Arrow Cafe

Quaint little café serving (heads up SF natives!) Four Barrel Coffee.
Nice place to stop in for a half hour or so to get your caffeine fix and just take a breather. Scones were trying mighty hard to tempt me but I resisted since I was saving room for lunch.
At the moment, it’s a little chaotic as the bike shop the café shares the space with is in the process of moving out so look out for what the next reincarnation of that space will be. Also, there is a ton of construction going on on N. Rampart (putting in the streetcar line) so my view from the window was of the construction workers taking lunch.
I didn’t mind it. The vibe in here was pleasant. The lady who made my latte was friendly and it was entertaining sitting in here while a lot of the neighborhood regulars stopped in with their cute dogs to say hi, grab a drink, and go.
My latte was nice and smooth. I was visiting from the San Francisco/​Bay Area so I laughed a little after finding out they use Four Barrel. We had wanted to experience something more local and/​or different but ended up stumbling upon a San Francisco coffee roaster. Go figure. No complaints as my latte was excellent.

Beans and bikes!!!
What a genius combination!!! Beautiful latte art that tastes as good as it looks. Limited seating, but it wasn’t crowded when I went (a Sunday morning the week before Christmas). In the French Quarter. I then caught the bus in the next block of Rampart to go to the St. Roch Food Hall… a great way to spend the weekend.
Will definitely return on future trips. Interesting selection of bath/​apothecary products, each with testers… the ones I tried smelled amazing and would make nice gifts. So beans, bikes, AND gifts!

I discovered this place a couple months ago. I occasionally go there (although never again) for coffee and pastries. I don’t go there frequently because they’re over priced, the baked goods are inconsistent… sometimes way too sweet and other times stale and they’re always out of something. Then they refused to make me an espresso and when I asked when it would be fixed I was told «oh it works fine but we’re not serving them right now.» Huh???
But today was the last straw. After trying to find them for several minutes (Rampart all looks the same), I walked in and very politely told the woman «I’ve been looking for you guys for several minutes. You really need a sign.» She very hatefully said «any other suggestions you have for how I should run my business?» I explained that I thought she would appreciate knowing that her customers are having trouble finding her and she said in a very bitter tone «yes, we hear that about 20 times a week.» I told her that maybe she should listen to her customers since they’ve been in that location for at least 1.5 years! Before I walked out I asked her who the owner was and she defiantly said «I AM!» If I had just treated a customer so rudely I think I would have lied about being the owner. I don’t need that kind of attitude for bad over priced coffee and it’s not like there aren’t dozens of other shops within blocks of this place. Maybe she refuses to get a sign because she knows she’s not going to last?

Really cute coffee shop. The owner was very nice and took extra time to make sure everyone had exactly what they wanted. The coffee was amazing — they even had a decaf option. Also, the pastries are a must! Incredible scones, lemon bars, cookies. Glad I stopped in!

They really care about serving good coffee… The cool woman working here wouldn’t make drip. It’s either pourover or Americano (damn). The cortado she made me was freaking delicious. The bikes here look totally cool and vintage. They also sell pastries, chocolates and gifts but I would just recommend getting the coffee here. They had scones out but bugs were just crawling all over them.

Great little coffee bar/​bike shop. Nice atmosphere and great coffee! I try to stop by when I am in the Quarter.

DEEEEE-​FREAKING-​LICOUS.
Four barrel coffee, some of the most impressive beans on the planet, prepared by such a kind shop owner who makes you feel like «why don’t i give myself this gift of coffee allllll the time?». This place inspires multiple letters and multiple CAPS letters OOZING JOY AND CAFFEINE. AND COOKIES.
&, i’m a jerk when it comes to coffee. plus the french quarter sometimes requires, with all the chaos, some kind caffeination.
oh! & there’s a bike shop to play around with!

This is a wonderful café. Top-​notch baristas deliver excellent espresso drinks, tasty treats sourced from local producers, crafted from organic, high-​end ingredients, and the ability to have your bike worked on by a skilled mechanic. What more could one ask for?

Unique and uplifting! The perfect cup of coffee. Handcrafted excellence is at Arrow Café. I loved the vintage wares and the bike shop aspect — great way to start my day!

I’ve been coming to this shop since it opened and can not get enough. The coffee is easily the best in the city, and Jane is simply the most amazing coffeeshop owner I’ve ever met. And seriously, Four Barrel pour-​over for only $ 3.50? It’s a steal! Anybody who complains about the prices here is a kook. Thanks to Jane and her baristas for making Arrow Café truly one-​of-​a-​kind.

One of my favorite places on the planet. Great coffee, great spot, and some of the friendliest people around. Everything is chosen with care, from the coffee to the chocolates and baked goods. Prices are great — you won’t find comparable quality coffee, etc. for cheaper anywhere in the city, let alone in the Quarter. And it doesn’t hurt that the shop shares space with a great bike shop.
Missing out is your loss.

Need a little pick-​me-​up in the French Quarter on an otherwise dreary afternoon? A stop in this tiny coffee/​bike shop is just the trick to turn your blah afternoon into something delightful!
I stopped by for some iced peppermint tea, which was super strong (the barista warned me if this), but very refreshing and got my energy up and improved my attention span for my afternoon! I also got the best chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever had! It was perfectly soft, with a hint of sea salt and hit my taste buds just the right way!
So, why did I give it only 3 stars? I felt like things were a bit overpriced. Iced tea was $ 3 and the cookie, which while delicious was not very big, was $ 2. Add a $ 1 tip and I just felt like that was too much money for what I was getting…

Cute coffee pit stop. Not a café just a cool chick with an awesome La Marzocco machine. Your able to tell by the quality of the finished product that she is a trained barista not just a fly-​by-​nighter. Make sure you look out for the bikes as its 70% bike shop this meant we nearly walked straight past!

A coffee place that only has cold brew and drip despite a fancy espresso machine front and center on their counter? Weird. I came in looking for an espresso and was told they wouldn’t be making espresso that week (not that the machine was out of order, which it wasn’t). So, cold brew it was… it was mediocre at best. At least feign a mechanical malfunction if you don’t feel like firing up the legit coffee machine?

It had been a rainy morning. Rainy enough that there were still puddles and muddy holes, but not so rainy as to dissuade me from exploring the city for the first time. There was a definite humidity in the air that I’m all too familiar with, being from Georgia, and despite the mid-​60s temperature (I’m easily cold), it wasn’t bad weather for exploration. The problem was my footwear. The day’s previous trek into New Orleans at 10pm, and the subsequent 2 mile walk to my hostel, had given me some uncomfortable blisters. So I thought, «Hey I’ll just wear my comfy shoes!» Which happen to become horribly damp when introduced to water.
My socks were damp, my feet were hurting, and I was hankering for a coffee something fierce, when I happened upon this little shop. Unilocal led me to the closest coffee establishment, and I was initially a little confused. The place had old bikes and what looked to be a lot of baby clothes (though, honestly, I didn’t really explore the shop much). At first, I even thought I was in the wrong place. But then I saw a little board with coffee prices on it, and a small bar with two or three stools to the right of the register, and decided to just go for it.
I’ll admit it. I’m used the large, hip coffee shops. You know the places, with huge, open spaces and a mix of wood and steel. Where the baristas across the counter wear button ups and have black Buddy Holly glasses, and a holier-​than-​thou attitude, for both genders. But this place is small, charming, and quaint – all without being pretentious. The coffee I got was delicious, and even though I usually take a little bit of cream and a little bit of sugar, it was unnecessary here.
It came in a Styrofoam cup, with some cute latte art, too. And while I relaxed my feet and attempted to let them dry out a little bit, I talked to one of the owners for a while. I don’t usually like to socialize. I’m awkward and shy and I feel like most people are jerks and not worth a conversation, because they always want something from you. But she was very friendly and warm. We chatted about a random myriad of things from extra work on movie sets to horror movies, while I sipped my coffee.
I can honestly say I’ve never been treated so courteously at a coffee shop before, and in no way was it forced! I didn’t feel like I was just another number with money in my pocket, I actually felt like a person. The coffee is delicious, the atmosphere is nice and quirky without being forced, and it’s really close to several parks and even the St. Louis Cemetery. Next time I’m in area, I’ll be stopping by for sure.

This is the most curious shop. Went in for a cup of joe and found a whole lot more. Coffee, home furnishings and bikes + women’s bike apparel & accessories. Marin, the shop owner, was so sweet. She said they are the only women’s bike shop in the Qtr — very cool to know, considering I am a new biker! I had a delicious El Salvadoran roast (single origin by Four Barrell) + almond milk. Always a plus when they have non dairy milk options. The bike clothes they have there are really interesting, although pricey. Some super cute shorts and pants that I need to save up to snap up ;) I will be back! Definitely want to check out the bike tune up workshops they have planned.

No doubt 5 star coffee. I live in the Irish Channel, but I cross town to go here because the coffee they serve is that superb. I drink iced americanos and these are as consistently excellent as you’ll find anywhere. My scrupulous girlfriend drinks iced coffee and she’s never disappointed. It’s in a small, charming space shared with a bicycle shop. Geniunely friendly people in there too, if that’s your thing.

Y’all, it’s so charming, my cheeks hurt from smiling. I came in for a cup of coffee, but almost walked out with vintage cocktail glasses and a bicycle. Third-​wave coffee that’s kicky, an intimate space (read: no lounging or sponging free WiFi) to peruse and a haven for those who are cycle enthusiasts.
Parking’s a nightmare on Rampart, so I wouldn’t say drive across town, but if you’re around and need a pick-​me-​up, check them out.

Came in to change a flat tire on my bicycle. Left with an adorable new bell and grand plans to soup my bike up with some beautiful accessories.
I like to come in nearly every day now to soup up my brain with some delicious cold brew coffee. I have also had the most perfectly poured shot of espresso. It is dense, rich and chocolatly. A perfect jump start to my day.
I even like to stop in after my work out at the gym to rehydrate with some coconut water.
I always find something wonderful here. The owners always have kind words and a smile. So happy to have this gem in my neighborhood. North Rampart is livelier by the day with wonderful places like this opening up.

VINTAGE CLOTHING
BICYCLE REPAIR
COFFEE SHOP
The buzz in our Burgundy/​Orleans neighborhood this past week was all about newly opened Arrow. It’s a simple, idiosyncratic, endearing ecclecticy. First, people love the owners Jane & Merin (the word «sweethearts» usually comes up). Secondly, the coffee is good and priced competitively. Third the vibe is confidently at ease, an upriver feeling. It’s not trying too hard to be trendy like those downriver (e.g. no bitcoin accepted here!). I hope this odd little place flourishes.
*** 3 Stars until it gets on it’s feet ***
CLOSED TUESDAYS