Playground

I really like it here. Lots of tables, a couch for study or reading, free wifi and laptops allowed on weekdays ONLY. There is only one barista so service can get backed up, but I like the atmosphere and the vibe. Their drip coffee is bright, light, and acidic.

Currently in the neighbourhood for a couple of weeks. Flat white is over 5$ which is an insane price when compared to the UK where the quality is better. I find the consistency of how good the coffee is depends on who makes it. I would expect it to be perfect for the price. 4/5

THE ESPRESSO is unbelievable. Really well balanced good taste. Cafe has good atmosphere and the restroom was very clean!! Thank you.

Will never go again. The person working today, whether staff or owner, was extremely unfriendly and rude. They failed to inform us of the no laptop policy on weekends before we made our purchase, despite us indicating that we planned to stay for a while. It was only after receiving our coffee and opening our laptops that they informed us of this policy. When I mentioned they should have informed us beforehand, since this isn't a common assumption for most people, they responded in a confrontational manner, asserting their right to run their business as they see fit. I was particularly taken aback when they mentioned, "I am from New York and 'we' don’t talk like this in NYC." during our exchange. I did not understand why being from NYC should be referenced in an exchange like that. As a Middle Eastern woman who has lived in NYC for many years (though not born and raised here, as my accent might reveal), I found this behavior contradictory to the community-oriented image this place purports to uphold. In my ten years in Brooklyn, I have never encountered such hostility.

Really delicious espresso, great vibes, plus super cute bookstore. Everyone very friendly. Definitely will be coming back here to work or have in-person meetings. Also very clean bathroom.

love the coffee and the general space here is a great place to indulge in it and pretend to work on your labtop whilst drinking maybe two coffees like all these other losers probably are doing. baked goods are really good as well

Just spent $6 on a coffee so that I could have a place to work. Pull out the laptop to find out no laptops on weekends, so I had to toss the coffee and buy another one down the street. I understand and respect the desire to cut down on laptop zombies. But that sign is barely noticeable. This is one of the main reasons people go to a coffee shop and spend their moneys there, so please make the signs more obvious / very hard to miss and/or have a verbal heads up before ordering on weekends.

Coffee is great, vibes good, wifi MID. It never works at all. AT ALL. Sucks to spend so much on coffee to get work done and not be able to get work done. CONSISTENTLY BAD WIFI.

Book Fairs Spoken Word Radio Show Open Mic Nights Writing Workshops THE BOOK STORE They are big on literacy, art, music, culture, and community and I love it! First thing first - the wifi is A1. Next the vibe is a vibe. Just a chill positive energy space. It's such a tolerant space that even with earbuds in you can feel when a change walks through the door. I first checked out the space because of a wine and book event. The event was great but I fell in love with the space. The staff seem to love coming to work. And the people that come through the doors mirror the look and feel of the neighborhood. Lastly the coffee is great. No need for all the extras just good *ss coffee for a good price. There are chains up the way that might be $0.50 cheaper that provide so much less for the community. Coffee, peace, and wifi = great!

The barista is so rude for no good reason. I've been here multiple times and she's always had an attitude! I get it, I work in food service as well, but it just ruins the experience. Also, I ordered a cappuccino and got a latte

Went in on a Monday at 230. Ordered a cold brew (politely). Barista wouldn't look at me. Told me " We're out" and was super rude about it. Went to Coffee Uplifts across the street who gave me kind service and great coffee. I've worked service industry my entire life, I understand bad days but her attitude was foul. I completely understand being out of a product, the behavior is why I won't return.

I just studied at playground. I used to like this place but today they intentionally, and unexpectedly played a melange of music that was so distasteful and not what a coffee shop should play. When I asked them to turn it down, I was given attitude and the volume of the music only increased. It's a shame too as I live next to this coffee shop and would frequent it quite often. Will start to go to other coffee shops in the area with a better presence and attitude. This is a shame though as the study facilities are great! For some reason attitude and a lack of patience have overtaken a cafe that used to be pleasurable to go to. Skip and go to other friendlier cafes in the neighborhood

The best coffee in the neighborhood, and even better service! Love to see young beautiful, intelligent women creating a space for the community to connect. Thank you ladies!

Love this place. The ladies are so friendly and personable. The oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies are delicious. They are open early for the morning snack with coffee before work. I also purchased one of their tees. So cute. Also love their responsibility to our community. They kept a community fridge fully stocked throughout covid. They are an asset to our community.

Great place for remote work. Decent amount of seating, music can be a bit loud but great place to get stuff done. Coffee is okay, wish they had more snack options but really a good option for a place to get work done or study.

the barista with the dark curly hair and peircings was incredibly rude. Did not buy anything will never come back

Pretty rude staff, over extracted espresso pull in my cappuccino, and ok eats. With coffee shops being done a dozen in this town, this doesn't even rank in the upper half.

cool structure. mediocre product. obnoxious service*. *their service model seems to insist that patrons specify coffee shots as either "long" or "short." ...okay, can you simply define "long" versus "short," or speak in common terms? if doing so intends to distinguish this coffee shop from others then mission accomplished. unfortunately.

There's a lot of coffee to choose from in Brooklyn so I'm going to be picky. There's absolutely nothing wrong with Playground coffee. It's fine. There's outdoor seating available and staff was wearing a mask. They are currently allowing 3 customers in at a time which I am grateful for and respect. I opted for a plain black coffee and almond croissant. The croissant was a little dry and the coffee was a darker roast than I would prefer. But overall, it's fine. Totally fine.

Place sounded amazing in theory and I've supporting small businesses- but wow felt treated like a piece of shit and the coffee was incredibly terrible...

Coffee wasn't to die for... inside is pretty chill. I didn't get to see the little bookstore they have. I was told it was closed at the moment. I'd love to go back and check it out

Awesome no frills hip n chill vibe. Also well priced n centrally located in bedstuy. Friendly easy quick service. I had a solid cafeaulait

Wouldn't even let me buy coffee for take away because I had my dog with me. I understand that I can't drink it inside but I wouldn't with my dog anyways. When I asked and confirmed they just said "no. Sorry". The register is right by the door. I could have waited outside for the drink. No one was in line. Didn't even offer. Dude probably just wanted to close. I'm no longer interested in trying this inconsiderate place.

Excellent coffee & pastries, and the staff is always friendly when I've come in! Love the vibe of this spot.

WE LOVE PLAYGROUND Great coffee , great snacks , great books & atmosphere. We love it truly

Playground has a proud Bedstuy vibe. It is a solid place to put your head down and get some work done or chat with a friend. There is good hip hop playing whenever I've been there. The drinks and snacks are minimal (or perhaps minimalist) but they should have you covered if you need a hot beverage. They have a space in the back that used to be seating but is now an "annex" selling some books and music. This is the closest you will find to a Bedstuy gift shop if you are visiting. The space is occasionally full at peak times but it isn't terribly tough to get a seat. You will find locals, Pratt students and European tourists who are staying at Airbnb's in the neighborhood. It is open later than say Stonefruit up the street so I often come here for afternoon work sessions. I believe you can tell a lot about a cafe by two things: the state of its bathroom and the vibe of the staff. Playground's has a very clean, almost anonymous bathroom like you might find in a finance guy's condo. Despite the surprisingly basic bathroom aesthetic, I appreciate good hygiene in a food service establishment. There is usually one dude working there at any point. The guys are always chill, into the music and keeping things tidy. They say hello when you arrive and bye when you leave which is impressive. So stop by a have a cup of something and enjoy.

Reading the reviews about the friendly baristas, I thought we come by before leaving back to the airport. There was no line and my daughter was confused about what teas were being offered. The barista looked annoyed and wasn't friendly. It made my daughter feel bad that she asked the question. My daughter has a brain injury and sometimes doesn't understand how a menu is written especially on teas...is it a single tea like earl gray or a blend of teas. Usually baristas help answer her question but when they look annoyed it upsets me. The tea and coffee we ordered was good however.

I really appreciate the intention behind not conforming to the most recent norms by being a no laptop allowed establishment and requiring masks. It has more of an Old Brooklyn feel than surrounding coffee shops that are more so coworking spaces for transplants. The coffee is delicious and the staff is fun. I had a minor mishap regarding there being no toilet paper in the bathroom and being told by the barista that they were busy and I need to ask someone else. I'm in the industry and could see the line, but it's not what you say it's how you say it. I would much rather appreciated being directed to the bookstore without being told they were busy. Giving 5 stars in spite of that because I'm not here to air grievances and I do want Playground to stick around and succeed.

This was our main coffee shop during our stay in NY. When we first went to order, my boyfriend asked for a coffee with 2 extra shots, and the barista's first reaction? "What did you say?" In the most serious..most pissed off look. I got worried for a second LOL. So he said it again..and she's like..2 what? He's like..extra..shots? She's like, "OHHH..I thought you said iced shots." My goodness what an interaction. Good coffee overall!

This place seemed great from the outside. Non-corporate, community space, not awful but not great coffees. That said my hopes were quickly dashed upon interacting with the incredibly RUDE staff. First they couldn't get my name for the coffee, so once it came out it was never announced and ended up sitting there for ten+ minutes before I finally asked. After figuring out what happened they just grunted and slid over the coffee without a word, I said thank you which of course fell on deaf ears. Then there is the owner. Where to begin. She is a rich gentrifier who I honestly believe means well, but doesn't realize she is the very force that she claims to be fighting against. This neighborhood doesn't need more wealthy 25 year olds opening "community spaces" in overpriced coffee shops. Just stick to your fine arts degree and let us who have lived here for a long time have our own community experiences. All in all, 1 star.

Probably the worst cold brew I've ever had. Tasted stale. Make your own coffee at home instead of overpaying for a tasteless cold brew

Three star and that's only because of the music that was playing and the vibe of the shop....... I stopped in last night at approximately 6:20pm it was a brick night in Brooklyn, I was in the neighborhood to see a apartment, I was early and had to use the restroom. Stonefruit is my go to for coffee but they were closed, and I've been wanting to spend some money at PGC. I forgot my reusable mug at home, I saw that they had to stay mugs. What I thought was a win.... I asked about teas and mentioned I wanted it in a mug SINCE i was going to sit down and warm up. If I'm ever in a coffee shop I don't take a disposable cup if I'm staying. More people should be like this, but anyways. She told me she wasn't going to put my beverage in a mug because she was closing soon and had a lot to! it was 6:20 sis had a a whole 40 minutes or so. I was shocked, that she told a paying customer who asked for her beverage in a mug to enjoy in the coffee shop that she was not doing it. I ended up ordering a terrible tasting espresso. It was bitter & bad. Icing on the cake was I gave her a 5 dollar bill the espresso was 3.25. I asked if I could give her 5 dollars and a quarter, she told me I already counted out the change. Was it that hard to put my beverage in a mug and wait for me to hand you the quarter. I would love to speak to the manager of this establishment because that kind of treatment is unacceptable, as I am a owner of a hospitality firm who's focus is on plant based event planning. I've worked in every position in the industry. And truly treat others how I would want to be treated. PGC I'm sorry but that barista is not someone you want representing the shop. I wonder if I was a white women if would I have received better treatment. Unfortunately they've lost a customer, if stonefruit is closed, I will forgo coffee. I get treated better and the coffee is always fresh.

Amazing experience now. I went in to order the usual. I asked the counter person how she was doing... being civil. She said "fine" and didn't return the question. So I ordered and paid... small tip for the rudeness then I waited. Suddenly I noticed the barrista was pouring the wrong kind of milk. I abruptly noted this to the counter person as that would be wasted product. I am told "would you like x"? to which i replied " I ordered X" At that point she accuses me of having an attitude and then abruptly hands me my money back. We exchange words and I leave. Something told me not to go today. Should have listened.

Excellent coffee and a really chill spot to go for a morning. My favorite place in the neighborhood. The bookstore is awesome too. Plus, community veggies, fridge, & library.

Barista was professional! My mocha latte was perfect for the cold weather that I don't usually endure... the service was quick and to the point! A great Brooklyn coffee shop.. gave us a little time to rest, but could easily see how this neighborhood shop could be my favorite! My kids had the gourmet hot chocolate, they were not disappointed!!! 5 stars!

The coffee I got was no better than Starbucks and the staff are extremely rude and unhelpful. They originally gave me a regular sized coffee when I was charged for a large and were refusing to exchange it for me. After finally getting my order correct I asked to use the toilet before leaving. They wouldn't give me the code and said that the toilet is for staff and loyal customers only! Terrible service and expensive for what you're getting

I came in, said hi and asked politely if they had decaf. ¡No! Said the guy behind the counter, turning his back on me and returning to whatever he was doing. Maybe he was adoring his Coffee God whom I'd just affronted....

The food, cost, and customer service here is GREAT. Prices are very reasonable. No joke, this coffee isn't just good. It is truly special. I would say the customer service was excellent. What a great spot!

I like the artsy and social gathering concept but kinda wish they had more food options. I get hungry alot so it's frustrating to only see three kinds of croissants as options along with variations of coffee and tea. Even the prices are a bit steep; I spent 6 something on an almond croissant along with tea. They have a huge spacious setting with communal tables for peeps to do their work so that's a plus. But due to the lack of food options, I won't find myself back here unless it's a special event. Service was standard; the male staff took care of me with a smile. No complaints in the customer service department.

My go-to for coffee. Not only is the coffee decent but you just can't beat the vibe of the place. All the baristas are super cool, plus this doubles as a community center in a way. Owner is badass too! Let's keep supporting this neighborhood gem

Great place to work, whether you're listening to your own music through headphones or enjoying the baristas' awesome musical tastes. Love that the back corner sells zines and some apparel. Great coffee, ambiance, and pro-productivity vibes all around.

Some people shouldn't work in the service industry or should get an attitude check. Came in here and asked if they had iced tea. The male barista at the counter said "yes", did not offer any details. "What kind?" My partner asked. "Hibiscus, peach, Black". "How much is it?" "4.75". As I gasp at that price, the barista looks through tablet and corrects himself "3.75". I respond "yeah five bucks would be nuts for tea not that 4 is much better. Pretty crazy for just flavored water". A new female barista comes up (with green neon hair), no introductions, wasn't even here the whole time, and interjects to tell me (word for word) "If you don't like it don't get it" in the most aggressive way (unnecessarily). Shocked I pause for a sec only to whisper to my partner "I'm ready to go" to which once again she interjects and says loudly "See ya!" in an aggressive manner. How this person has a job in this business I have no idea. None of what I did justified that kind of aggressive response. Customers do deserve some basic respect. Surprised there is any business at all here.

Such an important place for the community. Love stopping by to say hi to friends, grab a cup of coffee, do some work, check out the zine shop, and listen to their DJ sets in the back. Make sure you follow them on Instagram to stay up to date with amazing community initiatives and events!! LOVE

Music is way too loud for a coffee shop at 11AM, and I found clumps of matcha powder in my matcha latte :( A good spot for socializing with friends, but not a great place for working, or drinking matcha.

I find their service to be extremely unreliable and inconsistent. They seem to have gone downhill in recent years despite some increases on prices. I prefer Clemetine Bakery around the corner.

Drinks were good. Beautiful location. The owner Zenat was lovely and we chatted for a moment. I'm visiting from outside of NYC and I was super excited about visiting Playground. However I was disappointed with the team's service and attitude. They're definitely lacking in the department of offering great customer experiences. I get being protective of what you love etc.etc. but these guys definitely need to step it up when it comes to being friendly with their customers.

Another coffee shop with a lot of work space but not enough places to charge my laptop. The tables are not standard table height and come up to your chest when you sit down. Nice coffee shop with a overall great vibe with a small bookstore in the back. Unfortunately a 3 star because of the setup. I got a tea, so I have yet to try the coffee. They use Harney and Sons tea bags.

Good coffee! But their COVID protocols could be way better. The barista handled (w ungloved hands) both my lid and unwrapped straw (against nyc DOH rules) which was really gross.

While in town I happened to be staying in the bed stuy area. Stumbled upon this gem. What a great coffee shop amazing vibes. I ordered an iced green tea matcha latte and a brownie. The latte was made perfect and the brownie super chocolaty. I felt very welcomed and major bonus they had old school Aaliyah playing.

I wanna support however the vibe I get from the staff isn't friendly or welcoming. Seems like peeps are too cool for school and they could care less about the customer.

My favorite neighborhood coffee spot; greeted by friendly baristas and a cozy space. Cold brew is a go to. The Playground Annex features community creatives and their works. Follow them on Instagram to find out how to support Playground Youth, attend premiere parties of popular tv shows, and sign up for workshops that highlight a wide range of skills! Owner Zenat is doing it proper

So this particular experience was strange. Finally grabbing a table in this coffee shop, I grab water, and try to get myself settled. Before, I can even take off my jacket, the barista come , and says "Are you getting anything?... as this cafe is for customers only." Super strange, and a bit aggressive, especially since I frequent Playground Coffee quite often, where my loyalty card is almost filled. I get it though, coffee shops have to make their money someway, but better customer service would have helped this situation tremulously. That experience, and their wifi being extremely poor preempted me to go to Stone Fruit and spend $12 on a acai bowl and a better work space. As I have met the owner, and support her space. I would recommend having menus, and giving them to people who aren't so quick to buy, instead of rubbing customers the wrong way with aggressive remarks, coupled with not so quite wifi. Hope that helps! x

Came in maybe a half hour before stated closing time, was met with condescending stares and a barista sneering stating that they are done for the day. Guess they didn't want my business.

Great spot. Chai latte was worth it. Working space not overcrowded. Staff is nice. Good spot for people watching and there's a good taco place right across the street if you need a lunch break while working.

I'm from Australia, where we have an amazing Coffee culture. The first thing any Australian will do when they arrive in America is whinge about the Coffee. FACT. I even stopped drinking coffee for a while. (Be still, my decaffeinated heart!) This is by far one of the best coffee's I have had here in NYC. My mother always wanted me to marry a barrister, but I think I'm going to marry a Barista! great space for workin' or pervin'!

Amazing coffee, amazing staff. Truly a staple in BedStuy. Thankful that they are around and that they have continued on since the pandemic hit. Grateful for them :-)

Playground is a coffee shop that is excellent in many ways. It ends up being a community center for progressive thought and a bastion for liberalism and intelligence, which I think is awesome. Also the coffee is super strong. It's a great place for "zine" culture and books of poetry and artwork. In this way, it's a bit similar to Busboys and Poets, the Washington, DC bar that has liberal libraries. Playground has a writer's prompt on Sundays at 4pm and you can bring your notebook and write, write, write. It makes me feel grateful that this place is here. On the downside, there is a bit of a hipster vibe, and it can be alienating. I've had some wonderful talks with people, but I've never been able to make a full-on friendship from the ties that I've made here. So, it's more about solitary artists sometimes. Likewise, the tables are situated for individual work. Again, this is super helpful if you are working from home and you want to do some work. I was able to network with a professional artist from Pratt and do a review of his work from a conversation I had at Playground.