Pause Cafe

Where do I even start? This is my favorite cafe, and I wish I lived closer to it to be able to get breakfast from here everyday. The turkey cheddar sandwich is made in homemade Moroccan bread and it is super delicious along with the sauce they use, it is to die for! The service here is phenomenal! I met some of the staff and I mentioned I was also of Moroccan descent and we had such wholesome conversations. It really made me feel like I was back home visiting family! The decor of the place is very intricate and exquisite, from the Moroccan zellige fountain to the Moroccan paintings they have on the walls. 1000/10 would recommend this cafe to anyone in New York and even outside of NY! I’ll be back soon Pause Cafe! <3 Dima Maghreb

We were waiting to get seating for a brunch place near by in the same street , while we were waiting we wanted to get some coffee and this cute little cafe was right across the street and we stepped in to grab a cup of coffee. Once we stepped into this cafe it was like in a cozy place away from the bustling streets of new york, quiet and peaceful. The setting of cafe was so warm and welcoming. There were people , it was busy yet we could find the calmness. We just ordered a cup of cafe mocha, which was a good one, I enjoyed it , however it could have been a bit stronger in the coffee flavor. People were ordering different sorts of salads , sandwiches and so on which did really looked great. As we have already reservations made at a brunch place, we had to skip this time. I would highly recommend this cafe for someone who would enjoy a nice , quiet , alone time with good food options. The name of the cafe makes total justice, pausecafe, its like literally can take a pause from your life, the vibe of this place makes it possible to pause and relax for a while from your busy life.

It‘s an awesome place. We had breakfast there every morning when we stayed in NYC lower eastside. The food is fantastic. They have Moroccan style but also great bowls and sandwiches. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere great!

This place is always packed, and for good reason! Great selection of coffee and food, a good spot for either breakfast or lunch. Atmosphere is unlike anywhere else in the city, feels like you're in an alleyway in Marakesh. Definitely worth a visit!

The Moroccan bread was heavenly. Get a sandwich on this bread. Wonderful calming vibe, I instantly PAUSED. The server is hilarious and makes u smile with name rhymes. Plus a huge menu….

This cafe is freakin awesome! I got the pause egg sandwich, which came on a fluffy nicely toasted roll, with a light layer of beans, avocado, eggs, and a spicy sauce on the side. They have good wifi, an outdoor cafe area (which was too cold unfortunately given the time of year), AND - importantly - a very nice large bathroom with a scented candle *cue airhorn noise* this place is, simply, fire

This place is so so so cute. The service was great, and I had the best chai latte I’ve ever tasted. The bowls were delicious and the pastries so tasty.

Visited this cafe and had a mixed experience. The coffee was excellent - strong and flavorful, but the shakshuka was disappointing even though it looks good ;( The overall vibe is wonderful, and despite the usual line, it moves quickly. The place is warm and inviting, although the tables are a bit too close together. I'd recommend it for a coffee, but perhaps not for breakfast.

Food was soo good I didn't take a good photo before tearing it up! Pause is a cute restaurant with a bohemian vibe. I went there were a few friends for brunch and I couldn't have been happier. There is one large table in the middle for whomever to sit, first come basic and seperate smaller tables around the room. We were able to get seats at the larger table. If you are dining in, once you order at the counter a staff member will bring your food to you. My friends and I all ordered an avocado toast and chai tea.. it was so good. Normally when you order avocado toast from a place, its one slice of toast with some unseasoned smashed avocado. Not Pause, Pause's avocado toast is on two slices (or one really long slice, sliced in half), a thick layer of avocado, harissa, arugula, cucumber and carrots and I think some balsamic drizzle. It was the best avocado toast I've had and worth the price. I would recommend and go back!

moroccan sando p good little spicy would rec 4/5 dirty chai oat milk 3.5/5 bread pudding 5/5 not too sweet sauce it comes with is p nice creamy texture some blueberry action

The atmosphere is super cute and I loved the outdoor seating area. My avocado toast was yummy and a lot of food for the price but they unfortunately did forget to include the turkey bacon I paid for. Our server was very kind and I'm sure would have corrected the mistake had I not been in a hurry. The coffee was delectable! Would totally come back.

Love it here simple and delicious. Recommend the caprese add in chicken. Their home made in house bread is so goood!!!

Pretty busy cafe but I love that they allow laptops, serve delicious food and coffee. It's a great spot to read, catch up with friends, or get some work done on your laptop. Service was great. It's always difficult to find good work spaces in the city and although it's busy, that's the way I like it and it didn't take long for me to find a seat. Açaí bowl I love you

The inside was crowded on a Saturday morning, but there were plenty of outdoor seating (both open and enclosed) available. I ordered the crepesse and dirty chai, while my friend ordered the chicken avocado sandwich. When the food came out the server gave me the caprese sandwich instead of the crepe. The sandwich lacked flavor and tasted mostly like mozzarella - no basil taste, a hint of balsamic and tomato. My friend's chicken sandwich was better but the chicken was dry. The dirty chai on the other hand was good! It wasn't overly sweet or watered down and I would order that again!

This is such a cute cafe with a very extensive food menu off Clinton! There is actually quite a bit of seating so perfect for a coffee date. They bake their bread fresh and have SO MANY sandwiches to choose from. I'm not a coffee drinker, but the smoothies are on point! The best part is if you're not that hungry, you're able to get a half sandwich. My favorite snack is their bread and dip for $4.5.

My new favorite cafe/coffee shop in LES. Honestly a hidden gem. It's not perfect but it's one of the few places that has enough seating, wifi and actual food to be able to get any work done. The morning are pretty packed. Afternoons are a bit better but honestly it's always busy. The line to order can fluctuate from 1-2 people to 6-7 people in a matter of minutes. They offer a broad food menu from acai bowls, salads, sandwiches to pastries. They have a large commercial kitchen right next door. My go to is the moroccan mint tea. Huge pastry case in the front with several gluten free options. Very reasonable priced and portions are great. I've ordered several things and it's all quite delicious. Outside seating has outlets but no heating.

Really cute cafe in the city with great ambience and decor. There's a Moroccan style water fountain in the corner with cups available for customers. Many options for pastries in the case that looked delicious and huge menu for food and drinks. I got an iced latte which tasted delicious. My friend got an iced Moroccan spiced coffee that she loved! Very flavorful and didn't taste strong or bitter. Not much seating indoors but there's an outdoor area as well. A little hard to find the entrance because there's also a To Go window. Would definitely come back!

I come here just for the kombucha! They have an incredible lineup of locally brewed varieties.

Great breakfast location in the lower east side. The menu options are extensive and affordable! The food also tastes pretty good too, so I would definitely like to come by to try other items on the menu. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Once this place picks up in pace, it can get pretty loud. So it might be a little bit harder to chat with friends or find some quiet time. But if you come here in the earlier hours, there are few people and it's a calming environment.

A cozy cafe that's a stone's throw from East Village -- I really appreciate that they have a decent amount of seating inside and an outdoor sidewalk patio too. The vibes and ambiance are really nice, can totally see myself setting down here with a book. I thought the chai was a little mediocre, a bit too cinnamon-y for my taste and the milk didn't sit that well in my stomach. The mugs were cute and the vibes were nice, so maybe I'll give it another try sometime!

Love pause cafe -- everything on the menu is delicious, the decor is fantastic and they are pretty fast with getting your orders out. The coffee and chai teas are amazing!

Cute, busy Moroccan inspired cafe with lots of seats, including a community table. Lots of drink, food, and pastry options. Smoothies were good, but shakshuka was over cooked and therefore dry. Full video review and many others at IG: @valeries.views https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ct9CKqvM1n4/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

A last minute brunch with my friends lead me to this eclectic cafe. The decor is very representative to the Moroccan culture and the food even more so. Although there was a crowd they were really attentive and our food came in a timely manner. I got the chai latte which was sooo good, and warmed me up as the brisk winter creeped up on us (we sat outside in the heated area). We all got a variation of a savory crepe. My friends had the breakfast crepe which they indulged. I had the câprese crepe. Presentation was beautiful for both but the câprese fell short due to my kind of flavor profile. I like intense flavor which the breakfast crepe/sweet crepe represented. I would definitely come back to try their shakshouka and acai bowl which looked amazing. Everything was cooked to properly as well.

The ambiance inside was really cool. We ate on the outside patio which was nice, open air good breeze. The latte was dank--ordered a small, but it was a lot of coffee. The sandwich was alright, nothing too special. Overall: nice environment, good service, food's okay.

Servers were rude and food was overpriced for the amount of food you get. Additionally, harissa was not authentic (tasted like Asian chili sauce not Tunisian chili paste).

I came here on a sunday morning and it was decently crowded but we managed to find a table inside. It had a very casual and friendly environment, perfect for doing work or talking to a couple of friends. We didn't feel rushed to leave or pressured from anyone to move so they could sit like a lot of other places. I got a lemon poppy seed muffin, and a fruit crepe for here so they served it to us although it did take a long time. I didn't care because it's a nice area to just sit and relax in but it's something to keep in mind. The muffin was good, and the crepe was ok, but the food other people around me got looked even better. I would definitely get a sandwich or bowl when I come back.

Never knew that there is a Moroccan cafe in this neighborhood, the place is great with a classical Moroccan vibe. Although it was pretty busy when I visited, the service was great. the eclair alongside the tea I had were good, and I saw that there are a lot of options to choose from which is great.

A local spot jammed with people on laptops that still manages to feel cozy. Recommended by a friend who lives nearby: It has a warm Middle Eastern vibe and the service is friendly. The cafe also sells sells shirts and tote bags but tastefully with its own section and not pinned up to the walls. I got a latte that hit the spot, priced like most similar places in the city.

Honestly, we came here because we needed to rest from a packed day, in the rain, before dinner and saw on yelp/google that it was nearby. It seems like it's pretty popular because it was packed inside and out. I ordered a delicious chai latte, that I would highly recommend. Hit the spot and warmed the soul. Couldn't take any pictures because my phone was so low on battery. We ended up asking two people who were sitting alone at a two seater table (next to each other) if we could take the empty seats across from them, and got our seats that way. The inside was cozy and warm. The staff was friendly, and I really enjoyed the vibe. Would love to come back and try some food items and other beverages. Would highly recommend!

Cute spot to get a quick bite to eat and drink. Fast service. There was tons of space both inside and outside to sit and a community table which folks used as a co-working area. All the pastries looked freshly made. I ordered the pistachio date which had a hint of coconut and tasty; reminded me of a much better cake pop. The iced tropical green tea was very refreshing.

Pause Before You Order Delivery! I recently decided to try out Pause Cafe NYC for the first time after hearing some buzz about it. Unfortunately, our delivery experience was less than satisfactory. To begin with, our order was completely mixed up. We specifically requested a few particular pastries, and what we received was nowhere close to what we had ordered. This was quite disappointing, as we were really looking forward to trying their famous croissants and éclairs. As for the sandwiches, we ordered the grilled cheese and grilled turkey. Both tasted as if they were at least a day old, with the bread being dry and stale. It was quite a letdown, considering how appealing their menu made these sandwiches sound. We had high expectations for a delicious and fresh meal, but what we got was far from it. So, my advice to anyone considering ordering from Pause Cafe NYC is to definitely pause before placing that order! Perhaps they have better quality control when dining in, but as far as delivery goes, I'm afraid I cannot recommend it.

We've been eyeing Pause Cafe for a long time. The breakfast spot across the street is the higher profile location, Pause Cafe is the real deal. Just excellent food and superb coffee. We enjoyed excellent coffee both black and my wife's cappuccino. I chose the shakshouka. It has 2 eggs, veges, and a nicely flavored tomato sauce. My wife really enjoyed her egg with avocado, tomato and onion. I also bought a Casablanca sandwich to go, it was a great lunch. I highly recommend this unpretentious breakfast/lunch spot. There's no BS, just really good and satisfying food and drink.

I ordered this morning. Food got here quick. It was still hot which was great. Delivery guy was very nice and attentive, called to let me know he was on his way. Loved it!

Got a bunch of pastries including croissants: plain and almond, muffin tops, Pain aux raisins, ham And cheese , muffins and danishes. Everything was fresh and very reasonably priced. Will be back for sure!!

In the heart of a crowded city this place brings on a very special taste of food. The place appears to be small, yet they have alot of seatings on the inside and outside. We sat inside. It is very authentically and beautifully decorated. The service was super fast and convenience. They have variety of food/desert/drink selections. Check the menu before you enter. The staff is very professional and courteous. I just want to highlight one of their workers which is KATELYN. she went above and beyond to make sure that we are happy and satisfied with our food/seatings/and service. She is so sweet and enthusiastic. I appreciate her level of professionalism. This a great place will definitely be marked as one of my favorite spot to REVISIT. Thank you PAUSE cafe. Thank you KATELYN

I think the hype here is more for the ambiance than the food. I got the Pause sandwich (eggs, avocado, cheese pretty much), and it was pretty good but nothing out-of-this-world; multigrain bread was a fun touch I'll say! It gets pretty crowded during the day, but they have both tables and booths making it a good environment to both get some work done or just chat with friends. However, I will say I wish there was more ventilation for this brutal summer we are having; it gets quite hot inside with just a couple of slow ceiling fans on top of you. Chai is also quite delicious here :)

Super cute cafe that's fully halal as well! Pause cafe is a hidden gem in LES. It's got a chill vibe, very cute indoor Moroccan decor, and a huge variety of sandwiches! My go-to is the New York Combo which comes with grilled chicken, smoked turkey, and turkey bacon. It's packed with protein and is a great sandwich overall! Sometimes I crave this alone. I've also tried the bbq chicken and chicken avocado which are good as well! They have indoor and outdoor seating and the people are very nice! I also love that you can opt to order half a sandwich as their full sandwich is pretty filling and it also gives you a chance to try multiple sandwiches! I've taken multiple people here and they've always enjoyed their order as well. My friend has recommended their juices as well! I have yet to try their coffee so can't comment on that but the coffee and their pastries look yummy! I've also mainly had their sandwiches as take away/pickup. I would love to come here on a nice weekend afternoon and relax with a cup of coffee! Overall, a solid cafe with a great variety of things from coffee to bowls to juices/smoothies and delicious sandwiches. It's probably one of the few, if not only, halal cafe of it's type so it's truly unique. Would definitely recommend!

My friend and I had lunch here and we opted to do outdoor dining, because the interior was kind of cramped and crowded. There were plenty of comfortable and colorful outdoor seating in an enclosed space, which was great because it kept out the rain and was still slightly warm. We had to go inside to order, the the servers brought the food directly to us. I decided to try the Casablanca sandwich, and added Merguez Sausage for an additional $3. I also chose the Chocolate Peanut Butter Açaí Bowl, substituting the banana for raspberries in the smoothie base. The Casablanca sandwich consisted of goat cheese, grilled asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, mushroom, pepper, as well as the sausage. This was served warm. It was really tasty! The sausage was tender, well seasoned, and juicy, while the veggies were cooked perfectly. I really enjoyed the addition of the goat cheese and all the ingredients worked well together. The Açaí Bowl base smoothie had açaí, strawberry, raspberry, peanut butter, and cacao. This was nice and thick, tasted of sweet fruity mix, and was very refreshing. The toppings included granola, strawberries, blueberries, chopped almond, peanut butter, along with cacao nibs. All of the fruit was fresh and ripe. The peanut butter, almonds, cacao nibs combined with the smoothie to make for mouthwatering bites. Before leaving, I decided to get the Moroccan drip coffee to go, which came in a cute little white cup with a pale pink lid. The coffee was steaming hot, and came with a variety of warm and aromatic spices, such as star anise and cinnamon. The taste of the coffee was quite strong, and slightly bitter, so I added a bit of simple syrup sugar to sweeten it. Service was solid. The ladies at the counter were really nice, knowledgeable about the menu, as well as accommodating. I spent a lovely and relaxing afternoon here, catching up with my friend. It's a great place to go for affordable and healthy food / drink options.

Returned to try the crepes! Got a savory breakfast crepe that was very satisfying. Mix of avocado, cheese and eggs within a soft crepe exterior. Side salad keeps the refreshing. Berry smoothie was also quite tasty.

The coffee is really good and the spot is cute but it's just so packed. I did not expect this little coffee shop in the cut to be so overwhelming. I got a raspberry cream cheese muffin, which was frozen salad. The cream cheese was hard and the muffin was inedible. I was kind of annoyed by that because I knew that if warmed up it would've definitely slapped. I didn't even know that they were cold because I honestly would've asked for it to be warmed up. The coffee was good though and I would come back because they have an array of different pastries and everything sounded good.

I tried the egg goat cheese pepper basil sandwich and the chai. The sandwich was good and hearty. I wish the ingredients were mixed a bit better before going into the sandwich. Otherwise flavors were good. The Moroccan bread was also good and quite traditional. The chai was probably a powder mix and they added a lot of it, making it really sweet. Not for me. The decor is pretty and the service was quick. Good stop otherwise!

Usually don't have a bad experience here. It's pretty decent food and decent pricing. The drinks aren't bad. The vibe is great. I did have one recent unpleasant experience though. A sandwich and a shakshuka took more than 45 minutes to come just for the sandwich to come out very sloppy and missing the bacon (New York combo). They let me know it because a new person was training. It happens so not too mad at it. However, if I'm waiting that long for a sandwich i wouldn't really expect it to come out the way it did. They did make up for it however by giving complementary pastries for the wait which was nice.

One of my absolute favorite gems in New York City. Cozy and warm, inviting and artfully decorated - it's one of the few sanctuaries in the Lower East Side where you can have an hours-long conversation with an old friend, or get some writing done on your laptop, without any pretentious fixings. First, the coffee. Excellent and rich, you can't go wrong with most any drink you order. The coffee takes a few minutes, but that's because every cup is given the utmost attention to detail. My friends have had the tea / smoothies over the years and we've never been disappointed. The food, particularly the pastries, are exceptional. Sometimes I'll come here just for those even when I'm not in the mood for coffee. Pastries from a coffee store can be a hit or miss, but here - they're the star. Incredibly variety, everything tastes lovely. I love the ambience in here. It reminds me of stepping into my childhood best friend's home, where her Egyptian mother would continue to feed me tea and delicious snacks any time I came over. I love it here and am so glad it's survived over the years.

A great spot for a quick bite! I got the chicken avocado sandwich and it was the perfect size. The bread they use is delicious and overall it was a great lunch. The cafe itself is super cute with a decent amount of seating which is great for lunch with friends or getting some work done. The service was also great and our food was prepared quickly. They also have gluten free options!

I was not pleased with my latest experience. This was the 1st time they messed up my order. I purchased a large smoothie, 2 large bowls, and a slice of very almond cake. When I got home, I realized the young cashier gave me someone's brownie. I really was disappointed since I don't like brownies. And I was not about to travel 30+ mintues back and forth each way to exchange it.

Never heard of marocain merguez I'm sure it's tunisian 100% the harissa too !! Also can you pick kind people to work here...I was expecting marocain generosity and I got asian rudeness

I absolutely loved this cafe. From the atmosphere to the coffee and food, this is a home run. I ordered one of their egg sandwiches with harissa ketchup and a coffee. The sandwich was filling and light at the same time. I really like that a lot of their menu is on the healthier/ lighter side. This seems like a great place to grab food after a workout or when you're looking for something to satisfy but not stuff. The barista told me the coffee was strong and she was definitely right! I loved it though. If you can snag a table inside definitely take it. The atmosphere is warm, humble and cozy. Many people were posted up here working, so I can tell this is a neighborhood favorite. I will absolutely be back to try some of their crepes and additional menu items. I'm hooked. 5/5

Great place to people watch and not too hard to get a seat despite there being a lot of people passing through. Unfortunately, I wasn't super fond of my Moroccan Merguez sandwich. The tiny beef links were rolling out of the bread slices uncontrollably. I would like to recommend to the cafe a bread with at least one enclosed edge. The flavor was promising but the sandwich was dry. There was a spicy side sauce within a deep but small plastic condiment cup which could only be accessed by way of narrow beef link. The sauce brought a proper amount of heat - I cried in the cafe, but I don't think the flavor was worth the minor meltdown. Also, this was pricey for a pretty small size of sandwich, ~$15 a pop! I would be down to come back and try something else but there are so many better offerings around this location at the same price point.

I got a smoothie here because the day I came it was 94 degrees outside! The cafe is super cute inside. I went on a Tuesday and it was super busy - not sure if it's always like that or what. My friend got a chai latte and a sandwich that he enjoyed. There's a gender neutral bathroom by the counter. The only concerning thing is that there is a window in the bathroom and it was wide open when I used it.

What a beautiful cafe with the warmest and coziest vibe. It has a rather rustic feel. When I went in the evening, it was still pretty packed with people on their laptops and/or people hanging out. I grabbed some of their scones which I don't think they're particularly known for or should write home about. I've definitely had better scones but they were homemade. I would come back again to try their sandwiches and drinks. The ambiance definitely propelled the rating as the scones were average.

***Too good to go order I couldn't wait to dig in after seeing all the lovely pastries in the case. I was given 2 blueberry scones, a raisin with oatmeal scone, pain aux raisin, and a croissant all for $5.43 after tax! Scones (5/5) were so deliciously crumbly with bursts of blueberry flavor and don't make your mouth feel like the Sahara desert. Pain aux raisin (4.5/5) as a raisin hater I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty the pain aux raisin was and didn't mind the raisins sprinkled throughout. Croissant (4/5) the plain croissant was buttery and flaky, no complaints here as a carb lover.

Everything is delicious! Great speedy service, creative, cozy place. Moroccan feel. Wish there was on in Sparta nj or upper east side.

We ended up seeing this spot across the street from Clinton st baking company after waiting to get called for a table and so glad we found this place. The cold brew and green chai were delicious! I've never tried a green chai and omg it's a blend of chai and matcha flavors which are two of my favorite drinks. We didn't order food but everyone's plates looked very appetizing so next time we visit this cafe we will be ordering food. I liked how you receive a buzzer light with a number for your order number. You can go outside and wait until the buzzer lights up. They have lots of seating outside the cafe.

Lots of seating and quick service; we ordered and only had to wait about five minutes! I ordered the egg, cheese, and turkey bacon sandwich, even half was already filling. Also ordered some pastries, the almond croissant and almond cup. The croissant was great and flaky, the almond cup was a bit too sweet for my taste, but still delicious. Would come again purely for the convenience plus decent food!

Stumbled upon this place on accident while being on the waitlist for another restaurant. It was pretty busy when we walked in but it seemed like they were fulfilling orders quick. They also have an assortment of pastries. I didn't really know what to order so I asked about the green chai; it's a blend of superfood greens, matcha, and chai. I went ahead and ordered that since it sounded interesting and I love chai lattes. I took the first sip of my chai and wow, I was impressed! It was so delicious, I've never tried a chai that aromatic and tasty. I don't know how to explain the flavor other than it's a mix of chai but not too spicy and a little bit of matcha. I'll definitely be back when ever I'm in New York again. And please try the green chai! You won't regret it!

In lower East side, no vegan options and I'm allergic to dairy... but there's barely any dairy free options. Wouldn't recommend to vegans or those allergic to dairy. Everything on the menu also has either meat or butter. Would recommend to management to be more allergy friendly with baked goods, drinks and menu options

To be fair- I have only lived in NYC for 1 week now, but the oat milk cappuccino I had here is one of the best I've had in the city so far. The baked goods counter was massive. I didn't get any treats with this visit, but I definitely want to come back for coffee and a tart. They also have a huge food selection- from salads to sandwiches to smoothie bowls. I am very impressed by Pause Cafe!