Silk Road Cafe

I will always sing my praises to Silk Road Café. Objectively one of the best hidden secrets of Chinatown. The workers are lovely and sweet, the atmosphere is intimate and quiet, and the quality of the drinks is always outstanding.

Quaint spot , no frills, sweet and accommodating service. Good wifi too. I had a pot of jasmine tea while I got work done. I heard the lady at the front help everyone with a smile on her face. This place is a treasure and I’m glad I got to visit!

Cafe On popular Mott St. across a Catholic Church of Transfiguration in Chinatown of NYC. Serves gourmet coffee, waffles, smoothies & teas. Order, pay at counter, find a seat from an assortment of tables/chairs for 2,4 or 6, some bar stool height,food is perfectly warm,timely served to savour a unique Chinatown Experience. Ample servings of peanut butter waffle on porcelain-looking plate, disposable plastic fork and knife, Coffee in thermal paper cup, for decent price.Universal restroom, neat and well kept, reflective of decent patrons & respect for hygiene & property. values. Parking may be a challenge. Not suggested for toddlers or large wheelchair users, due to narrow door entrance.

This is a very interesting cafe, that has a general seating area next to the coffee bar and gaming towards the back of the building. A pleasant selection of specialty teas and coffees and side dishes. Their coffee with foam milk and a sugar substitute — out-of-this-world! Located on the ever popular Mott Street venue, it’s a great spot for Asian students to come to, to get their homework assignments done. Definitely recommended.

I love Silk Road (I call it “Silky”) because it’s so calm. On the weekends, the place can be packed, but it’s so tranquil on weekdays. I always enjoy their pot of Rose Green tea or Passion Fruit. Their breakfast sandwiches are simple, but delicious. I enjoy their ham and egg as well as their sausage egg ones. I’ve been so frequent as a customer, I have their Chinese songs from the radio memorized lol.

My favorite matcha ordered to date. Coming from your neighborhood matcha fiend, this matcha was incomparable to any matcha I’ve ever made or bought anywhere. I got it lightly sweetened with honey (which I don’t normally do) and it was just such a perfect matcha. Very reasonable prices for a coffee/ tea shop of this caliber and experience. Side note: matcha is not on their menu, you have to ask!

Fantastic place! Great environment, nice jazz music playing at a moderate volume, perfect to sit down to chat with a friend or to work on your computer. Super tasty bubble teas and the waffles were amazing. Great customer service too.

We loved this place! Tea is really delicious (try different mixes prepared on the spot) , but be aware that you will not get your ginger tea if the waitress doesn't like ginger 🙄🤣

Got a mango slush while we waited for Chinatown lunar new year celebration. It's a cute little place

There's a game shop in the back, not my thing but it might be yours. Looking to get hip overpriced coffee in an area that is otherwise notorious for inexpensive food and drinks? Look no further. The ambiance is standard for a New York sit down cafe, though their policy of no seating unless paying is pretty sharp. Service standard.

The coffee from here was phenomenal!!! Located in the heart of Chinatown. This is a great spot for coffee. The coffee has the most delicious creamed foam, wish I could have this every morning!

It's a lovely cafe in Chinatown owned by a local family here. There is enough seating to get a substantial amount of work done, which is hard to find in this neighborhood. It's also a good ambience to catch up with friends. I love that I could actually taste the tea in their milk tea options. That's when you know they make their drinks out of real tea leaves! I forgot to ask to adjust the sugar level and they were kind enough to make me another one. I appreciated the service.

This is quite the interesting cafe. There is plenty of seating space which is great. There is a bathroom, outlets, and wifi, so this is definitely a place to sit down and study, and its not too loud, so it is possible to sit down. The menu is vast, and its not like a typical cafe, the menu has boba and plenty of sweats. I ordered a classic waffle, and it was definitely, disappointing, not worth the bang for your buck, but the party of mine enjoyed some of the boba options on the menu. The issue being is you are in an area that is surrounded by other boba shops. There is a minimum for using your credit card (I believe that is 5 dollars). The service was kind and fast, and they were helpful in helping me decide what I should order. Bathroom did not have any paper towels so keep that in mind. What was really interesting to me was the entire game room in the back. It felt out of place, and did not match what I picture for a cafe. There was an entire game room, with really niche card decks for purchase, tables, and boxes of board games, gamers, and other supplies for a very niche population. Took me off guard, but was a really cool addition to the cafe. Looking forward to stopping by again to check out some of the games they have to play with a few friends.

Their signature rose tea is excellent. It's a big cafe with plenty of space to work or study, and has a quiet vibe in bustling Chinatown. There's a game store in the back (random?)

It's a pretty cool place to relax in Chinatown. and have a cup of coffee or tea. The deco has an old Chinese Café vibe. The price for coffee is similar to Starbucks. There's no table service you have to place your order and just grab a table and sit . They don't rush you out of here. you need to spend a minimum of five dollars to use a credit card .

Popped by here as we were walking a ton and wanted a place to rest and relax for a bit. Silk Road has a lot of seating, which is nice. We saw a few tables studying/using their computers. We got a pot of tea which ran us upwards of $9, so not really a good deal. That being said, the teapot and the tea cups were really cute, and you get unlimited refills of water, so we drank 2 pots in total. Overall, a decent spot to sit and relax for a bit but not necessarily great bang for your buck.

So honestly I didn't have high hopes for this place. I only went in there since they had seating and I wanted a place to sit with my friends uninterrupted so we could catch up. The staff were nice and you place your order at the cashier. We ordered two Hong Kong style milk tea and one lychee- less ice and less sugar. Well the lychee was okay as per my friend- no strong fruit flavor. The real disappointment was the Hong Kong milk tea. I already knew it was going to be bad cuz it was so pale... but it was worse after I tasted it. It was medicinal tasting... like drinking cough syrup. I realized it was over brewed earl grey notes and no real tea flavor. It was gross. It was really overpriced for a poor cup of tea- 5 bucks for each cup. If I was just going by the teas- one star, but I added an additional star for the friendliness of the staff and the ease to obtain a seat.

Ordered the latte and it was not good. Very watered down. Look elsewhere if you are particular.

Came here to be sheltered from the rain and to eat some other food I bought in Chinatown (thanks for letting me bring outside food!) I ordered a HK style milk tea - it had heavy, heavy notes of earl grey tea in there. Super floral-ly but it wasn't my cup of tea. However, service was super great. The lady taking my order was super sweet and nice and brought my cup to me after I sat down. Ambience wise, this place has a lot of character. It doesn't seem like it appeals to the aesthetics of social-media. It's truly just a "third spot" for people to hangout - even has a game room in the back.

I really like the ambience here, decently large space, nice decor, lots of tables. Plus they have wifi and a bathroom! Great study/chill spot, although the lighting is a little dark inside. I got a soy cafe Au lait for $5 and it was solid! Would come back when I'm in the area!

I came here one Sunday afternoon to do some work with friends and enjoyed my experience. The place was busy but not crowded, and we were able to grab a table together - there are several that have outlets. We each grabbed a bubble tea. I got a passionfruit with boba, and it was not the most flavorful tea, and the boba texture was not very chewy and didn't have much flavor, but it was an even $5 each, which is great for a sit-down cafe in this economy. There's wifi and a bathroom, too, as well as some folks in the back playing a variety of board games.

We are here on a food tour in little China We got treated to a beautiful pot of jasmin tea The ambiance is wonderful and the tea was delicious

Got a dried passion fruit tea pot which was surprisingly refreshing and sweet. I asked for it iced which costs an extra 50 cents. It comes in a glass tea pot with mini glass tea cups. I think I came in here expecting a classic tea experience but I'll probably have to look elsewhere for that. My brother got the lychee tea with lychee jelly. It was alright but I could tell it was artificially flavored (obvious since it was from their bubble tea menu). It was a nice place to keep out of the sun for a while (as they also had a few tables outside).

Love this spot. Free wifi, friendly staff, sweet music and good tea. What else could one want on a cold January Sunday afternoon:) Their tea pots are for up to two people and at $11 is very reasonable. Bubble milk tea, with the boba, is only $4.25 (+50c for large). Tea tasted delicious

decent place to get some coffee coffee and tea. friendly meeting spot in chinatown with wifi and outlets. the coffees and teas themselves were fairly decent and prices weren't too bad. Service was great as well. atmosphere was decent as well. Would recommend giving this place a try!

If you drink dairy, you are on the MILK ROAD If you cry over dropping it, you're on the SPILT ROAD If you're Emily Ratjakowski, you're on the ROBIN THICKE ROAD But if you're in Chinatown Manhattan, come to SILK ROAD! WHAT This is a very cute and friendly little cafe to hang out at when you are in the wonderful little sleepy town known locally as New York City. When you're in the Chinatown District, there's a lot of great Boba shops, and honestly some of them can be a little unfriendly and abrasive. However this particular one could not be any more friendly if it tried, and I don't think it has tried to be more friendly because it's already perfectly friendly. I'm not a huge fan of the Boba here, but some of the other drinks are excellent and the decor is absolutely lovely. All in all, it's one of the nicest places to hang out in Chinatown. I would recommend coming in here to anybody, but maybe skip the bubble tea because I'm a huge fan of Bubble Tea in general, and this isn't some of the best stuff that you'll find. The 5 star is specifically for the lovely service, great decor, and products in general other than the Boba. Now it's time for me to slide into your DMs, and by your DMs, I mean the next review, which you have to admit is a pretty slick move on my part. Perhaps they should rename it the Slick Road Cafe.

It's Monday and the place is empty. It's a nice quiet spot to do some reading or work. Teapots are $7 a pot but I order them anyway because they offer something I don't typically see in other cafes. They're teapots are actually quite fascinating; it's inspired us to get one for the home. The teacups are double hulled glass so it's not hot to the touch even when your tea is HOT. Haven't tried their deserts but the waffle looks like diabetes served in a plate. Perfect for sweet tooths? But watch your sugar! Place does not check for vaccination cards.

After purchasing a Taro Slush and sitting down to drink it and eat some dumplings purchased nearby, I was asked to leave because of the dumplings smell (I've never noticed a strong smell). There are so many places that have no issue with outside items (I am at one now composing this review) that I don't need to spend my money at places like this.

Came here as a stop for a nyc food tour. We tried a pot of the Japanese tea. It came in a cute teapot and cup set. The tea was super hot but perfect for the cold day

Came in on a cold day when I needed some warmth. Ordered a rose tea and it was delicious. Also ordered a waffle w vanilla ice cream (yes, on a cold day!) and it was DELICIOUS. Decent bathroom, although there were no paper towels, and reasonable prices. Highly recommend this tea house!

I've been here a few times, but on this last visit when I ordered a HK milk tea, they gave me regular light milk tea. When I asked them about it they acted like I didn't understand what it was and tried to explain that what they served me was normal... But I frequently order the same drink from other local places, and I used to live in HK! Maybe their herbal teas are worth it, but this totally tasted like Lipton tea bags and milk. If the owner sees this message I suggest you try HK milk tea from Yin Ji Chang Fen or Kong Sihk Tong around the corner, to see what you should actually be aiming for. I wish there was somewhere decent to go sit down and hang out that wasn't alcohol, but I guess I'll have to keep searching.

Service was quick and friendly, and the staff speak Cantonese, which is so nice and refreshing to hear. I love the HK milk tea; the food is so good and honestly it's now my to-go spot for working at home or studying. The ambiance reminds me of actual cafes back in Hong Kong so the nostalgia definitely adds to my love of the spot.

I adore cafes. This place was so cozy and comfortable. They have a $5 minimum for card (or $10. I forget. But there is a minimum) Me and my friend got a teapot to split and I got waffles with green tea ice cream. I loved the little serving cups for the tea. They are so dainty and small. The waffles was delicious and massive. I was pretty pleased to see lots of people studying here. Very quiet relaxed environment. One thing that bothered me was the restroom. It was so wet and cold. Kinda gave me the creeps. Aside from the bathroom situation, this place is great. Staff is nice and friendly. I'll return again.

Check out this cafe as I'm looking for a coffee/tea break after a long day of walking. It is pretty busy on a Saturday afternoon with most folks here working or chatting with friends. There is a back section for games which I'm guessing for people who are playing card/board games. My group got cafe au lait and HK style milk tea. The coffee was delicious and the milk tea was alright (too sweet and not the best I had before but that is a personal taste). Many folks ordered tea pot with fresh tea leaves. It seem pretty and delicious. The price is decent and the ambience is laid back. Owner/staff are friendly and answer questions politely! Worth a visit to support small businesses!

Delicious iced tea! I couldnt get enough. Everyone was kind and it was an easy place to do some work. I would recommend the fruit iced teas (especially the passion fruit).

Family and I were looking for a clean place for some coffee and desserts and found this gem in the middle of Chinatown. Staff were kind, friendly, and helpful. The cherry and pineapple cheese cakes were delicious. Cappuccinos and black coffee were just right! Great place to rest your feet and enjoy the yummy treats. Very clean bathrooms.

Came here with friends to catch up over coffee and was disappointed with both the drinks and the service. - Drinks: I ordered "grapefruit" from the "Fresh Fruit" section of their menu and what I got was not even remotely fresh grapefruit juice--definitely more along the lines of Tang (that orange powdered drink). Friends who ordered coffee were equally disappointed with their drinks. Based on previous reviews, I guess tea is their forte. - Service: Of my group of six people, five ordered drinks. After we sat down with our drinks, within 5 minutes, one of the staff members came over with a menu to ask the remaining person to order. Having just had lunch, the last member of our party politely declined. However, the staff member insisted that if he didn't order, we would all have to leave. I'd understand if only 1-3 members of our group ordered and we were taking up their space for a long time/loitering--but it felt unreasonable when we'd just sat down and 5/6 people ordered drinks.

Nicest owners. 1st time visiting was for a Lychee Martini comedy night downstairs. Teas and other drinks were delicious and will be back

This is a hidden gem in the heart of Chinatown if you're scouting for a place to study! If you sit near the front entrance, you get a nice area to people watch and also it's quite bright to study ! $10 for tea sounds expensive but they give you a POT and you also get *free refill* (score!) So if you're planning to study and stay for a couple of hours or so, you can order hot loose tea leaves and you can always refill! The workers r nice and can recommend you the popular drinks and they have elines cheesecake for $4 which is sooo soft and delicate. I will definitely come back! Even though it looks small, Theres enough seating that you'll be able to find a seat soon enough. I had a lovely study session here and would come back! @eatsumbap

This was my go to spot years ago when I want to sit, chill, and hangout in Chinatown. Still a lovely place, lovely host and servers! A wonderful lady was able to help me customize my tea and it tasted great! The sandwiches is nice, warm, and buttery, and the teas taste pretty refreshing. Would definitely need to go back more often like I use to.

Drink isn't good but what annoyed me was when I was with a group of 4 and only 2 of us got drinks but was told everyone needed to get a drink to sit on the table. It wasn't crowded and never heard of any cafe doing that.

I have been here a few times and it is a Zen place for me. They offer many different types of tea and bubble teas at very reasonable prices. For some reason I really like their ice coffee and that is what I get . I am able to just sit down and enjoy my ice coffee. This place is not Starbucks it has a lot more character and feels very comfortable. I normally come to Chinatown with other people but this is really my hideout when they go food shopping.

Plenty of seating inside. A bit tacky. Didn't enjoy the burnt latte though. One of the only larger cafes in the area.

Worst espresso of my life. I made of mistake of watching them prepare my coffee. Water dripping into the extracted espresso. Yucky burnt coffee taste added to the disastrous espresso. Bleh.

Very cute little spot with the beaast prices. I can't remember a time where a large bubble tea was $3! It was pretty good actually, not the best I ever had but it was tasty. I also had a raspberry cheesecake, so delicious!! They had a bunch of different options so I would definitely go back.

Slightly pricier milk tea compared to nearby milk tea stores but still good. Lots of people recommend for tea. Good place to chill with plenty of seats and free wifi. It's very calming with the jazz music at the right volume to not be distracting. Opened promptly at 10 am and very thankful the owner let me sit around for so long. People trickled in slowly and owner seems to have regulars, friendly lady. The bathroom is towards the back of the store.

Still an amazing place! Went in needing a restroom so I bought an Eileen's cheesecake and a hot chocolate. Omg I just love the vibe here. It's so relaxing and they have a variety of things to try.

Lovely local Chinatown coffee shop. Haven't been a fan of the new coffee shops because they're super frilly. Silk Road is exactly what i need when I'm looking for a caffeine fix. Thank you very much to the kind staff there for always coming through with my triple espresso :)

I've been slowly developing a love affair with Chinatown lately, and this place is one reason why. It's kinda tucked away on Mott street, and is ideal for relaxing while studying, doing work, or simple conversation. The coffee was extremely good too. Highly recommend the cappuccino.

Zero class and zero manners. Today on Tuesday at 1:30pm. I visited this place hoping to connect for an hour. Upon entrance there was a line to order so I figured I would use the restroom first. The person on duty yelled across the room to demand I place an order first at which time I said I would be good for it. He threw a fit and demanded I order first or else. He embarrassed me, himself, and his establishment Let this 1-star rating be a learning lesson for the owners of this place.

If you want really good hot tea, this is the place to go. I wouldn't go for the bubble tea or smoothies, though. My favorite hot teas there are the Dried Passion Fruit and the Cinnamon Pineapple. You get a glass pot and two cute little cups and free refills of hot water. I also like the individual size cheese cakes from Eileen's that they have. Just had the pineapple one the other day, so good.

Bathroom runs out of toilet paper often and there are no paper towels nor hooks. Boba tea is average and affordable. Internet is slow and spotty.

My party and I were looking to get some work done and relax right after eating dim sum in Chinatown, so we came to this location. I highly recommend it as long as you are able to find a vacant table to settle down at. I came around 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, and it was a little tough to find a table, but if you're able to come in at a non-busy hour, this is the place to enjoy a nice cup of tea and read a book/get work done. I had the rose green tea, which comes in a teapot for $7, so it's great for sharing. Quality of the tea is amazing. Super clean and comforting. Would definitely come back again when I find myself again in the area.

Silk Road cafe was a nice little spot to rest up and enjoy some light green tea to aid digestion beginning our experience of food and drink in Chinatown.

A cozy spot found in the craziness of Chinatown. Definitely caters to the younger generation living and coming into the area. It was a nice place to enjoy tea, study, and relax. Would recommend this place for meetups, dates, and a place to study. I haven't tried the coffee, but the teas were top notch. Little pricey, but keep in mind that they're sold as a pot. Remember, also that you can fill it up with hot water again to continue enjoying the tea. Just ask the owners.

I came here since a co-worker wanted to talk to me about grad school and all. I picked this place since I always wanted to check it out and I thought it would be a good place to read my assigned journals and articles. I got there first so I ordered myself a hazelnut coffee, I asked if it'll be sweet. Was promised it wasn't and saw the lady make it as well. Took that coffee and just picked a table. I didn't see a lot of outlets - which was fine since I didn't have my laptop with me. It's not super packed but this would be ideal if they had more outlets for people that want to stay and do their school work. But it wasn't bad - it seem to have been here awhile and it's doing okay. I'll come again to just chill and do my work.

Great place to meet up just to talk with friends and/or study because it's not too noisy like other cafes with their loud music. There's seating areas with tables and outlets to charge your laptop if you're bringing one. The fruity drinks aren't that great but who comes here for that? I usually come here for some coffee while I study and it's alright nothing amazing but it's better than Dunkin' Donuts! There are pastries if you get hungry while studying or hanging out with some friends. The cashier which is also the barista is super nice and when I have specific demands for my drinks, he fulfills them with no extra charge.