Café Grumpy prepares a wonderful espresso. With lots of care, and very polite, friendly service that makes you feel as if you have met the barista before, even if it is your first time here.
The ambience of the café is also light, warm and modern where you can come in for a quick espresso or sit back and relax for a bit.
My son and I were in Chelsea to check out Banksy over at the Vanina Holasek Gallery and all of a sudden we were waiting at a light, standing in front of a very cool looking café.
La Bergamote was a pleasant surprise.
Comfortable atmosphere. Inviting décor. Fitting music. Mouth-watering pastries. Good layout of seating for conversation or people watching out the window. And a good espresso.
Plus, at least some of the staff speaks French, which came in handy for a couple of the customers while we were there.
Excellent touch, La Bergamote.
Address
La Bergamote – 169 9th Avenue, New York at the corner of West 20th. CE Trains at 23rd Street.
After yesterday’s espresso identity crisis – am I an espresso? Cappuccino? Americano? Water with some coffee dropped in? – my son and I took no risks.
We decided to visit Ninth Street Espresso’s Chelsea location.
At first I thought I had the address wrong, as there was no café on either side of the street.
Then we discovered the Chelsea Market and there it was, Ninth Street Espresso with an open space bar in the middle of the covered market.
Genius location for them. No chairs, just the espresso bar. And a buzz of people around, passing amongst the market. It put a smile on both of our faces.
Their original location served up a great espresso, but for whatever reason, today’s was even better.
Address
Ninth Street Espresso – 75 9th Avenue, New York between 15th and 16th Streets in the Chelsea Market. ACEL Trains at 8th Ave/14th Street.
We made our first café jaunt through Chelsea yesterday to visit Café Grumpy on a quiet street just off of the incredibly unquiet 7th Avenue.
I love their logo.
They also have a quirky name, as the word ‘grumpy’ made me think my son and I would be visiting a coffee house/diner where I would have to explain to the waitress (not barista) what an espresso is. The internet reviews I read before hand re-assured me, promising one of the best espressos in the city.
The atmosphere and service were quite pleasant; thus turning the name, Café Grumpy, into a fun and stylish part of the experience.
The café is mellow chic, with a soft and light décor. Generous use of space for the tables.
And the espresso was a treat, putting it in the class of specialty espresso bars in the city.
Check the video out : Is that an impression of Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’ in the crema of my espresso?
If you’re grumpy then visit Café Grumpy to help sort yourself out.
Address
Café Grumpy - 224 West 20th Street, New York between 7th & 8th Avenues. 1 Train at 18th Street. CE Trains at 23rd Street. FV Trains at 23rd Street.
