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 .“

“ottimo accogliente davvero speciale. consigliatissimo!“

“Wow. Wow. Wow. 😍 Chef Diana and her team are TRULY a gem! Came here during NYC restaurant week and it was a beautiful & unforgettable experience. The most amazing hospitality. The Wagyu brisket Kare Kare, green mango & tomato salad, and peach mango float were showstoppers. Definitely gonna return and bring even more of my friends! ❤“

“Found this place online. We ordered chilaquiles con salsa verde , French toast & iced cafe de olla. The place gives a Mexican home style atmosphere. It’s a small space & got busy after 11:30am on a Saturday. We got seated quickly. The chilaquiles were shareable and had a mild spicy. The French Toast was MASSIVE and shareable. The crust was slightly too toasted making it a bit difficult to cut through. The arrangement of fruit was nice tho. They added mango which was a nice touch. The cafe con olla does well iced and definitely has the olla taste. Highly recommend the chilaquiles con steak y salsa verde. The staff were very friendly.“

“I work in the Falchi Building at 31-00 47th Avenue in Long Island City, and I visit Petite Maman two or three times a week. It has quickly become one of my favorite places to stop for a coffee, pastry, or something delicious to bring back to the office.

The food is consistently fresh, delicious, and beautifully prepared, but what really sets Petite Maman apart is the outstanding customer service. In particular, William, who works behind the counter, is exceptional. He is always friendly, welcoming, and genuinely knowledgeable about the menu. William has a great way of making customers feel comfortable, and he is always happy to make suggestions when I'm trying to decide what to order.

The best part is that his recommendations are consistently spot-on. I've tried several things based on his suggestions, and I've never been disappointed. His enthusiasm for the food and his willingness to take the time to help customers really make a difference.

I can't say enough good things about William or Petite Maman. The food is excellent, the service is wonderful, and the people who work there clearly care about their customers and the experience they provide. If you work in the Falchi Building or are in the Long Island City area, I highly recommend stopping by Petite Maman. And if William is behind the counter, be sure to ask him what he recommends—you won't be disappointed!“

“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!“

“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“

“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!“

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

“Can’t believe I went 3 years living down the block from this place never trying their coffee or sandwiches. 5/5 for the price and taste! The off menu avo BEC on a roll was sooooooo good and $4 for an iced americano made me cry tears of joy like wdym😭 can’t remember the last time I paid less than $15 for breakfast in LIC“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“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!!!“

“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…😉😋👏🫶‼️“

“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.“

“Fresh coffee, tasty affordable sandwiches, and an owner who treats you like family; what more could you ask for? The homemade coleslaw makes the Eastwich a very special version of grilled cheese.
If they’re serving soup, it’s also totally homemade and delicious.“

“Tasty Soufflé, cold Brew coffee and green tea“

“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“

“great food and great service“

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

“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.“

“This is the best cafe I've been to in NYC for fruit matcha lattes. So far I've had the strawberry matcha, and pink peach matcha, and both have been incredible. They use fresh fruit puree so it tastes fresh and unprocessed. I don't like my drinks sweetened at all, and the strawberry matcha was perfect for adding only natural sweetness to the latte.“

“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!“

“You can get delicious coffee almost anywhere in NYC, but Sweetleaf coffee is both delicious and unique. I love the Rocket Fuel, which is a cold brew, maple, milk concoction - never had anything like it elsewhere. The atmosphere is so relaxing with tables, a cozy couch and the record room in the back. The delicious selection of pastries are made in house (you can see the kitchen through a big window behind the laptop room). They do everything right at Sweetleaf!“