5 Affordable Cafes in Upper East Side, New York NY

This guide lists five affordable cafes on the Upper East Side for residents, remote workers and visitors who want coffee, a light meal or a relaxed table without a big bill. The list began with businesses in Google's lower price bands, then ranked 13 qualifying places by Google rating weighted by how many people left one. Each entry uses only listed hours, addresses, Google attributes and what reviewers mention, so you can match a spot to your plans.

The list at a glance

  1. 1Cafe d’Alsace★ 4.7 · 3,121 reviews · $30–90
  2. 2La Bomboniera★ 4.7 · 602 reviews · $10–20
  3. 3Ella's Cafe Espresso & Wine Bar★ 4.7 · 555 reviews · $10–20
  4. 4Oslo Coffee Roasters★ 4.6 · 423 reviews · $1–10
  5. 5Café Blériot XI★ 4.6 · 319 reviews · $1–10
#1

Cafe d’Alsace

★ 4.7 (3,121 Google reviews)French restaurant$30–90 per person

Representative photo, not of this business.

Cafe d’Alsace at 1703 2nd Ave is a French restaurant serving lunch and dinner on weekdays and brunch from 10 am on weekends. Reviewers mention a weekday lunch prix fixe with a rotating main, steak, moules frites, salmon tartare and coq au Riesling, plus an almond apricot tart. Guests describe a large, comfortable room and attentive service. Google lists strong beer, wine and cocktail selections, outdoor seating and LGBTQ+ ownership.

Best for: French lunch prix fixe
Address
1703 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128, United States
Hours
Fri 11:30 am–3:30 pm, 5–10:30 pm; Mon 11:30 am–3:30 pm, 5–9 pm; Sat 10 am–3:45 pm, 5–10:30 pm; Sun 10 am–3:45 pm, 5–9 pm; Thu 11:30 am–3:30 pm, 5–10 pm; Tue 11:30 am–3:30 pm, 5–10 pm; Wed 11:30 am–3:30 pm, 5–10 pm
#2

La Bomboniera

★ 4.7 (602 Google reviews)Cafe$10–20 per person

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La Bomboniera at 1378 Lexington Ave is a cafe open from 7:30 am on weekdays and 8 am on weekends, until 8 or 9 pm. Reviewers mention a well-made Americano, good pastries, fast friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere where people linger at outdoor tables. A bar runs along one side of the room, and Google lists wine, cocktails, brunch and laptop-friendly seating.

Best for: Long coffee sessions outdoors
Address
1378 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128, United States
Hours
Fri 7:30 am–9 pm; Mon 7:30 am–8 pm; Sat 8 am–9 pm; Sun 8 am–8 pm; Thu 7:30 am–9 pm; Tue 7:30 am–8 pm; Wed 7:30 am–8 pm
#3

Ella's Cafe Espresso & Wine Bar

★ 4.7 (555 Google reviews)Cafe$10–20 per person

Representative photo, not of this business.

Ella's Cafe Espresso & Wine Bar at 1465 2nd Ave is open 7 am to 8 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 8 pm on weekends. Reviewers mention avocado toast, lattes, shakshuka and a house coffee blend, and describe a cozy space with street tables for people-watching. Google lists vegan and vegetarian options, wine, kerbside pickup and laptop-friendly seating.

Best for: Breakfast and catching up with friends
Address
1465 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10075, United States
Hours
Fri 7 am–8 pm; Mon 7 am–8 pm; Sat 8 am–8 pm; Sun 8 am–8 pm; Thu 7 am–8 pm; Tue 7 am–8 pm; Wed 7 am–8 pm
#4

Oslo Coffee Roasters

★ 4.6 (423 Google reviews)Coffee shop$1–10 per person

Representative photo, not of this business.

Oslo Coffee Roasters at 422 E 75th St is a small coffee shop with a bench seat, a single table inside and small outdoor tables on a quiet street. Reviewers mention strong espresso, iced lattes, chai and Americanos, and baristas who work quickly and chat with customers. The food menu is small. It opens at 7 am daily, and Google notes dogs are allowed outside.

Best for: Espresso on a quiet block
Address
422 E 75th St, New York, NY 10021, United States
Hours
Fri 7 am–5 pm; Mon 7 am–6 pm; Sat 7 am–5 pm; Sun 7 am–6 pm; Thu 7 am–6 pm; Tue 7 am–6 pm; Wed 7 am–6 pm
#5

Café Blériot XI

★ 4.6 (319 Google reviews)Coffee shop$1–10 per person

Representative photo, not of this business.

Café Blériot XI at 226 E 83rd St opens at 7:30 am most days and 8 am on Sunday. Reviewers describe a small room with a French feel, artwork on the walls and a built-in corner seat, with only a few small tables. They mention lattes, smoothies, a ham and cheese croissant and baked goods, and note some specials can sell out. Google lists Wi-Fi, vegetarian options and a family-friendly setting.

Best for: Lattes and croissants
Address
226 E 83rd St, New York, NY 10028, United States
Hours
Fri 7:30 am–6 pm; Mon 7:30 am–6 pm; Sat 7:30 am–6 pm; Sun 8 am–5 pm; Thu 7:30 am–6 pm; Tue 7:30 am–6 pm; Wed 7:30 am–6 pm

How we made this list

We looked at 13 cafes in Upper East Side, New York NY with a Google rating of 4.0 or higher and at least 20 reviews, then Google price range of ₹600 or less per person, then by rating. A rating from thousands of reviews counts for more than the same rating from a handful, so a new place with a few perfect scores does not jump the queue. Ratings and hours are from public Google listings on 29 September 2026 and can change. Nobody paid to be on this list.

Tips before you go

Frequently asked questions

Which is the highest-rated cafe on this list?

Cafe d’Alsace ranks first, with a Google rating of 4.7 from 3,121 reviews. La Bomboniera is second at 4.7 from 602 reviews.

Which cafes in Upper East Side, New York NY are open late?

None of these stays open past midnight. The latest to close is Cafe d’Alsace, at 10:30 pm.

How much does it cost at these cafes?

Google lists these price ranges per person: Cafe d’Alsace $30–90; La Bomboniera $10–20; Ella's Cafe Espresso & Wine Bar $10–20; Oslo Coffee Roasters $1–10; Café Blériot XI $1–10.

Which of these have free parking?

Google lists free parking for Cafe d’Alsace and La Bomboniera.

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