Black Cat LES

Very bad vibes here. There was only one employee working who was eventually rude and yelled at us and snatched our food away for accidentally taking the wrong order even though the ordering process was very chaotic and you had to guess if an item was yours when it came out. It was taking more than 20 minutes to get simple drinks out and I waited upwards of 30 minutes for a sandwich. Orders were disorganized and thrown out with no names attached which was very confusing. Food was ok although overpriced for the quality, but the rude and aggressive staff member made it a horrible experience. Would not recommend coming here.

Came here to work remotely. The place is super grungy with a cool vibe, the Barnstable isn't the warmest person but I didnt mind as its part of the underground "charm" of the place. My main issue was with the wifi- for a place that requires a purchase to get the password, I tried 3 different times and the internet was basically not existent. So if you're planning yo actually do some work- wouldn't recommend it.

Went on 10/5/2025 at 8:10 am and the Barista was just opening. Didn't start taking orders for another 10-15 minutes and was kind of rude. The latte when it finally came out was really good, I got the nutella latte which felt a little juvenile but she did great on that. Just got the bagel and it looks awesome so we'll see.

Good experience, a bit enclosed but cozy. The service is not the friendliest. They are fine though. The place doesn’t boast a sense of community, but usually filled with people reading and studying, which is good in its own right.

a lovely cafe with a dark ambiance, comfy couches and ample variety seating. WiFi, bathroom, great to get work done in or watch some stand up comedy (free every night @7pm!) It does fill up fast. The drinks are your standard cafe fare, reasonably priced, the barista can be a little cold but it matches the overall mood of the establishment!

The coziest coffee shop!!! I want this place to stay in business forever because this is what we need. Good prices, loads of drinks, ample seating, good customer service, an events calendar and a bunch of vintage board games to play with your friends. Long live Black Cat LES.

super cool vibes feels like a living room / old library. wifi password available if you purchase $5+. wine comes in a mason jar which is a nice touch. also there is a bathroom which is great

The barista is *rude*. Idk if there are several but there is an older lady and does not put names on the coffees. So when people order the same kind of food or coffee they don’t know what belongs to who. Very uncomfortable. Poor customer service - she literally yells at customers. It also took over 30 min to get food

Trying to really figure out if this place has closed down or the business hours aren't updated. Passed by here twice between 8am - 9am on weekdays and the shutters have always been down, unless there's a secret entrance I don't know about. Online hours say they're open by 7 or 8 in the morning, but it's been closed.

The barista was extremely unfriendly, exhibiting passive-aggressive behavior and clearly hating her job (evident from her shouting at guests towards the end). I visited this cafe for an event, and when I ordered an iced matcha latte (and tipped), the barista was not only passive-aggressive but also impatient. She/they made me feel as though I couldn't speak English while I ordered, even though I have lived in the U.S. for 10 years, speak fluent English, and work in a communication-heavy job. Towards the end of the event at 9pm (despite the cafe's closing time being listed as 10pm), the barista shouted at everyone, saying, "The cafe was supposed to close an hour ago! Nobody is paying me for this hour! Please leave!" This was unprofessional and unacceptable behavior. No professional staff member should ever shout at guests. Despite paying for drinks and tipping, the experience was terrible. Based on this, I cannot recommend this cafe to anyone. If you are the business owner, please address this rude behavior that occurred on June 26 (Wednesday) during the night shift. Improving staff behavior is crucial for customer satisfaction and the reputation of your cafe.

By the time I came around 2pm, there were still seats available. Most people were inside doing work, but there were a few groups that were using the space to hang out. They did run out of a few of the drinks and some of the syrups they offer. Ended up getting a latte. The pricing is so good considering they're located in the LES. I believe it was less than $6, maybe closer to $5. However, the coffee wasn't great. It tasted very much burnt. Bathroom is usable. Not the cleanest, but it's not exactly dirty. Wifi is a hit or miss. Don't rely on being able to access it. There's also signs that state the employees are not responsible for troubleshooting. If you don't mind the quality of the drinks and are just looking for a place to work, Black Cat isn't a bad option.

I came here for their free Friday night comedy show, which starts at 9. They didn't check tickets. The cafe itself was cozy with couches, soft chairs, and several tables. A few students were studying in one section. Since I was there after hours, I didn't try any of their drinks. The comedy show was pretty good but the audience was very small, making it a bit awkward. There were only six or seven people in the crowd at any given time. Still, the comics tried their best. They were a little more amateur than others I've seen, but still entertaining. They interacted a lot with the audience to keep things interesting.

Such a cute place. Perfect to get work done. Lots of seating and a few different plugs. Strong WIFI although my friend couldn't access .org websites/other more secure sites on the wifi, while he could on his hotspot. Lots of coffee options, and decent food selection--sandwiches, bagels, muffins, even smoothies. Nice music that wasn't too loud, AC wasn't too strong, and it never got overwhelmingly crowded. Love the vibe and will add this to my rotation of cafes.

Nice place to relax and work. Very comfortable. This might be my new place to spot for long stretches of working.

Just paid $6 for milk. I ordered a latte and while my coffee came out quick, it wasn't strong at all and barely tasted like coffee An important note would be that you'll need to spend a minimum of $5 to get the WiFi password.

Love the old school living room vibes! I specially came here to kill a couple of hours on my laptop and write. Love the comfy couches and different table books, and the free WiFi. Food: I tried the "Turkey Club" sandwich - no vegetable in site here but still good! (Egg, bacon, turkey) and for drinks I got an iced "Dirty Kitty" - very sweet but very good.

The coziest coffee shop!!! I want this place to stay in business forever because this is what we need. Good prices, loads of drinks, ample seating, good customer service, an events calendar and a bunch of vintage board games to play with your friends. Long live Black Cat LES.

A reallly cute coffee spot with affordable options, evening programming that is amazing and engaging! My qualms rest with the fact they no longer offer lids or carriers for to go coffee - which only make a mess, and also don't update their website at all An extensive food menu is offered on their site that hasn't been served for 'five years' (words from their morning barista)

Would not go back. Unfriendly barista. Mediocre coffee. And walked in on open mic comedy night. Not funny and quite offensive.

The door was a bit hard to find, but once inside, I felt it was a nice, cozy little place with a decent number of tables for reading, studying, working, etc. Friendly staff and good coffee as well.

Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you, Black Cat Less is a hidden gem for getting work done. Despite there being a lot of people, the superb food, drinks, and customer service make it a standout spot. Everyone here is friendly, and you might just meet some awesome people while enjoying a perfect work-friendly environment.

Just the kind of laid back, classic coffee shop I want. Sometimes I find coffee shops can start to feel a little bit, dare I say, pretentious, and I don't want that (obviously). But Black CAT is easy going without trying to be something it's not. It has charm in a way that can only be developed over time and circumstance. This place feels authentic. I think coffee shops have really been hit hard by the idea of making something "instagramable" which puts me off. I am a lover of aesthetics, don't get me wrong, but I don't want to live my life in constant consideration of how it would look through a screen. Black Cat does not seemed concerned with this at all. I appreciate the lack of fussiness. It's a great spot. And that's not to say it's not nicely decorated either, it's just, like I said, authentic feeling.

i really liked the ambiance here. the food is meh but the baristas were so sweet. space is a little cramped except for at the big table in the middle. the lights were just a bit too dim for studying. i did get a lot of studying done though.

A funky, moody cafe in the LES! I came here on a Thursday afternoon around 2pm to grab a quick drink/lunch and do some writing. The wifi is pretty strong here and there's a fairly clean bathroom. I sat in the couches in the back and had a great time. I had their avocado sandwich and a Nutella latte. Both were just ok, but I think this is the kind of place where you come for the ambiance anyway. Come here to get some work done or catch up with friends!

If you are looking for a quiet place to study, this may not be the best spot given it's acoustics and patroons whom are close proximity of you however, if you are looking for a place to catch up with friends or old acquaintances, this may be the spot for you! Overall a good experience. The Nutella coffee was made well to where it wasn't too sweet and had the perfect warmth. Toasted cream cheese bagel was a good complimented to the coffee.

I never leave reviews so that's how you know how awful this place is. Avoid this coffee shop unless you want to be treated very poorly by the male barista with glasses. Forget leaving a 20% tip... when I asked for water (after already buying a drink) he rolled his eyes and slammed the pitcher on the counter and continued to give me sink water. Can't believe the way I was treated. Won't be coming back.

Did not take pictures as it's a fairly darkly lit establishment, and none of my pictures that I did take turned out really well. Came here to get some work done virtually after a great lunch nearby and also catch up with a friend. Got a basic tea, PROS: - great service from ordering to receiving my drink. - staff is knowledgeable about the menu - Turnaround time is very fast - Free Wi-Fi that was reliable enough to work - Not too crowded around the time that we went. CONS: - there are limited outlets, and those are always highly coveted. - Certain spots inside are right by the AC vent, so I would bring a jacket just in case - Some of the furniture is really old, and doesn't make for the best ergonomic positions to work long hours. I would definitely come back though just to catch up with a friend or even just to do a quick game or read a book or even just like a couple of hours to do work (2-3).

I've walked by this place so many times and never walkedddd in. The outside is not inviting at ALL. I never knew this place served breakfast. I wanted to find a place that was open at 8:30am for sit in breakfast. Surprisingly Black Cat came up on yelp so i gave it a try. I was welcomed upon entering. Someone was already inside talking to the lady working. When she wrapped up his order, she helped me. I noticed they have a really small space for prepping food but they still serve food. I asked for an ice coffee and The LES (Guac toast with bacon and eggs). It was okay. The bacon was a little on the uncooked side. The homemade guacamole didnt happen, but i did have slices of Avocado which was still fine. Overall it was tasty. The coffee was also good. I seen alot of people come in for coffee. No one wears mask here btw. Not even the employees. Guest were walking in and making orders with no mask as well. I def wore mines although i am fully vaccinated. I did stay to eat inside. The seating here is all different. Which gives the space a unique feel. I actually liked it alot. Not sure if i will return anytime soon but I'm glad i tried it out.

really cute place. very cozy. there was a dog in there and i love dogs but the owner wasn't controlling it, and it was in everyone's space. like hopping on chairs with people who were eating while the owner was on his computer. i wish they were more diligent about that but i live the space, good place to meet with friends, and I think that they have events at night which I've never been to but it sounds super cute. Also, I love that it's open till late! The coffee was good

I've been here for a few comedy nights; this is a chill place to hang out, with great matcha! I love the comfortable "living-room" atmosphere. They also have a great selection of comics on comedy nights--quirky, relatable, and most of all funny as hell. Yeah, I'll give it five stars!

Coffee is fine. Pretty average, a little burned, pretty overpriced at over $3.50 for a large cup with almond milk. Service was standard, nothing amazing. What I liked most about Black Cat was the vibe. It's really chill and quirky, and feels like you're hanging out in a friend's living room, what with all the sofas and art. It's so quiet during the day, with some really subtle jazz playing in the background, so I loved it for kicking back and doing some reading. It's mainly taken up by people on their laptops or books, so don't come here for volume. Also, they have a printer - that's how geared towards students they are. Standup comedy every Wednesday and Friday - cute touch!

Cozy and cute! I was looking for a cafe where I could print paper because I don't have a printer and I was so glad I found this gem. Printing is made super fast and easy here. They have a kiosk and the instructions provided was very simple. This is a great work/study spot. It's quiet and low key. I think the seller of this place is the coffee! I got the caramel macchiato with macadamia milk and it's delicious! The only time I had the option to have macadamia milk in my coffee was Hawaii, so I'm glad I found a coffee shop in NYC with that choice of milk.

I walked passed this cute little coffee shop tucked in between boarded up store fronts and thought I'd try their coffee. It was Saturday morning and I was the only one in the shop, which allowed me the opportunity to take in the vibe. There are cozy chairs to enjoy a drink or a comedy show at night. I tried the pumpkin spice coffee and it was good but the flavor was not as rich as i like. Definitely a cool place to stop in for a reasonably priced coffee.

Very small hole in the wall cafe. Overall impressions are that it's not a bad place to sit down to chat & catch up with a friend or do some light studying etc. if you don't mind the dim lighting. Cafe definitely has a more moody vibe to it! With regards to the food/coffee -- i thought it was cool that there were a lot of different flavors that you could add to the coffee, though I personally prefer just a regular latte. The prices seemed pretty average in New York. I wish they had the kind of kind you could sip out of for cold drinks, since the paper straw really deteriorated as I was drinking my latte and I eventually had to take off the lid to finish my coffee. There seems to be one person running the cafe! I ordered a peanut butter banana bread, and was told that the food might take up to 30 minutes to come out bc they had to do the register, coffee, and food themselves. Definitely a bit shocking, but if not very busy the food comes out relatively fast in my experience since they just work on it when there are no orders to be taken or coffee orders to be fulfilled. I will say though...I would not order the banana PB toast again. It was around $8 but was just two slices of sandwich bread with commercial Jif/Skippy peanut butter and a slightly underripe banana.

Recommend getting the drinks hot instead of cold! They're significantly better (especially the matcha ones)! Great place to work and they have nightly events that remind you to take a pause

Quintessential New York spot. This place is part of a dying breed of spaces that actually have a soul & a vibe... a place where you can actually hang out and talk, read a book, get off your phone and think. I really loved it and it reminded me of how Williamsburg spots used to be twenty years ago before out-of-town hipsters took over and destroyed Brooklyn. Loved it, will definitely be back. And coffee was good too!

Good coffee, great avocado toast, nice ambience. good place to work until an open mic comedy show started. the host of the open mic was great. acts were hit and miss, but that's open mic.

Went to go pickup coffee and they were out of hot coffee lids.... Kinda strange for a coffee shop. I had to drink a hot coffee out of an iced coffee cup. I'm hoping it was an off day for the shop, but definitely was not happy about burning my hand through the sleeve with the ice coffee cup since the coffee was so hot, I think the employee should've added ice or something to the drink.

Interesting interior and friendly atmosphere. The light was a bit dim though--a good place to talk, but not a place to work or study. The taste of the menu was average, nothing special but not bad.

Ambiance is good, aux was mid but it is what it is and probably changes depending on who works here. Didn't get food but service is okay I guess. The best part is the couches and lighting. it makes you feel productive.

This is a cozy little cafe in the lower east side and it's perfect for you if you are looking for a lowkey place to do some work. There aren't that many seats though, and the tables are pretty small, so it's not too ideal if you're with a lot of friends or if you need a large set-up. I also wish there were more outlets close to the tables. I got an iced green tea and it was pretty tasty. One cool part about this place is that there is open mic stand up, which was a pleasant surprise.

Awful experience, it was my first time in I didn't feel welcomed I wasn't greeted after walking around the cafe I took a seat to wait a bit for ordering and the first time I was spoken to was to see if I wanted to order something, poor service. After feeling a bit rushed to order I finally decided on a flavored iced tea the orange spice and it tasted so flavor less and watery , I really didn't enjoy my drink or experience. I'm was my first time there and my last. In the words of Ariana grande "thank you, next " the

Very chill atmosphere with plenty of interesting decor to gaze at. Lots of boardgames lining the walls; I hope we bring back playing those in common spaces soon. Got the Dirty Kitty latte which was fantastically mocha-y. Intrigued by the actual menu items; will come back and see how they fare.

Good coffee, delicious sandwiches, & strong Wi-Fi. Staff are polite and welcoming. The cafe is a little dark but gives a very warm and cozy vibe. They also have different events in the evening that I will eventually check out.

When I first arrived here, I didn't think it had the most inviting atmosphere. I think I described it to my friends as feeling a bit "dead." We came here for the Tarot reading event with Angelo. He was running late, so we bought drinks and hung out while we were waiting. I ordered a decaf iced latte with almond milk and stevia/splenda and it was delicious! I remember it having a nice strong flavor and I was satisfied. As we waited longer, my opinion of the establishment changed. There was a nice variety of seating and it was comfortable. There was a selection of board games to choose from and it seemed like a nice place to relax and feel at home while getting work done or hanging out with friends. The barista was friendly and I liked how it was very lowkey and chill. There was also a board of activities which seems like a nice way to build community. If I'm in the area again, I will stop by for another iced latte!

I did give black cat another try with their avocado toast. This time the cash register did let me know it's kind of spicy because they add peppers, I said I'm aware it's okay. And this is how they packed it for me to go. This is not worth $10. Pretty disappointed. I'm not going to try food from there again, I'm just going to stick with the drinks.

So cute! I came in to sit down and get sone computer work done. The Baristas were amazing! While I was there 2 Baristas took care of an insane like while staying friendly! Noticed some unreasonable customers waiting 10 minutes on food, but they handled it professionally. I throughly enjoyed an iced coffee with lavender.

I've been a customer of black cat since the very beginning. I left a review 8 years ago. I used to be an every day customer and I've seen this business through it's up and downs. & have yet to change my order. I went today and asked for my usual an Iced decaf Carmel latte, I saw the lady putting regular coffee and asked if that was decaf she told me I never asked for decaf. Which I know I did because it's been my same order for over 8 years and in every coffee shop I order the same thing. She was extremely rude and this is definitely not that vibe I'm used to here. I'm extremely disappointed, the first owners used to have happy bubbly people always. & the coffee was t good I had a large iced latte which should be two shots of espresso I only got 1!

Nice cafe to do a little work at. Free Wi-Fi - Comfy couches in the back and super laid back vibe.

Cool for comedy. I didn't realize food was served. They need some better seating accommodations. One chair sucks you in so far you need two friends to get you out. One clean bathroom, but needs more. The light kept going out during the comedian's 2nd set that it was throwing off the comics. Very friendly warm staff and cool despite description above. The comedians there are great, especially Eagle Witt great with improv.

Can a place be warm and cool at the same time? This is. Oh so cozy and chill. The lights are low but plenty of natural light comes in the large front window. Seating is uber-comfy. It's intimate but big enough to not be cramped. We shared a communal wooden table with a gent and his laptop. The male barista was very sweet and cheerful. I tried desperately to get him to sell me his Black Cat shirt- he knew I was mostly kidding and was a good sport about it. They sell their own branded coffee to take home as well as baseball caps with the logo but sadly not the shirts. He even called the boss for me. I besought him to urge the owner to order a stock of the logo shirt and put 'em up for sale as they are adorable. Service is slow but friendly. This is not a FAST casual place. Come here to chill and be patient. It's a perfect place for hanging out and talking, or playing one of the classic board games or reading one of the available books. Cold brew was good, nothing special. Food was worth the wait! Guacamole Toast, one with egg, one with smoked salmon. Wicked spicy guacamole. Lovely thick sourdough bread. Wine is available and you get a big pour for 7 bucks and it's pretty darn good wine, too. They have a loyalty point program too and happy to say I earned two points today. I'd return next time we're down here in my favorite part of town.

Too crowded to get a seat but I guess that's a good thing for them. Coffee was delish!

Right on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, this is a cozy, comfortable place that has a bohemian vibe to it. Mismatched chairs and couches to lounge on, random tables and an overall welcoming atmosphere. The place offers coffee, tea, snacks, muffins, cookies etc. It does draw the local crowd as they have open Mic where either a stand up routine or a poetry, singing is being performed. The staff itself is knowledgeable and feels like they invite their friends to the open mic. Good place to chill out if you are in that area.

Came for a Friday night comedy show. This is a very cute, cozy place with a whole "living room atmosphere" going on. Think a mish mosh of couches, armchairs and the like but in no way does it feel grungy or thrift-shoppy, but rather "homey" and clean. Their hot chocolate does the trick and I got an everything egg bagel with butter that I was pleased with. Wish I would've gotten a chance to take a selfie in the black cat mirror near the bathroom, but they had already dimmed the lights for the comedy show. Some cringeworthy acts for sure, but it was a free show and we got some good laughs in an inviting atmosphere, and you can't go wrong with all-day bagels. Some folks were there with laptops and stuff to study; it definitely seems like a cute place to get some work done in. I hope to come back!

i like going to back cat for free comedy. but every friday night the host of the show, danny (late 40s), finds the youngest girls in the crowd and makes them feel uncomfortable during his "set". i use set in quotes bc there are no jokes. just a series of uncomfortable and shameless passes made to an unwilling woman. last night, a young woman was in the crowd was 19 and he made comments about her being a virgin and that he loved her and asked her if she likes dirty talk and other things. this seems to be a regular thing as he's made me and 4 of my other friends (25) uncomfortable on separate occasions and many of the other comedians made pedophile jokes towards danny during their sets. as a comedian you think he'd know how to read a room. it was uncomfortable to witness. i can only imagine how uncomfortable the 19 year old must have felt.

I went here quite a few months ago when I was back in town. I loved the energy in here, it's very relaxed. The decor is nice. And the drinks are good too. I thought this gingerbread cat house was cute so I'll share it here.

Dan Soder does not like this place because there was no cream. He was forced to drink black coffee which he doesn't like so he didn't drink it. I like black coffee so 5 stars.