Shakespeare & Co

Have stopped here 5−7X in the past year and today was the last time. Like others, I’m typically in search of a specific title or titles and, without fail, Shakespeare is sold out EVERY time. What gives? Is this store only interested in generating revenue the first week of each semester? If I want to order a book and wait a week for it to arrive I’ll take my business to Amazon and have it delivered much faster.

Ive been to this place several times before and i liked their coffee. Especially cappuccino! Highly recommend this place if you were to read books and wanna have tea time while reading. 4 stars cause they seem to be always crowded & a bit hectic whenever I visited.

Bookstore part is awesome but the café is not so much. They do this «upsale» thing which is awful. I asked if my soup (pretty overpriced) came with crackers and the girl said I can by focaccia for 2 more dollars. She wasn’t pleasant about it either. Coffee was sour and weak just like the other review said. Tired of paying for bad coffee with a bad attitude. I wanted it to be my local abode but I think Gregory’s coffee is much better and welcoming.

Originally a friend (who will undoubtedly post her review soon too) and I were supposed to go to another coffee shop but then gave me the wrong directions. We ended up stumbling upon this coffee shop. Having a degree in English and having studied Shakespeare every term in my college career, I was definitely intrigued by this place.
Coming in from the snow, we entered a café area with an expansive bookstore in the back. Deprived of caffeine I ordered a Latte and a quiche. My friend ordered a hot chocolate and a donut. The latte was one of the better lattes that I’ve had in a long time. A no fuss latte with perfectly steamed milk and beautiful design. Although the espresso flavor wasn’t as strong as I would’ve liked, it was the perfect alongside my quiche. The hot chocolate wasn’t overly sweet, which is a real concern when ordering hot chocolate.
The book selection here seems well curated and definitely has recent novels on display for that fit every type of enthusiast. Also it’s really interesting that you could get your own books printed here. I really want to see how the machine works.
This combination of café and bookstore is what Barnes and Noble cafes were supposed to be. My only complaint about this place is that I wish it was closer to me.

I stopped in here since my regular corner coffee cart guy seems to have gone into hibernation mode given the below zero degree weather, the coffee at the fake Starbucks in Hunter is disgusting and was clearly not an option and any other place nearby was too far for me to even think about trekking to in the cold.
I ordered a latte with an extra shot made with almond milk and got the croissant. The croissant was a bit pricey but it did taste delicious. I’m not a full blown coffee connoisseur but I do make espressos most mornings on the stove top with what some of my fellow latinos know as «la greco». Anyways the latte was absolutely delicious, that extra shot of espresso definitely gave it a kick and helped me make it through my 3 hr Saturday class. All in all I would definitely stop by here again.

I’m visiting and stumbled upon Shakespeare and Co via Unilocal when looking for a nice spot for a caffeine fix. I was intrigued because it shares a name with my favourite English-​language bookstore in Paris.
Inside, there are a 11 small tables with 2 chairs each and a counter with 3 seats at the front of the bookstore. There’s free wifi (password is «midsummersnight».
I ordered a cappuccino and almond croissant. The cappuccino was delicious and the barista took a moment to make some beautiful latte art. The almond croissant was large, filling, and very tasty. Perfect mix of buttery and flaky. It had a soft almond taste. The couple at the table next to me were regulars who said the sandwiches are delicious.
Highly-​recommend! :)

Go here! Awesome and cozy independent bookstore/​publisher and café. The Espresso Book Machine is supercool. Create a book, any book! And the coffee is good!

Great little bookshop, with a fairly large children’s section, and lots of fun, quirky, off the beaten path books on display that I haven’t seen elsewhere – like a book of 2015 info graphics. Quite a few coloring books for adults, quotable cards, a little café section (saw some amazing looking craft doughnuts) and one restroom, with seating sprinkled throughout. The downstairs seemed geared more for the college student set and may be further developed… Love independent bookstores.

This place is amazing, I love stopping by whenever I’m in the neighborhood. The atmosphere provides the perfect place to sit down with some coffee (and a Dough doughnut!) and get work done or read. The book selection is great and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable!
The coolest thing in here has to be the book printing machine though — it’s definitely not something you get to see every day and it’s a very interesting process to watch.
It’s worth stopping by just to see it in action!

DO NOT let the 3 stars fool you, this is a great place!
I was planning to get breakfast place further downtown. The place opened at 8:30 and I had to be at the consulate (few blocks away from here) and 9. All I needed was a warm place to have some coffee and food. I ordered a macchiato and a Café Au Lait doughnut, and regular cup of coffee (when macchiato ran out)
While I prefer my macchiato with a little milk added (is this even a macchiato?) I appreciate that they made a proper macchiato (espresso and milk foam). Espresso was strong, as espresso should be. Regular cup of coffee was a little weak though.
Unfortunately, I did not like this coffee, it wasn’t bitter, it was sour. No lie. I like coffee with some kick. I like dark roast, bold flavor, and little bitterness. I realize coffee is to taste, I just did not like this particular one.
The doughnut was great though. I like that it was house-​made (I believe), not greasy, and the frosting was delicious. Perhaps there are better doughnuts out there, but I have only had mass produced ones at chain restaurants/​stores, so I cannot speak for others.
Espresso drinks and baked goods are rather pricey! Regular coffee is sold at a reasonable price.
Bookstore itself is a cool place, and I love how they not only let you print a book you made, but the leftovers are free notebooks customers can take.
Point deductions for sour-​tasting coffee and high prices.

Love this place! Come here every Friday to reward myself and to plan the coming week. The staff is lovely and the place! Just Such a beautiful atmosphere, a cafè in a bookstore, what more do you need?
Although keep in mind that the place is not the cheapest in town

The coffee and food is high quality for a snack or lunch; the staff is helpful, jovial, and knowledgeable about books. After talking about Moby Dick, the barista made my coffee with a little anchor! I love coming here, having coffee, and then, wandering about looking at the new books. I cannot ask for more. It’s a wow for me.

Large americano with 3 shots of espresso, croissants to die for and lots of used and new books to read in front of the window. What else does one need?

The staff give excellent suggestions for books, they haven’t steered me wrong yet! It’s always intimidating to ask someone at larger book stores for suggestions, but the staff here is always willing to point me in the right direction. The café is a nice added touch, it’s nice to get a good cup of coffee and sit and read. They have more seats in the back which is nice when you’re looking for a quiet get away. It’s also nice to FINALLY get a decent cup of coffee in this neighborhood, and they have a wide selection of food items ranging from hot soups on cold days to sinfully large doughnuts!

I’ve been here a few times for the café. All the times I’ve visited has been pretty great. I usually get a latte but I’ve gotten their food a few times too. The food is pretty good and their coffee is amazing! They carry donuts from Dough (!), which is actually kind of amazing because I can match the awesome coffee with an amazing pastry.
I saw another reviewer state something about the customers being awful. I agree with that sometimes but I wouldn’t dox a review for something out of the companies control. Yes the customers can be awful but maybe call them out on their crap and they’ll be less awful. I’ve done it. It works most of the time and I’m sure any employee of any company would appreciate you saying what they can’t.
With that being said. Come for the coffee, stay for the pastries. Sometimes the baristas will do some nice latte art if time permits, which is a nice touch. All of the workers seem high energy and enjoy being as helpful as they can, which is a rarity in this city.

I just happened to stumble across this gem of a bookstore. It has a very welcoming and great atmosphere to sit down and glimpse through several books to find my next read. I was also amazed to see their unique machine that can print a book customized for me. My kid is going to love this. I also had the most amazing doughnut in the café area.
Looking forward to finishing my new book, so I can go back.

I am not sure where these negative reviews are coming from. I think the price is fair for the neighborhood and the quality of food and coffee being offered. The atmosphere is great as well. Who doesn’t want to enjoy a great sandwich and cup of coffee in a bookstore. If you are looking for a dollar cup of coffee go to the cart around the corner. If you want a cup made by people who really care this is a great place for the neighborhood.

Food is good, although often exorbitantly overpriced, Espresso options are generally well done, and staff is patient and friendly. In many ways, it’s the best place around!
when it’s empty…
The low rating is entirely based on the clientele — often the place is full of blue-​haired über-​rich geriatric upper-​east-​siders who cut in line, condescend to staff and other customers alike, addressing everyone the way they would their household servants, and generally being arrogant and obnoxious. We can all be patient with this up to a point, until we’re in a hurry to get a coffee and an old lady in fur cuts in front of us and demands a «cappuccino, right now! I’ve been waiting too long!»

As a hunter student, it’s sad to see a bookstore clear out a huge amount of shelf space for a café. Feels like a Barnes and Noble, albeit with good coffee, and overpriced baked goods.

This review is for the Café they just opened. Coffee is good (they use Counter Culture beans) but the food is ridiculously overpriced! I paid $ 5.50 for a single small piece of focaccia, it was good but at the end of the day its focaccia and not even a decent sized portion.
Bottom line: the coffee is okay (although I would recommend Joe on 74^th and Lexington, better coffee, better service and prices that aren’t exclusively aimed at the Upper East Side aristocracy) but the food is not nearly worth the price (especially for anyone who cant’t afford $ 5.50 for a piece of bread).