Chalait UWS

We have been coming for years now and it is so sad to see the rapid decline Chalait has had over the past year. The matcha is light and flavorless, service is off, the store looks dirty and unkept, and there is poor ventilation — it smells. Sad to see how poor management and lack of care and stewardship can soon take out a UWS staple. Hope someone reads this message and makes the necessary changes to bring back a great product, and a place that is harmonious and clean to spend an afternoon sipping great matcha or coffee. (Picture after drink was re-made 2x so it was matcha, not milk with ice)

The matcha latte was really good but was luke warm. The granola bowl was really good. There was fruit and granola on top of a matcha Greek yogurt. The chorizo burrito was also very flavorful. The service was ok. One lady was nice and helpful but the other was very abrupt and grumpy. The restaurant only seats about 16 people total.

Love the aesthetics! Turmeric maple matcha on HOUSEMADE almond cashew milk was average. Nice but nothing super special compared to ones I get in Australia! I got a mini spoon and some vegan good batch pumpkin loaf too for pumpkin spice season

This place has a lot of matcha options, would go again for trying others. But I ordered the Nourish matcha. Given the ingredients didn't have high hopes on the taste, it was okay, but felt somewhat healthy. But it is quite expensive, I paid $8 for that one drink alone.

Cute atmosphere, but matcha is consistently underwhisked. I come here every few weeks and am always hoping the drinks will be less grainy, but they never are. Poorly-prepared matcha for a matcha-based cafe.

A very nice and open spaced cafe. My matcha lavender latte was good. You sweeten it yourself though... I was honestly upset that they didn't let me use the restroom here. How does a place have a sitting area that serves food & drinks and doesn't provide a restroom/ bathroom? The staff noticed my dissatisfaction right away... , I had to go across the street to the very friendly bar to use a restroom while I had my friend wait in there.... Later, one of the staff members gave me an almond or pecan croissant and it was very delicious. I do recommend this place. But no wifi and no restroom...be aware.

I went here for breakfast early in the morning with a friend. We were so tired that we just walked over with a coat over our pajamas. I had the unmade oats with strawberry and berries garnished with slivers of toasted coconut, so good that we both got another. the matcha bread had a firm consistency tasted semi sweet and also was delicious. we chose a hot matcha beverage off the menu and added a shot of espresso. we made the mistake of trying to make our own menu with that drink so then I went with a classic almond milk latte and it was delicious. The barista is really talented. The space is beautiful the vibe chill and the look of the restaurant is modern and comfy.

The iced matcha for my hubby was flavorless and the steamed milk in my drink was way too coarse and bubbly as well. A barista needs to learn how to steam milk properly.

Came here just for the Pistacho Macha latte with oat milk - AMAZING! Great pastries as well!

Went on a walk and desperately needed a matcha. Chalait was the closest option on Yelp. There was no line when I walked in, but the few tables and chairs available were full. The staff greeted us and got my iced matcha (unsweetened) out quickly. It was the perfect amount of matcha without being too overpowering or watered down.

The coffee was good, but the service not so much. When I go to coffee shops I expect a welcoming energy and didn't really receive that.

A nice cafe with plenty of seating, serving healthy lunch and breakfast items, coffee, and a speciality in matcha. They have gluten free bread for the sandwiches - my favorite here is the Tuna Avocado Tartine. I also like their overnight oats and breakfast sandwich.

We went around 1 pm on a Saturday and there were plenty of seats inside. We get the matcha lavender latte and a coffee latte. The matcha lavender latte was very milky and mild flavored. If you blindfolded me I am not sure I would have been able to tell you there was match or lavender syrup in it. The coffee latte was much better.

I really like Chalait for what it is - but I think there are other places you can get caffeine that are cheaper and higher quality. While I really love that this is a cute spot that specializes in matcha, the matcha they carry I don't really prefer, as it has a grassier taste than a lot of higher quality matcha places have that have a sweetness, almost nutty quality to it. They do have a really varied menu and they offer lunch options, but there is a cafe across the street that does excellent lunch options that I would suggest over this place. I think it's a good place to meet up with someone or get work done just because it's a convenient spot in the area, but I would have loved if they leaned more into their matcha theme for food options to be more unique, and used more matcha for their drinks!

This is a cute little spot on the Upper West but it wasn't as good as I was hoping. I tried the maple latte here and it was just fine. My friend tried the match lavender and it was good, but not great. For a place that seems to specialize in match, it was pretty regular. The space in here is nice and there's plenty of seating. It's clearly a neighborhood spot and you see a lot of families and dogs drop in! Probably would not come back since there are so many other coffee places in the city.

we went here for a quick meal after walking from the NHM. i got the sandwich, and i thought it was pretty good. the brioche bun was so sweet and tasty, and the egg was cooked well. i could've done without the arugula, so i took those out. i also got the matcha, but unfortunately it was not very good. too watered down, and lacked a lot of sweetness that you would get with matcha. i think this is a good place to have a sit down and try to get work done, but in terms of food and drink, it is just okay.

Good hot hojicha. Didn't love the iced matcha latte. Not a strong flavors. Nice cafe and sitting area.

this place deserves a way higher rating than it has. as someone that's tried a lot of matcha in new york and is so critical over the quality of it, i love this matcha spot on the upper west! they use ceremonial grade and have homemade almond cashew milk too along with so many different matcha drink options. i got the matcha lavender latte w the almond cashew milk and it was absolutely perfect and not too sweet. they also have tons of food and bakery options if you want a quick bite. definitely recommend!!

The matcha latte was really good but was luke warm. The granola bowl was really good. There was fruit and granola on top of a matcha Greek yogurt. The chorizo burrito was also very flavorful. The service was ok. One lady was nice and helpful but the other was very abrupt and grumpy. The restaurant only seats about 16 people total.

I loved the bacon and egg sandwich from here! Instead of a bagel, it's served on brioche bread, and with arugula. A fresh take on the classic BEC. Updated modern interiors and great seating both inside, sidewalk, or talk your meal to central park! Staff are very friendly.

3.5 stars is really what I'd leave, but yknow, yelp... I decided to round up since, at the very least, they're unique. I think opening a matcha specialty store is pretty cool and something worth encouraging. The matcha they use is alright. I will have to really assess how serious they are about matcha by trying their "reserve ceremonial"; by the way, all of their matcha is "ceremonial", including their "everyday ceremonial," which is just marketing BS. Without knowing the region the matcha comes from or when it was milled, it's hard for me to believe they're very serious. The drinks are kind of LA-style, that is, very delicate and lightly sweetened. It's great if you're trying to be a skinny legend, but some may find it lacking in flavor. They have some creative stuff here, though it's a bit expensive considering that the amount of matcha they use isn't very much imo. I would rather go to Kettl.

The tea was excellent! Breakfast and pastries were delicious! The staff were super kind! Great lighting and calm atmosphere

I only had a ceremonial matcha shot, but that's enough to judge them by. Unlike most cafes, the matcha here isn't presweetened, so you can actually taste the matcha. The ceremonial shot was at just the right temperature that it was intense without being too bitter, just a little bit. That said, I honestly don't think I can taste the difference between ceremonial-grade and cafe-grade...

A variety of drink options. Offers milk substitute. Iced matcha - 4/5 it's alright Spacious, plenty of seating. Plenty of sun to sit and chill or bring work. A good place to wait when you are in line for a nearby restaurant.

Great matcha cafe! It's spacious and the lighting is nice in the afternoon to sit for a bit. The matcha latte was good! The quality wasn't mind blowing but it was solid.

Had the breakfast burrito and was able to try the breakfast sandwich as well. Eggs are fresh and both are tasty options! There is no meat served that I noticed except for salmon and tuna. Cappuccino had good espresso and was on the sweeter side. Seating is also limited which is why not 5 stars. We were lucky to get a table though!

I am so happy this cafe exists, most of the other cafes on Amsterdam are either noisy, have people yelling on cell phones or have bad coffee.This place has a variety of matcha and coffee drinks as well as great pastries,rice bowls and healthy overnight oats. It is very clean and has hard but comfortable seating. The decor is sleek with wood and whitewashed walls. Congratulations to the brilliant owner who conceived the design. Hopefully it will continue to maintain its very high appeal.

Swung by here after eating brunch nearby. I didn't know they had a Chalait up here! I've only been to one downtown in Greenwich Village - but unfortunately it shuttered years ago. A small space with some seating in the front - service is relatively quick. They have small dishes in a refrigerated section for to-go items. Stop by for a nice matcha latte! Nice taste - unsweetened

Awesome cafe in the Upper West Side! Love their matcha lattes with the homemade milk! The matcha yogurt is also good. This cafe is great from matcha lovers especially if you also love cool drink combinations like matcha with turmeric and such. It is pricey though!

Great place to grab a drink and meet up with a friend! I stopped by and grabbed a iced lavender mint matcha latte with oat milk. It was not that sweet and super smooth which I like. They also sell matcha, cute cups, food, and pastries as well!

It's a cute relaxed shop but the matcha latte is so bad. I got the special corn matcha latte, i couldn't taste any corn and barely any matcha tbh. it was just sweet whole milk which was off putting to me. the color just looks wrong when you get it...too light of a green. also the drink has cold foam but they don't have those sippy cups so basically impossible to enjoy the cold foam unless you're able to sit down and open up the lid.

This place is amazing but just so expensive. I appreciate that they have many gluten free options and all their drinks are amazing, but a sandwich and a tea cost me $25. I will come back because I love their options, but would definitely be a more regular visitor if it was lower! Also, it seems to always have a lot of strollers inside because parents seem to like it there. I know there's not much to do about it but they just take up a lot of room.

Got a hojicha latte and it didn't have a lot of flavor, pretty watered down. The matcha lattes seemed to be similar. My friend ordered a sandwich and it took 30 minutes, which seemed excessive for the task of slapping some ingredients onto bread. But the sandwich was good. For being so expensive I wasn't super impressed. Decor was also blah. I really hate when places use merch or items they're trying to sell you as decoration.

They take their matcha seriously here! Definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area and in need of a matcha fix.

Chalait is the place to order an afternoon pick-me up or lunch. The Farmhouse Crunch Sandwich is a hearty delight. The service counter is always pleasant and the drinks are made really well.

Cutesy matcha-themed decor. Plenty of space and laptop friendly! Big plus and rare! This is my 3rd time trying matcha & like my 5th time trying coffee and I wasn't a fan. I'm going to keep going though bc it was such a nice location and maybe I just need to try a noob drink

This place has the worst service (workers acted like I was an imposition on their day). Food and coffee was overpriced and poor quality. Would NOT reccommend this place if you are after a nice coffee shop with a good vibe. Would never go back.

First timer and I loved my drink. I had the matcha turmeric latte. Nice combination of matcha and sweetness. Looking forward to going back and trying other drinks... which will hopefully be just as good!

Overpriced, weak matcha. I tried the mint hot chocolate matcha. Honestly first sip I was like, wow this is great-- nice subtle minty matcha flavor. But then I remembered i ordered a hot chocolate drink and there was seriously no chocolate flavor. After the initial sip, the drink tasted like warm milk with minty matcha essence. Also, this was over $7 because I paid a dollar extra for "made in house cashew almond milk" which really made no difference. When paying with card, they use the square space tablet, but instead of letting you choose tip, they ask you "would you like to leave tip?" I get this is a covid precaution, but it definitely feels like you're more obligated to leave something/more when your barista asks you. Might just be me but felt weird. Sticking with 3 stars because at first I really did like the taste, but by the end it was a milky meh.

Cute little cafe on the uws. I got the nourish which has matcha, ashwagandha ghee honey almond and cashew milk. It was good- sweeter than the normal matcha latte. Id definitely come back and try some of their other drinks!

I don't think I will be coming back here. As someone who enjoys cafes for their well rounded aspects, this place does not suffice. If you are looking for a place to do work, this place does not provide WIFI on the weekends (they do provide WIFI on the weekdays). They also do not have a public bathroom, which is inconvenient for someone who decides to sit here for a long period of time. As for their beverages, I had the matcha latte and found that I could make one at home that would have been better. I will say that this place is vibrant and its location on the corner of the street makes for people watching a fun activity as you work - or write a yelp review ;)

A decent, 'ok' breakfast delivery!... everything came in about 35 minutes and it was nice to have a wide selection of 'healthier' breakfast options to choose from but the flavor overall was a bit lacking The Fooooood::: *** Avocado toast - the toast had a crunch to it which was appreciated but the avocado and egg were cold- like fridge cold, the pickled onions gave a necessary contrast but I did sprinkle some salt for a bit more flavor *** Tortilla wrap was okay at best, the avocado was nice in it though ***Oats: inedible, it looks really nice but the consistency was a bit difficult so swallow and it was also cold cold , I know overnight oats are thick but the flavor was a little lackluster as well *** Tahini cookie: it was soft, tasted good, I think if it's microwaved 10 -15 seconds it would push it to even better! All in all - an okay experience.

I only had their salmon bowl in Uber eats before and after few orders i decided to dine in the store. It was so good! It is a perfect place to spend time alone with books , nice coffees and perfect lighting. You can escape from the city in a moment in here but not too much. You can see the bustling city outside through the window when you seat inside enjoying the divine foods side with peaceful vibes. The service is super good as well, the barista are very friendly ! The whole vibe just perfect! This is definitely one of my favorite place in NY

Love Chalait when they were in Tribeca and West village. Since Covid, they had to shut down a few branches. I'm obsessed with their matcha items and they get creative with mixing it with turmeric, collagen, pumpkin and chocolate. I used to order the hojicha hot chocolate a lot. They no longer sell that item and they are looking to bring their free drink stamp card program back. I hope to see more from chalait. They are a great aspirational blend of Asian beverages with westernized coffee culture techniques.

A pretty mixed bag. Maybe this is unfair to say but, in its execution, it felt like Chalait was trying to capitalize on the current hype around matcha and pretty Instagram pictures without paying more attention to the actual product. This is not really the time and place for a full-length spiel on the dilution (quite literally) of something that holds a deeper, ritualistic meaning for others and it's not like I'm fixing the problem by ordering all the matcha lattes I can get my paws on. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you're going to make matcha Instagram-worthy, at least also make it good. And worth the $7 I just shelled out. The matcha strawberry fizz I ordered was perhaps 90% strawberry syrup and 3% actual matcha. It hurt my heart a little to see the barista whiz the matcha carelessly and then dump it over my drink. I fully realize you can't import a Kyoto tea ceremony into the UWS but just a bit more dedication wouldn't hurt. I tried the actual matcha latte here on another visit and it was incredibly watered down. I was basically trying slightly greenish almond milk. And because I couldn't leave without trying the actual food - I got the matcha loaf (really just a green pound loaf) and the cauliflower grain bowl. The matcha loaf was kind of try but I did like the grain bowl, though it was a little sparse on the cauliflower. Given the prices, I'd be surprised if this place has true staying power.

Used to really like this place went there 3 times and their coffee was burnt tasting every time. I needed to use the bathroom because sometimes bad coffee kinda of goes through me . I ordered tuna avocado it was taste less bread was hard kinda of like cardboard. Somehow the tuna was oily and had almost a soap like taste. I ate it because I was hungry and also I paid for it and did not have the energy to deal with getting something else. I just will not come back. Hopefully I want her sick. UPDATE! Yup I'm sick my stomach is trying to kill me wish I said something. My fault for being in a rush. Wouldn't recommend this place.

Love this small and cozy place! I enjoyed their coffee and scone! The only thing I think they could do better is that they could open their bathroom.

A very large cafe with lovely offerings, but nothing out of the ordinary. I have definitely had more traditional matcha elsewhere and the the egg sandwich sounded better on the board than it did when it arrived. The service was also a bit lackluster. I met a friend here for breakfast and it seemed as if they would have preferred if we took everything to go. If you didn't show up with a laptop, you didn't seem as welcome. I don't know if I would go back as there are plenty more places in the city that make matcha authentically instead of serving it in a paper cup when you're dining in.

Ordered a hot Matcha Almond Milk Latte and it was average at best, I gave it 3 stars for the great customer service and the clean cafe but what's important to me is the taste of the drink. I'm skeptical to go back but I would try something else on the menu in the future.

Love this place for its vibe, good food and matcha! They also have ceremonial grade matcha powder for sale. Would love to try it some day. Overall, great cafe to read offline because there is no wifi. Worst of all there is no restroom as well.

Yummy treats and a sweet guy behind the counter!! This spot is lovely all around and I look forward to returning for the vegan pumpkin loaf and GF/V tahini chocolate chip cookie...

Good matcha sometimes, but pricey. I rarely go to Chalait because it's more expensive for matcha ($7) than other places in the area and it's not how I prefer it, but it is good to try once. They have lots of seasonal options which are cool and with checking out. I also do like their nut milk which is two types of nuts (cashew & something else?) or nut and oat - can't remember. It's a great blend though.

Without doubt the worst coffee I've ever tasted. Not sure if it was the coffee or bad cream, but one sip was enough to make my decision. Awful, and that's after considering Dunkin' to be the worst coffee!

I usually come here regular. Have friend visiting in town and was excited to take him to try matcha here. And the worker just turn down our experience. We ordered 2 matcha latte. They gave us one light and one dark we asked if we got the right drink. The lady with long black hair said it's depend on milk. We try and compared 2 cups, turn out one is bitter and one is lighter. She doesn't seem care about it and turn back to her counter take a sip of her drink. As a customer we feel rip off for the price we paid. As matcha lover, you know the amount of Matcha powder in your drink can change the experience with your drink.

Great food, tasty matcha latte. Good place to work and close to the Central Park. Will definitely come back.

Come on a sunny Sunday morning for the perfect start to your day. There's so much natural light and with all the matcha options you know you're getting a delicious healthy pick me up. The avo toast with smoked salmon is also the perfect breakfast if you're hungry.

I really was disappointed in the matcha latte here. It felt extremely overpriced for a watery, tasteless drink.