Café Unique

From the outside, you wouldn’t expect much from this little spot. I was meeting a friend for a «working-​Satur-​date» (a new tradition) and we wanted a quiet space to sip coffee and be productive for a few hours. Café Unique has a little shop downstairs and a nice, quiet upstairs with tons of space, natural light, and ample power outlets. Oh, and free wifi!
Café Unique offers a selection of coffee, tea, bubble tea, cookies, and pastries. I ordered a large black drip coffee, which cost $ 2.25. The coffee itself was pretty okay and on the strong side, which I like. I was stoked they didn’t bother my friend and I are for sitting there for a few hours without ordering anything else. T’was nice.

A great place to work for a few hours. It’s quiet upstairs, there’s plenty of tables, power outlets and (of course) free wifi! The music is mostly unobtrusive, and the people running the joint are friendly and attentive.
Not to mention the fact that the coffee doesn’t suck!

Comfortable spot with a gorgeous wall of windows on the second floor (the leaves are changing so the view is beautiful), and very good, strong coffee. But the atmosphere is distractingly cheesy – Jason Miraz and soft rock on the speakers, a big photo of Paris from the Seine, a Thomas Kincaide-​style hologram painting in the bathroom. Nothing, you know, offensive, but these little things transport you out of Wburg into that great fuzzy nowhere of hotel rooms, elevators, and dentist sitting areas.

Such a relaxing spot and I love it so much! Tons of newspapers and Maxine’s to read. Great view from window.

I’m pretty much not allowed to give this place any less than four stars, since I’m here at least four times a week. I’m a freelancer, so reliable wifi + plentiful seating + caffeine = MONEY.
The coffee is strong, and usually the bubble tea is decent, but definitely inconsistent. I think it’s because they opened recently, and the staff hasn’t quite gotten it all down yet. Once I had an iced green tea that was too bitter to drink (and I drink a lot of green tea) and I got a taro bubble tea that was so thick and sugary, it felt like drinking pudding. I think it’s still stuck in the back of my fridge somewhere because I never finished it (and I never clean out my fridge). The black milk tea is consistently solid though, and iced coffee is a sure bet.
The sandwiches are the type you make at home in college, but who cares about sandwiches when Dough donuts and croissants from Ceci Cela are staring at you from their window pane?

Good coffee, ice-​cold slushies, and a friendly barista! Excellent place for coworking, 1 star deducted only because upstairs (where the seating and outlets are) it felt like there was no air conditioning. I could see one was on and running, but even supplemented with two big fans it wasn’t doing anything for the temperature. Will definitely come back again… when it’s a little cooler outside!

I was feeling a little unfocused so I decided to leave my beloved Harlem to go to Brooklyn to get some work done. Travelling a distance from home always makes me more likely to concentrate, but I digress. This place is great. I had a delicious iced tea and a yummy turkey, egg and cheese croissant. It was clean, had comfy seating and it was not crowded. I sat there for 5 hours and no one bothered me. It loses one star, because the AC was not very strong the day I was there.

I work from home and occasionally need to get out of the house to get stuff done– I have found that Café Unique is the perfect place to get work done. The second-​floor seating area provides a comfy, quiet place to work– lots of plugs, huge windows bring in lots of light + great view of Havemeyer. I’ve never had to compete for a seat or plug here, unlike some coffee shops.
Friendly staff and huge selection of drinks. I always get the bubble tea.

I’m honored to be the FIRST Unilocal Elite member to review this place! LMAO: P
So I’ve heard good things about this place so decided to try this place out today. This coffeeshop is pretty «UNIQUE» in the sense that it’s pretty spacious for a coffeeshop in NYC standards and seating areas are located on the 2^nd floor which is sort of a rarity in NYC. The café also sells Bubble teas, a variety of teas, slushes, salads, and some munchies and baked goods. Anyways, here are my thoughts on this place:
Positives:
*Good, Strong Coffee (especially their Black Eye which contains two shots of espresso tossed into drip coffee)
*Rustic yet cozy Café Interior (especially upstairs)
*Comfortable Seating upstairs with sofas, chairs, high chairs, plenty of daylight and plenty of electric outlets to satisfy even the most demanding MAC whores.
*Great and surprisingly soothing Background Music (I heard Kenny G, Jazz Piano music, etc. SORRY NO LADY GAGA shit here!!! —is she still even popular with her gaga oolala shit? Lately’s she’s been quiet… I digress)
*Free Wi-​Fi (today’s password was Havemeyer but might change daily)
*Clean and Well-​maintained restrooms available upstairs
*You don’t have to clean up after yourselves (although you can). I saw a sign that says you can leave your trash behind since an employee will gladly come up and take your cup/​plate for you.
*Unpretentious barista and chill respectable patrons
Negatives:
*Couldn’t find any from my experience. One thing however that I kind of wish they remove is the salad bar station. It sort of gives it a «Deli» look which I hate. They could really use that space for something else… maybe more seating downstairs or perhaps a station to display the pastries they offer or what not…

This is a very nice place, coffee is good, nice that it is very simple. i really like the folk music they have been playing lately. lots of space to sit and relax. its a bit far from bedford area where all the stores are, but with the right out reach this place can get very popular. very close to the willy b to take a nice stroll. ALSO they are bike friendly, they have a rack out front.
hmmm, also i love to see more latte art on lattes AND cappuccino, some people put the foam right on top for the cappuccino and its not fully incorporated in the espresso. not as good, or pretty

Great café. I had a latte and worked upstairs for a few hours. There is plenty of light and the music is not too loud.
Also, there was samples of a pizzette. It was tasty!

I feel like the other reviewers, I am super hesitant to review this out of fear of the MAC toting black beanie mafia over running it. After years and years of stressing out over Atlas being super crowded and pretentious, I’m relieved to have a spot to work outside of my apartment. And unlike other spots, they have outlets which aren’t taped over. They play good music. The coffee is decent. The staff is super kind. No strollers! Loving it.

So far I really like this place… It is unique in the sense that it’s just a normal café with a lot of space (for now, before it starts getting crowded), friendly staff, decent coffee and no pretense. Love it for this neighborhood.

I hesitate to write a positive review for fear this place might be overrun like Atlas Café down the street, but Café Unique is the best place to work «from home» in Wililamsburg. Coffee is great. Music is great. Atmosphere is great. Wifi is great. Only problem so far seems to be their lack of bagels, which I’m sure will soon be remedied.
Update: Pretty sure it’s closed now. Booooo…

so cute! and awesome little pastries. I love the fact that the neighborhood finally has a place that’s two stories and is an internet café. Great job guys, avocado slush is to die for.

Finally a nice place to hang out in the neighborhood (remember to check out the 2^nd floor when you have some time to relax and enjoy). Their bubble tea also beats Kung Fu Tea IMHO :)