The Vagabond Cafe

This is a café with an identity crisis, therefore my review is as well. It’s half cozy coffee shop, half japanese restaurant. Although Vagabond gets points for creativity, neither of these elements are pulled off particularly well. However, the place does manage to have it’s own slightly odd charm. Since this is a split review, I’ll list the positives and negatives below:
Positives:
— The staff are super friendly and eager to please
— It’s small, quaint, and welcoming. It feels like the kind of place that if you went there enough, they’d know your name and you could make friends with other regulars.
— Free wifi (that I believe is unlimited)
— An overall enjoyable open-​mic night
Negatives:
— The food is not good. I got the Seaweed salad and it was limp lettuce surrounded by some seaweed. I also ordered the miso soup and it tasted like it came from a can. Based on this, I’m not sure I would dare to go near the sushi
— The drinks were also not great. The capuccino I ordered was more than half foam
— The staff were a little weird. Several times during the open mic they kept mentioning that if we didn’t like the prices, we could shove it and go get a pizza around the corner. I understand the place needs to make money, but I was slightly combative to everyone in the room. It also made me less likely to return
Overall if you need somewhere quiet to work for a few hours, this is a good hide away. But with subpar menu items, I’m not sure I’d return.

On a blistering cold Dec. 2013 Sunday afternoon with a friend a warm lunch with the both of us ordering hot chocolate, which I am not surprised weeks later this business is closed. The online menu lists a lot of Panini but oddly as I sat reading through their sloppy handwritten menu it was mainly Japanese tapas and nothing American. I suspect this business was either sold or under new management as the webite has not been updated. The menu appeared worn with spills and poorly bound by one ugly cloth clip in the upper right corner.
The server is pleasant and attentive. I elected a chicken Panini and a Miso soup with pork and vegetables. The hot Japanese tapas are only served after 4pm daily. The hot chocolate was very yummy. My friend opt out for food. Our bill totalled $ 22.00 with tax. The tables and chairs look like they are from Crate and Barrel, but comfortable to sit. Lots of patrons come here to be on their laptop sipping away coffee. A piano in a corner covered along a vintage radio hidden. There is one couch and three chairs in use. The original concept was a coffee house lounge not a Japanese tapas restaurant as the atmosphere does not fit.

Dirge for a Vagabond [Café]:
What had I discovered yesterday but that the Vagabond you knew and loved is no more. That is, the café is still there… the piano is there, in a different corner… The vintage radio is there, but it’s playing modern rock… Behind the counter are… Japanese people… very nice Japanese people – the new owner/​manager – who was on the phone when I came in, trying to get the WiFi situation settled. One couch and three chaise chairs remain… on the fringes. And the main space, previously occupied by the charmingly worn sofas and little round tables, now looks like any old café, with rows of square dining tables. The food menu, previously consisting of pastries, sandwiches, quiches, and salads, has been taken over by sushi and maki rolls. I had a green tea latte (when in Rome…), which was tasty, but didn’t help me digest the shock of Vagabond’s demise. An even worse offense, when I looked at the spot on the counter where bottles of Belgian ales used to sit, were the bottles of Sapporo and other Japanese lagers. Noooooo!
I always did wonder how the place made money, seeing as how most people hadn’t heard of it (thank god), and the ones who had would stop for a coffee or squat with a book for a few hours. Well, now we know that it didn’t.
Good luck to the new owners: they might pull off a winner here, and one day I might even sample that sushi, and wash it down with some sake. But that day won’t be today… New York was not build through stasis. Change is hard. But there goes one of the very few unique, surprising neighborhood cubbyholes in Lower Manhattan. So it goes.

New ownership. I think what many people who were regulars at this café loved was that it was so homey and comfortable. There was no pretence, or formal vibe. I loved that this place was so lively, comfortable, and personal, too. Now it’s become a generic, bland, and almost uppity.
By no means am I discouraging people from coming here (I’m going to come back to see how they run things from now), I’m just pointing out the drastic change.
The atmosphere is practically non-​existent (if that makes any sense?). The old décor (the paint, brick wall, counter-​top — the things that are most difficult to change) is all the same but they replaced it with new furniture; only one of the couches is still there, and it’s been pushed up to the side. The tables look too modern to belong in here. They’re too big and leave little wiggle room. If you want to move, or get up, you risk knocking into your neighbors. The spindly and rickety café tables and chairs are sorely missed.
I’m not ruling out what the café is going to become, but I think it’s time for me to start looking for a new favourite café in Manhattan.

I have a soft spot for this place since it’s the original location where the love of my life and I were suppose to meet. We had the meat candy sandwich which was sooooooooo delicious (I could eat 20 of those!). Though they ran out of ingredients around Sunday noon so our meat candy was lacking tomatoes. We sat down in front by the radio which was blasting sappy 80s tune. Great for our first year anniversary.

I want so badly to give Vagabond 5 stars as it should have based on its atmosphere, fantastic menu, coffee selection, beer/​wine selection, availability of plugs, and friendly staff (and terrific owner).
HOWEVER, 4 out of the 5 times I have visited Vagabond in the past month and a half they have failed to open even close to on time.
Visit 1: Wonderful time, I found Vagabond an ideal place to get work done. It was comfortable, non-​crowded, delicious, and quiet place.
Visit 2: I showed up at 1pm only to find that they had switched to summer hours (meaning they opened at 2pm; something that was not updated on their webpage). Since I had come in from BK to get work done I waited until 2pm and came back. Again still closed, the woman who apparently opens every day finally showed up and opened the place at 2:30pm
Visit 3: I came purposefully late due to the woman’s blasé attitude of being late the first time. I arrived at 2:30pm again to find them closed, frustrated I was about to walk away when she showed up.
Visit 4: Again I came at 2:30pm, luckily this time she was unlocking the doors.
Visit 5: AKA today. I showed up at 2:30 as per usual, but finally gave up when 2:45pm rolled around and she was still MIA.
I DO think this place is brilliant. I am in the middle of writing my thesis and have therefore been a patron of countless NYC and BK cafes. Vagabond Café is HANDS DOWN the best café that I’ve found. BUT I will no longer be recommending it to friends or going there myself, taking a 30min train ride to a café, only to wait for 30−45min, and then take a 30min train back home because the employee cannot be bothered to show up and open on time is not my idea of productive or fun.
Frankly it is terrible customer service and I could also live without the woman’s obvious annoyance that I have showed up before her. If you can’t make it there by 2pm, by all means switch the hours, but don’t make it a gamble (will they or won’t they be open) for me every time. Not to mention the fact that every day I have waited I have seen at least 5 people walk up and then walk away, Vagabond — you are only hurting yourself. I really hope this rude treatment of customers’ time and patronage doesn’t keep up because the business they provide is wonderful and rare, and it would be a shame to see them fail.

Stopped in here and it was exactly what I wanted: delicious coffee, cozy atmosphere, not too formal and sit-​downy, plenty of seating, and yummy food.
But what really got me was the service. The guy behind the counter was so immensely awesome and nice. Just a perfect blend of friendly without being all up in your grill.
I got a cappuccino and a vegetarian «crêpe.» Both were delicious, although if you’re looking for a French café-​style crêpe, look elsewhere. This is more like a very delicate wrap. But it was mega tasty, with caramelized onions, peppers, and sharp parmesan. Before I left, I got an iced coffee. There were about a zillion syrups to try, and I went with tiramisu. It was incredible. The guy had me taste it before he finished so I could let him know if it was adequate. Yes. Yes. it was.
I would say come here for coffee and a snack. A perfect place to take a load off. If you’re looking for a big sit-​down meal, you might want to keep looking, but if you just want a quick delicious lunch, some caffeine, and great service, this is it!

It’s a cute little café on a side street in the village. It makes you feel like being in someone’s living room. They offer free wifi and they don’t hassle you to leave. VERY laid back. Naturally there are many customers who are there for hours.
4 stars because It’s a little too quiet and feels bad to have a conversation and food I tried was mediocre.
I think that it’s a good place to know in the neighborhood when you need a quiet time with wifi!

I love coffee shops and was very excited to wander upon this one when grabbing a quick bite before a film at IFC Center. However, I am a vegetarian and the server recommended an item off their menu that had bacon!!! Perhaps it is my fault for not reading the menu, but I made it very clear by telling her «I don’t eat meat, so what would you suggest.» No bueno.
Also, no A/​C.

I went here today for lunch with my friend. Overall, I enjoyed my experience. The place was adorable and cozy. If you are looking for a nice place to dine and talk with friends, this is it. We were there for around 1.5 hours and felt no rush to leave.
The food is not special. We both ordered crepes. The one that I wanted was unavailable because they didn’t have all the ingredients (I hate when that happens!). I ended up getting their recommendation and got Sweet Emotion (cute names!). It was not overly sweet which I appreciate. The crepes are served with little lollipops which was a cute touch. The iced coffee is really good!

Great reviews on this place, they describe it perfectly:
–can be quiet, but don’t be intimidated by it!
–super friendly service with good recommendations and real sincerity, plus they actually remember you :)
–good «coffice» if you need to get some work done, though they tend to garner a larger crowd later in the day and during the weekends.
–free WiFi!
–closed Monday’s :(
–most importantly, good coffee! Huge latte selection, I’ve tried the cookie dough, Irish cream, and amaretto– Irish cream wins by far.

On Sunday, I was looking for a place to kill two hours, get a simple healthy meal, coffee, and some wi-​fi. Unilocal led me to the Vagabond Café, which is homey, hipster, comfortable, and tasty. Packed on a Sunday at 5:30 pm, I had a seat at the narrow bar and settled in. Everyone looked local and friendly and this definitely seems like a place that appreciates its regulars. The two staff were friendly, but seemed to have their hands pretty full. Don’t come here if you’re in a rush — this is definitely a place where you should relax. The music selection humors my inner 90’s karaōke superstar.
I ordered an Earth Angel panini, which has eggplant, onions, roasted red peppers, and cheese. I also ordered a high quality dammann freres jasmine green tea which was very fragrant and tasty. The sandwich was good, not stellar, but for a café, its just fine. They also make some really tasty crepes. I got a free lollipop with my order hehe.
I wish there were more outlets for the laptop army and maybe an extra person on staff. The staff have to juggle barista, chef, cashier, and DJ all at once and I actually felt bad asking for things!

This place remains awesome in my book because the ambiance is really chill & homey, but also the owners, especially Allie are such sweethearts who I kind of want to metaphorically adopt. They treat me and many of their customers as an extension of your family and will ask you where you’ve been, like they really care which is a nice change of pace.
They have plenty of comfy chairs so who could complain about that right? And my vanilla latte hit the stop.
I will most definitely be back :).

YES, ’tis true I had a couple of glasses of red wine at only 1 o’clock in the afternoon (don’t judge me). But I saw Vagabond on my ScoutMob app, so I hightailed it over here as I was only a couple of blocks away.
First of all, ScoutMob is hosting a 50% off digital coupon, but even without the coupon, there is a 25% off special that runs throughout the afternoon (as seen on the chalkboard outside).
I was already looking for a quick glass of wine that is not too expensive, plus I needed to sit down and return some very important emails from my iPhone, so this turned out to be the perfect place! FREE WI-​FI in Manhattan! YES!
I’m glad that I came. Perfect environment, perfect ambiance, it’s not too busy, not too quiet, the music is old-​school southern blues, and the décor reminds me of a Louisiana juke joint. This is the perfect West Village experience. Perfect.
Now that I know about this spot, this will be on my list on regular stops.

Off from busy 6 avenue and Bleeker St,
It seemed like it would be a great place to study. Even with 10 people at the café it was completely quiet except for light background music with everyone tapping away on their laptop.
Crêpe’s not that great. But it was consistent to the feel of café. It seemed like a friend made the crêpe for the second time in their life.

Awesome little find! Stumbled upon this place looking for dessert. Saw they had crepes and a jazz band (Thursday night), I’m IN!
Shared the Light my Fire, That’s Amore and American Woman crepes. Loved them all but I think the Light my Fire was my fav. Inexpensive prices and a no-​frills vibe. Would come back for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. (Also, had no problem using a Scoutmob deal through Foursquare, extra plus)
The Lite Bright in the outside window also sold me.

falling in love with a café never felt so good.
I literally love this place, i want to come back her more frequently. i got some food and it was fresh and light. they didn’t have the tea that i usually drink but i tried their caramel tea and it is amazing.
there are couches and tables but it has a really relaxing feel. They were also playing excellent music when i was there.
i want to go back, you should too.

Just came back from a delicious lunch from this diamond in the rough.
I went halfsies on 2 crepes (I feel good and let’s get it on [names of the crepes, I kid you NOT]) and had a soup.
Today’s special, which happened to be an interesting meatball soup, was perfect for my congested, allergy-​ridden body.
It was a one-​woman show and she did an awesome job. the food was delicious, timely and when I was ready to go, a simple swipe and I was on my way.
If you’re ever in the mood for a quiet moment in the fastest city in the world and you’re in the West Village, you will not regret stopping in.
You’ll be glad you did.
PS. They have live music some nights.

This place is amazing. I stopped by for lunch in between two of my classes, and it was such a cute & trendy café.
There was only one woman working at the time, but there weren’t many people in for lunch, so I didn’t have to wait too long for my food. I got a latte and panini and both were made to perfection. My lunch even came with a lollipop; the perfect touch!
A great place for a lunch date or to just hang out, read, and sip a latte.

I’ve been here about a dozen times now and feel comfortable awarding it five full stars because I love this place and would move in there to live forever if I could.
As you probably know from my Free WiFi Manhattan and Best Places To Write/​Work Lists, I spent a lot of time in cafes in this city. I have seen the terrible and the awesome and everything in-​between. Even when I first walked in I knew Vaganond would be on the awesome end of the equation.
Mike and Ali, the owners, are so friendly and attentive and love it when people come and hang and try new thigs and invent new flavor combinations. They make the place feel more like a living room than a soullness café.
The drinks are super tasy, especially the chai. I’m also currently in love with the caramel cider. They have over a dozen syrup flavors on tap, so you can make your drink taste like anything.
I’m also a fan of the food, all of which is tasty and not terribly expensive. I mean, it is the west vollage so you’re not going to get cheap eats, but they do make sure the food is worth the cost.
Now that they have their liquor license the party is ON.
I guess the short version is this: I live just under 200^th street, but I regularly make a trip down here to work in the afternoons, meet friends, or hang out in the evenings. This is exactly the kind of place I envision when I think of the perfect writing café.