The Cloister Cafe

A lovely restaurant hidden away on a quiet street in Manhattan. Cloister cafe has a cute outdoor garden, spacious enough to fit your entire party. From the mosaic tiles, to the water fountain, and all of the plants... This restaurant has created such a serene atmosphere. The food is fantastic! No matter what you order, you can't go wrong.

A friend recommended this place a while ago and I finally had a chance to go. The vibe is very nice, kind of like an indoor garden that you would find at the cloisters (like the name implies) however there aren't any plants which I feel would really add to the ambiance. The hookah selection is great, so many flavors to choose from. They also have a lengthy drink menu with plenty of cocktails. I got a Long Island Iced Tea which was very strong and got me a little tipsy. We also got buttery nipple shots to try and they were a lot of fun. I will say I was very disappointed by the food. The menu was good but the execution of the food was poor. I felt like Gordon Ramsay eating the fried tofu appetizer, it just wasn't good and the dipping sauce was too runny. I also ordered the fettuccine alfredo and the sauce tasted like it was from a jar so that was a let down. I was also disappointed with the attention our waiters paid to us. They didn't refill the water and they only came over to stir the hookah once. This place is fine as a hookah bar but not as a restaurant in my opinion.

This place's venue is gorgeous, in particularly the garden, pictures wouldn't do it justice. Venue definitely deserves 4 stars ; Since part of the restaurant is outside and around plants take into consideration of the bugs that might want to join in. As for the food and drinks, I've definitely had better with better proportions but it was still good. 3 stars ; The chicken parmesan was nicely made and it did taste good but the proportion for the price was ridiculous, my bf got a burger that was cheaper than mine and his proportions were triple mine. Some of the food (Calamari) had some spice in it even my drink , I hate spicy food but because it wasn't a crazy amount I didn't complain. I would definitely come back but only for a scenery experience and maybe a special date since the food is expensive. And I would recommend to a friend but with a heads up .

The stained glass is beautiful but so is the patio. It’s gorgeous! We happened to stop by on a cooler day and thought to give sitting outside a try which was perfect because they have a wonderful selection of delicious, warm drinks. I highly recommend giving this place a try! Also, if it’s your thing, they have hookah! I did not try it out so I can’t speak to it’s quality. I had the hot vine, my boyfriend had the steamy apple. Both were fantastic but I personally liked his better.

This place was a surprise find and we were pleasantly surprised. There are not many outdoor hookah spaces in NYC and Cloister offers just that. The place is reasonably priced with friendly staff. The food was okay as well. Overall we had a good experience and would definitely come back.

I came from toronto to visit new york, and heard about this place from my goos friend. I am happy he told me about it! Great people, from the employees, to the manager, all the way to the owner! Good hookahs, food and environment! The people made us feel like home, and will for sure go back there to enjoy my time! Highly highly recommended. Thank you guys for good time, see you soon!

The place looks really nice. The quesadilla was really salty however and I didn’t like it. The service was bad, the water was not refilled, and it took 45 minutes for the food. The tip was automatically added and we were not told, and then it took a long time to collect the check even though there weren’t many people in the restaurant.

Sitting here in the wonderful Cloister Patio smoking a Shisha writing this review. Usually the first place I go to when visiting NYC - a oasis of calm in the bustling city. Today’s Monday so it’s rather quiet but service is very attentive and friendly nonetheless. Agreed that they could switch to cocoa charcoal from the self-igniting they have now. Other than that - super hookah filled to the brim with fresh and moist tobacco. I like the generous selection of tastes, went for Lemon/Mint today as it’s warm outside and that seems like a refreshing option. Good Longdrink Menu as well here. Do yourself a favor and chill out with a tea or drink in their grape vine-covered patio. A true gem in lower Manhattan that has me coming back every time.

Love this place! We have been here twice in the last month and both times were exceptional. For starters, it has an incredible set up for COVID as they are mainly outdoor and the music is great too! For food options I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Calamari. For a drink I would also recommend the Jalapeno Watermelon Margarita (that comes in a skull glass-so cool)...and for dessert, get the CHURROS. From an operational perspective, the waitstaff were incredibly friendly and on top of things and from a management/ownership perspective they were a class act. They really know how to run a hospitality venue. Thanks again for having us!

I won't comment on the bathroom because I didn't use it, but next time I'm here I'm gonna have to check out the two-toilet situation. Service was great and so was the atmosphere in the patio area outside. I was going to order the white sangria but the server suggested I try their festive "Hallo" sangria, and it was pretty good (ppl who like drinks that taste like juice and not alcohol would enjoy this). My friend ordered some other cocktail that ended up tasting strongly of cucumber when there wasn't supposed to be any cucumber in it, so the server allowed her to replace her drink with the same sangria. The server also offered us free shots (had apple cider & vodka I think?) and Halloween-themed chocolate cake on the house. Everything was very Halloween themed, so it made for a fun experience.

Excellent service, great food and music. Christina was a wonderful hostess. -- second time around and enjoyed

Only stopped in for a beer for happy hour. Pretty cool garden area. It was very zen. The IPA was $4. They also had Stellas on happy hour for $4 and some wines for $5. Happy hour was from 4 - 7. But beware, they charge you tax on it, even if you pay with cash. It was a hefty beer though, and delicious. Service was good, nothing over the top. I know a lot of people here complain about the hookah and the food, but I didn't try any of that so I can't really comment. Overall, if you are coming here for happy hour for a bit, I would recommend.

This is the ideal place for a chill Friday night with friends - especially during Covid. The vibes are amazing, with great music, super warm outdoor seating and tables spaced well apart. The food is good too - especially the queso & the fish tacos, which were even more impressive than I expected. The plates are small and on the pricier side, and the cocktails are standard, which is the only reason that my 4 star rating isn't a 5! - Navya J @nyconthetable

A nice chill spot. The decor is beautiful and the hookah is pretty good. The food is okay but who is really going for the food anyway. The drinks are good depending on what you order.

Cloister Cafe is a beautiful hidden garden bar/restaurant in the middle of the traffic-filled neighborhood known as St Marks. When you enter, there is a backyard outdoor seating area, backyard indoor seating, and a smaller space inside of the restaurant. The whole place is decorated with stained glass, flowers, and murals. I've been here for brunch and just for hookah/drinks. Personally, I'd recommend coming here for a night out of hookah/drinks rather than brunch. For brunch, we ordered the french toast (~17) and eggs Benedict (~14) and neither were outstanding. They did come with a complimentary mimosa! I feel that there are better brunch spots in the area. For a night out, this place is always fun. They've got hookah for ~$20+ and consistently refill the coal, an eclectic mix of Arabic and top 40s hits, and a variety of cocktails! I always get the dessert cocktails because who can say no to sugar? Most drinks are less than $15. They've also got tea pots of mint tea for $5, great for a cold night. The owner and staff are friendly and attentive to detail. This is in no way a fancy or high thrill setting. But if you're looking for a relaxed atmosphere that is conveniently located to busier nightlife, check it out! (Solas bar is right next door).

The worst experience I've had in a long time dining out. The front garden is beautiful - no doubt.sure. The owner was standing out there and didn't even say hello, but gave me a dirty look as I walked in. I saw him greet a white person so I thought that was odd. But let's not make this about race, right? I walked in - it was freezing. The first thing you see when you sit down are three, huge, paintings of POTUS and it's obviously ridiculous. Idk if it's me but I couldn't eat somewhere where Trump is praised....in New York....after a few minutes, decided to leave. It all made sense as to why that place was super empty in the middle of a beautiful day. BUT the server was very friendly and sweet. Other than that, the flowers were browning and the plants were dying. It's all an illusion - look closer.

The food wasn't THAT great. Kind of salty and the noodles were too overcooked. However, I'm giving this place 4 stars because of the ambiance. The restaurant is quite beautiful inside.

Bathroom 2.5 Hookah N/A Bathroom was so bizarre. It was clean but gets minus 1 point for not having an automatic paper dispenser. Also gets minus 1 point for the bathroom being so hidden and inaccessible. Steep stairs to the bathroom = handicapped people not being able to pee. Then minus 1 because it's creepy. There's no reason to have 2 toilets next to each other than playing battleshits. Give it a +0.5 cuz I laughed.

This was such a solid place for drinks with a group. My group had a fun experience here, and the waiter was fun to joke around with. He did try to upsell us on the hookah, which we didn't feel like doing at the time, but hey, the people who were doing it did look like they were having fun. Great spot for cheap drinks. The first drink I ordered had some cucumber in it, which I have a slight aversion to, and the waiter was nice enough to take it back and let me order a new one. I ended up having their house sangria which was very good, and only had to pay for the more expensive drink. True to the waiter's promise, our group also received shots on the house. We got these spiced apple shots with a cinnamon rim, which tasted so good. We came towards the end of the night, when they were cleaning up the restaurant, so they also had extra cake they were getting rid of and gave each of us a slice on the house. Overall, a pleasant experience, and they were so generous with what they were giving us for free. I'd definitely recommend!

Looking for something fun to do on a Friday night? Come to this beautiful backyard oasis and enjoy some drinks (cocktail and mocktails) and hookah. I love the vibe of this place- it so chill and the decor is so pt. They have a wide variety of flavors and the waiter recommended dragonbreath and pinappple- it was fruity and delicious. They revamped their menu of burgers and fries and now it is Brazilian and Mexican fusion. For appetizers we tried the elote corn (you can choose between corn on the cob or cut up) and we chose the latter and it was yummy. We also ordered the calamari, Brazilian cheese bread, and queso dip and my favorite is the calamari as it came with a sweet chili sauce on top. The avocado tostada was the perfect bite and so refreshing. For entrees we had the steak tacos and carnitas- the steak taco has a cheesy shell which reminded me of Birria tacos and the carnitas was tender. To end the meal we had the get the churros and flan . The flan was great and the churros were soo crispy and great with the caramel dip.

The location is great (in the trendy section of East Village) The Atmosphere inside / or outside feels like you are in a little Brazil-Mexico village. We just had dinner here yesterday April 1st. 2021 with 4 of my friends. Even if you gave me 100 hours to think of 1 thing we didn't like. I couldn't even think of anything! Absolute perfection. I am born in NYC and lived here my entire life so I've been to thousands of cafe's. Trust me! Book your brunch or dinner here. If you're coming from out of town, The Standard hotel is nearby. A real New York Experience far away from those midtown stuffy places!

cloister cafe is always our first option and it never disappoints. From the starter to the dessert the quality and tastes of everything was outstanding, this time We had the Huevos Rancheros which Had the perfect amount of heat, Eggs Benedict with a perfectly poached egg and The French toast which was killer!! Not to mention a delicious Michelada (modelo) might have been the coziest brunch we've had during covid thanks to the heat lamps (clutch). Service was delightful as usual and very professional. 10/10!Eggs Benedict

I've had dinner and brunch here a few times over the last few months - and I keep coming back! Each time does not disappoint! They have a beautiful heated outdoor garden and a heated canopy space in the back that allows you to dine even if it's raining. The heaters are so warm and its one of the only places in the city where I've been able to comfortably eat outdoors and not freeze! We had several dishes -- queso, amazon tacos, vegetarian breakfast burrito, the acai bowl, and churros. The food was absolutely fantastic! The spicy watermelon margarita and the bellini with fresh peach puree is a must. My friend who doesn't drink alcohol had a non-alcoholic bellini with lavender peach kombucha which she said was delightful. Overall, the ambiance is lovely, the service is attentive, and the food and drinks are fantastic! I can't wait to try more from their menu!

Cloister Cafe really rubbed me the wrong way tonight. I'm not a big hookah person, but I had a few friends that wanted to come here. Things to know before considering this place. 1) One drink minimum for everyone on the table. (not a big deal) 2) They really wanted us to close out the bill about 15 minutes into our stay. (not a big deal) 3) Oh, beer came out warm! YUCK, who likes warm beer? Waitress said their machine is a little bit broken. Then why serve it at all? That just doesn't make sense to me. 4) Then, they told us last minute that they only accept 2 cards maximum when we got the bill. I was really surprised about this and told her that I wished she would have told us from the very beginning this was the case or at least have that on the menu. *5 minutes later after we sorted out who to pay by cash and who to pay by card.* 5) Waitress returns back to us and tells us there is a $20 minimum for each card. Seriously? Why didn't you just tell us all that from the very beginning? It's also illegal in New York to set a minimum on cards. 6) Don't be fooled and do not give extra tip (unless your service was better than ours). On the menu, they already included 16% gratuity into the price. 7) What's up with the double toilets in the bathrooms? It just looks very trashy. I get it if it was more of a family friendly restaurant, but this is a bar/hookah bar. *Waitress avoided us at all cost and got another waitress to deal with us* Conclusion: I just feel like we were deceived. I honestly wouldn't have mind anything had they told us all the information from the very beginning.

The place is quite spacious, and is big-group friendly. However, the hookah and drinks were a bit lack luster. The hookah tasted very soapy- but that could just be the flavor we chose. We ordered a small carafe of sangria, and it all the glasses had fruits in it and we were given the white wine separately (which in my head defeats the purpose of a sangria?). The wine felt very flavorless as well. They did give us all a free shot which was super yummy but that was about it. Nice place to maybe smoke hookah and chill with friends, but wasn't too impressed by their drinks.

Incredible food. Incredible environment. Incredible staff. Incredible menu, incredible drinks, I honestly could not have asked for more from this place. Will be returning frequently, this place is a must.

A nice place with a cozy garden and many interesting menu items. I especially liked the Dama Verde cocktail and the fried calamari!

I always loved this place but have even more appreciation for it now because of its heated outdoor garden seating during COVID. All staff wore masks and social distancing was maintained making me feel very safe. I went for brunch and everything from food to drinks were so good! The margs and bellinis were my favorite and some of the best ive had. We also had the french toast, Chilaquiles, and churros and would definitely recommend them to anyone. I cant wait to go back.

I'm so torn between the pretty outdoor canopy and the terrible cocktails, so I think it should average out to 3 stars. Hookah is $20, and then you are also "required" to get a drink. I got a green tea, which was $4.95. My boyfriend got a pina colada, and that was $11--and definitely not worth it. It tasted like straight up alcohol, with no flavor whatsoever. The milk was also all foamy and frothy, sitting on top of the drink. They have plentiful hookah flavors. Their bathroom is super weird, as it's two toilets next to each other in the same room with no separators. I guess if you have a bathroom buddy you like to hold hands with, it's great... but their outdoor seating is really pretty and spacious, especially spring thru autumn. The hookah bowl was well packed. The server was nice and friendly, but she also asked to have our checks closed asap because it was the end of her shift, which I thought was kinda tacky. Surely I have patronized other businesses in the middle of shift changes, yet this doesn't happen to me anywhere but here. Also, when I asked her to change the coal on my hookah, she put the new coal over the exact same spot the first one was on. I ended up having to move it with my fork to a new spot. I didn't like that there's something called "suggested service" itemized on your receipt--this is basically an automatically included gratuity, regardless of your party size (I was there with only my boyfriend). And then when they run your card and give you the receipt to sign, there's another spot to put additional tips. ??? @management If you're gonna do forced gratuity then don't ask customers for additional tips.

The vibe is amazing, special sangria tasted delicious! We also had their margarita jalapeño, chips and queso and the guac. Overall fantastic experience

Not to be dramatic, I never wanted to leave a "bad Yelp review" anywhere, but this establishment gave me truly the worst dining experience I have ever had. The only reason they even got 1 star is because Yelp won't allow me to post a worse review. Here's the story: A group of friends and I dined there the other night, and we had ordered a few drinks. The menu misled me to believe that a glass of Maker's Mark whiskey was $6, not $16, and when I called to inquire about this pricing I was told that I "should know what a glass of Maker's Mark costs" by the rude hostess. On top of that, the menu of this place lists a 7.5% "service fee" at the bottom. BEWARE OF THIS FEE. The menu they have printed as well as listed ONLINE is OUTDATED. The hostess on the phone explained (again, quite rudely) to me that they only recently reacquired their liquor license, and beause of this the service charge is now 20%. When I asked why it was not reflected on the menu, she told me they "couldn't afford to update the menu". I'm not sure who is in charge here, but clearly they have not realized that this is false advertising. The phone call ended with the hostess hanging up on me, by the way. The food was below average at best, and extremely overpriced ($12 for two bite sized tacos, and my girlfriend paid like $15 for a tiny bowl of calamari). I will not be coming back here, and if the hostess is reading this, I'll practice my knowledge of NYC whiskey prices just for you. Seriously, I'm sitting here over a day and a half after it happened just absolutely fuming. I have never experienced such utter disrespect from an establishment. This is like one of those restaurants where they have intentionally bad service as a gag... except it's not a gag. Complete shithole.

The first time I was introduced to Cloister was in 2009 and I am pleased to say I have frequented ever since. I love the ambiance, the variety of hookah flavors (blue mist is my favorite), and the fact that the service is very "European." It's one of those places where you can spend hours in and the wait staff lets you be and isn't all in your face asking if you need anything every five seconds. If you do need them, however, they're always attentive. My favorite time to visit Cloister is in the summer, when they have tables set up on their front patio and you get an indoor-outdoor experience where yes, there's a roof over your head but everything is so open and the summer air breezes through. In the winter, they only have the "restaurant" and "backyard" portions open, which both fill up rather quickly so come early to get a seat! They have a large menu as well as a late night "bar food" type of menu, though I have never eaten there and have only had drinks (which by the way, the resiling is TO DIE FOR). The only reason why I'm not giving this review a full five stars is because last time I went, my friend and I arrived around 10pm and stayed until 2am, so we racked up quite the bill between the two of us. However, when our waitress brought us the check, we needed to split it unevenly (she ordered food and a few extra drinks, and according to her, the late night quesadilla is "amazing"), so when I was doing the math, I noticed that they had a "suggested service charge" that I didn't include in my calculations because we wanted to tip separately on our individual credit cards. The waitress said that the 16% tip they were suggesting we leave was mandatory. Personally, I usually tip at least 18% (if I'm happy with the service, and I was) but I was annoyed that even though the bill said "suggested," it was mandatory. Her loss I guess, I would've tipped more.

If you want a good meal, good drinks, and an attentive wait staff then DO NOT come here. Besides the aforementioned, they illegally and sneakily price gouge. On the menu I attached below it states a 7.5% service charge which is fair and my party was willing to pay due to the hardships restaurants have faced with covid. Besides the overpriced accommodations in this establishment, my party was enjoying the night. When we received our bill, it began down-pouring and we were dripping wet, so we tried to leave ASAP. We paid for the bill and tipped 20% -I managed to take a picture of it which I've attached below. Afterwards, we realized they charged an 18% service charge, which was never stated anywhere on the menu. When I called to sort this out, I was connected to a woman with a poor attitude that tried to gaslight me by claiming that (1) the menus were "outdated" and (2) that the 18% charge is the gratuity and was stated on the menu. If the menus were outdated, why would I receive it then? And even if they weren't outdated, nowhere does it say 18% gratuity. I've seen similar complaints about this exact situation in reviews dating back to 2018. I should've read some of them before attending this establishment --it would've saved me a lot of my time, and money. If this establishment has been committing this scam for years, they deserve to be shut down. I've already reported them to NYC for price gouging and contacted my credit card company. I was happy to pay a 7.5% service charge, but it's the principle that they lied to my face, and had terrible customer service that is the bottom line to me. If you want to up charge, you HAVE to disclose it.

straight up terrible i would give it zero stars if i could. They upcharge and doubled their service charge lmao the service sucked too tbh at least having something to back it up with if you're going to overcharge us. Did you think we were drunk lol we were straight sober don't be trying to pull some bs. If you don't update the menu, you can't charge a different price-- that's not our problem. You don't even need to print new menus-- literally just white out and write over it in sharpie. You also don't have to pay to update a PDF. That's not our problem. That's false advertising.. (SCAMMING EVEN??) when you write one price on the menu and charge another lol. You not being able to print a new menu is not our problem. I also read a lot of reviews about this place stealing from customers, upcharging other customers too, not following covid-guidelines, etc??? You lost your liquor license for very valid reasons.

It Was ok. Came in for a bite after pet shopping at whiskers across the street. The garden is lovely. Food is ok. Not the most extensive menu but salads are good. I had the beyond meet burger with no bun. Would've given more stars if the service was good. Service was poor. 3 young lady waitresses just standing around chatting . Took me a while to get their attention. Would I come back? Probably not as the menu is limited. Maybe for a coffee and dessert in the garden which is nice.

Amazing - the food was delish The hookah was smooth Our sever was one of the most great ppl

Terrible place. Avoid. Food is gross and atmosphere is lackluster. Lots of upcharging going on and small drink portions.

There were ants in the sugar can that we used for our coffee! The manger also wasn't so nice when we tried to give her a feedback about our experience there. Also the hookah is overpriced and you only get to change the charcoal twice!!! 5$ for a single extra piece of charcoal!!! Not going back there definitely.

Pros: Decor Cons: 1. Their cocktails and drinks are absolutely awful awful awful. When I had asked the server if I could have it remade, he explained that their cocktails are generally made more on the strong side. Now, nobody's complaining about a strong drink , but when I order a blue martini I'm not expecting a glass of vodka with blue coloring. My friends, on the other hand had ordered mojitos/margaritas which were filled to the brim with syrup and were absolutely too sweet and undrinkable. Awful. 2. Their hookah is horrendous. They lack any real flavor. Some comments mention that they could be tobacco free; which the establishment fails to mention anywhere. If you want to drink somewhere with a pretty view, you are better off just drinking anywhere else in the city. Would not recommend.

Was super hungry! Me and my friends found this place. It's a beautiful decor and they have hookah, y'all love hookah this is the place. The price is okay. The whole place was crowded!! We enjoyed the food and drinks.

Great food and service! Comfortable outdoor space. Awesome and chill vibe. Definitely coming back for the fish tacos!

This cafe is super cute. It has outdoor seating which is where my friends and I sat. Our waitress was such a doll. She was super attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. We shared a hookah between four people but the only downside was that she didnt explain to us about the $15 minimum on drinks. We asked for water instead of drinks and got charged $15.50 for it. Which is insanely expensive for water.. I could go to costco and get a case of 40 pack water for $4...

Woke up the next day with an itchy throat after getting a hookah. Still hasn't gone away. I'm not sure if it was the stuff that they used or something in my drink. I ordered a Cloister Sunrise.

Came here for brunch with my girlfriend yesterday and it was too cute not to leave a review. It's a hidden garden in the east village and of course we started with a Bellini and their cactus margarita (sounds as good as it tasted!) . The eggs Benedict was done just right with runny eggs and the wagyu burger with chipotle hit the spot! Definitely recommend and can't wait to go back!

Corky spot!The food was ok but what do you expect from a hookah lounge??!! Hookahs can be better... The desserts and teas are actually good. The staff and east village vibe allows you to let loose and feel comfy. The outdoor seating is absolutely beautiful. Knocking down a star for the Trump artwork! **Rec to restaurant- Stay politically aware of your audience, for Gods Sake your place is located in East village! #ImpeachTrump

I love this place this is my goto whenever I'm in the area. I can't tell you enough how this is spool the vibez

Cloister cafe is the place I go to when the restaurant down the street from it has a super long line reaching down the street. I like that they have competing prices. The $5 drinks is what keeps me coming back and Rony-met him when he was working at the other restaurant on the same block. He's really cool. The cloister cafe is good for hookah and drinks, however I wouldn't eat the food that they serve there. I ate calamari there once and I had food poisoning for TWO days. And I've been to scared to try anything else that's not a drink or hookah. Other than that, it's a lovely place.

Came to Cloister Cafe for an outdoor group brunch with friends. Felt very safe and warm. The food was delicious (I had the grab hero omelette and my girlfriend had the açaí bowl - split the churros for dessert) and the cocktails were tasty (bloody, mimosa, watermelon / tequila, gin lemonade)! The garden is so unique to the east village and is great for a date or a group brunch when you want to soak up the beautiful atmosphere and be safe.

In this weather this place is an oasis! Is warm and cozy. To start the host is a very nice young man, the service overall is amazing. The drinks are on point and the food is very good, specially the watermelon ceviche is crazy good! I didn't get to try a Hooka but they sure look and smell good but next time for sure!

My friends and I came by this place last evening. We heard about it from a friend and loved it! I had the frozen horchata in this beautiful garden that made me feel like I was in tulum! Great music, service was quick, friendly staff, and the hookah was so smooth! The steak tacos, calamari, Brazilian cheese bread and churros are a must. Plenty of amazing cocktails to pick from but my two favorite were the cucumber lavender lemonade and horchata of course.

I am so happy Cloister Cafe is pulling through in such trying times for the NY restaurant industry. I was a regular here and came back to find a new warm ambiance, new menu and the same amazing service. The new decor is super vibrant and sexy. My group and I ordered the grilled rib eye tacos, calamari (best calamari I've ever tasted), queso and steak skewers. The food most certainly did not disapoint and the drinks were fantastic! They make an amazing kiwi mojito which was recommended by our server, and of course all the ladies kept reordering the spicy watermelon margarita. Service, food and drinks were 5 stars from our group and this place will still remain to be one of our favorite spots!

I almost hate to give three stars, because there were a lot of good things about this place, but I was pretty sad about what I ordered, the beef burger. I'll start from the top. Me and seven friends came for a birthday dinner. Our original reservation was for nine but we were running late, and fortunately they let us push it back to 9:30. When we got there, inside was almost empty, which was great, the garden was a little more full (Normally we would've loved the garden, but it was 9:30 at night in the dead of the winter). It was nice and warm outside, which I loved. The waiter was kind and attentive, and patient with us when we took our time about ordering and have lots of questions. The menu had a pretty good selection, including a lot of interesting looking hookah flavors. I ordered the burger with American cheese, rare. My friends ordered the salmon, pesto pasta, ribs, a couple of other burgers, and we get a side of truffle fries for the table. The food took some time to come out, but we were a large party so it was understandable. So about the burger. It looked good, but wasn't. I ordered it rare, but was no pink in sight. Maybe a little light brown, but it was NOT rare, by any stretch of the imagination. It was pretty well cooked, I'd say it was about medium. Not a huge deal, a medium burger can still be good. But this one wasn't. It just didn't taste like very much. I have a feeling that it was frozen, rather than fresh made. I realize that lots of places have frozen patties or can't customize the level of doneness, OK, but tell me this as I'm ordering. I think the most offputting thing about it were the grilled vegetables on it. The problem wasn't really that I wasn't expecting them (Although I would have asked for them to have been left off if I'd known they were coming), it was that they were overcooked to the point that they were mushy. The bell pepper was actually a little bit slimy. I did everything I could to make it work, but it just didn't. It wasn't good. One of my other friends was on the same page about his burger, wasn't into it. The fries were pretty good, sort of shoestring, which I like, and well seasoned. The truffle fries were delicious, and were gone within a few minutes. The ribs were a generous portion and my friends liked them, but I didn't try any. The salmon and pesto pasta were also reportedly good. So, there were a lot of good things about this place, the staff was nice, the restaurant itself was beautiful, they're good for groups, but given my experience with my burger, I can't give a higher rating. I'd come here again to check out the garden and maybe try the hookah, and of course another menu item.

This is a terrible experience despite my like for this place. Extremely slow service and all we got was that they were too busy. Too busy with what? Other customers that were more important despite we were spending good money and were regular customer? We tried to flag down the manager and different waitresses for a coal change and everyone would just acknowledge us and walk away. They also charged us for items that never showed up and were not even apologetic about it. When we asked for the check, we waited for 30 mins. 30 minutes to pay? Really? And we also noticed this mandatory service charge. What service did we get? None? The manager even argued with us. What the heck? We understand that it could have been a busy night but it was no excuse to be rude to us. Also, this mandatory service charge, pretty sure it's illegal because we only had 3 people. Honestly, I was a regular customer but it really just takes one very bad experience to make me never come back again.

This place is a hit, and I highly recommend going if you haven't yet. This place has excellent food, service, drinks, hookah, and decor. In the summer, you can sit outside but for now they have that area covered and heated. It was beautiful inside, very nicely decorated and more than enough room! Many food, drink, and hookah options- all for cheap! Last night my friends and I arrived in a big group, and RONY helped take care of us. Rony is the best!! He is the man!! He knows how to handle people and their needs/wants, and helped exceed our expectations! I was so glad he was there throughout the night because it was a pleasure. Will return and tell people because of him! You can get good food anywhere, but the amazing service is what made this place stand out for me. Try to go when they have specials! $5 mojitos? Who can beat that??

F*CK THIS PLACE!!! Do we live in that Kevin Costner movie, "Waterworld"? I came here with a group of friends. We wanted a place where it was outdoorsy, relaxing and nearby. I always passed by this place and was dying to try it... Maybe I should've kept on walking by. We were able to grab a spot for 6 people. We ordered some drinks and Hookah (my favorite flavor is Apple). Our waiter comes back and informs us that Stella Artois on tap is warm. The only option was Pilsner. I guess it will do. The beers came and I still wish that the Stella wasn't warm. They have a pretty tasty menu. We decided on getting the "Cloisters Fancy Fries". This consists of french fries with fried Mint leaves. You hardly taste the mint and would have been better if it was minced and tossed in the fries in a bowl with some salt. It really lacked flavor. WHAT PLACE DOESN'T GIVE YOU ICE WATER CAUSE YOU DID NOT ORDER DINNER? Our bill was reaching about $150 and the MANAGER told our waiter NOT TO GIVE US water, but insisted that we buy bottled water. SERIOUSLY!? It's not like the water is from a melting glacier in the Arctic. It's just REGULAR tap water that's cold. I know that times are tough, but really? The only good thing I can say about this place is that the atmosphere is good, the stain glass windows inside are awesome and the RANDOM DOUBLE TOILETS are HILARIOUS! Will I be coming back here again? Are Tupac and Biggie alive? NO!!!

Brotherly Yelplander; I haft cometh heretofore to sing the praises of the blessed Cloisters Cafe; a heavenly place of yore, where many can cometh to drink merry, rejoice on a repast worthy of tired traveler, or inhale the airs of hookkah, known to our crusader brothers in the lands of Augustine, as well as to happy pagans and infidels in the East. Thy Cloisters Cafe hath many wondrous things, which marvels the eye; colorful sacrosanct stained glass windows in the interior mess hall, a frugal decor worthy of our humble retreats, weaponry and armorie on the walls to kill mighty beast (in case it showeth), and a golden knight-in-armor by the entrance (to impede ruffians to flee without paying their fee)... Outside, a garden covered in a ceiling webbed of thorny trees, provides shelter to scorching sun, and giveth place to eat in the open air while hearing the birds and other creatures of nature. The Hookah room, brother Yelplander, seems dark and sensual, arousing many a sinful wish, so I beseech thee to proceed with caution. The repast was most agreeable; The spicy Penne was not only of gargantuan size but of blissful taste. And the Chicken Piccata was conformed of the most exquisite twist of citrus lemon; angelical taste, perfectly marinated, I fear, with Alchemical might. We hath mussels for entree, which gist of buttery complexion was also delightful to our palate. Ordered us a bottle of Brut Champagne, different than those by our brothers in Languedoc, but enough for us to quickly make folly. All in all, we soon thought ourselves to be partaking in a feast of cherubs, and not of humble trobadours along the path of St. Marks May I also add, dear Yelplander, that this most blessed of places was so cheapeth; two parsons sharing all the above rations and one bottle of Brut, made for a $66.00 Denarius tab, which we promptly paid, and then went our way, thanking the tender and his lovely mistress. Commeth brother Yelplander, commeth. Cinqum Starum Splendorum, I giveth thee!

Cloister Cafe is a great place to come if you want bad food, drinks that taste like windex, and to be stolen from! On 1/18 at around 10pm, I was eating at the Cloister Cafe, which was a bad idea. The food was really bad, the hookah was overpriced, and they upcharged us on the drinks (adding "premium" expensive liquor without asking). I was already not enjoying my time there. Then I witnessed the following: A female customer was at the table next to me. She accidentally left her purse behind and the server came and picked it up. When the customer came back minutes later, the server gave it back to her with all the cash gone. The customer pointed this out, but the server claimed that "two men" brought it to her that way. A lie. Only when the victim mentioned calling the cops did the server go into some back room (not under the table where she said the cash must have fallen) and find her cash mysteriously hidden, out of the wallet where it belonged. And it wasn't a few bills, it was a pile of money that had already been rifled through. Long story short, the server and staff straight up stole from their patron and lied about it to her face. Only when the police were about to be called did they try and cover their butts by giving up the cash. They also lied about their security cameras being "off" and that two men were the ones who stole it. It was despicable. I was there to hear it all. The victim, "Colby T" posted her own review and the owner "Roland R" is lying in his response to her. Every word of it is false, made up to try and sweep this under the rug. These people are crooks. They are scum. They don't deserve to run a cafe. I would rather suck hookah out of a rusty tailpipe, drink water from the Hudson, and eat a dead rat then ever give my money to this garbage establishment again. Edit: Had to re-post because the owner flagged my original review. They are despicable.