Café Grumpy
(Now Closed)Café and Coffee Shop$$$$
Chelsea, New York
The experts at The Corcoran Group and Serious Eats recommend this place
303 Tips and reviews
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GloriaJanuary 30, 2014My hiding place. Good place to have manual hand-drip coffee because they had really good single origin coffee you can choose from. No laptop policy so bring some newspaper or book and watch people
Cafe Grumpy is an interesting place to work. I love the hipster vibe and am excited to sit in their garden in the spring and summer. They don't have Wi-Fi but you can use your phone hot spot.
EsuNYC .May 30, 2013The garden at Cafe Grumpy is one of my favorite places to read. It's small, cute, and very quiet, especially in the morning. However, it's currently 7:17am so I guess most of Manhattan is still quiet.
Natasha SSeptember 8, 2016Strong coffee!🎉Helpful & friendly staff. They have a nice backyard for spring/summer months. Low key atmosphere and perfect for a friend date or to get some work done. Might be my new coffee spot.
One of the best coffee shops in the neighborhood. Amazing flat whites, cappuccinos and pour overs. They have a huge space, but no WiFi and no laptops allowed.
When I spent a month in New York this summer, I was here almost everyday. I miss this place so much. Great espresso, great pastries, great atmosphere, and my favorite is their name and logo :)
I have been coming here since this place opened and they still serve the best coffee around. Also, people who work here are sweet. Waiting for a pour-over is fun because you can watch the process.- My favorite forever. Vibe is neighborhoody and friendly. Get an espresso drink because the Heartbreaker roast is the best, or something off the single origin menu. You can't go wrong.
Ben GiffordAugust 16, 2018Consistently good milk-based drinks here (as with other Grumpy locales); baristas are very good. Bountiful seating in various configurations, making for an ideal morning hideaway.
Chris MessinaSeptember 24, 2013What to Order: A cappuccino, made with Grumpy’s own Heartbreaker espresso blend and Battenkill Valley milk.- Marissa CSeptember 19, 2018Cute little cafe with seating throughout and a little garden out back. Pretty quiet / mellow given off the major blocks.
Harumi UAugust 23, 2014If you want to sit in a real chill environment (no laptop allowed and they have a small backyard seating) in a great Chelsea neighborhood, this is the coffee shop for you- A GAugust 31, 2014Nice little hole-in-the-wall in Chelsea - chill staff with a nice little pastry selection. The iced coffee is pretty good, too! I personally like the inside set-up here.
Paris Buttfield-AddisonDecember 15, 2014Excellent coffee, and they know what a flat white is (for those of you who are from Australia or New Zealand!)
- andrew symondsOctober 17, 2012This dinky little place is pretty awesome. When you order from someone smiling right back at you and cracking jokes with you. the tea/coffee and overall experience is just so much better. Keep it up!
John AFebruary 28, 2015Believe the hype! Cool vibe... Great coffee.. Dark, strong but not burnt - I like simple pour over. Vegan salted chocolate chip cookies are good and don't taste like cardboard.
The coffee's inconsistent, but the space itself touts a backyard patio and, occasionally, purchasable artisan mugs that've inspired even the most prolific of tea drinkers to have at the dark stuff.
Kevin YehApril 29, 2018Laid-back vibes, good amount of space, calming decor and a nice garden in the back. Friendly baristas. Doesn't seem crowded on a sunday afternoon :)
HashtagNYUAugust 29, 2014The no-laptop policy makes some people grumpy, but hey, coffee is a great way to connect with people anyway. Our tip: enjoy the garden space out back! Read more
This is my favorite coffee shop in Chelsea. Excellent coffee, perfect place to catch up and have a conversation. No laptops though :(
Matthew AndersonApril 4, 2013The espresso is great, the staff friendly, and the music is consistently good. No laptops allowed, but it adds to a good vibe. iPhones, tablets, and even conversation welcome!
A place with lovely pour-overs and good espresso, but which is entirely inflexible about any drink modifications.
Pause a moment to shoot the sh!t3 with Evan...he's good at it and he's uber dreamy to boot (dark hair, light eyes...always a crowd pleaser). Also, delish gluten-free options.
Nat WelchApril 1, 2015"makes amazing pour-overs and is a must-try. Note that they have a no-laptop policy, so bring a book, sketch pad, or friend instead."- Toni HaberApril 14, 2014Many claim Cafe Grumpy to serve the best iced coffee in New York. Visit any of their locations around Chelsea and Greenpoint to get a taste for yourself.
- Nas BenaliMarch 26, 2015Fantastic latte and great indoor seating. There's a nice little back outdoor area as well.
Melanie BouleyJanuary 16, 2015I love this place for its no laptop policy and the great coffee. I'm an occasional coffee drinker and when I'm on break at work craving some good espresso, this is where I come!
When you get in, walk right to the back. Excellent coffee, clover-brewed single-origin beans roasted at the Cafe Grumpy Roastery in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Super-friendly staff.
David SelfDecember 3, 2018Great espresso, calming space. No WiFi and no laptops allowed creates a throwback time where you sit, talk, and reflect.
EmilyAugust 6, 2014No laptop use please! Pleasant environment and friendly service. Don't forget to check out the back patio!
Marian ElbertOctober 8, 2012No laptops allowed, so grab a book and sit outside in the back patio with a coffee and scone. A little on the pricier side, but worth it.
CityRover MediaJanuary 10, 2011Head over to Chelsea’s comfy and well-decorated coffee shop and try the "Flat White,” a textured cup of steamed milk, poured over a double shot of espresso which is highly popular in the land down und Read more
fluffy_passport 🎀May 14, 2017Deli soy milk cappuccino. They even have a bench outside and a small terrace at the back to enjoy the good weather.
Carly AyresNovember 11, 2014Deceptively large space with tons of tables further in the back. Traffic flow is a bit wonky, but the backyard more than makes up for it.- lots of room to sit inside and also a back garden for the warmer months
AhuvaJuly 17, 2017lots of gluten free and vegan treats, coffee comes one size and delicious - be aware no WiFi but plenty of seating
Michael DonovanOctober 25, 2016Always Sunny in Philadelphia was inspired by cafe grumpy. Frank is based on the stray cat that lives in the back patio- EsuNYC .May 29, 2013Great service and friendly staff. The coffee is always changing (great & terrible) so don't get your heart set on any one blend because tomorrow it may be gone. Still my fav coffee shop in Chelsea!!!!
BlackBook MagazineNovember 30, 2012Casual and very chill Greenpoint coffee shop. I hope the employees are better behaved than Girls would lead us to believe. I wouldn’t trust Hannah or Ray w/ drip coffee, let alone an espresso machine. Read more- CityRover MediaJanuary 10, 2011Head over to Chelsea’s comfy and well-decorated coffee shop and try the "Flat White,” a textured cup of steamed milk, poured over a double shot of espresso, is highly popular in the land down under. Read more
Great coffee in the perfect neighborhood setting. Go in the back and enjoy your drink with a book outside.
Gansevoort Hotel GroupJanuary 19, 2011Order an expertly crafted espresso drink or a Clover brewed "regular" coffee at this cozy, "no laptop" policy, Chelsea hangout. Some of the best coffee in all of NYC- try it!
Bond StreetOctober 5, 2016"Cafe Grumpy is the antithesis to a big coffeeshop chain, which is exactly why we love it!" - Jordana Kier and Alexandra Friedman, co-founders - LOLA Read more
Spotted by Locals - city guides by localsSeptember 30, 2013TIP: Try the flat white. An Australian creation that’s similar to a latte but with a bit more coffee than milk. Read more
Ayush KhaitanSeptember 10, 2016Tried 2 coffees while I waited here. The mocha was 4/5. The cappuchino 5/5. Definitely recommended!
Highly recommend the pour over. Cappuccino is also great. Grab a classic grumpy mug for home.
Yolanda ShoshanaSeptember 6, 2011They serve specialty coffee that is made fresh to order! It's a small and cozy spot so be ready to get up close and personal with a stranger. And last but no lease, no laptops!
Get the Shamba Burundi and the mini gluten free citrus bundt cake. Also they carry oat milk and almond milk.
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Café Grumpy Chelsea opened in 2006 on a unique tree-lined block. Our customers were the first in NYC to be offered a menu of coffees to choose from, all brewed by the cup.This location is the perfect space to meet up with a friend, read the paper, or people and puppy watch on the benches outside....
Permanently closed (Show more)
- Mon–Fri
- 7:00 AM–8:00 PM
- Sat
- 7:30 AM–8:00 PM
- Sun
- 7:30 AM–7:30 PM
(212) 255-5511
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. American Express & MasterCard)
Wi-Fi
No
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Music
Yes
See More
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