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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches [Edit]
145 Greene StPrince St (R, W)
Downtown Bleecker St-Lafayette St (6, B, D, F, V)
Spring St-6th Ave (C, E)
Mon-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Can't imagine why I've never reviewed Aroma yet. Cute decor and I love how they give you a piece of chocolate with your drink. It is always bustling with people but there are many seating areas. Their Iced Aroma is wonderful. When I'm in the neighborhood I always make sure to try to stop by.
+1 star: Nice, well-balanced, and consistent iced latte
+1 star: Freakin' delicious almond chocolate croissant
+1 star: Plenty of seating, nice big tables
-1 star: 30 min wifi per purchase? Wtf is that... wifi should be free.
-1 star: No iced mocha? Weak.
One nice thing about living in San Francisco is that there is a local roaster or coffee shop on every corner. Blue Bottle, the Beanery, Peets...every cup of coffee is so good, that once you leave the Golden State, you realize that you're in a bad remake of the Wizard of Oz- where the Wicked Witch is Starbucks and the monkeys are corner coffee shops. All I wanted to do was click my heals together and "go home" for a cuppa.
In our search on the yellow brick road, we tried cups of coffee throughout the day from every fathomable source- even ye olde reliable "Starbucks". My man is more of a latte guy who fires up his own espresso maker at home. I am a simple "cup of Joe" girl (as long as it has cream and sugar I'm easy to please). We were severely disappointed on all fronts (one coffee from an unnamed source was so vile I speculated that this must be how feet taste). Not even the city of New York could keep us awake.
FINALLY....we stumbled upon Aroma Espresso Bar on Saturday night. What a Godsend! Took a cab back the next morning for our morning fuel. One of the highlights of our trip. ( I dug their egg and turkey bacon croissant too- yummy).
This place sucks!
I went in for a large Cappuccino; I believed this to be a serious coffee house. I should have known when I saw sandwiches, salads etc.
Essentially, I paid $4.05 for a large glass of hot milk with 1 splash of lousy espresso. I guess two shots in a large Cappuccino was asking too much?
My drink was beige and bitter.
To add insult to injury, they give a little nicely package piece of cheap chocolate to go along with your drink.
I hate to say it, but you would be wise to continue down the street to Starbucks.
This stuff is a tad better than rest-stop coffee.
You've been warned!
just FYI: the WiFi is now limited to 30 minutes and only valid if you purchase something.
It's understandable - of course you can't run a business by having your tables filled with laptop-working-dudes that only buy a cup of coffee now and then - but this solution is just too limited to be of any use to me.
Great coffee, reliable Internet (however it's shut off between noon and 3pm + weekends) and I love… Read more »
Love their coffee! It's really nice to have an option in the neighb that's not Starbucks. The espresso is good quality and they know how to make a cappuccino. I can't vouch for the food because I haven't tried it, but I hear it's good. The ambiance is very underground dance scene. Honestly, if you've ever been out of the US you will find coffee places/cafes like this all over. Clean, white, and playing good dance music.
As for the WiFi complaints, seriously people, this is about food, not WiFi. Go to Starbucks if you're trying to save a buck.
I'm as annoyed with price of coffee drinks as the next person, but if I'm going to pay for it, I want it to be great. Aroma's drinks are great, and they are kind enough to include chocolate! I would much rather get an iced Aroma than something at Starbucks.
Super-cute place, staff is decently friendly... then the coffee. Great americanos, will make it to order, plus a 'lil piece of chocolate on the side for euro-points. And the sandwiches (get that chicken sandwich, or easy-access 1/2 chicken sandwich!...daaamn, they got the aroma magic kicking) and the desserts (alfajores, big caramel fillin' bustin outta that cookie, 2 dollah) make it an all around great experience.
I dont know why I got all ghetto in my expressions there... I think it was the gooey alfajores cookie though that got all inside 'a me!
And why R people hatin' on aroma for timed computer service? they're a coffee & sandwich place, not your living room. Yes!! You ARE annoying those of us who want a seat so WE can eat OUR sandwich and coffee TOO!! Imagine that - the world does not revolve around your computer access needs. It was nice enough of them to provide you with FREE internet service, but apparently like any other leech, you still need salt poured on you to remind you to get lost or buy another beverage. :) In the meantime, gimme that seat.
Stopped by with a small group for a quick drink-- this was one of the few cafe type places we could find that had full A/C, and with the way the heat has been lately this was incredibly refreshing.
We just got drinks-- the iced tea was good, and came in pretty sweet looking cups. The ambience was great, too-- very modern.
I'd come here just for a drink again, but not on a regular basis. I also probably wouldn't order any food. But for a particularly trendy mood, this would be perfect.
Aroma is great if you want to use Wifi while drinking average espresso and coffee. Aroma has a nice layout and it is great to take a seat and enjoy doing some productive work.
They serve food as well, but I'm not a big fan since there are very limited vegan/vegetarian options.
The crowd is a mixture of passersby and drifters who stay there for a long while. It may be difficult to find a seat on some nights but mostly, it's just fine.
Nothing too fancy, nothing too worn down. Just a place to drink coffee while surfing the Internet.
I officially give up on frozen hot chocolate. Slushy chocolate milk is just not enjoyable to me. Frozen hot chocolate always sounds better in theory.
I like aroma but seating can be hard to come by. Modern design and decor with harsh lighting. Appreciate the bite-sized chocolate that comes with each drink. Even if the chocolate has the wax-like consistency and flavor of Hershey's.
The listing is incorrect: WIFI IS NOT FREE. At the time of this writing, it is 30 minutes with a puchase, or $4/2hrs.
The place itself is overdesigned, and the products are fine. Ambiance is less espresso bar and more dance club, complete with generic dance tracks running in the background. Periodically the barista will blare an announcement over the loudspeaker. Not worth it. Will not be back.
Great lattes and cappuccinos here, and they give you a piece of chocolate with every drink :)
It's often crowded in here so sometimes seating is hard to come by. Ambiance is modern and sophisticated - far superior to Starbucks.
I only ordered a chocolate croissant (mainly because I had never tried one and I was a bit hungry). As one of the cheapest items, it came out to $2.95. At the time I thought it was an alright deal, but just a couple hours later I ventured out to Chinatown and found MUCH cheaper pastries, so I had to dock 1 star, even though the chocolate croissant was pretty good.
Therefore, I probably won't be back. Sorry Aroma, but it seems Chinatown bakeries for now have my heart (and wallet)!
Before watching a movie across the street from, my boyfriend and I thought we'd wait at the Aroma Espresso Bar. He ordered the lemonade and I the chai latte with the dulce de leche shortbread. The lemonade was nicely tart and the chai tea was better than starbucks but nothing to write home about. The dulce de leche shortbread was amazing. The shortbread was perfect, not dry at all and the dulce de leche was complexly sweet but not too sweet. Beautiful cafe, decent drinks and amazing pastry. I was happy.
When I went to Israel, I was told I had to try the iced coffee at Aroma and I fell completely in love with it. I've never been a coffee drinker but while in Israel for 2 months, I had Aroma iced coffee daily.
Coming back to New York with no interest in drinking coffee, I came across this Aroma location. I was excited to try the iced coffee but it simply was not the same. I wanted it to be, but it wasn't. I've had sandwiches and salads there that were quite good--their whole wheat bread is delicious. Their pastries are yummy too.
I like the style of the place as well as constantly hearing Israeli's speak Hebrew but it ends up making me nostalgic--and wanting to be back in Israel.
Ok, first things first. Do not order espresso here. For those who know me, you know that I like good espresso, and it is not their specialty, nevermind the name.
The sandwiches, however are really delicious. I've gotten the greek one, with feta cheese, tepanade, tomato light grain bread, as well as the mozzarella sandwich before. I think they also have a "healthy" sandwich which is portobello, alfalfa sprouts, and sun dried tomato spread. Don't forget the Avocado which is also good.
At $4.40 for the half and $8 for a whole sandwich I would call them slightly on the expensive size as the sandwiches are not huge. But they are tasty, so worth a visit for sure!
I'm not really a coffee snob. Not that I find anything wrong with understanding the art of great coffee and demanding perfection. I mean love coffee, and prefer it to be good, but in humbleness I must admit to not being an expert. But if YOU or someone YOU KNOW is a coffee snob, this place is good for you. As the presentation and taste of the cappuccino is exquisite.
"Alex" - my name bellows over the loudspeaker and thus begins my first experience at Aroma Espresso Bar. They ask for your name when you place your order, and the barista calls you over the speaker when your order is done. A nice little system that affords you the time to look for seating.
With no shortage of Starbucks in New York, those who look for their brew at coffee locations are in search of something else. Maybe it is that the espresso/cappuccino at Starbucks is just okay or some don't like contributing to a massive corporation, if its something different you seek - Aroma Espresso Bar just might be it.
This place serves great coffee (with a tiny dark chocolate bar on the side). I usually get the cappuccino or the cafe au lait - and have enjoyed both.
The pastries are decent, the rugulach was a bit more like a dry mini croissant.
I have not sampled the food - but the options are an eclectic blend of Mediterranean/Levant options like salads with feta or haloumi, etc etc.
I really like the comfortable seating and apparently so does everyone else. Which means it can get tough to find seating. Good place to rest, meet up with friends, get some work done - all while nursing a delicious caffeine fix.
Great decor and that is probably my favorite aspect of this cafe. The coffee is so-so, your typical dark, kinda burnt taste, not too much depth or character. I might come here for the social aspect of the communal tables, but definitely not for the coffee, not with so many better options within a few blocks. The noise level is pretty high, add to that the TV playing the news (why oh why?!) and the constant flow of people trying to get into a free seat at the communal tables, it stops being a relaxing place to hang out, and instead feels like the outside world that you are trying to escape for a little while.
I only go here if I have to which is rare when it comes to going to cafes. See my list of alternatives in the area http://www.yelp.com/li....
Here's a little strategy for keeping your dating profile through the tough economic times while still maintaining your "cool": Do a lunch at Aroma for $20.
This makes sense for a few reasons.
#1) It's in Soho. In my experience, asking a woman if she wants to go to Soho is like asking "do you like chocolate?"
#2) You're at a coffee shop not named Starbucks
#3) The place is never not buzzing with people...if you're into that sort of scene
Also, for an espresso bar, the food here is good! While the sandwiches are expensive, they're also BIG. You can knock down two 16 ounce lattes, share a grilled chicken sandwich with roasted peppers/fresh mozz, and a brownie for under $20.
Afterwards, the two of you can walk around the desolate Prada store and have a good chuckle at the $500 money clips.
This place is part of an Israeli chain of cafes, which explains its quasi-Euro vibe (the menu prices used to be listed like "4,15" even).
Prices seem high to me--the cheapest thing was an iced coffee, and even that was over $3. A cup of coffee and croissant will set you back $5.50 (which...I suppose could be reasonable to some people, but I keep reminding myself that I can get coffee at work or home for free, and thus $5.50 is a lot to pay for a pastry).
Decor is sleek--lots of red, black and white. Free wi-fi as well, but supposedly they cut it off during peak lunch hours to keep people from lingering. It can get noisy here, particularly in the evenings, so keep that in mind if you're trying to have a conversation or get work done.
Tip: If you turn left when you enter, there's some counter space for sitting/working that's more isolated and therefore quieter than the communal tables in the main seating area. And after you're done, check out Moss across the street for some cool design products!
My previous visit to Aroma was to partake in a cup of their signature espresso, which I loved. However, my recent trip to the hip cafe was to sample their fresh lunch. The menu offerings are quite pricey, but their delicious options make it all worth it. There are a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastries. Aroma even offers an $8.50 meal that allows you to pick two of the following three dishes: cup of soup, mixed green salad, and/or half a sandwich.
Though the comfortable table seating was full on both of my lunch trips, I was luckily able to snag a seat at their counter top. I decided to get the full experience by sampling the half a sandwich and salad combo meal. My mixed greens salad was fresh and crisp. It was topped with mounds of shredded carrots to add color and flavor. They also provided cups of both balsamic and Russian dressing. The balsamic was tangy and delicious. For my sandwich, I settled on the Health option, which included large strips of grilled portobello mushroom, alfalfa sprouts, basil leaves, and a sweet sun-dried tomato spread. These healthy ingredients were served on my choice of white, wheat, or light grain bread. The slices were extremely soft, thick, and fluffy. The crust was just crispy enough to provide a textural difference to the dough, but not too tough.
Aroma is a flavorful cafe that provides a wealth of fresh food and beverage options. It is definitely worth checking out.
Aroma is a fun espresso bar that has a real hipster feel. The decor says Soho, but the crowd says… Read more »
I went out of my way to go here because I had been to Aroma in Israel. The menu is practically the same - same names, fewer items.
They're known for their ice aroma, which is a less frilly frappaccino. It tasted the same as it did in Israel. Comes with a milk chocolate, which is not tasty.
I kind of felt churned out when I came. I mean, even Starbucks feels a little more personal. Plus, the place was SOOOO crowded. I sat on a stool for ~20 minutes in the corner, but then couldn't take it anymore.
Anyway, I did not eat on this visit - though the food in Israel was very fresh.
I think maybe I wanted it to be like my experience in Israel, but it was a totally different, trendy crowd all seemingly too busy with their lives to give up a cushy seat.
DELISH! I got a cappuccino while my sister got an Aroma Coffee and I realized I had made a huge mistake. I ended up drinking all of my sister's coffee. Their special Aroma coffee is very different--- it's like a mocha more than regular coffee. It's whipped and lathered and is all sorts of chocolate deliciousness.
However, it is quite pricey. I think a regular is almost $4. Eeks.
There are so many people inside, but you'll get your order very quickly. I got a chocolate chip cookie, just because I always do, and it was crunchy hard and not very good. It's ok. Their specialty coffee wins it for me!! I just wish there were more around me!
It is a good thing that their espresso is excellent because it looks like an Ikea exploded and created the most euro-sterile looking coffeehouse this side of Scandinavia. All wood-veneer and brightly colored tile.
The guy who took my order even sounded vaguely nordic, although it was a bit hard to hear him (nordic mumbler).
Did I mention the coffee? Yes, it was delicious.
Solid food, great coffee. The mini chocolate they give you with your drink is a nice euro touch. Sandwiches and salads are fresh, healthy, and pretty creative for a coffee joint. I wish Aroma would take over half the starbucks in ny.
Free wi-fi but gets very crowded on wkends.
A modern and trendy space. Really clashes with my idea of what a coffeeshop ought to be. Which is why I guess it is an espresso bar, not a coffeeshop.
10 minutes to turn around my latte? Eh. And the latte milk was a little too foamy for a latte. And the espresso was kinda weak, watered down, or over oxidized.
Much thanks for the playfully apologetic banter, free chocolate, and a place to duck in from the cold for an hour.
I'm rating this place AA for Aroma and Atmosphere. Stylish interior and intricate design make this a hot spot on the Houston strip. Comfortable when seats are available. Popular but often overcrowded and cramped. However, the coffee is mediocre and bland. Not very textured. Meal and drink combos are convenient and also expensive for this penny pincher. I'd go again just for fun.
Shop 'til you drop!!
I stumbled upon this while in SoHo for the day. GREAT sandwiches! The chicken sandwich was fabulous! The 'tude at the cash register was a little over the top... I'm just incredibly California..
What made my meal... people watching!
I guess I'm just not a huge fan of Aroma.
They score points for a cleverly designed interior and the free wifi (even though it's not up between 12-3, which is kind of annoying). But, there coffee just isn't that good. There sandwiches and other food is overpriced for what you get. Every time I stop into Aroma I end up feeling disappointed. There are better options in this neighborhood, like Think (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) or Alessi (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Well, Alessi used to be good...anyway, sorry Aroma, you just don't QUITE do it for me.
My favorite coffee place in the neighborhood. When I was working down the street I would come by almost every day for a quick cup and one of those tiny chocolates they give you with your coffee.
Average price but better than average (better than Starbucks) coffee. Cookies are tasty. Always quick with the to-go stuff.
GREAT FOOD, GREAT COFFEE, GREAT PRICES!
Without a doubt one of the better cafes in NYC.
Why would anyone think of going to Star Bucks for coffee or Cosi's for lunch instead of Aroma?
The sandwiches are unique and really great; and the salads are big, healthy, and well priced.
Whether you are if you are looking for a good and quick cup of Jo or a quick bite to eat, i would recommend checking out Aroma.
I also hear that they just opened one on the Upper West side on 72nd st, off Amsterdam. i am totally going to check that one out.
Queues, ticketed waits, branded merchandise, round-the-clock buzz, the black+white color scheme, the lone laptop users, even the complimentary chocolate all add to the yuppie vibe of this SoCo SoHo dig. Be ready to play a competitive round of I.SPY with fellow customers for open seating, but once you snag a seat, enjoy a cool alternative to Starbucks. More to the menu too!
There is no better short cup on this side of the Atlantic (well on the UWS now anyway!!!) Forget the food even though everyone says it's absolutely DELISH! the coffee is to die for. I learned however that the trick in Israel is to to always get it "to go" since it's cheaper!!! All i have to do now is find a way to get a hose long enough to connect the espresso machine to my veins.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh--roma!
l'chaim!
Love the Smoked Salmon Caesar
My only complaint is that I wish they had other salad there that didn't contain mixed greens!
Bleh to Arugula!
Me hates Arugula!
I can seriously eat a WHOLE LOAF of their fresh baked bread!
Don't judge me!
Sooooooooooooooooo freaking good and love their chocolate croissants!
Nice and clean atmosphere!
I came here for one reason only: burekas. A bureka is an Israeli pastry, looks kind of like an apple turnover but it's not at all sweet, just filo dough, butter, and feta or feta-like cheese fillings. You can get similar things at Arab and Turkish places, but they're not the same. They're not worse, but not the same. For some reason, it is not easy to find a real Israeli bureka in New York. You would think it would be easy, but you'd be wrong.
So. That is why I came, because this place is an Israeli chain, and they have burekas on the menu. I've been here twice now, and had the burekas twice, and I give it a solid "eh". Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with even crappy burekas, because I love them so, but they were not hot, nor fresh, either of the times I came.
Otherwise this is a neat little cafe. Decent selection of pastries and sandwiches and coffees and teas. A bit pricey but that's what you get for being in New York.
------
Update: the newer Aroma, on the UWS (B'Way and 72nd), is excellent, and much bigger.
$3.65 for a child size soy latte? I mean, they don't call it child size of course, but the "small" was practically the size of a kid's hot cocoa cup that you'd get at Starbucks. Seemed like it was only 4 or 6 ounces. Here goes to another anorexic's place for eating/drinking. Anyhow, they do have larger sizes but of course, you have to stretch your wallet to get anything that is sufficient for your average human being. Not to mention, it wasn't even all that busy today, yet the staff was working super slow. Is there no sense of urgency, being in New York and all? Is it like they were located in Big Sur, CA, where the locals wait for people to just come through? No! They are in SoHo, New York. Speed it up!
I even asked, "excuse me, should one wait 15 minutes for a small soy latte, or what?" Yup, I'm sure they thought I was a b*tch, but when it comes to commanding $4.00 for a tiny cup of coffee, you damn well better at least provide some good customer service.
Just went here today, and I'm glad I stumbled upon this coffee shop. This one is large, has a lot… Read more »
Just came from Aroma on Green and Houston. It's okay, the decor is a little cold for my taste- and the constant calling out names for orders is a little distracting.
The main problem with this place is you come there to work on your computer the internet is not "exactly" free. You get 30 min. free, then you have to buy something and get a new code to log back in. This can be distracting if you are on a roll and working. On top of that, if you have to use a plug for your computer you are secluded to a tiny section in the back of the store.
Service was just okay, not overly friendly...just doing a job kind of attitude.
all in all, hum drum.
Too crowded, too expensive. Aroma Espresso Bar was a letdown.
I stopped by for a quick bite to eat. While the bright red leather chairs are comfortable on their own, having to pull them out to get seated between strangers couldn't be any less comfortable.
Turkey BLT, 9 bucks. Slathered in mayo, with bacon that was more rubbery and hammy than crisp, the sandwich was just OK. Nine bucks for just OK is less than OK.
There are other places with more atmosphere, value, in SoHo than Aroma Espresso Bar. I'd suggest exploring those options instead.
I went there recently because a friend raved about it. he's a vegetarian, told me the soup, salads, sandwiches and hot chocolate, coffee, expresso, caffeine injected liquids are pretty good, so I had to check it out. I like how they make the sandwiches freshly, and that they're not sitting there for hours. The portions of meat are laid on nicely, the bread is soft and filling. I had a roast beef sandwich, with pickles were were a great touch. The 10 vegetable soup was very hearty. And the hot chocolate, was amazing, very chocolaty. I stirred my large mug and found chocolate on the bottom trying to melt away. It was very good. I wish they had marshmallows.
The place is spacious though I hear it gets busy and you can barely get a seat. there is no wait staff, you order at the register and someone comes and takes your trays and plates, yes they use real plates and utensils. One thing I do have a gripe with is that there is only 1 bathroom, unisex bathroom there. Ugh, horrid waiting on line with everyone.
I went there on halloween and there were a lot of freaks that tried to cut the line and pretend that they didn't see it, even though there are 5 ppl standing there waiting. the best was some italian lady in some skin tight outfit and a bad wig pretending not to see 5 ppl standing there. Ugh.
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