Sweetleaf

Great coffee and cocktails! I work in the area and come in regularly. Friendly staff, relaxing atmosphere and beautiful décor. Rocket fuel ftw! Highly reccomended.

Sweetleaf’s coffee is definitely among the top 3 I’ve had anywhere. Their pastries are also pretty top notch. I honestly haven’t come across one bad item yet. The vibe and the baristas are super chill and comfortable. Just hoping to keep the hype down as its popularity and prices are increasing steeply each year, but it’s hard to resist since this location is too conveniently on my way to the subway!

I went here for coffee with my friend and really enjoyed the ambiance. The songs they played were throwbacks and it was the perfect way to end a workday, sipping coffee and enjoying the eclectic atmosphere. The staff was friendly as well.

A great coffee shop to stop by for a cup of coffee on the go or relax in the various areas that they have. My friend and I enjoyed our coffee and a cappuccino and caught up on old times =)

After having a hearty brunch meal nearby, my party was looking for a spot to just chill and relax at. We pulled our phones to go on Unilocal (of course!) and… someone sounds familiar, oh it is Sweetleaf! — that awesome iced coffee I had when they had a stand in LIC Flea, few summers ago. My friend and I looked up at each other and said ‘Sweetleaf?!’ at the same exact time. Done deal.
Upon arrival, the place looks very antique but classic. The few big comfy chairs on the left side makes it look like a living room and there is an old wooden table with wooden chairs that reminded me of old-​fashioned bars to the right. It wiggled a bit when I sat down hoping that I will not break something. We got a cup of cappuccino, Voo Doo Child, and the Strawberry Iced Tea.
Cappuccino was very flavorful. Although not as strong and bold as I am used to, I did admire the milk foam with just a hint of espresso. Voo Doo Child is iced Vietnamese drip coffee — it was just the perfect amount of sweetness and right amount of creaminess. Strawberry Iced Tea, wow, so refreshing! Strawberry purée with black tea, I overlooked how such a simple recipe was so tasty. It would be a perfect drink to get in the summer.
My party felt pretty cozy because just when we sat down with our drinks, the sky started to rain. It does feel great being inside with a cup of great coffee. And from here, we chatted away!

This place might not be the cleanest, but its the most rustic and authentic coffee/​hangout spot in Long Island City.
My favorites:
Hot Chocolate
Bite Sized Vegan Brownies
If you are in the neighborhood, don’t forget to pay a visit to this LIC charm for coffee or a snack. It won’t disappoint you. :D

My main coffee go-​to place when I visit PS 1. It’s got a quirky interior with a punk theme in the back. Latte excellent. Pastries approved by my 4 year old.

l have been to many coffee shop
I tried many hot chocolate
This is one of my favorite
Not too sweet but rich flavor
Mini donut is taste good too
Their interior. Very nice
coffee maybe good quality
But. Not my taste

I had the most amazing almond milk hot cocoa here.
The ambience is cozy and there’s a section of the coffee shop for everyone: an open area in front, a bar by the server’s counter, and a record room in the back.

So happy to have found a good coffee shop in relatively close walking distance to my job.
Be advised: the surrounding intersections are DEATHTRAPS. Cars speeding around corners without watching for peds. You could easily die here.
Tried the rocketfuel which was tasty and has cold brew coffee, maple syrup, and something else. Great pick-​me-​up in the afternoon.
Also had them ice a Moroccan mint jasmine tea for my boss which warmed up too fast, needed more ice. I advise them to shake it over ice then pour on ice next time.
Ham and cheese croissant was really good, as was the cheddar corn scallion muffin I had (watch out for whole peppercorns BLEH)
Will def be back & often.

Good cold brew! I got the rocket fuel.
It was good refreshing, but not too sweet.
I didn’t really think much of it, except for the fact that it was okay. The place is usually packed and I would come again to try something different, maybe a latte or cappuccino.
Super trendy place! And I got a trendy drink. Haha should have opted for the traditionals.
Will probably have it again if I’m in town or in the area.

Apparently I should have asked for the Rocket Fuel, because when I asked for cold brew, in the barista’s rush to move on to the next order, I was then corrected as needing to order Iced Coffee– but there was no mention of other options or a question to clarify. As a barista– you have one goal– to clarify exactly what your customer wants if they ask for something that sounds unfamiliar to you.
To the well-​traveled coffee drinker, there’s a distinct acidic difference between Iced Coffee that was first brewed hot, and Cold Brew that never boiled the beans. What I actually received was decent and cold, but according to others, Rocket Fuel is their true cold brew with hints of sweetness and is where it’s at for the locals who come here most frequently. If I’m back in the area again– I’ll give it a try. As a first experience– I wasn’t turned off entirely– but felt like I missed a chance to get what I really wanted based on the barista’s dismissiveness and rush to move on.

Sweetleaf was a pioneer of well-​made expresso in Queens. It remains one of the best coffee shops in Long Island City, and has expanded to a second storefront in LIC closer to the waterfront, and another in Williamsburg.
The interior design of the original shop has an effortless charm. Shabby chic, Victorian, and vintage all come to mind, with clutter and wear evoking a comfortable, lived-​in home. Its tiny space is subdivided into a few sections; quite a feat considering how each space must necessarily abut the other, yet have a distinct feel. The «Laptop Room» to the right of the entrance has a two window-​facing bar stools and a large, old wood table with swing-​out seats; this communal seating accommodates laptop users, who can make use of the free wi-​fi, although with nary an outlet in sight. There is also a full view of the kitchen area where the in-​house pastries are made. To the left of the entrance are a few mismatched couches and armchairs, with the best natural lighting. A cozy «Record Room» accessible by the back of the coffee counter has a few tables and the namesake vinyls and turntable.
As a serious coffee shop, there is a classic menu of expresso drinks and pourover coffee. Beans are sourced from the west coast. Their macchiato is strong, smooth, with a nicely roasted flavor. A few signature drinks are very popular, and rightly so. The Voodoo Child is their take on Vietnamese coffee, showcasing all its strength and sweetness, made with cold brew coffee. Its delicious and strong. The strawberry iced tea is a fruit-​flavored tea done right, with fresh strawberry purée mixed into iced black tea. Tastes refreshingly of strawberries with no extra sweetness.
Pastries are made in-​house daily, and are good accompaniments to the beverages.
Sweetleaf has landed on tourist to-​go lists. As such, at various times, tourists do show up, as a group suddenly did on an early Saturday morning, extending the line out the door. The attention is odd. No knock to their coffee and charming ambience, but its just one of many good coffee places in NYC. Thankfully, though, it is usually a quiet place frequented by locals, and a nice place to while away some time.

Sweetleaf is more than the great Sabbath tune the name pays homage to… More than my neighborhood coffee… More than my morning fuel hang. It is indeed the place I will miss most when I leave NYC. It has been my everyday espresso joint since it opened. A staple in the ever-​changing landscape of the hood I live in. It is a place with personality and ambience. While I miss the old days of a real Rock n Roll coffee hang (nothing lasts forever), it has still managed to hang on to its integrity, which the two awesome dudes who built it never compromised.
Good roasts, excellent milk (hard to come by in this town), amazing caps, and my favorite baristas. I am a coffee snob… One needs to hang on to the good stuff in this life, that is so full of disappointments, childish games, and mediocre tastes.
Thank you Sweetleaf, for being open… Even on those days when motivation seems to be fading away…

I should have ordered their strawberry iced tea instead of the new flavor they had written on a separate small chalkboard. I forget the exact name of the drink but it was pink and had a tiny sliver of spice. However, it was too watered down from the ice and tasted as if its ingredients were just water, pink food coloring and a tiny bit of spice. I was not a fan at all.
We also tried their iced coffee and it was pretty good since it was strong and bold. The flavor was also on point. We stopped by this place to get drinks while waiting for a bus, which stopped right by the front. I even got to use their restroom which was a perk.
The furniture here is very studious and antique-​y. It seems like a great place to relax, unwind and read a book (or work on homework via laptop).

Sweetleaf is a one of a kind bakery in LIC. It has a very home-​ish feel, and has multiple rooms that all look very different. There is a great room that has a record player that you can actually play music on and they have hundreds of records to choose from.
I had their carrot cake which was amazing, and their other baked goods looked great as well. The only thing is that I don’t think there is air conditioning, and since I came on a relatively hot day, I didn’t want to stick around for too long.

LIC’s gem coffee spot! Close-​by Vernon Blv/​Jackson Ave 7 subway stop. Highly suggested If you are planning a walk either to Gantry Plaza Park, or heading towards MoMA PS1.
The lemon-​poppy muffins are to die for.

What’s not to love about this place? It was my first favorite coffee shop when I moved to NY and still remains high on the list for me (ranking top for me along with Stumptown and Birch Coffee).
What sets Sweetleaf apart is the creative quality brews like rocket fuel (iced coffee, milk, chicory and maple syrup) and voodoo chill (Vietnamese brew) and the ambiance which is that of a hipster/​bar lounge complete with antique furniture and art, complemented by classic hip hop music. They bake delicious goodies on site which are a must have if you’re planning to hang out and get work done.
If you haven’t been, go! It will raise your coffee and coffee shop standards ;)

Conveniently located right in front of the B32 stop, sweatleaf is a great place to stop by for a coffee while waiting for the bus to Williamsburg. The vibe inside has that cool hipsterish factor to it which i really enjoy as there are antiques and vintage coffee memorabilia scattered all through the store. There are also cool looking couches which totally add to the coolness factor and make you just want to whip out your laptop, connect to their free wifi & catch up on your Unilocal reviews!
Great coffee that will really perk up up! get the iced rocket fuel to help boost up your day!

Nice little corner coffee shop with a small selection of baked goods. Have the classic coffee drinks and some signature specials.
I shared the Rocket Fuel and Voodoo Child with my gf.
Rocket Fuel (Iced)
Cold-​brewed coffee with chicory, maple syrup & milk
Voodoo Child (Iced)
Vietnamese style cold brew. Sweet & creamy
The voodoo was just wanted I wanted and a great spin on of my favorite Viet coffee drink. The fuel was super sweet and like ice cream, not a fan.
CASH ONLY

Excellent coffee. Quintessential LIC experience.