Lucid Cafe

Tried this place out for the first time and will not be going back. Got the plum green tea over ice. It tasted more like juice than tea! I watched them make it and it looks like they mixed some kind of concentrated liquid with water. Not a fan.

Great coffee, soy flat whites one of the best in NYC. We love the small cozy atmosphere

We found this place during my NYC vacation and I ended up stopping by several times! Their honey ginger lemon tea (iced) is probably THE best iced tea I’ve ever had. It’s the perfect mix of bitter and sweet that it’s so hard to find on iced tea. It also felt amazing on my throat (ive been to a few concerts by then). Probably my favorite find during my trip!!!

Just went into the area and already understand this will be my go to java area. Their fresh espresso is smoky, heavy, and tasty, and the staff is super friendly. It is a miniature and cosy space, old-​time but not at all hipster /​pretentious. They take credit card over $ 5.

Coffee was not brewed well… too sour. Berry tinged beans can be good but they need to be made well. I guess this place is good for a quick latte on the go, but it’s too hot inside to stick around any longer than 5 minutes. Not a fan.

Ringing bells chime as you open the door, and you are greeted with smiles from a lovely girl and a young man. I was a bit startled at how small the place was and even more surprised at the amount of seats they managed to cram in there!!! The wood furniture by the window was actually very pleasant as I sipped my cappuccino in peace and serenity.
The cappuccino ($ 4) was slightly milky for my taste, a tad bitter
Honey Lemon Ginger Tea ($ 6) — iced; Wow this is remarkable, SUPER REFRESHING, Perfect balance of sweet and tangy, the ginger adds this really cool sharp note, it was beautiful, Great on a hot NYC summer day!
Others have noted the Matcha Latte, Dark Chocolate Mocha and homemade granola as great options here, I’ll have to remember those for next time!
—–
6÷9÷16 — Iced Dark Chocolate Mocha. Whoa, am I drinking an airy chocolate cloud? The texture is smooth and velvety, there is a slight bubbly sensation like a nitro effect, the dark chocolate is very pronounced, deep flavor from real cacao, but the mouthfeel satisfies you like chocolate milk. Perfect for a warm day!
Recommended: Cappuccino, Honey Lemon Ginger Tea, Iced Dark Chocolate Mocha

Mostly a grab and go café but there are limited seats for who want to stay awhile. It is a very friendly atmosphere and quiet so it is perfect for anyone who just needs a time out.
My craving for a cup of Matcha Latte bought me here! Barista poured a cute heart on top of the latte. At first sip, you can feel the warmth and love for lattes. The overall drink is more on the milky side for me and I did wish there was more matcha powder but it did the job.
They are opened as early as 7:00 am in the morning and as late as 5:00 pm, therefore, they cater more to the corporate business hours in the surrounding area. More of a 3.5 Stars rounded up to a 4, thanks to the cozy environment.

I almost missed this place until I realized that it was right around the corner — it actually shared the same street number with the cleanser store next to it.
Noticed that they have the homemade honey lemon ginger tea, so opted for that given the humid and chilly weather. Ginger was the best medicine for coldness; however the taste of lemon was a bit too strong for me…
As many Unilocalers helpfully pointed out, this place has a 5 dollar minimum for card purchases.

I lived very close to Lucid for 2 years and without fail, would come to their shop every weekend for a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant. I love the care, attention and detail they put into their drinks. The café is tiny, but if you manage to grab ½ tables, the ambiance is lovely.

Despite living in Murray Hill/​working in Midtown, I never knew about Lucid Café until a friend recommended it and I’m glad she did!
They have a good selection of drinks (dark chocolate mocha being one of their specials — looking forward to trying it next time) and I really enjoyed their iced coffee, especially for the price.
The space itself is well-​decorated/​comfortable but small with only 3 tables, so not necessarily the greatest place to work on a laptop or stay for a long time. I’d love to stay if tables happened to be available, but I plan on coming to Lucid more for to-​go coffee.

Don’t go in the afternoon. went with a few co workers and all of ours were burnt! On top of that u need cash unless u spend more than $ 5 on coffee. Won’t return.

Meh. I didn’t get why this place gets so much love. My pastry was bland and not great consistency. My latte was way too hot and not super flavorful. The space is tiny and kind of a hole in the wall. If you consider their nook full of CDs a vintage décor element I guess you could call the place kitschy at best, but it just felt kind of dingy to me. Back to Perk I go.

If you need something g to just feel good or fight off a cold or just a little scratch in your throat. You must drink their honey, lemon and ginger tea and it will make you warm and tingly. On a cold day when you just need a little kick this place is perfect. It is super tiny inside so I don’t recommend stay for a drink because you may be sitting on top of the other person. However, a to-​go cup is perfect.

What a cute little coffee shop! I was in need of a coffee fix and just happen to stop by here. It’s a very tiny space! Only couple of seats so if you need to study, go elsewhere! However the perfect place just to drop by for a quick caffeine fix. I got the matcha latte and it was just the right blend of matcha and milk. The matcha is very good here! I will definitely stop by again to try their other coffee!

Cute little (literally) tea and coffee shop with great homemade lemon, honey & ginger tea. Tried the chai latte and it was perfection.
Just wish there was more room for sitting. It literally accommodates like 8, seated. If that.

Quintessential neighborhood coffee shop. Quaint but bustling with locals. We were staying at a hotel a few blocks away and stopped here for a quick coffee & snack. We ordered two flat whites, a cinnamon pastry and their homemade granola with Greek yogurt. The coffee was well-​executed and tasty, no sugar needed as it was a nice blend. Even though their had been the 2^nd biggest snow storm in NYC they were open with fresh pastries.
If you are staying near Murray Hill this is a great stop. Seating is limited but most grab & go.

Good stuff!
Ordered an iced mocha, which was delicious. Not obviously sweet like most mochas, just had the right amount of chocolatey sweetness.
Friendly staff. Good location. But damn prices are a litttttle high…

This quaint little shop is unpretentiously located at 38^th and Lexington, conveniently right own the street from my studio.
I first decided to try it because there are consistently long lines in the mornings and it always seems to be bumbling throughout the day. Mostly middle-​aged working adults. I wouldn’t necessarily say this place is a ‘hole in the wall’ joint. For one, its prices certainly don’t say so. But, as many before me have said, it’s New York and you wouldn’t expect any less.
The space:
Lucid Café doesn’t necessarily give off rustic vibes though the interior is mostly wooden. I would describe it as quasi-​Western cowgirl with Korean undertones. I can’t articulate it precisely but there is something about the ambiance of the space that exudes its Asian business model undertones. Not necessarily a bad thing though. It’s mostly in the vibe but also think origami cranes hanging on the door and overpriced – but not outrageously – mediocre photographs hanging on the wall both as decoration and for sale. The staff is primarily Korean, as they often talk among themselves in the language. I could imagine this place on 32^nd St. Their sister café is located in Queens.
The coffee:
They serve Counter Culture coffee and each cup is respectable. I’m far from a coffee connoisseur but their coffee fits my palate. Bold but not too pungent.
I’ve never tried their baked goods but they seem to be sold out by midday.
tldr:
Lucid Café closes pretty early but if you need a morning or afternoon pick me up or you’re looking for a place to sit and you see that one of their two tables or side bar is empty you should definitely stop by!

Great iced coffee and not overpriced like most of the places in the city.
Wish I worked closer!

I tried finding an exceptional coffee shop this side of 3^rd avenue. The high rating could be due to their location.
Here’s a recap of my visit.
A single moment after paying, I saw the barista lay down a matcha latte (not on the menu-​I looked). «Excuse me, I’m sorry, may I please change my cappuccino to a matcha latte?», «NO», «Really?» «Yeah, really.»
Gosh, no one was even behind me in line.
$ 5 for a small cappuccino and banana, I’d pay that just for how efficient the service was. The cappuccino was better than Starbucks; a quality I’d like to have taken my time drinking.
I would go back if I lived in that part of Midtown, but I’d have to be nudged to make another special trip from the Empire State Building.