Alt.Coffee--CLOSED
(212) 529-2233
137 Ave A
(at Between St. Mark's Place and 9th Street)
New York,
NY
10009
40.7271
-73.983
Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, East Village, Downtown
What People Are Saying About Alt.Coffee--CLOSED
The Editor
Kara Zuaro
Citysearch
The Scene
With walls painted a garish shade of orange, totally torn-up couches, and some of the world's ugliest lamps, Alt.Coffee is the perfect dive for the coffee shop set. Decorations include a dead Fica tree, a plastic light up duck, and some noteworthy art, alongside a kitschy kitty painted on a black velvet canvas. Love the look enough to take it home? Plenty of novelty gifts, such as bright-colored candles shaped like baby's heads, are sold out of a large display case in the front of the shop.
The Draw
Free wireless internet access attracts messy-haired college kids, and a bunch of Dell desktops accommodate those who aren't toting laptops. In the evenings, the quiet back room is filled with computer users and feels a little bit like a punk-rock study hall, but conversations abound around the tiny coffee bar as patrons nosh on bagels, pies and pre-packaged sweets.
User Reviews
jamesvaughn
September 26, 2007
This place used to rock. Now the staff is way uptight, the place is full of creepy friendless types, and the place is filthy and the furniture is the same as it was--which was old so is now rubbish. Plus the wifi is unreliable. We need a new place like this one used to be. There is definitely a quiet popular local screaming for an anti-Starbucks to arise...
read full review
infophiliac
October 24, 2006
I'll admit it: I got busted for trying to plug in my computer. It's not a rule I particularly love, but the person who asked me to unplug was polite about it (no "fascist zeal" in sight) and I still love this place. I've heard some fantastic music that was new to me and the coffee is good for the low price. Sure, you can't sleep, but in what other business can you? It's only an issue here because they actually have comfortable chairs, that's more than can be said for just about any other coffee shop. I'll be back and hope this place is around for a long time to come.
read full review
b1fin
October 24, 2006
Amazing case of sweets. PMS cookies that can only make you smile. Top this with a Latte and you are set for at least an hour.
read full review
