- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Sweetleaf
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
10-93 Jackson AveLong Island City, NY 11101
Neighborhoods: Hunters Point, Long Island City
(917) 832-6726
- Nearest Transit:
-
Vernon Blvd - Jackson Av (7, 7X)
21 St (G)
Hunters Point Av (7, 7X)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 8 pm
Sat 8 am - 8 pm
Sun 9 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
151 reviews for Sweetleaf
Review Highlights
"I'd never had Stumptown coffee before."
(in 32 reviews)
"Also, the baked goods are surprisingly good."
(in 16 reviews)
"I'm glad I finally made it to this great LIC establishment."
(in 30 reviews)
Loading...
150 reviews in English
-
Review from Wookie S.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
2/4/2012
Sweatleaf is a really nice coffee place that Daddy enjoys taking me to. He is always very happy when he comes out with a hot cup of coffee.
Sometimes I'm allowed inside and I LOVE to sniff people's feet and take in the scent of baked goods. Sometimes I get kicked out. I do not like that. Love, Wookie -
Review from Vivian H.
2/8/2012
After trekking over the Pulaski Bridge from Greenpoint Ave, Sweetleaf felt like an oasis after you have been wondering the desert for 40 days.
I walk in to get some shelter from the cold, and immediately felt a sense of warmth within. The old vintage atmosphere made feel like I was home (Brooklyn).
I heard that they carry Stumptown, so I was curious as to how good the brew would taste. What can I say? Excellent. I was also getting ready to head to class and hadn't eaten breakfast and it was now way past lunch, so I ordered a rosemary asiago scone. I had never tried a savory scone before. While waiting for my train, I had the scone and I must say it was able to stave off hungry for a few more hours. But, there was no trace of rosemary that I could taste. And, if it wasn't because it was lunchtime, I would've not liked the savory scone. I still prefer the sweeter scones.
A nice place to hang out, I could see myself staying here for some time, reading a good book or just leisurely admiring the "view." -
Review from Ben S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2012
Not just the best coffee house in Long Island City, not just the best coffee house in Queens...this is the best coffee house in New York City. Once you've sampled the work of the ultra-talented baristas here, most everything else tastes like swill. The space itself is small but very warm and inviting. It's a great place to pass a bit of time alone or with a friend. I love this place.
Yes, sometimes the line is long in the morning, but the best things in life are worth waiting for. Besides, if you're in that much of a hurry, there's a Dunkin Donuts a block away on Vernon Blvd. -
Review from Leah P.
Brooklyn, NY
2/8/2012
Delicious coffee, knowledgeable staff, nice environment. Perhaps singlehandedly giving LIC its good reputation?
-
Review from Michael R.
Astoria, Queens, NY
1/28/2012
Great (perhaps even the best) coffee, cool environment.
-
Review from Megan R.
Long Island City, NY
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Stumptown coffee! Homemade scones! Friendly baristas! LIC would not be the same without this place, and I would be very grumpy.
-
Review from kevin d.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
2/3/2012
really excellent coffee.
-
Review from Elle W.
Manhattan, NY
1/22/2012
Wow, really, girl behind the counter.. Would it kill you to greet your customers with a hello? Could you go so far as smile if you are unable to speak?
I know, I know we all come here for the coffee, which was fine... I made the wrong choice getting an iced cappuccino. I expected the cup to be full (not less than half full with a drop of milk). Foamed milk on top (what I've experienced in the past) would've been a nice touch to at least make the cup look reasonably full. For $4.50 I will definitely not be returning for iced coffee drinks.
Stumptown coffee is delish so I will give this place another chance for hot drinks. But if I have to deal with wait-staff attitude and a barista rudely pointing to my drink that is ready for me to pick up at the counter... I will be going elsewhere. -
Review from Erica J.
11/19/2011
Sweetleaf makes a mean Americano. They brew locally roasted coffee and espresso (Stumptown) like everyone else in Brooklyn these days, but they do it well. The also offer a selection of home-baked pastries and muffins, some of which are vegan or gluten-free. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable with large windows in the front room to allow sunshine to flood the space.
Minus: It's expensive. An Americano is going to cost you $3.25. C'mon...you're in Queens. -
Review from Crystal W.
New York, NY
11/6/2011
Spent a couple of hours whiling away a brisk fall afternoon here and was well pleased with the variety of treats, the quality of coffee (Stumptown - we had a nice Brazilian which the barista gave us a nice brief on), as well as the smart and well-thought out seating set-up - there are three distinct seating areas, and a laptop area with ample desk and seating and plenty of outlets so that those who wish to converse and those who wish to type need not butt heads.
The decor is well-done - comfy, cozy, with a nod to the original period details but not trying too hard- and the staff kind, and if you sit on the couch long enough you'll enjoy an endless parade of dogs with owners in tow. All in all, an ideal coffee spot should you find yourself in LIC. -
Review from shannon w.
New York, NY
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I. Love. This. Place. Seriously, best cappuccino I've ever had and I'm not even a big cappuccino fan. That, plus a baker that has a playful side, plus old school slow jam hip hops on Saturday afternoons = a spectacular place. Oh and 5 star service too - the first time I went I ordered tea, but they had a million different kinds and I was so intimidated - the barista/cashier/server said to describe what I was in the mood for and she'd pick the tea. She got it exactly right, and it hit the spot.
-
Review from Paul L.
Manhattan, NY
1/3/2012
This was my introduction to artesian coffee and the beginning of my love affair with the proper cortado. They use stumptown coffee, perfect steamed milk art, and simple syrup. I couldn't ask for more.
-
Review from Jennifer G.
New York, NY
10/25/2011
The first time I came in here I ordered a Rocket Fuel. And the second time... And the third time... and then I pretty much forgot they serve anything else. I have--a few times--branched out to regular iced coffee. But that's quite rare.
All the pastries I've tried are very tasty. Carrot cake is epic. Yummy bacon cheddar scone. And those little cinnamon donut things... yee-gads.
Love the frequent flyer card. Fill it up way to frequently (see: Rocket Fuel).
My only complaint--and one that merits the loss of a star--is for the occasionally sullen service that I have come to associate with "hipster establishments". I know smiling at strangers is uncool, but as a customer it's something I appreciate. Some people that work here are GREAT and make my otherwise glum mornings better, but others just make me feel like I'm trespassing in their living room.
That said... I will continue to trespass. -
Review from Solomon C.
Queens, NY
10/29/2011
Amazing coffee here. If you're looking for something more hip than Starbucks, yea this is one of those.
I do have 1 complaint though. They designate a table that seats 6 to be the "computer area" but there are no power outlets here. If your MAC book or iPhone is low on power, this isn't the place to go. Sorry dude. -
Review from wai l.
New York, NY
A real LIC gem with a broad selection of drinks as you sit down in a rustic interior. Love the old benches
The strawberry ice tea was my gf's absolute favorite. she talks about it all the time -
Review from Hannah C.
11/13/2011
there is nothing bad to say about this place except that my friend and i had to wait 10 minutes to get coffee on a sunday morning because the line was so long. that should say something.
coffee lovers know what's up. -
Review from Nellie W.
Long Island City, NY
1/18/2012
The best coffee in LIC. Seriously. The baristas here are the real deal and pour the best espresso drinks I've ever had. I love the friendly staff and warm environment. Nothing beats Stumptown in the morning... well, except when it's poured perfectly! I also love the pastry selection. Varies every day, but you always find something delicious.
-
Review from Alexandra C.
New York, NY
9/18/2011
Really liked this place.. The ambience/decor...everything.
Good coffee, and I had the best asiago cheese scone here.
Will be back to try the hot cocoa and some other of their delicious baked goods... -
Review from Brandon C.
Brooklyn, NY
Good coffee, good chilli. Closes too early.
-
Review from Matthew F.
Huntington Station, NY
8/1/2011 11 Check-ins Here
Passionate. Simple. Righteous.
That is how I would describe SweetLeaf, they exude a confidence in their coffee and brewing methods that literally stumps Stumptown!
The Hario's are all Japanese imported, the cold brew is out of this world and the service is beyond service, it is exceptional service.
The barista's knew their stuff, what bean came from where, what the name of the farmer was who harvested it. Don't even try to pull one on these guys, they'll pull apart your knowledge like your 2 year old pulls apart Play Doh.
Now to the beverages:
The Cold Brew Vietnamese with condensed milk (a.k.a. Voodoo Child) tasted like a soft milkshake made with love... lots and lots of love. I felt like I was in Willy Wonka's crack factory when I sipped that elixir. Perfect in every way (except the sugar...that will add to the waist line).
The Cold Brew Costa Rican was my second favorite, still amazing but without the condensed milk to make you feel like you were binging on sugar. A dollop of half and half and I'm walking on caffeine-fueled sunshine.
So, what are my future plans you ask?
I plan on becoming a bar stool in this place, if I could, I'd hook myself up full time IV-style to the store. That is how good the coffee is here.
SweetLeaf, you'll be seeing me again....very very shortly.
You know what guys? Do me a favor, just leave the iced coffee vat on the counter. I'll empty it for you. ;-) -
Review from Ryan M.
7/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My Favorite Coffee shop in Queens, hands down. One of the best in the city for me actually. Let me count the ways...
- Iced Rocket Fuel. I'm an iced coffee fanatic, and this is some of the better stuff around. It's cold brewed overnight with chicory. Tastes amazing and will give you a BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
- Fantastic Tea Selection
- Great vibe
- AMAZING baked goods at the front counter that are much better than standard fare.
This is also a great place to kill time while you are waiting for brunch at M Wells since it's nearby.
Signed,
Fan -
Review from David R.
6/28/2011
Can I just say, I loved this place? I walked by here on my way home from my friend's incredibly awesome and oh so hip apt in an art loft, across the Pulaski Bridge, at 7:00 am in the morning.
The moment I saw this place, flash backs from Seattle started firing off in my brain, and I knew I had to try it.
I walked in the dark lit, rustic wooden place, which could have been transported intact straight out of Capital Hill Seattle, and I looked at the menu. Cash only...? CASH ONLY!! Luckily I had come prepared. Feeling the hefty wait of a 10 dollar bill burning a whole in my jean pocket, I perused the menu for my choice.
Holy crap, 3.75 for something called poured over, and 4.25 for a croissant, I really was back in NYC. Never the less, this place just looked awesome, and I knew I would enjoy it. I ordered the Feta and Spinach Croissant, and a cup of their poured over coffee. The barista informed me that it would take a few minutes, and I should have a seat.
I took the still warm freshly baked croissant and dug in. It was tasty, very tasty... OMG 3.00 dollar tasty, but they get a pass because this place sells it. In fact all off their food seemed so high priced, that much like Jean George, you automatically attribute higher taste prowess to these exorbitant yet oddly satisfying prices. It's almost as if, you would feel cheated if they charged the standard 2.25, for the standard 2.25 muffin.
I rave, and yet, I happily payed 4.25 for a croissant, and....I can't wait to do it again. This place made me happy, and I felt at home, in a Seattle sense. I spent quite a few months in Seattle, and I never quite got over the coffee house crave. Now I can get a piece of that here.
It has everything a small boutique kraft coffee shop should have, and I loved it.
P.s
The poured over coffee was excellent, and the barista loved his job. He took a few minutes to explain what he was doing, and why the coffee was so much better this way. I don't know if I have the palate to fully appreciate poured over, over drip, but after talking to him, I felt like I got a bargain!
Come here, if you truly like an old school edgy coffee house feel, like coffee is supposed to be. -
Review from Melinda W.
Bayside, NY
8/6/2011
I loved this place, the decor is really kitschy.
I got the Iced Rocket Fuel (Coffee with chicory and maple syrup) and it was made well and tasted delicious!
There's more seating hidden in the back and you can even play "DJ" by sifting through their collection of records on hand and play them on the record player. -
Review from T.K M.
Jackson Heights, NY
11/9/2011
Let me start off saying Sweetleaf was such a wonderful place, once again the recommendation from fellow yelpers proved right.
Do you want to hang out at a coffee shop that offers great variety of coffee and pastries minus the Starbucks chain store experience? Do you want to loose yourself in quality conversations or simple bs or snuggle up with your gf/bf on antique looking sofa chairs while the time quietly flown away unnoticed? Do you want to enjoy a flirting but a goodhearted exchange with the cashier that will turn your face red while your loved one is within earshot? Or do you want to sit in the laptop room that looked like your home kitchen and quietly surf the web to your heart's content? Well Sweetleaf is all that and more. When you visit this place be sure to try out their specialty drinks. Last night my gf and I tried out the Voodoo and the Rocket Fuel. While ordering, the very talkative cashier was bemused and warned us about not going to have too much sleep. BOY was she right! The much bitter drinks were like a 5 hour energy drink that had kept both of us up until early AM in the morning, and I was still feeling the effect the very next day at work, God have mercy. We also had a coconut-blueberry scone, so tastey and went very well with our drinks.
Through out the entire time spent at Sweetleaf, both gf and I were so relaxed by the easygoing atmosphere and wished we could of spend more time at this place, but good times will always come to an end for the opportunity of a next time. So come to Sweetleaf, have some coffee and some pastries, share them with your loved ones, because I know I will be. -
Review from Monica O.
ASTORIA, NY
9/13/2011
I love this place!!!!
here you can found a delicious coffee.
Everyday I buy my morning coffee to go, but I always like to stay there for a while and enjoy the place , good music, get to sit down and slowly drinking my coffee, but I cant do it ! I have to run to work....-_-
one of these days I'll do this, I just hope not to be late to my workplace. -
Review from A H.
Queens, NY
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
After recently quiting cigarettes I have found my new guiulty pleasure, late or rocket fuel and one of their baked goods and I am in heaven. Actually I go to sleep and I am looking forward to waking up and having that perfect long awaited cup of coffe.It costs $$$ but its so worth it.
-
Review from Mei L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/19/2011 6 Check-ins Here
their Iced Rocket Fuel is a must try~
Seating is hard to find.
There is a back seating area with records and a record player.
Make sure to feel the wall...it's fuzzy. :)
Restroom is avaiable. -
Review from Gillian F.
Brooklyn, NY
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
+
Great vibe. Pretty good coffee. Better than most. Very nice service. Cool location. Great decor. Free wifi. Bar stools. Interesting music. Range of fascinating clientele.
-
Long Island City (which is not near me). -
Review from Daniel W.
10/5/2011
It gets a little expensive for coffee, but man, is it great coffee. It's delicious, really strong, and never tastes old. They make some pretty cool coffee drinks too; I love their Vietnamese-style iced coffee.
-
Review from Peter W.
Long Island City, NY
8/15/2011
Been here a few times........The staff can be a bit slow with service and can appear to be zombie like.
If you can get over the Soviet Union style service, the coffee is good and an artsy place to hang out.
There's a huge wooden table in the place with bolted on chairs, where did that come from????? -
Review from Michelle P.
Long Island City, NY
6/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great hipster coffee spot.... but now that I've said it's hipster, does that mean it's no longer hip? nah....they got plenty o'hipness to cover.
Quick tip: check out the record room in the back.... a cup of your joe and a play of some careless whisper on vinyl and i'm yours sweetleaf! -
Review from Teddy S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm happy sweet leaf is in queens. Its a real coffee shop and there are not many around in queens yet. The quality of coffee, roasting, and service is now on a high scale in nyc. Because of that its easy to get spoiled and become accustomed to high quality cappuccino and espresso. Sweetleaf manages to stand on a high level and there drinks are almost always served with the crema still in tact. I recommended sweetleaf. Its a short walk from moma ps1 and worth it.
-
Review from Amber A.
Astoria, Queens, NY
7/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love this place.
Really nice tea selection for a coffee shop, which I always appreciate (since I'm not actually a coffee drinker). It's not on the menu board, but if you ask they have a whole tea menu of loose-leaf teas available.
The atmosphere is great. If I lived closer, I'd be here all the time to hang out. I also love that they separate the workaholic laptop-toting people into a different area. That way they can have quiet, and the people who want to have conversations or just read or whatever can have a more european-cafe ambience.
I'll definitely be back again. -
Review from Kieran J.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
1/27/2012
i used to go here daily and just got tired of the rude service, better places to spend my money. this place needs to shape up and get some staff who actually care about the customers, expect this service from some pretentious coffee shop in williamsburg. was there on Christmas eve and deffo will not be back. SERVICE A DISGRACE.............. yes that's right SERVICE a disgrace....................................... BOYCOTT SWEETLEAF
-
Review from Ashley L.
Long Island City, NY
5/8/2011
This place has a great atmosphere; you want to stay there with a book and relax. It's incredibly inviting and you just want to stay there forever. There's a great mix of people that visit, also. The last time I was there, there were college students, an old couple reading their books by the window and a young couple with their baby-all just relaxing. Plus, this place plays awesome music- one time I was there and they were jamming Guns and Roses at a nice volume that wasn't distracting.
However, in my opinion the coffee isn't great (it's also not bad but again, that's just my opinion) and everything is a bit overpriced. You'll pay $2 for literally a single cup of coffee but I'm not sure if that includes refills. I've only tried one of the baked goods; it was a chocolate oatmeal cookie that honestly had no flavor, it was just pure sugar.
Also, there are no outlets so make sure your laptop battery is fully charged if you intend to work on it.
Oh, also know that it takes cash only.
Overall though, this place deserves 4 stars for being an amazing place to relax. And for playing Guns and Roses. -
Review from Melissa G.
Manhattan, NY
10/24/2011
Um can I move to queens just so I can have delicious rocketfuel every day? These people really need to expand to Manhattan because it is really good. Great vibe and atmosphere and I seriously loved their speical rocket fuel drink. Reminded me of thai iced coffee which I'm a huge fan of. Just wish this wasn't so far!!
-
Review from Edmundas D.
Ridgewood, NY
11/9/2011 4 Check-ins Here
While sitting in class, I decided to hit a coffee shop after class. I went on Google and typed in "coffee shop lic." Sweetleaf was the first on the list. I searched it on Yelp and it had too many good reviews, so I went. All that being said, I went there, and honestly, it wasn't good...it was AMAZING! 8 more cups to go.
-
Review from Keka Z.
Woodside, NY
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my favorite coffee shop in NYC. I had stopped drinking coffee for several years, and a trip to Europe rekindled my love for coffee. I don't drink it every day, but when I do drink it I want it to be just as good as Sweetleaf's; therefore I end up stopping there tow or three times a week. The pastries are great and I love that they often have at least one vegan choice on deck. My only beef? I wish they had more comfortable seating. They recently moved the tables to the back room and added a two seat-er couch and a few armchairs to the front and they are really uncomfortable! But what's a little discomfort when you have great coffee...
-
Review from daisy m.
Long Island City, NY
Updated - 4/14/2011
Thank you for your kind response, Rich.
My review was not complaining about your no-dog policy. I'm aware of health dept. issues re pets in food joints and totally appreciate your need for compliance.
I did not, as you suggest, give two stars for this policy. I'll state again exactly what upset me:
(1) The lovely coffee in a large cup and saucer which had been prepared for me was withdrawn and handed to another customer--as I was reaching for it. ? The kind barista was clearly abashed about treating a customer this way.
(ii) The choice to accept a coffee-to-go was made for me. A replacement to-go coffee was prepared (though I carry a travel cup). I wasn't asked.
(3) There was no sign on the door noting the no-dog policy, so there was no way for me to avoid this embarrassing faux-pas in the first place. Many businesses post these signs, even when they have no prior history of admitting pets, as Sweetleaf has.
(d) An incident I didn't mention originally: After the poor service, I decided to start over at another cafe, and discreetly asked the register person to scotch my order, please. She struggled several moments to open the register to return the money I'd paid for the coffee and pastry. After several tries, she opened the register and snapped it closed again, and struggled further. Then she accepted payment from another customer: opening the register, closing the register, and thence to struggling to push the right buttons to reopen it to return my cash. Wtff? If this performance was some sort of snafu, she offered no apology; so on top of the rude service I was further jerked around.
I would love to habituate Sweetleaf as I used to. The coffee is good and the staff was great. Since it seems the bad juju was mostly from the lack of a posted sign and the cashier, maybe a sign will appear for other dog-slaves, or perhaps the register person will move on in her career. I promise to check periodically as I pass by.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/22/2011
What Happened?
I'm giving Sweetleaf two stars for old times' sake. I used to like going there and… Read more »
Comment from Richard N. of Sweetleaf 2/23/2011
Hi Daisy, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your return visit to… More » -
-
Review from Elle P.
1/9/2011
In an effort to branch out and not be so Astoria-centric, I actually left my nabe and wandered into Long Island City. I know, big stretch from Astoria. LIC is an industrial part of Queens complete with warehouses that's rapidly undergoing gentrification (is this the new Williamsburg?).
But oh, what a find! Every neighborhood should have a cafe like Sweetleaf. When I'm thinking of a cozy little cafe to sit and people watch or read a book or chat with friends, implicitly I'm thinking of a space like Sweetleaf.
It has character in spades! None of the bland, superficial atmosphere that a corporate chain has. The outside retains the rugged look of an abandoned space with a black facade and chipped paint on the bricks. Inside there are well-worn, scuffed wooden floors; an assortment of tables of various shapes and sizes; a room dedicated for laptops, a room where no laptops may be, which has a long sexy sofa and coffee table as well as a few chairs, another sitting area where you place your order, AND of course, a nattily dressed barista.
There is a good mix of people here. It's not the domain of laptop commuters, who stare and hush you into silence if you want a place to sit and chat with friends. Laptop workers in the laptop room, and in the other sitting spaces, you have a mom and dad relaxing with their Stumptown coffee while minding their little toddler, a group friends laughing and gossiping, a couple deciding what to do with the rest of their afternoon, a few guys hanging out and catching up, and a couple of readers engrossed in their books while sipping a latte. This is a cafe for the community.
I ordered a hot chocolate as I wanted something warm to sip while walking around and I already had some coffee earlier. Sweetleaf's hot chocolate is a rich affair, but the richness comes from the quality of the chocolate, rather than in the creaminess of the drink. This is an adult's hot chocolate. It's not the overly sweet thick milky concoction of Nestle. Although the drink is thinner and doesn't have the same milky mouth feel, you can taste the excellence in the quality of the chocolate. 4 *s. Another * for the cozy atmosphere and character of Sweetleaf.
Dear, dear Sweetleaf, will you please move to Astoria? I promise I'll visit every day.Listed in: Hot Chocolate
Read more reviews for this business:
Spanish (1)
