Saltwater Coffee

Stopped by Saltwater Coffee and asked for a rose chai latte that wasn’t even on their current menu — I’d seen it on an old menu online. Fully expected a “we don’t do that anymore,” but the barista didn’t blink and just made it anyway. Respect. The drink? Really good. Balanced, fragrant, not overly sweet, and actually tasted like chai instead of hot milk with a memory of spices. The rose was subtle, not perfumey, which is exactly how it should be. The barista had that monotone, low-key cool energy — chill, not rude, no performative friendliness. Just did his thing and did it well. Ambience could use some love, but honestly? When the drink hits and the service is quietly solid, I’m not mad at it. Came for a long-shot order, left impressed.

Will not be coming back. Decent coffee, nothing outstanding, no good seating, zero vibes in the coffee shop, employees were very loudly talking to each other and taking up all of the tables. Please for the employees, play some nice music and don’t gossip so loudly. Seats have no backs / are not particularly comfortable

Saltwater Coffee is a delightful cafe with charming ambiance. I thoroughly enjoyed my cappuccino, and the cafe's lovely decor made for pleasant experience.

Nice little cafe, with peaceful decor and ceramics for sale. They have specials now and then, so worth checking out. Got the lavender latte and the flavor was subtle, which is nice. A few spots for working as well.

There’s dozens, if not hundreds of coffee shops in New York. So why would you choose a place that doesn’t want you to be here? The drinks didn’t taste good because of the sour taste the barista/register left in our mouths. I will NEVER be coming back and you shouldn’t either. You get charged for a drop of simple syrup or honey. Go to a different coffee shop with better coffee and better service. Why do you hire someone that hates being here?

First cup of coffee I could not finish in a long time because it was tasteless. It also took a long time to get our coffee because the barista made another groups drinks before ours even though we ordered first and it wasn’t busy. Also talked to another customer loudly and negatively about unhoused populations in the neighborhood. Very distasteful.

I caught up with a friend at this small coffee shop over the weekend. There was some limited seating inside which was enough for us. The cortado was solid and their pour over was fantastic. The barista had his coffee knowledge down too. There was a collection of different customers who came through and some with a unique personality that gave the coffee shop a fun vibe. Definitely recommend it if you're in the neighborhood.

good drinks but did not have chagaccino advertised outside. they should either refill or take sign away so people know they do not have at this location

We ordered an iced americano and a vanilla iced latte. Coffee was tasty and good. The server was a bit grumpy. Store seemed clean and had some nice/interesting items.

Came here on Sunday with a friend as we were in search of a latte to warm our hands with on this cold day. Ordered the maple latte with regular milk, which was really good- perfectly balanced sweetness and perfect drinking temperature. Talked at length with the barista, who really knows his stuff. Noticed some small tables and seats, would likely not recommend to work at length on a laptop but it's perfect for a short meet.

Friendly staff and good coffee! No frills drinks menu - nice stop in east village if you're looking for quality coffee. Not too much room inside to linger. Got a flat white!

I have no idea how this café got such high ratings. We ordered the matcha latte, but it was so weak that we could barely taste the matcha at all. The staff was unfriendly and made a lot of noise while we were sitting there -- it really felt like they didn't want us to stay. Even though the café closes at 5 pm, the worker started cleaning up and putting things away at 4:45 pm, which made us feel very uncomfortable. Definitely not a pleasant experience.

The folks here are always the absolute nicest. They make a great macchiato and I'm really into the ube latte here as well.

This cafe is cute! The staff is friendly and they have seasonal flavors that seem interesting. I opted for the maple syrup latte which can come in either hot or cold. It tasted really great! One of the best maple lattes I had in a while! This is a small spot with limited seating so I wouldn't recommend coming in with a large group of people. The AMs do get a little crowded but it moves pretty fast! I definitely want to come back to try their seasonal flavors.

This place is so cute! The service was excellent and speedy and the person working was friendly. They adjusted the level of sweetness on my seasonal latte and it was delicious. I enjoyed the soft music they had playing and there were a couple of folks here with their laptops, working. Would definitely come back here!

What a cute, small, cozy cafe! It was our first time since a few years ago and we were in the EV looking for some coffee! We stumbled upon this cafe and decided to check them out! We got two iced vanilla lattes w oatmilk: it was strong, smooth, and noted. It was pretty good but forgettable :/

Hot Matcha Latte was frothy! I got mine to go, the barista whisking my matcha was so kind. Both the baristas were kind and were willing to give me simple syrup, the matcha lattes are non-sweetened. Ambiance was quiet, calm. Tiny store but it's NYC!

I got an Arnold Palmer and my partner got a lemonade and their lemonade is spot on. It's sour and a great drink to sip. I was glad I had the tea to mellow it out a bit and take the sugar down a bit.

Worst coffee I've ever had. Had to throw it out which I've never done (I love coffee). The service wasn't friendly at all either. We had the cappuccino and the iced vanilla latte. Neither were good at all. Definitely don't recommend this place. :(

Small hole in the wall coffee shop. Delicious coffee and Australian coffee options such as flat white and babycino.

awesome place man. server looked cool and drink was awesome- got a chai latte and I could taste the love in it. place was also clean and in a cute pocket of east village. would highly recommend for studying or anyone just trying to get their swag on!

Very nice, chill vibe with techno and solid coffee a few blocks from union square. It reminds me of why I miss NYC. Friendly service too

I love their matcha latte!! The barista is incredible. he whisked my matcha to perfection - aerated the flavors with accuracy. Very friendly and answered all the questions I had about the bean flavors they had to offer. Cafe is quaint and has a spot to sit next to an outlet when I need to do work.

2.5/5 thought this place was ok....barista was a little grumpy that day and felt like he was rushing us even though there wasn't much of a line?? tried the maple latte and seasonal ube latte. ube latte was p good but I feel like it could've been stronger. maple latte was sweet but didn't have a super maple-y flavor. nothing to write home about overall...

Cute cafe with a lot of natural sunlight. I ordered a Vanilla Latte with Oat Milk and it hit the spot. Service was kind and prompt! Would recommend!

Returned years later and Saltwater still holds up! The iced maple latte is absolutely amazing, and the iced matcha latte is also super solid. Upping my rating to 5 stars for the maple latte alone.

Stopped by today during my morning walk because I saw this place had high reviews. I'll start by saying that this place has super chill vibes and is cozy. The person who was working there was also really friendly and made the drinks pretty quickly, so service was great. As far as the coffee, I didn't think it was anything special. I got an iced latte with almond milk and well it was just that. I've had better coffee in the city. My friend got the matcha and she was not a fan.

It's a chill experience. There are some books for sale in the front. Maybe room for 5-6 people to dine-in. Recommend!

Great service and atmosphere! Maple latte was creamy and flavorful! Would come again!

Delicious ceremonial grade matcha oat milk latte with super kind baristas! The lattes come unsweetened but they gave us some simple syrup and wildflower honey to try. Quiet environment has some cute decor and cool coffee table notes.

Fine coffee place in east village. Note a really big fan of their coffee but thanks to them I can take a break whenever getting off 14th street subway.

I love the vibes here. They were playing Clairo when I came in which is just for a coffee shop. And the coffee is really really good!!!!!! And came out so fast. Love it

Had the cappuccino and Americano, thought they were okay. Spinach Feta Turnover was really good though, wonder where they got them!

The coffees so good here 10/10!I got an iced vanilla late and it was amazing!! Has good seating too

Delicious coffee spot in the East Village. Saltwater Coffee is among Manhattan's selection of Australian coffee places, which quality and speciality unlike most other chains. Here's what you need to know: 1. Consistently excellent coffee 2. Typical Manhattan prices but slightly less than other specialty places 3. Flat white forever and always 4. Quick and friendly service If you want an Australian coffee spot and are in the East Village, Saltwater Coffee should be your choice.

A great coffee shop with amazing employees! They have two locations. Their employees are super helpful with the orders. I came with a few friends and got to try a few of the coffees. Their chai latte is really authentic and tastes like home, probably the best chai latte I've had! I also loved their vanilla matcha latte and vanilla latte. You really can't go wrong with any of the coffees here! They also sell their own pour over coffee in a can which is pretty cool and unique. If you're ever in the area I would definitely recommend stopping by!

The most adorable and cozy coffee shop during my visit to nyc. I'm not generally a coffee drinker but the name and aesthetic definitely caught my eye. Went with a couple of my friends and we all loved what we ordered. We got an iced chai latte, vanilla latte, and the matcha latte. My iced chai was sooo tasty. Not a big fan of matcha overall but the matcha lattes here are super good!! Service is quick, efficient, & engaging! The barista was extremely helpful in really trying to make sure our drinks matched our taste. They even have the most comfortable merch. Highly recommend and can't wait to go back!

As others are raving on Yelp, a very cozy place on lower eastside. It only has limited seating - 2 round tables. We had to share the table with two other customers. Everyone in the cafe will be able to hear your conversation. The cappuccino was quite good, the strong espresso with the right amount of foam just the way I like it. Don't forget to check-in with Yelp and get 20% off !!!!!!! We were there on weekday evening, and Saltwater closes pretty early around 7 pm.

The customer service is amazing and the shop is really cute. I ordered a blue matcha latte which was amazing along with my friends ordering chai latte!

One of my go-to's for a really good latte / specialty espresso drinks! I am obsessed with their almond milk lattes. The espresso tastes smooth and strong and does the job of waking me up in the morning / afternoon. Their oat milk lattes are also excellent. A drink they do better than any other coffee shop is their MOCHA! It's so creamy and richly chocolatey without being overly sweet. They make a mean iced mocha. Has such a unique chocolate flavor that doesn't taste like overly sweet hot chocolate powder like mochas at other spots do. Space is also very clean and minimal. Service is fast. Love this place and highly recommend for a quick caffeine boost :-)

Cute new cafe in the neighborhood! Great matcha, service, and atmosphere :) glad this cafe opened up!

Hands down the best milk alternative lattes around. Love that they have oat milk which many other coffee spots do not. Also enjoy their matcha latte. Cold brew is on point as well. Small little store front with not much space to enjoy within, but quality makes up for it.

Incredible service incredible coffee!! A hot day in the city calls for a good coffee.

My vanilla latte didn't taste like vanilla and wasn't sweet, tasted bitter and watery. It needed more vanilla syrup. Service was fine.

Stumbled upon this cute little small cafe tucked away in east village while my friend and I were looking for a place to sit and chat and warm up with some coffee. I LOVED their Maple Latte as you could really taste the maple flavor and coffee was so smooth served in a big cup. My friend also tried their raspberry jelly doughnut which was recommended to us by the barista. She finished it in one sitting so it's definitely a recommend! Quite a few people came in after us but I noticed service was very quick and efficient even though there's only 1 barista running the entire cafe. They also sell these lovely candles which smells amazing and I had to get one. I will definitely be back for their coffees and great customer service!

Cute coffee shop, and solid latte!! Would come again, not much seating though. Would be a good place to do work

Very tiny, yet very good coffee shop in the east village. I'd never heard of this place, but happened upon it last week while walking to meet a friend. it was warm, so a cold brew with almond milk was in order. The barista was really sweet and my cold brew was sooooooo delicious. Saltwater Coffee gets a thumbs up from me.

One of my best finds in 2021. If you're around the area, you should try their matcha latte! It's the right amount of sweetness and tastes like authentic matcha. Their latte's are also really good - I always go for an iced triple shot oat milk latte. You can't go wrong with any of their drinks!

Good coffee in the neighborhood! Didn't try any of the pastries, but would have liked to. It is small inside, so don't expect to sit unless you get lucky getting a seat, but overall a good quick coffee spot nearby!

Super cute coffee/tea shop with a great selection of lattes in my liking such as turmeric, matcha, masala chai, CHARCOAL vanilla chai, hot chocolate (real cocoa), and BABYCHINO (for the kids!). Lots of cute decor that I would want in my own home. The lighting is excellent - both natural and fixture. Good place to sit to work or read or have a quiet conversation with a friend. Only seats about 10 people and there is a bench outside. Music choice is upbeat and interesting. Service is friendly :)

I've been watching this coffee shop since they opened, and I'm glad to see they are thriving in East Village - home of the independent coffee shops! They have a unique menu with Australian styled coffee (flat whites, long blacks, etc.), as well as tumeric lattes and the like. I went with the flat white because I wasn't feeling particularly adventurous on the day that I visited, but I'd like to come back and try either the charcoal or the tumeric latte! They sell Tim Tams as well, at a hefty price of $8/box (they're $5-6 in Australia), but I guess it's worth it if you are craving them and aren't due for a trip to Australia anytime soon! The barista at the time I visited was very friendly and so quick. I like the minimal - yet thoughtful - decor of the store. The store is small though, and without a restroom, so I'd recommend coming here to grab and go versus hanging around to study or chat. EDIT: Don't forget to use your check-in deal!! It's 20% off your order by checking-in. If you are a student, I believe you get a discount with your student ID as well.

Nice little gem on the side of the road. The latte was rich and service was quick. Don't forget to check in on Yelp to get a special offer. I come here all the time because the chains on the ave are always crowded.

Salt Water Coffee has the best Maple Latte I've EVER had. Killer service and coffee every time without fail. The location is always spotless and clean. Really not sure what else I can say to prove how much I love this place. 10/10 every time

Went to to this place after La Cabra was closed and decided this would be a decent coffee spot to get some cappuccinos and I was very very mistaken. One thing is having decent customer service with mediocre coffee and another having awful customer service and bitter coffee. DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE. Bottom line, I walked in wasn't acknowledged. It was super odd being absolutely ignored while this worker stocked and looked through cabinets? Not sure what she was doing but she didn't even say "I'll be with you shortly," she absolutely acted like i wasnt standing there. Which is cool, ok , she was busy.... I get it.... But then while she was making the coffee she was on her phone while steaming milk.......... Just texting away.. while the steam whistled through the milk. The espresso was bitter. Sour. Just TERRIBLE. I wish I wouldve just trusted my instincts and left while she was ignoring me for about 10mins.

Cute little spot. They don't do decaf, just an FYI for my decaf people out there. Right now they have outdoor seating due to COVID. My cortado was solid. Overall ok experience.

My absolute favorite neighborhood cafe - matcha and coffee are amazing, service is friendly, and a great little selection of baked goods. Can't start my day without Saltwater.

By far, the smoothest flat white I've ever stumbled upon! This is a small neighborhood coffee shop that pays HUGE attention to detail and quality. While I was disappointed that they don't have any indoor seating post-COVID, they do have some small casual tables set up outside the front of the store. The owner, Swoop, is incredibly warm and friendly. I'll definitely be back to try their Mocha. Saltwater coffee will leave you with nothing to be salty about ;) (I had to).