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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Upper West Side72nd St (1, 2, 3)
72nd St (B, C)
Mon-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"Finally! I've found a sandwich shop that A) Does not suck, B) Is not overpriced, and C) Delivery available on Seamlessweb. I tried this…" read more »
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I just discovered this place delivers. And, EVEN BETTER, you can order on their website because there's nothing I hate more than talking to people. :-)
The burekas are awesome, love the sandwiches and if you order your coffee extra hot it arrives at your apt hot. Awesomeness.
While waiting for my order on my first trip to Aroma, I was thinking 4 stars. This place is so… Read more »
I love this place. It actually originated in Israel, where I got to visit in October & became a big fan of Aroma. The frap type drinks are delicious & you get a free small piece of delicious chocolate with them! The hot coffee is also good.
The food there is very fresh & filling without breaking the bank. Highly recommend!
Free wi-fi too :)
After coming here regularly for the past couple of months I find that I love aroma now as much as I did when I first came. Why the downgrade to three starts, then? Sadly, I must take off one star because they no longer offer wi-fi on weekends.
This doesn't come as a complete surprise because the downtown aroma is the same way. But still, it's irksome.
Everything else I liked about aroma when I first started coming here stands. Great space, great atmosphere, great seats. The food is still good but still pricey. A great place to come and write or just hang out with friends.
I will say, though, that weekends are not the best time to come here. The UWS snooty families with undisciplined children show up in force, it's hard to get a seat because there are so many people, and the noise level goes up considerably. The no wi-fi on weekends thing is probably in response to that. Parking laptop drones tend to stay for hours while sadface moms with screaming, annoying children get all flustered because there is no place to park their brood. (Nothing against kids in general, but the kind of people who bring their kids here don't ascribe to the idea of Home Training, thus everyone suffers.) Nevermind that these people should, perhaps, go to a brunch place instead of an espresso bar...
It's also a shame because Saturday is the one night they're open until 12:30. Fie.
Anyway, I kind of wish I could give 3.5 stars instead of just 3. But 4 is definitely out because of the weekend thing. Otherwise, it's a great place and I'm still here 3 - 4 days out of the week.
How did I miss that Aroma had an uptown branch? Damn my non-freelancing! I've only been to this… Read more »
I love them, but they shut off their wi-fi on weekends. Don't waste your time.
This place is coffee bar meets food court. The plastic trays should tip you off right away. The ambiance is about as inviting as a McDonalds'. The quality of the offerings is ok to good. Best bet, get it to go or, should you be one who enjoys the whole cafeteria feel, head upstairs to avoid the strollers.
Pro: They give you a tiny piece of chocolate with your beverage.
Oh Aroma we are 3 for 3.
After visiting you the first time I came back to work with a smile that wouldn't quit saying "Man, I feel like I just built the best damn snowman in town!" Yeah its Fall. Yeah I had just eaten soup. Whatever. It was damn good soup.
I don't just like but LOVE their design inside. Its modern, its fresh, it gives off a good vibe, and it works my favorite color scheme (black, white, & red). They have a second floor with cozy black couches and a lovely view of the street. Then I see yesterday that they also have an outdoor patio area on the second floor to sit. I now long to go to relax on this patio on a Sunday afternoon with a friend while we chat and drink hot chocolate. I am dangerous, can't you tell. Plus they play an array of music videos on their built-in wall TV's that defer my attention away from the fact that I am sharing a table with strangers who are potentially watching me eat. Sometimes I don't like being that intimate with strangers, just saying.
Anywho's I order the same thing every time, an order of one of their amazing soups of the day which only sets me back $5.39. I have now had lentil bean, 10 vegetable, and pasta fagioli (I think they mostly do vegetarian options). Each of the soups were hearty and not too salty. Perfect I would say and they provide you will a large bowl of it, accompanied by one hell of a slice of bread. I mean this bread is fresh and comes with some butter (they have a few bread type choices they let you choose from. I always get the whole wheat). I really enjoy a good bread and some butter, I must confess. Then this one time I got really lucky and they left a little chocolate nugget bar on my tray, best time ever obviously!
The staff is always friendly, thorough, and quick, which I appreciate because I only have a 20 minute work break. Plus as soon as I go to leave there is a busboy right at my spot to clean up right away. It seems I always leave feeling good with a happy belly. Aroma I like you, I really really like you.
I can't believe this place has so few stars!!! Its the PERFECT cafe. Amazing food thats cheap and healthy, great coffee, very modern seating and an excellent out door terrace on the second floor. The only thing I would complain about is the lack of outlets for my laptop but otherwise it puts starbucks to shame!!!
To all those complaining on the quality and speed of COMPLIMENTARY Internet (here and wherever): you make me sick, you spoiled brats - go home, brew your own coffee and sniff your neighbor's Wi-Fi, will you
I'm really split on this place. It really holds a unique category of cafe all to its own, and it is fairly well executed. The space is modernist and clean, and they have free wi-fi (super rarity in NYC). I love the backyard area and could spend all afternoon up there. It has a very international flavor, and attracts a diverse crowd, from the ubiquitous Israelis, to hipsters, to UWS mamas, students, and shady-looking business people with their IBMs and Blackberries. Come to think of it, it feels more like maybe, eh, Milan or London in here than NYC.
The coffee is quite good, especially for the UWS. But all is not perfect. It is a hectic place, with lots of kids and families, groups chatting and the like. The number of people on their cell phones is out of control. I really prefer my espressos in a chiller, hipper environment where I can relax. Geez, even Starbucks (gasp!) is more serene. The staff is pretty much clueless, and they routinely mess up the orders. It's expensive for what you get. The overload of flat screen TVs at the registers is jarring, but the caucophony of music that they play is even worse. It's kind of a shock that they don't serve martinis up in their "lounge" with the 50" LG flat screen boasting music videos of the Black Eyed Peas and Jupiter Rising. All that said, I go here, put up with the annoyances and like it anyway.
I love this chain, and it's very much like the Aroma cafes in Israel.
This one is particularly spacious, with seating on the second floor and an outdoor space. They took care to put in enough outlets. One nice touch: the 2nd floor mural includes a subway station with the "1, 9" trains.
People tend to stay long after they finished they food or drink, which isn't necessarily a fault of Aroma's, but it can make it hard to find a place or to get any work done.
Solid espresso shop on the UWS.
Airy, sleek space with a wall of south-facing windows.
Efficient service. Well-crafted shots.
Your espresso comes with a tiny Aroma chocolate bar.
What, they serve food? Someone else will have to review that.
good food, free wifi, and friendly staff...need i say more?
Oh ya and the espresso is some of the best ive had since being in Spain!
I am definitely coming back!
To be honest I've only stepped in Aroma twice, but I'm beginning to become SOLD on this modernistic style cafe. At first it seemed intimidating to walk in because it doesn't quite have that comfortable homy feel to it. But after deciding on the simple aroma coffee that's served with a spoon and miniature chocolate bar I'm beginning to like the idea of Aroma. The Aroma was good strong coffee steamed milk whip cream cinnamon and cocoa. But what was more exceptional was the idea of having good fresh tasting pastries and not stale ol' same ol' brownie, rainbow cookie options. Great service. There's also free-wifi, plenty of open tables. and apparently an outdoor seating area. Nice!
Something tells me there will be an Aroma opening near you soon. I walked in and instantly felt I was in a chain, in a good way. Clean, reliable, professional service. Lots of space, a real big deal in this city (I'm visiting NYC for a few weeks, by the way), plus plugs for the laptop juice and free, strong wifi. Add in a substantial menu of food and I'd definitely put this on my short list for a hangout on coffee house days.
If I had any complaint it would be how the seating just isn't that comfortable. There is lots of space to sit down, but you just might not stay that long (perhaps intentional?) when your back starts hurting. On the positive side, though, they have covered outdoor seating upstairs.
Oh yeah, almost forgot: the iced coffee was the best I've had in -- maybe -- ever. Cute clientele, too.
During the final legs of last semester, I needed a place where my project-mate and I could meet other than campus. I love you Columbia and your many libraries, but it's a hike. And when I don't need to be on campus, I'd rather not be.
So in comes Aroma Espresso Bar, conveniently close to my group project partner's Tuesday appointments (not sure with what/who) and I only need to take 1 train to get here from work.
They have OK coffee, decent things to eat so that you won't get hungry. They have an upstairs outdoor patio for when the weather is nice. Lots and lots of seating. Not to mention outlets galore for old, rickety laptops like mine and of course, the free-wifi.
Free wifi is why I came, and it's what I got. Now remember, just because it's free...doesn't mean the signal is all that strong. But, I'm not complaining because it was free and easily accessible. So, score?
So, if you need a place to meet to go over schoolwork or hash out a presentation - this is as good of a place in between the Financial District and Morningside Heights.
Ahem.
We intended to only stop for coffee, but saw someone's awesome breakfast plate on the way in so we decided to stay for breakfast. I swear I thought the eggs were poached on the lady's plate but the cashier was clueless. I don't think he even knew what poached eggs are. So we got the power breakfast with sunny side up with whole wheat bread. It is huge and more than enough to share. It comes with cucumber, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and some cream cheese/olive oil for the bread. It was very hearty and definitely started the day off on a healthy note. The coffee was also good.
Service doesn't seem friendly (not that I blame them) but they get the job done. Also, this place looked very stroller-friendly (and I'm coming from the East Village so maybe I haven't hung around the UWS long enough).
Contemporary themed furniture yet comfortable
Plenty of outlets and free wifi
Mezzanine quiet enough for studying
Roof deck with umbrellas
Piece of free chocolate with your drink
Natural, non yellow lighting
Clean restroom
All I've had is their iced tea, so I don't feel quite knowledgeable to give them 5 stars, but I'll definitely be back soon to try out more of what they have to offer. A+ for the atmosphere though.
The menu and food is EXACTLY the same as Aroma in Israel, but the furniture and design are nicer. I found the internet to be very quick, and there was lots of space for me to spread out my homework. I love the food and the espresso with the fun size chocolate bar is excellent. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED especially to those who miss being in Israel...
In response to Alex L., I tend to go at night when the crowd is sparse. One thing you can say about the wait, there's a kick ass high end couch to sit on while you're waiting.
The 4 stars are relative to other "wifi" cafes available in the UWS area...Also, disclaimer that I'm new-ish to coffee so I'm probably not the most reliable source when it comes to judging good coffee.
I've been here over 10 times...I suppose if I keep coming back, they must be doing something right.
Half Halumi sandwich $4.40. First time I had grilled halumi cheese. It was good, but I'm not inclined to order it again. I found it to be a bit small for the price.
Half Mozzarella sandwich $4.40. Good, but could be better. Would've like a little more balsamic dressing, and perhaps should've tried asking for it toasted.
Their heart/swirl designs make me smile.
Espresso Macchiato/Double $2.50...
The music is funny. I've heard everything from Coldplay, RENT, and Justin Timberlake to Radiohead and The Killers and Mandy Moore (wow). They don't play it obnoxiously loudly.
Appreciate that they close at 11PM every day when almost every other cafe around here closes earlier.
Other PROS: outdoor patio and comfy couches upstairs, they don't rush me (even once when I fell asleep while studying), bright lighting that I can actually read to, clean bathrooms, modern atmosphere, cool people, quick order, quick service (even during their busy times) and plenty of seating. ALSO...plenty of wall sockets to plug in your laptop :D
OH! And you get a tiny piece of chocolate with each order :)
CONS: During busy/peak times (like Sunday evenings), their normally HIGH SPEED internet is suuuuper slow and unreliable. It makes me sad. Welps, it's free wifi so what can you expect. Also, the bar stools where the outlet are (computer usage area) are kiiinda uncomfortable b/c they don't support your back. Only bothersome if you're sitting there for a long time. Otherwise, they're soft and cushiony.
They probably don't serve organic fair trade coffee. If they do, it's not advertised. Wah.
GREAT!
Without a doubt one of the best Cafe Espresso Bars in NYC. They have great food and fabulous Coffee. There is lot of room to sit and hang out and free Wi-Fi.
I would recommend there Ice Aroma over any Frappacino you might get at Star Bucks .
Plus, when you order a Latte here, you actually get a latte, and you can see and smell how great it is. When you order one is Star Bucks you always get a paper cup and you never get the same experience.
Sandwiches are really tasty, and I recommend the Halumi Cheese one (which I hear Paris Hilton loves as well).
I really recommend trying the Bureka Treat which is one of my favorite things at Aroma.
If you are a Croissant lover, try there Chocolate Croissant!
First!
I've not been to the SoHo location, but this morning brunched at the uptown carnation of this vivacious Israeli coffee bar that resembles a bright and pleasant urban loft. There's ample seating, a sweet second story loosely littered with lovely brown leather couches, and, in my estimation, the biggest salads in the world.
Coffee was standard stuff, complimentary chocolates charmed. I hear there's free WiFi also?
I stopped by for an iced coffee americano one afternoon and the place was packed. Will this be the new Starbucks / Cosi or just a place for singles to check each other out? The UWS can always use both.
Although, I am disappointed that I did not receive a chocolate with my coffee.
Cheers!
N
If you make it through the obstacle course of oblivious parents, abandoned strollers, and unattended toddlers that reliably obstructs the entrance, you'll find yourself at the crux of European snobbery on the Upper West Side.
Despite its egregious claims to the contrary, Aroma is no "espresso bar." Be prepared to wait up to thirty minutes for any sort of beverage. And the coffee isn't great by any stretch.
If you're hungry, you'd best resist the allure of their dainty Israeli sandwiches in favor of one of the many fabulous diners in the area. This place is simply not equipped to handle any sort of volume. Surprising, considering its size. I believe I gave them a fair chance, too. The final straw came this morning, when I sat patiently waiting for over twenty minutes for a coffee and egg sandwich to go. When I finally caught the attention of a manager and confronted her about the unseemly delay, she had the gall to blame the only cashier on duty. I demanded a refund. The manager saw fit to announce this poor cashier was "screwing everything up" while counting my refund right beside her. Purely unapologetic management.
The "Aroma" is that of the sweaty, stinky, self-important Bikram Yoga-goers who infest this block. As far as I'm concerned, they can have it.
I've been here a bunch of times. Notes:
* Everything is fresh.
* The servings are generous.
* The salads are good (I had the Israeli, the Mediteranean, and the Health)
* The sandwiches look good. I've not tried them myself but friends have liked them.
* The Israeli "power breakfast" is basically a Mediterranean hotel breakfast (eggs, olives, feta, toast, tomatoes and cucumbers), in other words, a perfect meal.
* The first time I came, the bourekas were just coming out of the oven--fantastic. Even when they have not been that fresh, they've been great. (Bourekas are savory filo pastries filled w/ Bulgarian feta or some such thing.)
* This Aroma is much better than the Aroma on Houston.
I was walking down 72nd toward the park with the EXPRESS PURPOSE of taking the C train downtown, because I wanted to go to the Aroma on Houston street. And then I saw this AromaClone out of the corner of my eye. What the haywire, Aroma? What are you trying to do, being here for me like this? Did someone tell you that I'm having a rough week, Aroma? And you wanted to cheer me up? WELL IT WORKED.
I ordered the greek sandwich (good, fresh but not life-changing), and sat down with the old computadora.
Just like downtown, there is free wifi, and just like downtown, there are tons of seats, and JLDT, red is the dominant color.
Beautiful. Perfect.
First of all , the atmosphere and colors of the cafe gives you a clean, exciting feeling. The staff is very friendly and amiable.
I got the cappuccino and whole wheat croissant, which was so light and feathery, I could've eaten two...
I'm looking forward to trying this place out again.
A welcome addition to the neighborhood! I tried the tea (roiboos) and a special boreka. The tea was good, the boreka was very large, but I suspect that the salads will be better (it wasnt the best boreka I've ever had). Israelis are good at making salads.
The best part about Aroma is the warm and easy atmosphere...its a place you can come for a "starbucks style" date, but its much more homey than starbucks, you can study, meet a friend for a late night snack, relax with a book, etc. The music is good, and not too loud. The upstairs lounge is nice, and the outside seating on the second floor will be great in the summer. I think they should have left meat off the menu but thats obviously a persona preference. I'm so glad Aroma is here, and thrilled that it's opened so late on the weeknights when most cafes go to sleep.
Drinks are fine - ordered a latte for a decent price and got it in a cute cup with a small piece of chocolate. That was the good part.
The bad part - I was hoping to find a decent place on the UWS to use my laptop and drink/study. The wifi at Aroma was incredibly slow and inconsistent, there weren't enough plugs, and the seats where the plugs were located were "modern" and "hip" and therefore, not comfortable.
Good cafe to hang with friends and whatnot, but if you plan on using your laptop (especially one that needs to be charged because it's a cheap HP), it's best to go elsewhere.
Looking for the ultimate espresso experience but this was not it... Kind of a fast food type place.
I roast my own coffee so I might be a little picky :-)
See http://picasaweb.googl....
Whoever designed this Aroma has GREAT taste ! The decor is beautiful, which just makes it even more pleasant to sit and drink coffee or eat lunch.
Food is fresh, generous portions, very friendly staff, and clean environment. My colleagues and I suggest the Turkey BLT & Ice Aroma we order it about 3 times a week for lunch and it never fails to amaze us :) !
Weird things first. Whoever heard of a chocolate croissant made with milk chocolate?!?! There should be warnings up everywhere stating that these chocolate croissants are going to be weird and made with Hershey's or whatever. Maybe the croissant part is good - but that weird milk chocolate meant I couldn't really eat the thing. This might be just the thing for some of you. I'm guessing that the owners are into milk chocolate since the little bits that come with coffee are also strangely milk chocolate. Someone's bound to like it but I was horrified.
On the upside, it's great to have an actual cafe in the neighborhood. I'd taken to trying to grab tables at Buttercup Bake Shop and Jacques Torres to have non-Starbucks, so I'm grateful that this is here. The coffee's nice. It was pleasantly un-crowded when I was there on a Saturday afternoon and the food looks good (aside from the chocolate.)
Their coffee has a special aroma...very different from American Starbucks and DD...and
I liked it!!!
The environment is comfortable, clean and roomy, and I like it!
BUTTTT, the price is a little bit high and the service from our barista last Saturday night was bad. She didn't call my husband when our coffees were ready. Thanks god I ordered the ice coffee, but my husband ordered hot latte!!!
Visiting in town and staying at a friend's apartment it is important to find a place away from there to write. So, my primary goal in coming here was to find much-needed space to write on laptop and hangout interminably on the Upper West Side, and this seems pretty much the only choice, and a great one at that. I came at 7:30 this morning and had the pick of spaces. Coming back later in the day, I had to share space, but still found an outlet. The free wireless is excellent, and the different spaces allow for a different atmosphere depending on where one is. Like everything in NYC, it's not exactly quiet here, so bring your own sounds or earplugs. Being able to be upstairs, and in good weather outside, makes up for a lot. The drinks I have had were good (I have only had teas), and the South American cookie I had was very yummy. Definitely a keeper.
If you have green in your pocket and looking for some good espresso and healthy sandwiches, this is a nice place to drop 12 to 15 bucks. Arty decor, cute seats, friendly staff, mugs instead of paper cups when you eat in, plus a little piece of chocolate with your order gives this place a few stars. But really, you need to have that green in your pocket. It's really overpriced.
If you go in though, make sure you get an Aroma Coffee: espresso, Aroma chocolate, steamed milk, whipped cream, and cocoa can't go wrong :)
Very large coffee shop/restaurant, close to Central Park, and has a nice roof. Sometimes it's nice to see a huge and modern coffee place New York to go along with the tiny places with great lattes but no place to sit. The mochas are very sweet, but pretty tasty.
Absolutely charming. Sandwiches and salads that are quickly prepared, yet fresh and generously proportioned, with coffee selections that exude style and attitude. Check out the upstairs terrace during the warmer months. Worth the extra price.
I love Aroma!! I first tried it in Israel and love the ones in NYC. The coffee is awesome!! It's a little far for me, living outside NYC but whenever Im in the area I come to get my coffee. If you are looking for something outside fo NY where you can get similar vibes Art Cafe in Nyack, Ny is a good bet!
2 reasons I truly love this place ...1) the endless free wi-fi and 2) the counter and baristas remember your name, I mean you don't get service like that anymore. The 1/2 sandwich and drink deals are great in price and portion. Counter space is at first glance intimidating, but once you get settled is very comfortable.
OK, so now I have discovered how to get the wifi. You have to sit downstairs. I am still a little mad about the $5.80 I spent on a half sandwich though
I like the atmosphere and the food (I like how you can get half sandwiches). However, in the three… Read more »
Intense during lunch time, but other than that, a mug full of decent coffee is $1.89, they have free wi-fi, outdoor seating, natural lighting indoors on a quieter second floor, and a pretty clean bathroom, all very positive.
The music felt like it was someone's itunes playlist--Morcheeba, Coldplay, and Cat Power.
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