27 Best Cafes in Long Island City

“If you're looking for authentic Greek food and pastries, Meri's Bakeshop is an absolute gem. As someone who is half Greek and grew up eating homemade Greek food, I can honestly say this is the best Greek bakery and food I've had anywhere in the United States.

Everything we tried was exceptional, from the Greek cookies to the baklava and spanakopita and tiropita. You can taste the quality, tradition, and care in every bite. Even better, Meri creates fresh specials daily, so there's always something new and delicious to try.

What truly sets this place apart is Meri herself. She is one of those rare people who instantly makes you feel like family the moment you walk through the door!! Her warmth, hospitality, and passion for sharing Greek culture shine through in everything she does.

Meri's Bakeshop feels like stepping into someone's home for a meal. The food is incredible, but it's the combination of authentic flavors and genuine hospitality that makes it so special. This is the kind of place you find once and then tell all your friends about- I can't wait to go back!“

“This is, by far, the best cafe in town, in my opinion. Home made croissants with all kinds of add ons like eggs, bacon, ham, peach seasonal fruits etc etc etc. One of a kind, James Beard award recipient chef Ghaya takes her time and skills and puts it on the table every single day. Baking starts in the very early morning hours to perfection. French toast on the weekends! Chicken sandwiches as well wow!! Service is outstanding, the place is immaculately clean, one block away from the subway. Oh, and the pastries are incredible! You will return, I promise!“

“We are visiting from Miami and stumbled upon this hidden gem. We ordered blueberry pancakes , 2 egg platers and a breakfast sandwich and everything was a 10/10. I got myself a mushroom coffee which was interesting , very good as well. The place is small and homey. The staff was very kind and welcoming. They have a variety of options on the menu & they even have vegan protein powder to make shakes. The hash browns and eggs were delicious and were not greasy at all. Fast service . If you are looking for some good breakfast or quick sandwich / wrap / smoothies check them out .“

“Little Chef Little Cafe has quickly become one of my go-to spots in LIC. Their chicken adobo with garlic rice is so flavorful, honestly crave-worthy, and their brookies are a dangerous little addiction.

I recently ordered catering from them for my husband’s birthday, and it was a huge hit. Every dish was fresh, delicious, and beautifully prepared. Guests kept going back for more and asking where the food was from …. always a good sign.

It’s such a gem to have in the neighborhood: amazing food, reliable for catering, and consistently great. Highly recommend!“

“Abbiamo frequentato il Santa Chiara Café durante la nostra vacanza a Manhattan. Conosciuto per caso è diventato la nostra tappa preferita per la colazione e non solo. Locale raffinato, pulito ed elegante, in pieno stile italiano con vista mozzafiato sullo skyline. Personale educato simpatico e competente. Cibo e bevande di una qualità top a prezzi moderati. Ma vogliamo raccontarvi di più. Al Santa Chiara Caffè tra i nostri preferiti: cornetti, crostate e piccola pasticceria…davvero eccellenti. Gelati artigianali cremosi e gustosi. Nulla è lasciato al caso, anche i nostri amici a quattro zampe erano super felici di fare colazione con i bellissimi biscottini per animali. Una menzione particolare per Enzo best omelettist in town. Last but not least, il proprietario Cristiano, gentile, educato, professionale, simpatico e generoso. Un posto da non perdere, infatti non vediamo l’ora di tornare…aspettateci! ****** English We bumped into Santa Chiara Cafe by chance and after it became our favourite place for breakfast but not only…it is clean and elegant in classic italian style with a great view towards the Manhattan skyline. The staff is nice, polite and very skilled. Food and drinks are top quality with modest price. However, we want to tell you more; favourite food, among the others, are croissants, tart and all the deliciuos small cakes. Not to mention the excellent homemade ice creams. Nothing is left to chance, also our pet friends were super happy to taste the eccellent cookies. Special mention to Enzo who makes the best omelette in town. Last but not least, the owner Cristiano: polite, kind, nice, professional and very generous. Highly reccomended place, not to be missed, we are looking forward to go back again…wait for us!“

“I pretty much go to Maman every morning Monday to Friday so much it’s become my morning ritual. William is an awesome kind quick barista with great energy, he makes you feel like you’re apart of the community. I mostly get the cold brew but the croissants are truly the best in the city. I can’t remember life before Maman lol!“

“Such a charming neighborhood cafe in LIC, with lots of heart. We loved the back patio on a sunny day. The owner (Coco) is warm and inviting - his story ft on his website actually made my partner and I want to stop by. Great food, presentation, and friendly ambience!“

“Best wings ever, and we've eaten a LOT of wings! Thai chili wings were perfect; sweet and spicy, BIG and juicy. Elli and Fernando are great. Highly recommend!“

“Decent little spot on the corner, has a variety of sandwich and soup options, so great for a light lunch. Coffee is priced very well, and they have a few pastry/snack items too. Good place to sit on a laptop and work, they have Wifi and outlets available, but spots are limited. The staff are all friendly and courteous. Outdoor seating is also available to sit and sip with a friend.“

“PYO continues to impress me no matter which location I visit. The customer service is outstanding, the drinks are made perfectly, and there are so many great options to choose from. It’s rare to find a business that’s this consistent across multiple locations. Easily one of my favorite bubble tea spots anywhere. 10/10!“

“Tasty Soufflé, cold Brew coffee and green tea“

“ottimo accogliente davvero speciale. consigliatissimo!“

“Nice spot for a quick bite. We had some sfihas and smoothie, both were delicious, super tasty. The service was excellent, and the owner was very polite and welcoming. A solid everyday option in the neighborhood, for sure I’m gonna back a thousand times!!!“

“Wow. Can’t even find the words to express how amazing this was. 100% worth everything. The service was amazing, such a sweet woman. We were well taken care of and the food is delicious. Will definitely be coming back next time we are near LIC!“

“You know when you’re driving to a new area to work and you want to grab food real quick before you start.

This is how I found out about this place. Automatically was driving by to go to a different place and saw a few workers waiting in line to grab some food. So I’m like “you know what let me stop here”.

Once I walked up to the cashier I knew I chose the right spot. From the amount of options on their menu I would say it’s a good amount but not overwhelming.

I decided to get the French toast breakfast sandwich. And when I say that Sammy was busssssin. It was so good!

Whole time im like yeah I have to go back. Noticed they closed at 2pm and finished my day job by 1:30 and rushed back over to get the no. 7 which is a chipotle chicken sandwich on ciabatta. Didn’t disappoint at all either.

Not only was the food great the owner and the staff was amazing.

Let me go save this on my tabs so I remember to come back here when I’m in the area.“

“Stopped by this new coffee shop and honestly had a perfect experience. The coffee was really good — smooth, strong, and just done right.

Service was great too. Everyone was friendly and made it feel welcoming without being over the top.

Nice, clean space with a chill vibe. Definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to. Highly recommend checking it out.“

“I want to thank the nice man working here tonight, he made my passion fruit tea with black tea even though the menu only showed green tea option! And it was delicious. Can’t wait to come back and try other yummy options on the menu“

“Lovely cafe! Such amazing matcha, the cafe staff are so friendly too. Definitely recommend!!❤️“

“It’s my favorite restaurant of all time. The service is amazing, every time I’m there I’m threaded like a queen and the atmosphere is so relaxing. Always my go to place“

“It's an awesome little theater in the heart of Greenpoint (BK) that features indie movies as well as Hollywood blockbusters. Check it out!“

“Came by for Sunday brunch. Welcomed and seated by a hostess at the bar with a smile. I recognized the bartender/ server - Diego, from my past visit and so did he. A friendly guy with smiles who walked me thru his fav’s - which I asked for. I thoroughly enjoyed my mocktail, Tiradito de Tuna, shrimp ceviche, corn ribs, fish tacos and Tres leches…😋🫶‼️Great energy in the room with live DJ. This place wins for its “presentation” of any dish with flavors! Great food and friendly staff. This is my nth visit and will frequent it. Ty for making my day off…😉😋👏🫶‼️“

“great food and great service“

“Super endroit pour passer un séjour en groupe. Le personnel est super accueillant. Beaucoup d’activités artistiques sont proposées. Je recommande vivement. A consommer sans modération.“

“perfect service again by Ambrose, always recommend him and Prems.“

“Such a cozy and welcoming café. The coffee beans are high quality and you can really taste the difference — smooth, rich, and well made. The space is warm and comfortable, perfect for catching up with friends or spending a relaxed afternoon. Definitely a place I’ll keep coming back to. ☕️“

“I loved this cafe! They have good baristas taking care about how to make a good coffee or tea, but also I am a Gluten Free person and Nicolas solved all my questions and made me a great suggestion, I had the Raclet Ham Sanwich with fig jam and it was perfect + the GF Chocolate/coconut vanilla cake and my cortado! This place made me happy and is one of my fav in the area!“

“Had a great experience, Natalia was our waitress and the service was amazing.

We were looking for authentic Colombian food and have found our spot. They have a variety of delicious authentic dishes!

Highly recommend!“