The perfect espresso bar. Beautifully presented coffee, delicious, top quality. Great baristas and relaxing ambience. Absolutely perfect place. Loved it. I'll be back !

The coffee is wonderful. The staff is also super nice. Yes, there is free wifi and restroom capabilities- just ask.

LOVE this place! The lemon current scone was delicious and their lattes are perfectly made.

I am not a coffee drinker, however, they serve fresh bread and pastries. The shop is stylistically appealing for working professionals; clean, accessible, convenient, and trendy. Set along one of Albany's historically artistic streets, this place is the launching ground for your day of creating and changing the world...one coffee at a time.

Nice cozy spot for all kinds of coffees, spinach crossiants, chocolate crossiants, pumpkin ones and maple. Nice juices in the can and 2 kinds of kombucha in a can. Everything bagel with salmon cream cheese recommended! Speciality cream cheese available also and the seasonal Pear Chai Latte with a little ginger in it, is a must!!

We found this place after ice skating at Empire State Plaza, and their Gingerbread latte was quite possibly the best latte I've ever had. Everyone in my group was very happy with their drinks, I will definitely be going back!

I haven't tried the food at this place yet Stack's is a great location if someone wants to sit with friends to talk, complete work or sit to relax and watch action occuring outside. The staff are friendly to anyone who come in. Also, stacks is walking distance from the Washington park and the bus station if one is looking for a quick bite while in town.

I've been a frequent customer for about 3 years now and I'll say that Stacks just isn't the same since the manager John left a few months ago, the real ones know who I'm talking about, but the new staff members are getting better by the day and I can count on them to prepare my dirty chai with ease! If you enjoy a good latte or espresso, then I highly recommend a visit!

Came to Albany a bit early and could not check in to our hotel right away. Came to this place first and enjoy my coffee. The food wasn't that great but it looks like a great place to relax with a laptop for a while. Starbucks eat your heart out.

Legit place for coffee lovers. Small coffee shop, always somewhat busy. This is a place to get coffee coffee, not dessert coffee. For people who enjoy the innate flavor of coffee/ espresso, this will be it, becauae they don't play around too much with sweetening flavors. They treat each drink like a piece of art, something you won't get from big chain coffee shops.

Dang I read thru some of the negative reviews here and I can say that almost everything people are complaining about is intentional on the part of Stacks. Yes it’s small. Small is good. Small is intimate. Yes it’s expensive. Roasting AA beans is expensive. Shipping costs have gone up 4000% in the past year. Beans have to be shipped across oceans, go thru ports, get driven on freight trucks. Each of those operations are expensive. Paying a farmer a living wage is expensive. Coffee should never be a buck fifty. That’s the coffee equivalent of a blood diamond. Good pastry is expensive. Good ingredients are expensive. Not getting all your ingredients from Sysco is expensive. That’s ok! That means you are supporting something worth supporting. No music means no distractions if you are there to work or hang with friends. It’s quieter, more subdued. Ethiopian natural process coffee, which of course is the original taste of coffee, doesn’t taste like Starbucks. It tastes like raspberries or blue berries. It comes from a friggin fruit! I could go on with those 1 star reviews but the nutshell is, read them and think: if you recontexualize these, shine a different light on them, they might be 5 star reviews for you. I wandered in, never been in before on a Sunday. The staff was nice, it’s was busy but not nuts. There was a guy waiting on a pour over, and the staff constantly kept him appraised of how much time was left. I bought a cortado, perfectly executed, tasty, not boiling hot. Text book perfect. And a leek and parm pastry which was heated up in a convection oven. It was warm, flaky, delicious, really good. A great asset to a cool neighborhood.

Fantastic service, excellent coffee and delicious pastries from some of the best bakeries in the tricity area! Cannot express in human language how much love I have for the people who make this place happen! Garunteed you'll enjoy your visit and you'll definitely be going back for more!

This is my go-to coffeeshop in Albany!!!! The staff is also so nice and helpful if you have a question. They have a good assortment of pastries in the mornings too! Update: Still a solid location.

Bravo, very impressed with the Stacks, I took my wife and sister in law after searching for a third wave style coffee shop and seeing high ratings on here, I'm from CT and here visiting for the holidays and wanted a tasty espresso and did they deliver, a warm Cosey shop with very nice and more importantly competent baristas. They delivered excellent well balanced shots that were not bitter or sour but revealed sweet and creamy flavors and aromas! Reasonable prices and great variety, if your looking for a place that can deliver the true potential of the bean then Stacks is your destination. The one thing that would have put them over the top would be some latte art, and the delicious micro foam that goes with it! Will definitely be returning on all my visits to NY!

This is a nice little cafe. It has some really nice decorations and feels very welcoming. It has a simple menu but they do it well! Very friendly staff as well.

Wonderful little coffee shop with a good view. Nice for a get together with a friend or two, but a little cramped if you want to bring a group. Some of my favorite coffee in Albany and their decaf is good too for those of us who like coffee but can't have the caffeine!

Just wanted to give a shoutout to the barista working today on Saturday, June 7th 2025 around 3 pm - so very kind, patient and made my friend and I delicious iced lattes!

It's a cute coffeeshop to sit at. I frequented them while I was living in the area and never disliked anything other than when the owners/management started to take issue with John coming in - he just does his thing, you know? But they have nice staff, good espresso drinks and tea. Although of their pastries I've only liked the chocolate hazelnut croissant, almond croissant and chocolate chip cookie - delicious warmed up! I'm glad to have had a nice sit down coffeeshop to do work and relax at without having to go further downtown.

I stopped by to try a decaf pumpkin latte and it turned out to be the best latte that I have ever had. Not to sweet, perfect spices and the foam was so creamy. Then to top it off, they finished it with a beautiful leaf decoration in the foam. Service was excellent. All around great experience. It is worth the trip!!! Also, while I was there, a customer received a sandwich with bacon that smelled amazing so a BLT will be my next purchase!

The barista made an almond milk hot choc w amazing foam. So hard to get. 10 outta 10!

It’s cute little cozy coffee spot. I got a latte and a bacon egg and cheese and it was delicious!

What a lovely way to start the day. Charming cafe and lovely women creating a beautiful latte and welcoming atmosphere.

Very kind and helpful staff, delicious pastry and the best espresso I have ever had!! If I lived in Albany, I'd be a regular here.

We come here every time we’re in Albany. I dream of this coffee. Highly recommend!

I come here at least 3 times per week, and the lattes are delicious! They have plenty of unique blends and pours for any espresso lover! Super kind people working here as well. I would highly recommend the seasonal specials!

Good coffee, but I worry about it surviving in the new location with all the other drama that surrounds Lark Street these days.

Love the handcrafted syrups, offbeat beverage specials, and wide array of teas. The beautiful covered all-season patio is shared with neighbor Confectionary (wine bar). Mobility accessible **only via parking lot and thru back patio**. Restroom partly accessible - limited grab bars but roomy.

Modern look, friendly staff and delicious coffee. I got a soy latte with a lil bit of maple flavouring.

Best espresso drinks in the area. By far, the best almond milk lattes in the area. Very, very good coffee (house and guest roast). Very friendly and helpful staff. Very cozy and rustic cool atmosphere. Dog friendly and outdoor seating. Nice local art pieces on display. Pretty much the best haha.

Almost anytime I am off of work and in Albany I stop here. The customer service is impeccable, their matcha lattes are the best in Albany, and it's such a great location! Definitely stop in here and enjoy some STACKS.

wonderful cafe, good & warm ambiance. quite few tables to sit and enjoy time. They also have few magazines, papers or light-hearted books available to read or casually scroll through. Even if you come by yourself (like me), you are good!! awesome drinks too!! I ordered gingerbread latte & a croissant here 😬. simple and sweet experience.

A well run, well maintained espresso bar - We stopped by on our way back from Vermont and what a relief. The espresso was fantastic and came with a complimentary side of sparkling water. This was very refreshing and changed the game for me. Drinks were on the cheaper end but don't let that stop you. This does not mean lower quality. This place is a gem. After walking around the park / city we actually ended up coming back and getting more coffee, this time iced. I ended up with the french toast flavor added (SO GOOD). Would definitely recommend.

Great service and food, amazing coffee. Had the spinach feta croissant and it's wonderful

Small little shop but do not be fooled by its size. Latte is smooth and flavorful. The place is also very cozy and perfect to bring your laptop or a book in.

Stacks is a great local spot to stop by for all your café needs. The staff is very pleasant and helpful, and there is a decent selection of seating if you wish to stick around for a little bit. Specialty drinks, public wifi, food and beans roasted in-house are some of the greatest perks. As a regular during the winter season, my biggest criticism is that the door leading out to the road doesn't close itself, so there is chilly draft unless the customer realizes and manually closes it. If you pick a seat at the tables near the door, you might get cold fast.

This was such a cute and delicious coffee shop! The pumpkin spice latte was made with puréed pumpkin made on-site and it was great. Definitely high quality coffee and also some nice tea offerings.

I have been going to Stacks Espresso Bar on Lark for a while now and they relocated to a bigger spot. They have a patio and upstairs, with plenty of seating and a complete change from there last space. The last space was wonderful and exquisite, but their new location is the spacing they deserve because of how many people love stacks! Now you can study, meet friends, stop by for a quick by, it's a full service stop with plenty of seating. THIS PLACE IS A MUST! ❤️ THANK YOU STACKS - XOXO Also, special shout out to the amazing staff here who always go above and beyond. They even remember your name and conversations when you come back. So beautiful. 🌸

Stacks Coffee is my new favorite place for coffee! It has the cheapest coffee on the block (a small coffee is $1.35 inclusive of taxes) and is the funkiest and most hip coffee shops in #Albany I've been to so far. Everyday after my bus gets in town, I have to wait until 8:30am to go to work so I kill time at coffee shops. The other local coffee shop I used to frequent, didn't have a bathroom and Starbucks' coffee sucks. So when two days ago, my husband and I spotted this coffee shop on our way to downtown, I decided to come here yesterday and this morning. So surprised by my coffee tray arrangement with a glass of sparkling water this morning! I've been sick with allergies but this made my day already! Not only is the coffee delicious but it's a great place for some me-time and work. #buylocal P.S. Even Mayor Kathy Sheehan gets her coffee from here. Just met her on my way back and she said she was going to Stacks! ☺️

The Latte is top notch here. An awesome place to get a coffee and hang out or work. The barristas are friendly and if you have your coffee there vs to go, they give you a small glass of mineral water to finish off. Definitely worth a stop.

Delicious ice latte and the croissant sandwich tasted wonderful☺️

Incredible transformation from the shady dive bar with dollar beer nights and a wobbly pool table. This magical aura is nothing short of magnificent. The stacks is by far the most incredible new spot in Albany. My sincerest gratitudes.

Stacks is such a great local coffee shop. Been going here regularly for years and am happy to see it expanding.

French toast special was tremendous. Huge patio out back and they had some live jazz, guitar during brunch. We will be back. Been back, did not disappoint.

Erin Kimberly

Tried some place new for my afternoon coffee. Got a mocha latte with cinnamon. Oh my goooooodness! It was so delicious, made perfectly! The barista was so sweet, really great people skills. An hour or so later I realized I was highly caffeinated too. So definitely strong, and definitely did the job! I'll be returning for sure! ☕️

ShadowsOfAeon

Stacks is such a quiet and great place to get a bite or a drink! I've eaten about 6 Gregs there in the past year (not people named Greg, it's the sausage or bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwich they serve) and they've been phenomenal every time. I'm not sure if it's any particular part of the sandwich but it tastes like it was made in another world by the gods of breakfast. I swear. Get one!

Heather R. Evans

This is another one of my favorites! We usually order weekly and always get the sausage, egg, and cheese on toast! It's really good on a croissant too! Their service is always pleasant!

Kennedy Tyer

Great coffee and experience! I had wonderful recommendations and service from Elisheva. 😊🙏🏼 Enjoyed their sage house syrup in my Oat Milk Latte! Large space with outdoor and upstairs seating!

D & Q

My day always goes better when it starts with a 12 ounce flat white. Could it be because this seems to be the only place that still offers your hot beverage in a real cup? Or because the environment is clean, welcoming, comfortable, and safe? Or could it be because of Gabe and the most friendly staff in town? I don’t know, probably all of the above. I recommend you get over there and find out for yourself.

Al

Vibes are immaculate. I would definitely come here again to hang out with friends.

+3

Sathya Ramesh

Ordered a 8oz mocha (special syrup not an item), and cold brew with the coffee cake. Great pricing. Wait time for drinks was <= 10 mins due to limited baristas. Outside area was very beautiful and spacious. Also inner portion protected us from strong rain for a couple of mins :) 2nd floor of place seems to have less lighting and tables.

Richard Squailia

2025 New location is over the moon great! Good vibes, lots of space and delicious food menu. Good pour, cozy atmosphere, hip soundtrack. I hung out here on a Saturday afternoon with lots of locals coming and going in s steady stream.

+3

Jade A.

Enjoyed coming here, loved the quaint atmosphere. Pastries were great and the latte and hot chocolate were really good. Didn't have any issue with finding parking on the side streets.

+3

Lisa Loeb

Love love love Stacks on Lark St Albany. It’s welcoming and delicious!! Jay served up an amazing decaf Mocha Peppermint Latte along with a tasty almond croissant and a big smile! - I will be back!!

Phil Beauregard

Best coffee in town, hands down. Espresso game on point, creamy and flavorful, very balances aromas, perfect foam too. They ain't messing around with coffee here. Also find a range of carefully selected specialty coffees with many single estate options. Super friendly staff. My new favorite coffee spot

Alexander Frohlich

Amazing customer service. Wanted a latte but the steamer was broken so I was kindly discounted. Had a vegan donut and my other half had a chocolate croissant. Both very tasty. This place has great coffee/espresso and a good selection of yummy edibles! Very nice place.

+2

One of the better coffee cafes in the area. Better than Starbucks.

So glad I had this place when I worked on Lark street. Obviously you are going to pay more for higher quality, so if you want cheap there is a Dunkins on the corner. I reccomend the dirty chai with some cinnamon. Their chai is one of my favorites in the area. They loose a star only bc I prefer dark roast coffee, which they do not have.

Good third wave coffee shop in Albany. Brings in guest roaster and also has their own brand of coffee. Well done pour overs, espresso and cold brew.

Stacks offers some excellent coffee and small bites at a fair price. The cafe is very cozy but is unfortunately quite small meaning that tables are almost always full.

Stacks is pretty all right. They're only downside was that I could not find a study Wi-Fi connection Within. Normally, this would not be an issue. However, today oh, I was unprepared, and someone agonized over not being able to stay in contact with my family and friends, even though there was no pertinent issue current. Their Americano was absolutely amazing oh, and they buttered the croissant I asked for in just the way that I like.

I mean it was nice and all, but so hipster i just wanted to leave. If it wasnt my friend who wanted to go there then i would have just left. Too much work to make one coffee / latte. It literally made me queasy with how cliche it was, yes QUEASY. Also staff was friendly.

This little espresso bar has a lot to offer and the staff is always helpful and friendly. I've begun to visit more frequently because they have some of the most smooth and delicious coffee around the neighborhood. They do cold brew and drip and espresso. The space is nice, but too small, and in winter it gets chilly as people go in and out - they need a heavy curtain around the doorway! It's a small thing, however. There are a few pastries for when you need a munch, but the main thing is the great coffee and pleasant hangout space.

I love this coffee shop. The coffe is great, staff is always wonderful, the pastries they sellare from local purveyors. That being said the prices are not low. Everytime I am in there with a group of people there is always a single person sitting at one of the larger tables. It would be better for business if maybe they started asking people to move if there is only one of them. That is the only reason for the low star rating.

Put's a smile on the phrase "hole in the wall!" First time here, had a truly rich hot chocolate that couldn't be beat! Walking around Albany? Stop in!

Got the summer special, the peach cobbler latte. I felt like the latte could have been a bit stronger, it was a little weak. The flavors of the homemade syrup were delicious though. They let dogs inside so if you stay to sit you will be greeted by a slew of adorable and friendly dogs. There are outlets in the walls and the tables are close to the window so there’s lots of light!

I peeked in here while waiting for a friend to run errands. I sat in the cafe and enjoyed an iced chai and recharged my phone for a bit. I also used the bathroom. The interior has somewhat of a cozy feel depending on where you sit. Some of the tables are pretty close together, and some don’t have nearby power outlets. The bathroom is shared by employees and customers, and is located within a mop closet. The chai was great, and the employees were super nice, and the prices weren’t bad. However, there was a man who kept coming in every half hour or so, being loud, and taking his shirt off occasionally. The parking situation isn’t great because you’ve got to either park on the street if you can find a spot or do what I did and park at the grocery store about a half mile away and walk. Overall, a positive experience with good handcrafted beverages.

Emily is an amazing breath of fresh air whenever we come in. She handles every customer with a personal and friendly smile. The drinks never let me down, especially the Americano. It would be great oif they extend thr hours a few days a week beyond 5pm but otherwise A+ Thanks for being in the neighborhood

Great vibes, great selection to the point I had trouble deciding, and in a great part of town. The coffee was light and had a crisp flavor. Get the nitro cold brew as it taste like sparkling water and coffee.

Good place with some nice coffee. Loved their cappuccino and iced lattee.

Pablo Romero

Beautiful coffee shop - chill with great light, lots of places to sit and good art. Won’t be back though, check local news about how they treat their baristas to see why.

Dylan Wan

Their coffee is the best coffee. I ordered the latte and I really like it. The utensil is not clean and I decided to not use them. The salad is delicious. The Salman Benedict is available during Saturday as the special. It has two eggs and tastes great.

Linda McLoon

This is a small coffee house, but they have the full menu of specialty drinks. They have a nice selection of croissants as well as bagels. The service was friendly, but the person was working solo, so it was a bit slow as a result. All the drinks were good, but not quite hot enough for my taste. The croissants were excellent.

Eric Mishne

Good spot. If I were ever going through Albany again, I would stop for sure. Really good espresso, the bagels were great! High quality stuff. I loved the smoked salmon cream cheese, and I’m normally hit or miss on flavored cream cheese. Win for them! Not a lot of seating, so don’t bet on having a seat, but we got lucky and there were other empty seats by the time we left. 9/10 would go again.

+4

Got the entire order wrong. I ordered large matcha latter they gave me small, ordered bagel with salmon, they gave me plain bagel. And I was the only one ordering at that time. No line, for a good reason.

I only went once and had their house drip. Their coffee okay, but I wouldn't tell my friends about it. The building is very clean and well decorated. The service was fine. There are some seats for sipping coffee and plants to add to the vibe.

Decent matcha but disappointing menu. Based on the website I thought Lark Street would also have the full fall menu with some tasty GF options and freshly prepared egg sandwiches. I stopped in with my daughter before school for her birthday and there were just some croissants, scones, and really tiny unappetizing bagels. I didn't see any GF or freshly prepared food which was a big bummer as they sounded great. They should just make it more clear that the menu is limited. Also there was only one person working in the morning. With specialty drinks that take a while it did not seem like enough to me.

When it’s good it’s great but don’t go expecting fast or consistent service no matter how early I am I’m always late

Lisa Sofia

Great drinks and service, but it was FREEZING in there. We were literally shivering and could see our breath. Many people around us said the same. Our drinks got cold immediately. So frustrating because it would otherwise be a great spot. It was warmer outside than in.

Lakeia Madison

I was hoping to get a feel for the downtown location—but parking is a major challenge. I've visited Lark location twice. First visit, I tried a BLT on a croissant. Honestly, it wasn’t great. The combo of salty bacon, mayo, and croissant just didn’t balance well, and there weren’t any other sauce options like chipotle to cut the saltiness. I don’t blame them too much for the flavor, but it wasn’t a hit. Second time, I ordered a single-cinnamon bagel with cream cheese. The bagel itself was fine, but there wasn’t enough cream cheese—definitely needed more spread for a satisfying bite. Coffee, though? Always solid. They do that part really well. One big letdown was the menu. When you walk in, there’s this large menu board that gets you excited for things like French toast—but that’s only available on weekends. During the week, the options are much more limited: mostly bacon, egg & cheese or open-faced sandwiches. I was disappointed to find out there’s no hash browns, no French toast, nothing hot and hearty during the weekday breakfast hours. Lastly, the back hallway near the restrooms still smells like a bathroom—like they never fully updated the space after taking over from Café Hollywood. It's not a deal breaker, but it definitely takes away from the experience. Great coffee, decent concept, but a few misses that need some attention.

Rickie L Jones

Truth! I enjoyed the 20 minute walk from the Renaissance, flowers, buildings, and ever deteriorating landscape til you get to this street which reminds me of Old Town Chicago 1968..kinda. This is a small place with ok coffee and Two young folks working behind the counter…friendly and very talkative…never the less the man in front of me had to repeat his order twice after I got in line. God knows how many times he’d said it before I got there because there was discussion and changing of position and…. I ordered a croissant. Bits just bread nothing croissant about it except perhaps it is wearing a croissant coat to hide the white bread beneath. Folks seem content studying their Apples - all except a very elderly man who sits at a counter table in the window alcove facing the street. He has a pen and paper, his head in his hand. Maybe he’s a poet. Must be hot over there. Reminds me of Hamburg. Poets swinging in the windows. The music is not too loud but unavoidable..Talking Heads Donna Summer hall and oats but never Rickie Lee. Where’s Chuck es in Love? Perhaps there are better places closer to town. Nothing much on the menu here . At all except a whiff of steamed not- Homemade Funk. But I’d rather have a nice soft boiled egg. Coffee is not bad though not much favorite bean and tastes slightly burnt. Oh- Donna Summers again.

Please update your business hours on Google Maps. This is the second time I’ve come, and according to Google Maps, you should be open, but the door is locked. Even though someone is inside, no one comes to the door to inform customers that the store is closed. Thank you.

I love Stacks, but their Ethiopian Halo Hartume coffee was 19$ for 12 oz of coffee that doesn't taste like coffee. I love to experiment and try different coffee, but this was terrible. I will go back to stacks for steamed drinks and snacks, but won't be doing another purchase of their beans. Still trying to get the taste out of my mouth.

Terribly disappointed. Staff was rude and unpleasant. Additionally announced that they were closing at 3pm even though their hours indicate they are open until 5pm-I would have chosen a different location had I known this would happen.

Coffee was pretty good, but I’m more concerned about this wooden bench - when I sat down I got splinters in the backs of my legs 😫 I had to leave immediately! I hope mgmt does something about it asap before more people get hurt.

New location is oddly very loud. Every time I come in it seems like the music is either really jarring or legitimately blasting through the speakers. Because the music is so loud it also forces everyone to speak much louder. Idk if this is a conscious choice the owners or baristas are making but it doesn't really have the same atmosphere of a coffee shop, and the atmosphere is kind of off-putting now.

Anya Miller

I love going to coffee shops to get work done, and I like that Stacks has a 2nd where they encourage people to sit if they're going to be using a computer. However, it's FREEZING upstairs. I think if I'm paying 6 dollars for a cofffee, a little bit more money could be allocated to heating the 2nd floor, fixing the windows, or whatever else would need to be done to make this space a comfortable place to work.

Weird man looking at us the whole time and RUDE baristas. Daily grind or dunkin' would've been better. I asked for the bathroom after ordering they said over there and I got to it and it had a code. Wouldn't you think they give the code after I ordered and asked for the bathroom.

The coffee isn't great, but the worst issue was the two stale croissants we got. Those should be thrown out at the end of the day, not recycled for the following morning.

I bought a medium coffee. I opened the top to add cream. It was full to the brim. It spilled all over my hand. Lucky for me I work as a Chef and it didn't burn me. Starbucks leaves room for cream! I wouldn't go there again! Train your staff or maybe close your doors!

Found this cafe on our way through NY. It looked cute and promising, but it wasn’t. Paid $27 for a Lottie (yogurt bowl) which was all topping and no yogurt total rip off. Was also given a broken spoon to eat it with. Subpar breakfast sandwhich (the Greg) that tasted like a pre-made sandwhich from star bucks. I would not recommend unless all you want is a latte. I got an iced lavender honey latte which was the only redeeming factor.