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Ing Direct - CLOSED
Categories: Financial Services Banks & Credit Unions Food Coffee & Tea Banks & Credit Unions, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
45 E 49th St(between Madison Ave & Park Ave)
New York, NY 10017
Neighborhood: Midtown East
(866) 692-2233
- Nearest Transit:
-
51 St (4, 6, 6X)
5 Av/53 St (E, M)
Lexington Av/53 St (E, M)
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Ing Direct
Review Highlights
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"coffee, friendly service, and reasonably priced." In 3 reviews -
"...are $2 and if you wear orange on Friday, you drink free all..." In 3 reviews -
"Free internet terminals and free wireless access." In 4 reviews
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17 reviews in English
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Review from angela s.
Brooklyn, NY
10/12/2009
The first time I walked in to ING cafe, I asked the cashier, "What is this really? Are you trying to get me to stop going to Starbucks or to stop banking at Chase." When she answered neither, I was intrigued. This was at the 58th and 3rd location, but I quickly fell in love with it and I frequent both.
The motto (er, tagline?) of ING is "We the Savers." So everything they sell at the cafe is super cheap. Since ING mostly operates online, you pretty much have to have another physical bank where you can deposit money before you transfer into your ING accounts. They also offer Sharebuilder stock investing accounts. The free computer use and internet access is great, but you have to buy something to get a code.
I always go there after 1:30 when the pastries are marked down to a dollar. The employees are knowledgeable and friendly. The cafe is funky looking and has lots of orange furniture. and if you have an ING card, you can get a free drink on fridays.
I, too , have abused the first time free drink located on their website, and they were nice about it, but I've stopped pushing my luck lol
For everyone else: (the printable coupon) http://home.ingdirect.... -
Review from J O.
New York, NY
3/21/2007
I work right around the corner and for the longest time, I was so confused by this place. Why does a bank have a cafe? Is it for employees only? Why do they also sell yoga mats and soccer balls?
I still don't know why they have a cafe or sports equipment, but I do know now that it's open to the general public. It's a good-looking modern building where everything is very reasonably priced, considering the area. I'm not sure why it makes sense for them to do it this way, but the 20 oz. size of everything is the same price as the 16 oz. (which is the smallest). They're the financial people, and I'm just a broke-ass dummy, though, so I guess I should just order the large and not question it. They also have pretty good daily specials, e.g., Tuesdays, all sizes of cappuccinos and lattes are $2 and if you wear orange on Friday, you drink free all day long. Plus, with their frequent customer cards, you only have to buy four drinks before you get the fifth one free! None of this 20 drinks BS.
All of their coffee and tea is Peet's, so it's fairly traded and sustainably grown. And the chai is not powdered, but is made with actual tea leaves.
Overall, it's one of the better choices in Midtown and I'm glad my curiosity finally got the better of me.
N.B.: They're only open during the work week. -
Review from Akshay A.
Brooklyn, NY
1/4/2008
I was only introduced to the "orange people" by my co-worker this week. I was skeptical, but intrigued since I hadn't found any good coffee in midtown. This place is also across the street from where I work, so location sure helps! My co-worker also told me that the coffee is cheap because it's subsidized by the bank. They're there just for presence and it's a not-for-profit cafe. Neat...
I went in earlier this week and got a large coffee for 1.50. wow! Midtown and not-expensive? The best part is that when the coffee cooled down enough for me to drink, it tasted pretty good! It's not the best I've had, but it's pretty good and definitely the best I've had in midtown.
I'm very happy that I found a new coffee place.
Yesterday I went and they have "happy hour" where all drinks are half-price.
Today I went and if you were wearing orange, your drinks are free! I didn't plan on it, but I happen to be wearing orange! I got my coffee for free, no strings.
Good, cheap coffee with friendly faces.
I like this place a lot and I've only been there three times. It's definitely my new coffee joint.
[edit] I went there again the same day I wrote this post and got another espresso for free and apparently all their pastries were 1/2 off, so I got a triple espresso and a biscotti for 75c. This is better than Grey's Recession Special!!! -
Review from Micaela L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/20/2007
In a week filled with horrible tragedy, sanctimonious finger pointing, and a lot of depressing current events, I was so, so happy to stumble into ING Direct's Cafe. It's a short walk from my office, and I was sort of sad that I hadn't discovered it in the year I've been in the neighborhood.
Why, you ask? Facts: the same drink at Starbucks costs at least $1.00 more (and, in my humble opinion, is not as tasty.) If you wear orange on Friday, you drink for free -- not to mention the other specials for the other four weekdays. There's homemade baklava & other Greek pastries. Free WiFi. Nice staff.
What can I say? I've renounced my Starbucks habit -- at least while I'm at work during the week. ING Direct is closed on Saturday & Sunday, but why would you want to go to the heart of Midtown then, anyway? -
Review from Hannah S.
Brooklyn, NY
10/23/2007
Half the fun of this place is how weird the concept is - a physical manifestation of an online bank that also happens to be a coffee shop that then sells gawdy orange and blue bank swag and let's you use free internet - oh those Dutch. They are hilarious and inventive.
Part of the greatness is that ING isn't in it to make money off the coffee. Peet's is just there as a lure to bank. The prices are ridiculously reasonable and it's pretty easy to get free coffee on a regular basis. I have yet to utilize the punch card, but I HAVE been known to regularly visit the ING Direct website (and then click on the "cafes" link near the bottom) to download the "special offer" coupon that's always there entitling the bearer to a free coffee drink. By that, I mean ANY coffee drink. They don't care. They'll make you anything. Technically, you're only supposed to use it on your first visit, but that's just technically. It's also happened more than once when I've gone in (mind you, it was not during their busy hours), and the guy behind the counter has made up random and arbitrary charge amounts ("Today... one dollar!" "Today... you decide!").
Also, I think this is the only place I've heard of where all the baristas double as banking consultants. There's no tip jar because they're actually a bank and can't legally accept them, but they CAN all help you open an ING account. And oh, one thing that must be mentioned: they are all really, really friendly. I'm guessing this is not without exception, but every time I've been in there I come out feeling buoyed by good feelings and caffeine. I just want to give 'em all high fives all the time. -
Review from Scott H.
3/5/2009
Peets! Need I say more? One of the things I miss most about SF is Peet's coffee.
The staff is super nice and they can help you with your account, too. -
Review from Amanda E.
New York, NY
5/29/2008
Free internet
Good prices
Decent coffee - especially if your alternative is Starbucks
Coffee savings card (4th is free)
But the soy lattes aren't the greatest. Starbucks actually beats them in this department.
If you can hike it and don't need internet, go to Macchiato at 44th and Lex for proper espresso. -
Review from Kim J.
Washington, DC
11/18/2008
I didn't even know there was one on E. 49th Street. I STUMBLED into the one on THird Ave and E. 58th Street yesterday. It has obviously just opened as they were still doing a bit of construction work.
The biscotti was amazing. The decor is very nice, and I loved the Free Internet (with a purchase) service.
What a great place! I also heard that their banking services are phenomenal. I may just open an account with them. AMAZING. -
Review from Ricardo T.
Brooklyn, NY
1/20/2009
I work near the ING DIRECT Cafe at 58th & 3rd Ave.
The coffee here is one of the best in this area and its a shame too seeing as how that there is 2 starbucks on that block area. 1 directly across the street and another down the street.
For the price of 1$ for a large coffee and extras at 25 cents makes it worth buying the orange mug to refill.
Half off on coffee !! damn I wish i bought some before coming in to work. I need my 12 shots of espresso -
Review from JT A.
Concord, CA
8/18/2010
ING took a bailout from Dutch taxpayers. A couple of years ago ING was near collapse and the only way for them to survive was a 10 Billion Euro bailout from the Dutch government. That's over $13 billion dollars in taxpayer money.
As a condition of the bailout, ING is required to sell off ING Direct USA by 2013. That means that another bank will be buying ING Direct USA.
When you bank with ING you reward corrupt bank executives who are responsible for their mismanagement of their customers' money. Any profits go overseas to another country and it doesn't help the US economy at all.
There are better banks and credit unions(not-for-profit cooperatives) such as Alliant Credit Union. -
Review from Kat I.
6/19/2009
OK, first you're like what? Banking and coffee? Great idea though, hey at least you're thinking about your money while drinking your high quality coffee and minding your budget as well! Makes you feel like a good responsible adult ;)
On top of that, you can use the internet for 45 minutes with any purchase. (very easy to do... at $2 a large cup of coffee)
And boy, you walk out buzzed! The coffee's awesome!! I think that was all the caffeine I needed for the week!!
BTW, their restrooms are also very well maintained! -
Review from Susie W.
4/30/2006
1. Great midtown location
2. Free internet terminals and free wireless access
3. Peet's coffee that is cheaper than when you buy it at Peet's!
4. Great pastries
5. Very clean (excellent bathrooms too!)
AND you can deal with your finances at the same time.
This is the only good free wireless I have found in midtown. -
Review from Alex P.
Brooklyn, NY
11/15/2008
Peets Coffee! Huzzah! Seriously, I love this place. The orange makes me happy and so do the prices. Large (good) lattes for $3. Can't beat that. The people who work here are really friendly. They have a number of tables upstairs and in the back. The times I've been here I haven't had any competition for seats. It's actually a good place to meet with clients if you are watching your expenses. Kind of makes me want to open an ING account...
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Review from Karen Y.
New York, NY
5/22/2007
What a find! What a random location (inside the bank -- does anyone even bank with ING?)! But really yummy Peets (!!) coffee, friendly service, and reasonably priced. I work down the block and this will be my new workday staple. Screw STarbucks!
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Review from Pigiron Q.
New York, NY
7/14/2010
ING Direct/Coffee bar is closed, and has been since 11/09.
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Review from Jennifer A.
Jamaica, NY
5/27/2008
This place is AWESOME! You can access the internet for FREE! Yes, you heard me FREE! For all of us who have jobs where they block your personal email accounts-this is great! The bonus about it is that they have Coffee here too! Join the club and buy the mug! With the mug you get incredible benefits like-FREE coffee on Mondays. Refills are half the normal price, so you can get a cup of strong, put hair on your chest, wake me up in the morning coffee for $.75! If you wear orange on Fridays you get a free beverage as well-plus if you get the card-every 4th beverage is free-so if you are purchasing a more expensive beverage and a cheap one-they take the expensive one off!!
The other awesome part about it is the help is very upbeat and friendly and the music that they play is awesome! Don't forget about their seminars that they have every now and then. They also offer some pretty reasonably priced "stuff" (ie shirts, onesies, hats, etc.) -
Review from champa m.
New York, NY
3/10/2008
in addition to the delicious beverages on tap here, (at shockingly low prices), i have to mention that their banking products are equally amazing and worthy of investigation. they offer interest on free checking accounts with no minimums- and that's just the start...
their lemon muffins are lovely, and the staff has always been friendly and attentive.
i've heard rumors about a new location in the works, too, so i guess the model is working! def worth checking!
