if it’s actually fancy tbh but it looked pretty complicated –_​-​). Service was also not that impressive.
I might go back for a cookie but definitely not going back for the latte.

Hermosura. En el 2013 tuve la suerte de vivir 4 meses muy cerca de esta cafetería hermosa del East Village, y ahí fué donde retomé mi romance con el café. Ahí tuve mi primer LatteArt, ahí probé mi primer Flat White, y también tuve un breve pero intenso romance con los dulces que me dejó en un estado físico que no era el óptimo.
Es un local chiquito, pero a la vez cómodo, ya que tenés opción de ocupar mesitas (no hay muchas), y alguna de las 3 barras que tiene. Como en todo coffee shop que se precie, el público es mas bien hipster y siempre está lleno de gente trabajando o boludeando con sus macs impolutas. El café es ideal como para arrancar el día, hacer un stop a media tarde si andás por la zona, o incluso para bajar un toque las revoluciones si venís haciendo bar hopping por la zona. Y como extra, por las tardes además de café, ofrecen una lindísima selección de vinos, tanto en copa como en botellas. Hermoso.
Por que no 5 estrellas? Porque alguna vez me atendieron no demasiado bien, y hoy (que pensaba retomar mi romance) fué uno de esos días. De cualquier modo, super recomiendo si andás por el East Village.

Wonderful place to grab a latte, glass of wine and people watch! The service is friendly and the cookies are also delicious.

I went on my first date with my significant other here. It’ll always hold a place in my heart. The coffee is delicious and the outdoor seating is wonderful. It’s a great place to talk with friends or get some work done.

The coffee was good as was the music but I went there to grab lunch on a Friday and they only had croissants and scones.

This is my favorite coffee shop in Alphabet City. I recently discovered it when I was walking down avenue a and saw the lights inside. I write down the name knowing I had to come back. Since then, I have come here several times for catch ups with friends or to simply read a book by myself.
I love the vibe. The front is completely glass windows, which let in plenty of light. The space feels light and airy since the color scheme is mostly neutrals and clean designs.
The prices are pretty standard with lattes around $ 4-​$ 5. If you use a credit card under $ 10, they charge an extra $ 0.25. At least they let you use the card!
I love the chai latte! I asked the barista to make it «more chai» flavored since I grew up drinking chai and find that chai lattes can sometimes taste like warm milk. They did a great job and I loved my drink!
My only semi complaint is that there is no wifi on weekends, but it makes total sense. People would never leave their tables if they had wifi!
I plan to check out their book club on January 31, so I’ll update my review then!

Really love this place. Great coffee. I’ve gotten an iced latte and an iced mocha. Both were absolutely delicious. My mom got an americano. Really great. They have cool events, a good amount of space, plugs, wifi on the weekdays. It gets pretty crowded though so come early if you’re trying to sit and do some work. Overall, really cute spot.

I’m so glad I dropped by.
Came here on a Wednesday night. I was meeting up with a friend, so thought this place would be perfect to chat and catch up. It’s a cozy corner shop in East Village that has both coffee, tea, and wine. Very charming atmosphere and cozy seating in the corner.
It’s a perfect spot to grab wine with a friend or to stop in for a trendy espresso. The only thing I wish they had was a happy hour special on wine (that would be so great), but other than that, had a very pleasant experience.

What I love about this place is the fact that they are a café that serve really good coffee and they also have beer and wine as well. After all it’s also a wine bar.
I went here to grab a cappuccino for an afternoon pick me up, great atmosphere. There’s a bar where you can grab a seat and watch the barista make drinks.
They do take plastics, however there is a 25 cents surcharge for a transaction under $ 10. With the rising surcharge cost from credit card processing company it is pretty understandable.
So depending on your mood, you can either get coffee or you can get wine.

This place is right across the street from my apartment and it’s adorable. So I really wanted to love it and make it my spot to write and hang out. The reason it isn’t, is because of the staff. I’ve dropped in there many times hoping to stumble upon a welcoming vibe, but they always seem like you’re bothering them. Last week, I ordered a large tea, and the girl behind the counter gave me a take-​out cup that was literally only ¾ full. She gave off a strong eye rolling vibe, and I wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation, so I just let it slide. It is a pity, though, since I live so close by. PS They don’t offer wi-​fi on the weekends. It’s their not-​so-​subtle way of telling you to not make yourself too comfortable and move it along…

The only appealing element of Ost is the décor (light, natural, airy). Otherwise, this place is the worst. Coffee is mediocre by nyc standards, they are stingy with wifi (only available on weekdays), and the service is bad. I used to come here quite frequently, but they’ve gone downhill. After receiving particularly apathetic and somewhat snarky service today, I won’t be back.
For good coffee, go to Abraco instead. For a nice café vibe, Café Pick Me Up, 9^th Street Espresso, really, anywhere else in the area all lend a much nicer vibe and better experience.

Best coffee place in NYC!

Stopped in at this coffee place to rest and snagged a prime corner seat. The barista was incredibly helpful and funny, the mocha was exactly what this girl needed on a chilly Saturday night, and the atmosphere was charming and warm.
As if that weren’t enough the Nutella cookies were possibly one of the best pastries I’ve ever eaten in my life.
A bit pricey but well below Starbucks prices and about four times the quality.

The place is amazingly cute, and very well located. Well lit as well. The staff is friendly, it’s a nice spot.
As for the coffee… Nothing to write home about. Not strong, nor tasty.
Small coffee 2 $

Cozy and warm atmosphere for a chilly night.
Came here to get some work done before meeting a friend. Only wifi on Mondays-​Thursdays, but it’s all good if you’ve got a Personal Hotspot for some internet connection like me! 25 cent surcharge for orders under $ 10.
A little pricey, but it was a solid soy chai latte that definitely had that spicy kick!

I came here to work, and I got a cappuccino and a latte over my four hours of sitting here. I have to say I really enjoy the atmosphere and although its relaxing and chic it’s very easy to work and I felt super productive. The amount of seating is gops and you arnt squished next to other people. Also they have A LOT of power outlets which is super nice.
The coffee they use is really yummy and strong. Also the baristas are super nice and willing to help out. I also really like how its open late and has coffee and tea but also beer and wine.
The hour pass for wifi is annoying, and the internet isn’t fast or that good. Other that that it’s a really nice place to work. (If your writing papers or doing yhings that don’t require the internet)

The coffee’s tasty, the baristas are nice, and the music is great (and attributable to the baristas’ music taste). Note that: wifi is only available M-​F. Also, this place is popular and it’s open pretty late!
Too bad they were outta croissants when I visited, but I got to try the Nutella cookie sandwich, which is $ 4 and pretty good, but I don’t know if I’d get it again.
The café is open-​air and there are benches outside, so this is definitely a peaceful place to sit in good weather. Oh and there’s wine & beer.

Good working space in the morning, as long as you don’t need Internet.
For 4 weeks I started almost all of my days here with a cup of coffee or an Americano. I never succeeded in getting the wifi to work, but this wasn’t a big problem for me as I prefer to work offline for the first couple hours of the day.
The environment is conducive to cranking out focused work. The semi-​European, semi-​artsy-​hipster vibe is what I would hope to find in a place like this. Show up early (between 7:30 and 9:00) if you want a seat near a power outlet because this is a busy local East Village favorite.

Good place to go if you want to grab a cup of coffee at night. Enjoyed a nice cup of latte while I chatted with my boyfriend. There’s a good amount of seating. The inside is relatively dark at night, very intimate. And also has happy hour drinks!
I would love to come back to this establishment during the day after seeing all the good reviews!

My husband and I took a city break here, as I surfed my laptop and he read his book. This little corner stop has the nicest floor pattern I’ve seen yet! There quality of espresso drinks is more than average, and their almond croissant is flaky (and a little dry) if that’s in your favor. It can get a little crowded in here for it isn’t that big, but great if your alone or with one other person.
First thing you need to know about this place when using Wi-​fi is that it is only available free for an hour. An employee will give you a receipt with the user and password for internet access, if you ask. Maybe I was there on the wrong hour or day, but my laptop also had a hard time acting fast and left most pages and tabs half loaded. It was quite frustrating.
Overall, it’s a cute place for a small stop, but not if you’re planning to be surfing the net for a while.

Now, this place has the Vibe! This is probably the best coffeehouse I have been to in NYC so far. There are ample seating consisting of with about 10 tables, and about that many high chairs. Plugs are on one side of the room, so tables on that side will work well for laptops. On one side there is the counter, and across from that is a half-​round bar table with wines. They sell wines — Austrian this time but not sure if they rotate — on that table, so it’s a combination coffee-​wine bar. Pretty cool concept and half of them were drinking wine. I did one of each.
My cappuccino was really good, you can taste the flavor of the coffee through the milk & foam which was great. They also have happy hour on wine until 8pm, and while I didn’t have it then it looked to be $ 6 for a glass. That’s a great deal.
Couple of just okay aspects were: 1) Staff was nice, but not necessarily «helpful». You kind of had to go to them. 2) They were basically kicking us out the door as they were closing, with 4 people still sitting there. They were putting up the chairs on the tables that were empty, so it was a bit awkward. But aside from that, a great place to come and drink, work, people-​watch, or just gab with your friends!

Since I live just one block away and since I cannot function in the morning anymore without coffee (thanks consulting and MBA!), I probably make more purchases at Ost Café than anywhere else in New York. Actually, I definitely make more purchases here. By a long shot.
It’s surprisingly one of the few coffee shops I’ve found in the East Village that’s a nice mix of good coffee, a great atmosphere, and also a place where you don’t get looked down on for having a laptop and getting some work done. Usually places have two of those three.
I don’t usually get the specialty drinks here, just basic iced or hot coffee, and it does the trick. The prices are fairly high, but totally in line with the pricing scheme around the whole Village. «Welcome to New York» — Taylor Swift.
My favorite part of Ost is the people watching — tons of interesting characters ranging from hipsters writing their screenplays to bright-​eyed college graduates grabbing a coffee before meeting their brokers find their way here, and there are also huge windows for watching the people, the traffic, and the weather outside.
Coffee: ⁴⁄₅
Value: ⁴⁄₅
Service: ⁵⁄₅
Atmosphere: ⁵⁄₅

*EDIT: Minus one star for closing more than an hour early when they feel like it.
I used to bartend down the street, and a pre-​happy hour cappuccino, poured exceptionally well by OST’s friendly baristas, was the only thing that got me through the shift. Then I quit that fucking job, and now I make a point to visit the café and enjoy a cortado and some peace.
I dig the vibe — barely crusty, enough to not be completely out of place on Avenue A.
THANK YOU for not offering wifi on weekends. The empty seats, chatty ambiance and lack of screen zombies totally make up for the bump in my data plan.
Oh, and those chocolate chip cookie sandwiches. Gawd.