Balkan Grind

I came here right after my road test in Brooklyn, and this place was the perfect way to celebrate. We tried several types of Balkan börek — beef, spinach, and cheese — all fresh, warm, and absolutely delicious. The Turkish tea and Turkish coffee were spot on, and they even treated us with lokum and baklava, which was such a nice touch. Valentino was incredibly kind and attentive, and the whole atmosphere felt warm and welcoming. Highly recommended! I’d definitely come back.

A Hidden Gem in Williamsburg — The Balkan Grind What an absolute treasure! The Balkan Grind is one of those rare finds that transported me to another place and time. I stopped in for Turkish coffee (a personal favorite—I’ve been to Turkey three times in the past year and a half!) and ended up chatting with the owner, who turned out to be a chef! The coffee was exceptional, available in original and flavored varieties, rich, aromatic, and perfectly brewed in true Turkish fashion. The pastries and sweets were just as impressive. What sets The Balkan Grind apart is its atmosphere. Every detail—the cups, plates, decor—feels curated to recreate the feeling of being back in the “old country,” where you can sit outside with friends, savor your coffee, read the grinds, and enjoy a bit of people-watching. It’s cozy, soulful, and authentic—a perfect place to slow down and enjoy the simple magic of good coffee and conversation. If you’re anywhere near Williamsburg, stop in!

Turkish coffee! Yes, the grinds are in the brewed coffee. Balkan Grind is a cozy, curated experience. You don’t find this coffee experience everyday in the US. First, they boil hot water in a Cezva by placing it in heated sand. They, they add your ground coffee with a variety of flavors for those who may find the base, Yemeni dark roast a bit harsh. They then serve the drinks in beautiful antique, coffeeware. The seating is upscale cafe style with flower wallpaper draped on the walls right from your grandparents house. It’s a great one-off experience going here, but may not be the spot for your everyday brew. Stop by with a friend or partner, and split a Cezva! Coffee score: 4.25/5. Everything else score: 4.5/5. Overall score: 4.3/5.

Such a unique spot! I adore Turkish coffee, so I was overjoyed to stumble across this lovely cafe. Every detail in the décor and presentation is lovingly considered, the coffee is divine, and the owner is exceptionally warm and welcoming. Definitely a must-visit!

Beautifully presented in unique crockery - so pretty. Lovely cardamom coffee and chocolate coffee. Had different types of Baklava. Lovely friendly staff on a Sunday afternoon. Relaxed atmosphere. Cosy spot in good location.

Balkan Grind is a MUST stop coffee spot if you find yourself near McCarren in Brooklyn. I stopped in for a drink on a warm day. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was floored with how well decorated and inviting this place was. I got two traditional Turkish coffees, one with the chocolate flavor and the other with coconut. Both were incredible. The guy who made them was incredibly friendly and kind, and REALLY good at making the Turkish coffees. He sat them in the sand for the perfect amount of time so the liquid bubbled up just to the surface before spilling over. An expert at work. He guided us through the flavor options, told us his favorite, and explained every step of the process. For some reason, I felt a strange connection to him. Maybe somewhere, in a world between this universe and ours, we were brothers. I got the chocolate baklava and a Turkish delight to add onto the coffees, and I am not lying when I say the chocolate baklava was incredibly delicious. That’s a must try. Not long after I sat and drank my coffee, the owner came in. He’s an incredibly friendly guy and gives the whole experience a personal touch that you miss with a lot of places these days. As I left, I took one last look at the place. The guy who made my Turkish Coffees (Ryan) spoke to me and said “Till next time, see you soon!” I chuckled to myself and said “I think our next time was every time. And it always will be. And it always was. Carry on, brother.” He looked at me and nodded knowingly. Not a whole lot of street parking out front but who’s driving in New York anyways. Check this place out!

I don’t think I could speak more highly about a coffee shop than Balkan Grind. First off it’s an experience not just a coffee shop, give yourself the proper time to enjoy it. The gentleman who runs the shop is very friendly and is happy to walk you through the different flavors and styles of Turkish coffee. I have tried a few flavors at this point and I don’t think one has missed, but cherry and cardamom are the current winners. Then on the pastries / sweet treats there are plenty. I have tried a few of boureks and between the combination of flavors and the tangy pepper sauce it always hits as a savory breakfast. Each time we have went we try to try a variety and the staff always throws an extra of their favorite which is really appreciated. Generally I actually don’t like Turkish delights at all, but have found a few here that are great and make a sweet ending for a breakfast or lunch. I’d highly recommend this coffee shop to anyone looking for something different from your basic cup of joe and definitely try as many of the flavors as you can on the pastries!

The Balkan Grind is a dream tucked into Williamsburg: the smell of Turkish coffee, the sound of soft chatter, and the kind of warm energy that makes you forget what time it is. The Turkish coffee is rich, bold, and served the way it’s meant to be, slow and strong. It’s in a cute location that get great light and good people watching, let’s just say I “accidentally” ordered a second coffee just to stay longer. The staff are wonderful kind, attentive, and genuinely proud of what they serve. You can feel the care in every detail, from the presentation to the perfect music playing in the background. Sometime I just sit with my Shazam open!

Randomly walked by and this place lured me in. They serve traditional Turkish coffee, a wonderful tea selection and a great chai latte as well as they have the pastry case of my dreams. We stopped by for a pastry and a drink. They have to go or to stay options and when you sit inside, they take great care of you with nice tableware, bring out waters and plate your pastries very well. Will absolutely be back!

While walking in the neighborhood we passed Balkan Grind. Raj and I entered to see this cafe. The pastries were Middle Eastern, Albanian and Turkish. I bought four petit fours. The coffee cups looked interesting. Outdoor and indoor seating was here. Indoors the aroma seemed unappealing.

Val was awesome! He made incredible coffee and had great conversation with us. His passion bleeds into the coffee , tea and pastries. Found our new coffee spot!! Ambiance was awesome and comforting. You'll want to come back!

In many of our mental maps of the world, we sometimes forget how porous the border is between Turkey and the Balkans. One of the most posh neighborhoods of Istanbul is named Arnavutköy, which roughly translates to "Albanian village." As a consequence, I was able to find many of my favorite treats from the region that I normally thought of as "Turkish" at this lovely new Balkan cafe in North Williamsburg. We shared the feta böreği which was served with a lovely ajvar-esque spread and a Türk kahvesi, delivered in one of the most beautiful cups I've seen to date.

I'm obsessed. All of their pastries are so yummy and their smaller desserts are sooo beautiful. And anyone who has been here knows that the service is great. 10/10 awesome spot

The coffee is rich, smooth, and clearly made with care. Their traditional Turkish coffee is a must-try. The pastry selection is amazing, with authentic Balkan sweets like baklava and other unique treats you won't find at most coffee shops. The shop has such a cozy, stylish vibe (love the pink fridge and decor!) and the staff is super friendly. Perfect spot for a pick-me-up or to just hang out and enjoy something different. Highly recommend!

Much bigger inside than expected, and the owner was delightful. He walked us through all their coffee options and made us feel at home. Comfortable seating too!

The coffee is wonderful and the man who runs it is incredibly nice! He's very endearing and offered us samples of different coffees! Please go in and listen to his jokes!!

What an excellent, aesthetically pleasing, authentic, comfortable, and welcoming place! The individual working (who must be the owner) was enormously kind and gracious to every client, in a way I have not seen in NYC in a while. The coffee options were numerous and unique and INCREDIBLE (incuding decaf options for everything), there's wifi, and there is an assortment of wonderful burekas and cakes and turkish delight and more. What a wonderful place to work, chat, read, and I hope they have a long time in business in the neighborhood. And not your typical Williamburg gentrified cafe - lovely welcoming and distinctive.

Amazing cardamon Turkish coffee and even better vibes and customer service! The owner is very sweet.

This place is the perfect spot, it has a great upbeat vibe and a large food selection from lunch to dessert! Had the best experience, will certainly be back!

Val puts so much love into his coffee and clearly has a passion for his craft. One of the best coffee's I've ever had and an experience much different than your standard coffee shop. Found my new spot!

One of a kind experience in the neighborhood. Amazing coffee and tea, delicious pastries, and the staff is incredibly warm and welcoming. Highly recommend bringing family/friends and sitting at a table.

Super disappointing. We ordered Turkish coffee with cardamom and three kinds of baklava. The person preparing the coffee let it boil over--the worst thing you can do for Turkish coffee. On top of that it was incredibly weak--basically hot brown water. The baklava was also mostly flavorless aside from the sugar syrup. I'll stick to my favorite places in Bay Ridge.

I love the Balkan grind! Great coffee, service and absolutely delicious baklava and baked goods. Such a cute and peaceful vibe!

The Turkish coffee is so damn good. The cherry roast. And the baklava is great. Very pleasant atmosphere and nicely decorated.