Stripes Wine Bar & Cafe

Cozy cacao coffee shop. Blue Stripes takes the best of coffee culture and scales it to cacao (chocolate). An easy and delicious substitute for coffee in a space filled with art, books, and warm wood colors. Feels straight out of South America. Drip cacao brew score: solid! It’s essentially pure hot chocolate, so those less familiar with raw taste of cacao may opt for a cacaoccino or cacao latte. Everything else score: 5/5. Great atmosphere, variety of seating, and incredible bourekas. Additional amenities: bathroom, self-serve water, and friendly staff.

Coming from Oregon, I made sure to include Blue Stripes on my visit. It was a hot & humid afternoon and I was grumpy after my thrift store shopping was unsuccessful. Blue Stripes offers their brewed cacao iced! It was a perfect lift me up- no caffeine jitters, and excellent cacao flavors that didn’t need sugar! Lots of people hanging out, working on their laptops giving such ideal coffee shop vibes. Highly recommend!!

Love the brand and the mission but disappointed that this small shop doesn't connect as strong to its brand. They don't even sell their own chocolate bars.. really?!?! The pastries were OK. Ordered a chocolate cup, oreo cookie, apple turnover, and chocolate bundt cake. Also tried the chocolate milk with oat. All the patriots eye alright. The chocolate milk was smooth but also alright. The vibe of this spot is immaculate though. Wood and forest type design with glass windows for plenty of shine and some desks with plugs for working remote. Perfect small section to work from. Overall if they had more of their brand and emphasized more of the fact that they are upcycled or use upcucled chocolate or ingredients to be sustainable... this cafe would be much better.

Cozy, inviting vibe and friendly staffs. Definitely come check this place out if you like cacao. I like the Iced Mental Brew the barista recommended. It’s not sweet and subtle hint of cacao make it really enjoyable. I would come back again and try other cacao drinks and the pastries

First time visiting this coffee shop. Their iced chai latte is so good !!! You can really taste the chai, it’s not overly sweet, it’s the perfect amount of chai and milk. Their croissant sandwich is so flavorful too. I will def be coming back

I came in with my girlfriend to get some breakfast and although I was expecting a warm and efficient service, I was greeted with a carefree attitude. The prices are steep (2x coffees + 2 breakfast croissants and a cookie) which cost me $43.00 not including a tip, and the food was mediocre at best. The lady behind the counter that took my order seemed to be having extreme difficulties trying to process simple information, and when asked about the protein options for the breakfast items, she merely pointed at a display case instead of providing any audible response. After asking egg preferences (scrambled or poached) she then failed to even provide any egg on the sandwich, which threw me into confusion. After I brought the wrong order that was given to me to the owner, he managed to fix the issue quickly, which makes him the only saving grace of this whole interaction. For the asking price of dining here, I would not recommend.

We had a work event here and the hot chocolate / chocolate covered donuts were delicious! Owner/staff were very friendly too. Definitely recommend checking it out and trying some food/drink, you won't regret it.

I feel that I finally found my spot in the city! I love this place, the food the atmosphere everything about it! 🤍

Absolutely love blue stripes!! Whenever im in the neighborhood i stop by. They have real tea real coffee great food! Everything is fresh. Staff is lovely!

Cozy, inviting vibe and friendly staffs. Definitely come check this place out if you like cacao. I like the Iced Mental Brew the barista recommended. It's not sweet and subtle hint of cacao make it really enjoyable. I would come back again and try other cacao drinks and the pastries.

If you're a chocolate lover, this place is for you! Stumbled upon this place when I was eating lunch nearby. It was a little too late for coffee so chocolate drinks +/- desserts sounded amazing. Upon entering you are greeted with a nice chocolate and coffee bean scent. I tried the hot chocolate 70% dark, salted. The chocolate flavors were very strong and well mixed. It was a little too salty, but I still enjoyed my drink. It came with a rim of dark chocolate sauce, which balanced the salinity. I definitely want to try it spiced the next time! Their menu was a little overwhelming, but here are the things that caught my eye, for future reference: - chocolate drink - hot/cold/frap, salted/spiced - wild hot chocolate w/ unprocessed cacao - chocolate cloud w/ mousse on top - molten milk or nutella foam - cacao brew - interestingly sounds like cold brew but with 100% cacao? The chocolate chip cookie was pretty solid too! The cookie itself had a vanilla taste that mixed with chunks of regular and white chocolate. Crispy on the edges and chewy in the middle - just how I like it! The mini pain au chocolate were a little too sweet for me, and the middle felt more like cake than a flaky pastry. Service varied depending on how busy the store was. At first, staff rushed us a little, but later, when it was calmer, I actually got good recommendations from them. The store itself was pretty spacious with good amount of seating and solid lighting. I can totally see myself doing work or catching up with friends!!!

Cute local dessert place by union square. Lots options for sweets. Mainly chocolate based. Nice staff.

Love this spot!! The coffee is amazing! My boyfriend and I both got the mental brew. Hands down best coffee I've had! I had it iced and he had it hot. Hot definitely has more flavor, but I liked them both. Ambiance is great- very bright, well done interiors with lots of seating and the service is quick and easy. Will definitely return!

This was my first visit to Blue Stripes, and it was wonderful! Omri was very friendly and helpful. I ordered the Chocolate Clouds and the Power Bowl, and they were both delicious! I ordered a chocolate pretzel for dessert which they warmed it up and it was great! Ambiance is very nice. I saw several people working on their computers.

Cute place and concept to do a bit of work inside. They have a decent amount of seating with plugs and there's also WiFi. The line to order something does take a while though. Croissant - my first impression of this was that it tasted like a Costco croissant (which are great in their own right). And this was later confirmed by seeing them bring out a huge plastic box (that looked suspiciously like it was from Costco). White chocolate chai - This came with a pot and a cup to pour into. Was quite sweet, but still had that delicious chai flavor. I'd come back though, but I'd stick to their drinks / cookies and try some of their other chocolate drinks.

What a cute place this is. My friend told me about it as I had no idea this existed. It's a super chill cacao place. They have many different cacao drinks you can order and food made with cacao I believe. I did not try any of their food though. I just got a cacao cappuccino. They also have a selection of wines and cheese boards for later at night. I also saw they have jazz nights and live entertainment. The staff were really great. The guy helping me answered all my silly questions and made a great cacao cappuccino for me. I will deff be back to try out more cacao drinks!

Overall, underwhelmed but lots of good things going on for the place. This is the non touristy version of max Brenner. Tried their cacaoccino and was underwhelmed. It was a tad too watery for my taste but I understand this is a very personal choice Their sesame bread was very tasty - cake like and dense so prepare to split Cheese blueberry Danish was decent. Standard hot chocolate was fine, at par with good hot chocolate. I'll totally go back for the service and decor but maybe not for their hot chocolate. Very nicely done interiors and they let you chat for hours

Every rendition of cacao imaginable. Good prices and good vibes--lots of natural light and free wifi! Service was fast, but they don't call your name if you're ordering in, so be sure to check the counter often. The raw cacao brew was like drinking liquified nibs and is now quite possibly my coffee replacement. Will definitely be back to try their croissants and cacao fruit bowls!

Very unprofessional, I came in with my boyfriend, the sandwich's range from 9-16 dollars, they are premade and do not like to substitute, when I asked what kind of meats they offer the lady behind the counter merely pointed to the premade sandwiches as if they were see through, they weren't labeled and I couldn't tell what they were, the staff does not pay attention to clients, They also have a nasty attitude. a worker came in from their shift and with out washing their hands handed me the sandwich, very expensive for mediocre meals, bathroom had toilet paper that had a stain on the side, for the expensive price this place is NOT worth it. There was no redeeming factors

First time visiting this coffee shop. Their iced chai latte is so good !!! You can really taste the chai, it's not overly sweet, it's the perfect amount of chai and milk. Their croissant sandwich is so flavorful too. I will def be coming back

Chocolate dessert spot is all you need to know. This is place I'd been meaning to try because I know it had two of my favorite things which are chocolate and dessert options. This menu is different than your typical dessert spot where it's not just ice cream or just chocolate but believe me of course there's a ton of chocolate to be had here. It's pretty unique with their offerings and love that it's common to get a beverage with your dessert too. Very fun theme and ambience going on in here. I liked the items I chose - they were chocolatey and I'd order more. Be prepared for richness and having trouble deciding on what to get. It does get busy so be careful which day/ time you pick to come here.

Drinks are a bit pricey (not surprising considering location) but delicious! I got the Chocolate Clouds and it was so amazing and rich. The ambiance was super cozy, and the staff were very nice!

This place is a dream for chocolate lovers! There are multiple chocolate drinks and desserts to choose from. I had the best white chocolate mocha with just the right amount of sweetness. The Cacao latte was rich and elegant - highly recommend. I also tried the mini chocolate croissant, which they warmed up right before serving. It was the perfect small bite to satisfy a sugar craving. This is definitely a popular place. It was busy with a constant line of people going in and out. It's a great spot if you're looking for a peaceful cafe because they don't play any music. All you can hear are the sounds of the coffee machines and chatter of conversation.

I don't know why but for some reason, it is way more difficult than it should be to find a cozy cafe in Greenwich village that contains adequate seating and a bathroom. For meeting that criteria alone, I'd probably grant this place 5 stars. They also have a water station, which I really appreciate. I've tried the hot chocolate and Nutella cloud here and both were good but the hot chocolate especially hits the spot. Just as creamy and rich as you'd hope for.

Cool vibe here. I stumbled upon it while in Union Square not wanting coffee but needing a boost. I loved the cacao latte and I'd never even heard of the idea of it, but it was perfect for a late afternoon slump. Definitely check it out! Lots of people were chilling, working or just meeting up. I'd return for sure.

The most mediocre coffee in Manhattan -- served in small cups. Interior is ok. Cappuccino is served in espresso cups and without any foam. Service is ... ok, I guess. The only good things are the pastry -- it is awesome. (But the cheesecake costs $9.)

Great coffee and hospitality and awesome decor. Desserts were great too. Try the macaroons!

Cool concept for a store, and the chocolate was delicious, but why was the hot chocolate so lukewarm???! It was cold by the time we finished it.

On a recent visit to the city, I really wanted to go to Blue Stripes since I used to come here so much when I lived in the area. Standards have slipped a little in the years since I regularly came here. I ordered a Nutella cloud foam and was given an iced Nutella chocolate drink. It was tasty but could've been more Nutella-y for the price. It was pretty milky which you might be able to tell from how pale it is. There were a LOT of fruit flies munching on the pastries in the display case, and the employees appeared totally unbothered. It's a comfy little cafe which has a convenient bathroom, rare qualities in Manhattan, but it's not as smooth an experience as I would hope from the price level.

This places was amazing. I ordered a hot chocolate and a chocolate cloud. They were both so decedent and rich in flavor. The croissant was crispy and warm. It was the perfect treat for a cool fall day in NYC.

Chocolate-rimmed cups, like salt-rimmed micheladas? Why is this the first time I'm having this? It's such a great idea. 70% dark hot chocolate was hot and creamy, served in some pleasing cups. Wouldn't mind them going all out and introducing a really dark and bitter 95% option, because they'll definitely find an audience for that. The vegan option too hit the spot, and none of them were overly sweet. They have live jazz apparently, would be great to hit that up sipping on all of this goodness.

Still the best place for anything g chocolate on the east coast. The chocolate cloud is so delicious I ordered one every day that i was in nyc. My friend ordered the chocolate lava cake and it was absolutely incredible!

Amazing atmosphere, coffee, chocolate and pastries... as long as you can get a seat! It's tight seating, but even that adds to the charm! You'll want to hang out for hours and sample everything!

I was excited to find a coffee shop offering a nice array of Mediterranean baked goods in the Union Square vicinity. They even had simits hanging by the window sill! And delicious mini spinach bourekas to boot. Unfortunately service was a bit haphazard and they neglected both of our coffee customization requests. And the staff gave me a blank stare when I inquired about the simits until they asked if I was referring to the "pretzels" in the window. Yelp friends - look at the photos and tell me those aren't simits! Prices are on the high end as well - over $40 for a few pastries and two coffees.

Finally got to try the chocolate cloud (molten milk) and it was so good! There's a decent amount of seating, a restroom, a water area, and workers are all very nice. Seating inside and outside They also sold pastries The drink was so good, it was rich and creamy. It could Get really sweet like you need water. Kinda like a melted milkshake taste. It's a nice treat! I would get it again if I'm in the area

High 3.5 Came here with my friend to get something sweet before we went grocery shopping. Upon entering it's a cozy little shop with limited seating. A lot of the people were here for a little afternoon pick me up rather than studying. It's fairly noisy given that it's a small cafe. We ended up choosing the dark chocolate crumb cake and pain au chocolat. First of all, neither of the pastries were too sweet which was very nice! The pain au chocolat was amazingly crispy and delicious even tho it didn't come out of the oven before coming to us! We were impressed with how flavorful and buttery it was. The crumb cake was a bit of let down because it was served cold and I felt that if it was warmed up, it would've tasted amazing. There is hint of cinnamon in the cake which was unexpected so I would keep that in mind if you are not a fan of cinnamon. They had utensils for you to grab which was nice for when you want to share something or not to get your hand dirty. One thing I would note is that there was a man taking our order that appeared to be the manger/owner that wasn't quite friendly. I felt a little intimidated by him and felt pressured to quickly order. The man was also correcting the worker in front of me but not in a nice way so I felt a little awkward. Overall the pastries are good for a nice price! Might be a little intimidated to return but definitely will come back for the pain au chocolat!!

I needed a place to set up my laptop in the AM which is nearby the Union Square train station and this place opened early enough. I am came around 9am and it was pretty empty and they were clearly still preparing for the afternoon rush. Food (5/5) + Service (4/5) I really enjoyed the items I purchased 1 prosciutto croissant sandwich, 1 cup of jasmine tea, and a banana ginger cacao smoothie. But, sadly the most complex items took a considerable amount of time since they are lean staffed. Though I was the only croissant order it took over 15 minutes for my sandwhich to be ready and it had to be redone because they accidentally added cheese. All in all, I am happy to go back but be sure to come early as the seats full up by noon and it become too loud for me to work so I headed to the public library afterwards.

Great coffee, pastries and ambience. Will be back! Service was fast, the place is centrally located yet in the middle of the street, so there's a reprieve from the hustle. Seems to have a lot of locals on their computers, enjoying the place.

A place that specializes in cacao is pretty unique. They had a lot of options even if you didn't want any chocolate. The 70% dark hot chocolate could've had a stronger chocolate taste to it and was just a tad bit too sweet. I added sea salt but couldn't really taste any sea salt. Other than that it was okay. The place was packed. The wifi wasn't working that day, but there were still plenty of people working on their laptops. There are outlets around. They have a few seats outside. They don't give you a number or ask for your name when you order. You just have to listen to what drink they call out and hope that it's yours.

Excellent drinks!! If you're not sure what to get, just ask the lovely lady or gentleman behind the counter. The staff is very friendly. I wanted a chocolate drink- cold, not too sweet, and was recommended a dark chocolate drink. It was great. My partner got the wild hot chocolate with condensed oat milk and also enjoyed it. Definitely stop in, super chill spot to grab a drink. They also have a lovely bookshelf in the back where you can grab a book to read, great ambiance. They have some cake slices behind the counter and bowls with egg/avocado/feta etc. We didn't have the food but I imagine it is good too.

I was brought here by a friend and I absolutely fell in love! The ambience in this place is industrial chic, they have a variety of seating for every type of customer which I really love. In the front of the house, you can snag yourself a little workstation, and sit with your laptop. Then, there are intimate couches and small coffee tables to sit and have a lazy afternoon coffee with a side of baked goods. There are also relatively bigger tables in the back as well. The place is always buzzing, and is warm and inviting. As friends, we ordered a couple of desserts and decided to share. The chocolate mousse was the most memorable. However, I wish it was served at a slightly lower temperature, because it was a little dense and hard based on how cold it was. The texture was absolutely perfect once it was sitting out on our table for a little while. The hot chocolate was absolutely delicious, I love how the cup comes glazed with melted chocolate dripping on the sides. It makes for a very satisfying sip every time. I also very much enjoyed the salted caramel cake. The textures on that one were interesting although I do wish I was a little bit more moist. I also ordered a mini chocolate croissant, and was not disappointed although I wish it was toasted a little better than it was. Service was top notch, it didn't take too long for our desserts to come out, and everything was made and presented perfectly. Bathroom was clean and while this Shop is busy, it wasn't insanely crowded. I would gladly take a friend here again, and spend more time here. This is going to be my new go to Café in the city.

Good coffee, service, and plenty of seating. Not too loud, nice humming vibe. Outlets available.

Tried the hot chocolate here and it was some of the best I've had! You can pick between dark, milk, or white chocolate and add sea salt and/or spice. I ended up getting the dark chocolate with sea salt and spice. It was the perfect drink for a rainy and cold day. There are a good amount of tables, though they tend to fill up quickly. Seems like a great place to work as well if you can find a spot - the tables up front have outlets! Service was very kind and there was a lively atmosphere overall. Hope to be back soon.

Great coffee shop with lots of sweet treat options. Also serves breakfast sandwiches & other food!

Service is SUPER slow but luckily drinks are delicious and made with love, rather than churned out. It was also packed when I came in on a Sunday afternoon, every seat was taken. The "to stay" cups that drinks are served in are super cute. I got the hot coffee with cacao, can't remember the name, and it was very satisfying. I also love their hazelnut butter wrapped while cacao beans in the front in the little bags, but you can get them cheaper at Whole Foods. A nice, unique spin on a coffee shop with healthier offerings.

I'm not sure what has happened with this shop but it has gone downhill. I ordered the wild hot chocolate, and the perfect cake slice with toffee bananas. The pros: the hot chocolate is not very sweet, and it comes with quite a lot of hot chocolate. The cons: the hot chocolate was very watery. Max Brenner's is right around the corner and the hot chocolate there isn't watery. It's creamy without being too thick to drink. Whatever they served is not the perfect chocolate cake slice. The perfect cake slice is supposed to be a fudgy, decadent cake. This was overwhelmingly sweet, and I could taste freezer burn on it. If you compare it to past pictures, you can see that it isn't the same cake, and it didn't come with toffee bananas. They cut up a half banana and plated it with some berries. This shop seems to be lost. Half the menu has changed to focus on healthy items, and that's fine. Finish updating the concept and follow through in carrying it out. Take outdated items off the menu that can't be carried out anymore.

They got my order wrong three times. while trying to fix their mistake they continued to give me the wrong order. They gave me the wrong hot chocolate which I was fine with, even if it was wrong it was really tasty, but I ordered a cookie and they kept giving me other pastries despite me pointing to the cookie. I even saw them warm up the cookie I picked and when they told me it was warm it was something else?!? I went with a friend and they also gave him the wrong drink...maybe it was an off day. The food was good and the shop is very nicely decorated and quiet.

one of my fave cafes in union sq... yes, theyre known for their cacao drinks but you NEED to try their choc chip cookie (beats levain...) it gets p crowded but there r plenty of tables in evening hrs

Amazing coffee, great vibes, delicious pastries, cool music, and awesome people/service. Highly recommend.

Disappeared at the brownies bite. Sweet and greasy with a very strong perfume taste. Don't know if they store food properly. Also ordered a cacao drink. Taste fine. But the to go cup are not well sealed with lid. It dripped all the way along my walk home. And it is very difficult to communicate with the cashier about what they offer and what I want to order

Was not a fan of their caccaoccino. Maybe I should've tried their hot chocolate instead and that would've been better show case, but was in mood for some caffeine. Place is nice, good place to study. Love that they have jazz night as well.

I stopped in mid-afternoon on a Wednesday. I ordered an ice tea, then sat down closer to the front entrance. The music was way too loud to concentrate, let alone have a conversation. At one point, I asked an employee if he could lower the music. There was an older gentleman with facial hair behind the counter. He was extremely loud, yelling out orders, and speaking rudely to the employees in front of customers. It felt extremely awkward. By the time I left around 4:30 p.m., the place was packed.

I live very close by and come here when feeling like having soft served ice cream, which is not easy to find these days. There are two flavors: vanilla and chocolate. On a few occasions when I ordered it, the portion seems way too small for the price of about $8, before a tip. It seems to depend on the server, but it is either "small" or "smaller." I would like to know if there is serving portion "guidelines" about soft served ice cream at this shop. (I order it in a cup.)

Oh boy , did we had high expectations for this place....a lot of them became disappointments We came in on a Wednesday morning , eager to try both the chocolate clouds and the chocolate pizza - guess what , they were both not available . It took us some time to understand what is available and what not b/c the seller spoke very little English - somewhat problematic when you are serving English-speaking clientele . We decided to go with a few different options , here is the summary - 1) hot chocolate (milk chocolate ) - my wife said it was the "best hot chocolate she ever had" 5/5 2) chocolate swirl - very good , crispy and full of chocolate and crunchy nuts . 5/5 3) cocoa coffee - was interesting . A coffee with a strong scent and flavor of cocoa . 4/5 4) Nutella shake - was just ok according to my daughter . She didn't finish it, saying it wasn't that good . 3/5 5) chocolate fondue - a very strange dish - they give you a small glass of liquid chocolate , 4 banana pieces and 4 strawberries . Of course the chocolate becomes hard after a few minutes , no fondue dishes that can keep the chocolate liquid, and the fruits are not sufficient in number . 1/5 This was altogether a disappointment - perhaps someone who could interact better with the customers could offer more suitable alternatives, but some of the ones we decided to go with were very disappointing I would stay away . Perhaps give max Brenner a chance , we enjoyed some of his chocolate creations in the past

Best coffee in town by omri. Great vibe and music. Must come on Thursday for a great live show

Came here on the hunt for the best hot chocolate in New York City in the winter time and a lot of sources pointed here. I end up getting a hot chocolate mocha in it and it was good but I ended up trying my friend's hot chocolate, which came in this really cute egg shaped cup. Whatever that is, I would get it instead of whatever I got even though it's good. The hot chocolate in the egg cup was just phenomenally better. Luckily, I work close by so I am excited to come here The next chance I got.

A really cute interior vibe, and a decent amount of seating! We heard the hot chocolate is really good here, and apparently they own Max Brenner's too. There's a lot of food options as well as unique chocolate based drinks that you can't find elsewhere. The hot chocolate cup is kind of small, but it's actually a good amount since it's sweet and rich! A lot of people were doing work inside as well.