The Elk

I probably eat their food at least 3x a week because it’s really, really tasty (and convenient). I love the Market Rice Bowl because it’s seasonal veggies that are always delish– with pickles and picked onions and this sauce that is so good I could drink it. Their soft scramble is ideal too. The baristas are always very pleasant and always willing to deal with substitutions and bill splitting complications. Ive tried their soup once () and their sandwiches. I’ve been wanting to try the egg salad sandwich they keep pre made up front because even that looks insanely tasty.

They know how to steam almond milk. And they use good almond milk! The coffee and food here is delicious, I recommend the avocado toast (on good gluten free bread, thank you!) and the lentil soup. I come here every morning when I’m in town.

Coffee was okay. Got the avocado toast, which wasn’t bad but wasn’t great either.
Although I did come there when they were closing for NYE. That must’ve contributed to the half-​ass services and food. Will come back soon on a regular day to try again.

I got a drip coffee. There were no sleeves. Hot hands. Coffee was decent.

Definitely a hidden gem in the West Village for some intimate coffee and laptop space. Great place to bring a friend or two but very limited seating. They accept credit cards and have a laptop only space by the window. I believe there are food options but I had a small cookie and coffee which were great. Very cute interior as well.

The ambiance of the café was very calming, music selection is a mix of calm indie music. The employees walk around and collect trash which is nice as well. I only had tea, but that a nice collection of tea for a reasonable price and they employees did not make a big deal about refilling hot water. The only reason for the ⁴⁄₅ is because it’s a small venue.

Good coffee and an excellent breakfast sandwich. But at $ 13 and a 15 minute wait, this is not a place to stop for a bite to go on your way to work.

If this café isn’t a «hidden gem» I have no idea what is.
Abutting the scenic Hudson, The Elk is a short walk from the Greenway, making it ideal for grabbing a coffee and heading down to the river, or vice versa, which is what I did. The second you walk in, you are struck by the sanded, unfinished wood aesthetic, modest succulents peppering the shelves, and the seating that hugs up against the huge street side windows. I swear these people never need to pay for lightbulbs because they are killin’ the natural light game.
Anyway, aside from the fact that it looks like something you’d see in a Restoration Hardware catalogue, the Elk offers the standard selection of coffee and espresso drinks, all of which look wonderful. Definitely pair whatever you get with the chocolate chip cookie, which was one of my favorite parts about my whole experience. The barista was a hoot, too. If you’re in the area and looking for a great coffee and nice, chill space, the Elk is it.

The aesthetic is chill as heck and the barista is too. The chocolate chip cookies are deliciously chewy but a bit on the pricier side. A small, air-​conditioned nook in the West Village that I’d love to come by again.

Love the design here. Bright and light color wooden interior make me feel so comfortable and relaxed here. It’s also a nice place to meet with friend. I love staying here to read books and enjoying their coffee.

A hidden gem tucked away on a gorgeous little street in the West Village. It’s my go to spot whenever I’m in the area. Ambience is beautifully modern but also homey and cozy, the staff is always friendly, the coffee is rock solid, and their food is wonderful! (Be sure to stay for breakfast or lunch) Such a unique and wonderful place that I would highly recommend!

This place!!! Such a beautiful and carefully thought out space. The details are everything here. If I lived in the neighborhood I would definitely be here all the time but alas I live in Midtown East.
Seating is a bit limited so try to go at an off-​hour or very early in the morning.

Would it hurt the girls behind the counter to smile, say hello and greet customers???
It seemed as though they were miserable and hated being there! I get that some people have bad days but this has occurred a few times and with all the coffee houses in the West Village to choose from, I would rather grab a cup where there is a better vibe. Matter of fact, I ran into a friend and he had same experience at Elk that we both thought it was worth writing about!

Muy lindo lugar.
Para ver como aprovechar un espacio chico para hacer una cafetería amena y agradable.
La comida varía y es muy rica. No es una carta grande, cosa que me agrada personalmente.
Como en casi todos los lugares donde venden café, el blend no me gustó, pero ojo, no por malo, sino por mi gusto.
Los sandwiches en si, muy ricos. Las porciones son mas bien pequeñas, pero rinden.
Es lindo para conocer y estar un rato. La atención es muy amable.
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Very nice place. Small and cosy.
The food, mostly sandwiches, are very good. May be small, but tasteful.
Service, for me, was excellent. You have to order and then look for your drinks and plates (i prefer it that way).

Let’s take a moment and say awww…
Such a cute spot! They serve my favorite, sightglass coffee, and also have a good selection of café-​style food if you’re peckish. The staff is nice enough to warm up the breads/​pastries if asked. That is, you’ll be surprised, somewhat of a a rarity in NYC.
Most tables are designated «laptop free» which means it’s your perfect reading spot, meeting spot, after run spot, musing spot, just-​enjoy-​your-​coffee spot… and all the things that cafes were before laptops became an extension of us!
Would I go back? Let’s just say if this was in my neighborhood, they might think I’m a homeless who has nowhere else to be.

Delicious tea, great selection of coffees, teas, pastries and small bites. But the service is what really stands out.
The currant rosemary scone is a great pick (worth the $ 4 if you’re looking for something savory-​esque and tart).
LImited seating (like every other café in Manhattan) — there are about six barstools and a few smaller tables — but it’s not crowded (yet), so it’s not a stressful café experience, the way some over-​popular ones can be.
Added bonus, great music selection (a la Alt+J plus soul).
Definitely worth a stop in.

Hipster crowd in a great location. Good drinks. OK service.
Very small and lots of traffic, so hard to get seats.

My first experience at Elk surpassed my expectations. I enjoyed Mojo (coffee spot in its place previously), but Mojo’s service was sub par and staff was not friendly.
Elk had not only great food (the egg wrap is a new favorite), but they had welcoming and friendly staff. We ordered oatmeal and an egg wrap, planning to split the two. When two oatmeals came out by mistake, they quickly corrected and whipped up an egg wrap in no time. A few minutes later the woman who rang us up brought over a muffin on the house (delicious carrot raisin that I’ll order next time). Nice to know that there are places that make customer service a priority.
Highly recommend The Elk for a casual breakfast/​brunch or even lunch spot.

Went here when it was Mojo and stopped in recently on a weekend afternoon to check out the new spot. Wow, they really did make it more light and airy in there; however, I kinda liked the old, shabby chic style more. There is more room to move around now, but the same amount of seating. Coffee was good. My big gripe is they have a small and large (8 vs 12 ounces) and they charge the pretty typical $ 2/​$ 2.50, but you’re getting less coffee.
Major plus for having lots of outlets and free wifi there. A little annoying you can’t use the tables for laptops until late afternoon, though. Didn’t eat any of the food but the breakfast and roasted veggie plate looked good (not sure if latter is on menu; it may just be something the employee through together). I do really, really miss those amazing cookies Mojo had… that bacon toffee cookie was absolutely delicious. The new owners should find a way to get those back! Good, not too loud music playing.

Interior Design: 5-​stars
Service: 5-​stars
Food/​Drink: 5-​stars
There is free wifi and decent seating with outlets.
There is a restroom.
The music is great and played at just the right level.
The space is bright and simple and in a lovely neighborhood.
The baristas are funny and really friendly.
There are a lot of great simple options for breakfast and lunch.
The whole experience here is wonderful.

There area lot of coffee shops in west village. This is my new favorite. Nice people, cute décor, not pretentious or too crowded. Such a pleasant place to chat with a friend or work.