5 Underrated Cafes in East Harlem, New York NY Worth Trying
Updated 29 September 2026 · 12 cafes in East Harlem, New York NY considered · Ranked from Google ratings
This guide covers five cafes in East Harlem, New York that score well on Google but have not yet collected a large pile of reviews. Every place here is rated 4.4 or higher with fewer than 400 reviews, and the order comes from Google ratings weighted by review count, drawn from 12 qualifying businesses. It is meant for locals and visitors who want a solid coffee stop away from the busiest names, with hours, addresses and a summary of what reviewers mention for each one.
#1
Sojourner Coffee
★ 4.9 (223 Google reviews)Coffee shop$1–10 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Sojourner Coffee is a small coffee shop at 137 W 116th St, open 7:30 am to 3 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 3 pm on weekends. Google lists it as Black-owned, LGBTQ+ owned and women-owned, with Wi-Fi and a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Reviewers mention an iced oat vanilla latte made with house-made syrups, cold brew, a guava croissant and a light-roast Ethiopian coffee. They also note seating is limited, so arriving early helps.
Best for: Iced lattes with house-made syrups
- Address
- 137 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7:30 am–3 pm; Mon 7:30 am–3 pm; Sat 8 am–3 pm; Sun 8 am–3 pm; Thu 7:30 am–3 pm; Tue 7:30 am–3 pm; Wed 7:30 am–3 pm
#2
Union Cafe
★ 4.9 (91 Google reviews)Cafe$1–10 per person
Representative photo, not of this business.
Union Cafe sits at 115 W 142nd St and is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm, with dine-in and takeaway. Reviewers mention flavoured lattes such as a plantain latte they describe as caramel-like and not too sweet, and a date latte, along with pastries. They describe a cozy space with local decor, attached to a mini market next door, and one reviewer notes service could be faster as the cafe is newly opened.
Best for: Unusual latte flavours
- Address
- 115 W 142nd St, New York, NY 10030, United States
- Hours
- daily 8 am–6 pm
#3
PABADE CAFE AND BAKERY
★ 4.8 (352 Google reviews)Cafe
Representative photo, not of this business.
PABADE CAFE AND BAKERY is a cafe and bakery at 135 E 110th St, open 6:30 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 3 pm on weekends. It lists a wheelchair-accessible entrance, seating and toilet. Reviewers point to fresh pastries, including assortments ordered for work meetings, plus a spiced chai and matcha. They describe friendly staff and a cozy atmosphere, with a note that seating is limited.
Best for: Pastries and early weekday coffee
- Address
- 135 E 110th St, New York, NY 10029, United States
- Hours
- Fri 6:30 am–5 pm; Mon 6:30 am–5 pm; Sat 8 am–3 pm; Sun 8 am–3 pm; Thu 6:30 am–5 pm; Tue 6:30 am–5 pm; Wed 6:30 am–5 pm
#4
Indomable Coffee
★ 4.8 (252 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
Indomable Coffee is a Latino-owned and women-owned coffee shop at 228 E 116th St, open 7 am to 4 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 4 pm on weekends. It offers outdoor seating, delivery, catering, breakfast, brunch and lunch. Reviewers mention horchata coffee, waffles and chilaquiles divorciados with both green and red salsa, and describe attentive, personable service. They note a restaurant has opened next door.
Best for: Coffee with a Mexican brunch
- Address
- 228 E 116th St, New York, NY 10029, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7 am–4 pm; Mon 7 am–4 pm; Sat 8 am–4 pm; Sun 8 am–4 pm; Thu 7 am–4 pm; Tue 7 am–4 pm; Wed 7 am–4 pm
#5
Same Time Tomorrow
★ 4.8 (37 Google reviews)Coffee shop
Representative photo, not of this business.
Same Time Tomorrow is a coffee shop at 151 Malcolm X Blvd, open 7 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 5 pm on weekends, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance and toilet. Reviewers focus on the atmosphere, music and design, describing an intimate, cozy space. Regulars point to banana matcha bread, a cheddar scallion scone and red velvet cornbread, alongside coffee made with quality syrups.
Best for: Atmosphere and creative bakes
- Address
- 151 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10026, United States
- Hours
- Fri 7 am–5 pm; Mon 7 am–5 pm; Sat 8 am–5 pm; Sun 8 am–5 pm; Thu 7 am–5 pm; Tue 7 am–5 pm; Wed 7 am–5 pm
How we made this list
We looked at 12 cafes in East Harlem, New York NY with a Google rating of 4.0 or higher and at least 20 reviews, then rated 4.4 or higher on Google but with fewer than 400 reviews. 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
- For an early start, PABADE CAFE AND BAKERY opens at 6:30 am.
- Hours and prices come from Google listings and change, so check the listing before a long trip.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the highest-rated cafe on this list?
Sojourner Coffee ranks first, with a Google rating of 4.9 from 223 reviews. Union Cafe is second at 4.9 from 91 reviews.
Which cafes in East Harlem, New York NY are open late?
None of these stays open past midnight. The latest to close is Union Cafe, at 6 pm.
How much does it cost at these cafes?
Google lists these price ranges per person: Sojourner Coffee $1–10; Union Cafe $1–10. The others do not list a price range.
Which of these have free parking?
Google lists free parking for Sojourner Coffee and Indomable Coffee.
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