Great local place to get coffee!

Great vibes, pastries, and coffee

My favorite neighborhood cafe

best board game cafe EVER, great vibes and amazing place to chill, owner is the nicest!

This is a cozy place to get a nice tea. Love playing the board games. Great vibes for connecting with like minded people.

Awesome vibes, awesome coffee, awesome staff - plus fun board game and other theme nights, DND and other tabletop games. What more can you ask for?

Such a great addition to the neighborhood! Cozy spot to spend an afternoon with friends over Catan and I’ll be coming back for the coffee — it’s so good.

Pay to play board game cafe, super fun! Recommend the trolly problem game. Chai latte had a lot of cinnamon.

Such a cool and warm Boardgame cafe, it has such a homey feel and you can tell that everyone who works here is happy too.

Great place to play games and have a coffee or beer. Super friendly staff, and a large selection of board games!

Great coffee and great space!They just opened but it feels as comfortable and familiar as a place which has been and intergral part of that community for years.

Super friendly staff, great games, great place to work, amazing hours - overall a great vibe, I’m glad this place exists

Fun, quirky, and delicious coffee options, a beautiful space, and every possible kind of game - the perfect place to spend an afternoon.

This place Gives you the vibes of a different world, this Cafe has helped me improve myself more than I can imagine from the staff, activities, and quiet setting chaotic Cafe is the best place to be.

Ted, Andrew and the crew are outstanding. intentional care on the quality they serve and the welcoming environment they created!

Amazing vibes, great coffee and tasty chocolate babka!

It’s a nice cosy place with good drink with so many games and really nice staff!

My favorite cafe in the UWS. Great people, fantastic coffee, great vibe.

Cute spot in the upper west side, everyone is super friendly and great selection of board games!

They've got crokinole boards

Delicious coffee, excellent board game selection!

Beautiful, new coffee shop on UWS. You won't find better coffee anywhere! Very friendly place! 👍

The coziest little coffee shop that’s perfect for a friends catch up, reading, working, and playing board games

Great place to work, meet with friends, or just enjoy the relaxed vibe.

Really enjoyed the tea and the atmosphere, can't wait to go back!

Still great. One of my favorite places in the city!

I basically live here. The best neighborhood cafe, hands down.

I came into this place from LGA half assed bc my flight was cancelled to Montreal due to bad weather. I dumped my story to the barista and she served me a drink that I stg tasted like pineapple but had no pineapple because of the brown sugar and strawberry syrup. I’m writing this review at 3 AM because I asked her she make me a drink that’ll keep me awake for 18 hours- and it worked. Thank you. Fabulous staff- know how to take an order and converse with a stranger. Such is beautiful New York City :) The atmosphere was tight- I sat down and it was trivia night. Some random lady entered and she sat next to my chartreuse travel bag named Martha. We chatted while we waited for her friend to show up, and then we chatted all three of us during the trivia night and ended the night with some chutes and ladders over in the massive board game area. They have my two favorite games; Azul and Wingspan, not for the faint of hearted. The barista from earlier even came through and asked if if we wanted last call drinks as they were closing. The quasaants were also calling my French ass but I resisted. They looked delicious though. Food: 5/5 Service: 9/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Great job team. Yall flipped my day in NYC 180 degrees. We’ll be coming back with those ladies to play some Azul and Wingspan, gummy free I promise 😭 (I did not eat those I swear) To the barista who made my drink: you’re an amazing person. You held the convo with all my bs and truly made my day too. That drink was fire and I’d come back to NYC again just to have it. Please don’t forget :) P.S. for any customer entering the shop, beware of the stairs. I read the sign that warned me about the stairs and I almost ate shit anyway. Lol I loved it. Gabe

Cute game cafe with great vibes all the time. Great place to work, play games and have a wonderful cup of coffee. The events are fun too!

Completely wonderful place. Great beverages, lovely space, well-curated vibe, and you can order food delivery! Have really enjoyed having this spot in the neighborhood .

Cozy, affordable, and amazing staff. What more can you ask for? Board games?? Well... Let me tell ya... (They got those too!)

The coziest spot to read, unwind, catch up with friends and sample coffees all over the globe.

What an amazing addition to our neighborhood. The coffee is really good, and the staff is so amazing. I'm not that big into games but the staff taught me how to play crokinole in just a few minutes, and I played for over an hour. It was great fun! Looking forward to my next visit.

Great place to come and work from during the day. Pleasant staff, amazing vibes. That’s my favorite spot on the UWS.

Great new cafe spot on the upper west. They provide a nice quiet space, perfect for getting things done and the coffee options are delicious. My favorite is the chai latte. Plenty of games when I’m looking for having fun with my friends and family. Also, they’re one of the only spots in the neighborhood for late night coffee!

10/10! I love this place, I go all the time. They have great drinks and snacks, lots of board games, and seats! They also host many events which are great :)

Great new addition to the neighborhood! Love the drink selection and the prices are very reasonable. Really fun spot to hang out with friends and unlimited game price is a great value if you need an afternoon or evening activity!

I joined some old high school friends here to play games for the afternoon. Amazing atmosphere, great staff and a wonderful game selection. They have nice drinks and we ordered from the felafel place around the corner for a snack. I’ll definitely come back!!

Great place to play board games, with a nice selection of wines and good Coffee. 5 usd per hour per person or 12 usd unlimited playing time. Staff is very kind.

This place actually has everything. Outstanding coffee (both pour-over and specialty drinks), tea, pastries, beer, and wine, with the option to order food from El Gallo Taqueria around the corner. A true third space/community hub with board games, role-playing games, and themed events like Mahjong Mondays, D&D one-shot nights, and quiet hours. Remote work amenities including wifi, outlets, a restroom, and comfortable seating. Kind and knowledgeable staff. And thoughtful touches like a countertop dice tower (roll for a chance to win a free coffee) and a floor-to-ceiling pillar of customer-made post-it notes full of affirmations and drawings. I just might move in.

An excellent third space to hang out and get stuff done. The staff is great and the coffee is really good. If it’s warm outside, try their Mazagran!

Love it here! The staff is really nice and there’s a large selection of games. Plenty of seating and the hot chocolate is amazing.

Great coffee, fun beverages, excellent vibes

They didn’t burn my matcha (I ordered it hot). Fantastic vibes, many games and ~interesting~ music taste, but it was a vibe for a Thursday afternoon. My friend got the skittle milk 10/10 :))

board game cafes . . learned of this business category by chance . . eye don't have friends in the city . . if eye did and thru mutual sincerity wanted 2 do something social 2gether . . the obvious answer is dinner and or drinks . . food is soooo complicated . . Hana and eye r as opinionated as any couple needs 2b . . and . . sadly . . there r many couples who r even more selective than us . . so a social dinner hits obstacles when conversation gets passed ¿When? and turns 2 ¿Where? . . board game cafes fixes this . . all take reservations and customers pay by the hr 4 the table . . if the cafe does it right there's no drink food minimum . . so customers can overspend or just pay the table rental . . w Hana my wife we discovered Chaotic Good by google and on-the-grnd seeking a cafe 2 get warm b4 dinner . . cafe near me . . and . . . weirdly: open till 11PM . . ¿Wat? kind of cafe is open till 11PM even in Manhattan . . part of the answer is a cafe that serves alcohol and the other bigger part is: board game cafe . . Manhattan Brookly Hoboken have board game cafes . . we'll probably find r selves in another board game cafe soon . . especially considering frozen NJ

This place was freaking chaotic from the moment I walked in I thought I was in the Twilight zone. The server look like Sir Galahad

It’s nice to have a locally owned board game shop on the UWS. Great selection of games, plenty of table space, very pleasant staff

Great place to get work done. Great drinks and friendly staff. Chill atmosphere and homey decor. Fast WiFi, outlets, bathroom, variety of seating options. Open until late at night too.

What a great location to have fun in playing games and enjoy a nice hot excellent coffee or something else

Fantastic, cheap, board game cafe. Attentive hosts, great selection of games, super nice people that really care about the experience. WILL BE COMING BACK!

Can't rate their food cause I haven't tried it yet. I've just been dying to find more cafes that have a more comfortable feel rather than the brutalist, fast food-esque vibes they've taken on since Starbucks came into the cut.

Amazing community spot on the upper west side! Coffee smelled amazing and they host lots of fun events. Best trivia around

Had a blast last night at Chaotic Good. My partner and I are big gamers, and they had a great selection of games. We played Calico, Guess Who?, and Only Murders in the Building, which were all very fun. The atmosphere is inviting and warm - the staff are very friendly, funny, and helpful. We tried their delicious decaf pour over, which was served in cute unique mugs. Definitely can’t wait to come back for their events and to try new games soon!

Such a cool place, excellent atmosphere, friendly and accommodating staff and best vibes! Love the games, coffee and fun coffee mugs!

Went twice while staying in the UWS. Great concept. Great drinks. Great ambiance. Everyone that worked there was really nice. Had a great night playing some board games with the family. 5 out of 5 easily for the Chaotic Good.

Had such a pleasant time gaming here! They have a decent selection of boardgames and the cafe is so air-y with lots of natural lightening. Perfect for a day when you want to be indoors and hanging with friends. Will definitely be coming back!

This place is so fantastic that I almost don't want to review it because I don't want it getting so popular that I never get a seat!!! But really truly, what a fantastic little gem on the UWS; my partner had the Korean Green Plum and I had the marmalade Creamsicle and both were SO GOOD!!! And the game selection was truly top tier. Excellent curation! We will be returning again.

Such a cute spot! No espresso here, but I ended up trying a flash brew for the first time and it was pretty great! Also, Andrew, the owner, is super knowledgeable & friendly—definitely recommend!

Love this place for board games, great energy, attracts a lovely crowd, and the staff is kind, friendly, and also into games. Can see that the owner and staff have personally curated this space!

My monthly board gaming group has chosen Chaotic Good as the West Side location (we alternate) and it has served us very well. The staff is very friendly and accommodating (we are not the most organized bunch) and the game selection is excellent for all skill levels.

Board games, cool looking drinks and a fun time- really great to hang out with a friend or be on a date. Just the cutest. LOVE!

A must in NYC! The place is so cute and have a crazy variety of games! The service is amazing! I already made plans with more friends to go again!

I didn't try any of the food, but the coffee was good! The service was really good as well. Super friendly and gentle employees. Amazing work environment, will be coming here everyday from now on. Fast wifi and comfy, cozy space. I highly recommend! They also have a public restroom!

The cutest coffee shop. In a city that has so many, this one stands out. Not only does it have the board games, but the service in selecting a tea was fantastic. Cozy, with people working in a variety of projects or playing their games. People donate to give free drinks to teachers and first responders.

Amazing place! You can choose to stay with an hour rate or unlimited hours. Outside food friendly. In the cafe you can choose many different kinds of coffee, tea, soft drinks. The atmosphere is nice. Not loud. A lot of different table games! There are comfortable tables for 2-3-4-6-8 people. Today was my first time and I’ll definitely come back

Chaotic Good Cafe is such a gem! The atmosphere is cozy and playful — perfect for hanging out with friends or even a fun first date. One of the best parts? They have board games you can play while you sip your drink, which makes the whole experience even better. The drink menu is super creative too — I tried one with Skittles and it was just as fun as it sounds! They’re always experimenting with flavors and themes, which keeps things fresh and exciting. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a spot that’s a little different, in the best way possible.

What a gem is right. Cozy, homey, nice staff, and great coffee. Open late! What a treat to have a place like this. Reminds me of a nice college town coffee shop from Ithaca. Event nights are a great idea too. Andrew and Simone are lovely.

Extremely friendly staff! I loved the vibe as soon as I walked in. Reasonable drink prices for the UWS, and I had my first Mazagran coffee here, which was was fantastic. I can't wait to return for the events they host. The UWS is in dire need of third spaces like this, and I'm thrilled the Chaotic Good has come! Edit: The Mazagran is consistently fantastic (I've had it about ten times now) and the Vietnamese coffee is perfectly strong and sweet!

This place is a wonderful board game 🎲 cafe! ☕ Chaotic Good Cafe 🃏 on the UWS 🗽 serves a great selection of delicious 🤤 drinks (definitely try the hot chocolate 🍫) alongside an endless amount of board games and card 🎴 games. They have plenty of indoor seating 🪑, staff 👨‍🍳 is super friendly and welcoming, service is quick ⏲️, ambience 🎶 is fantastic, and the place is nicely decorated. 🛋️ I wish I came here more often!

moved here from NH where we had these types of cafe everywhere. Super homey :) . Guy at the counter was super sweet. Drinks yummy, prices a little high but the overhead costs are probably nuts enough for it to be understandable.

Went here for the coffee, it is great coffee, that is the most important thing. Coffee was well prepared so I decided to buy some beans to do some coffee at home, with my purchase the guy at the register was great and gave me another coffee to try and it was even better so I decided to get that one too. One of the best coffees I had in months, great coffee, very friendly, good ambient and accessible prices for the location, totally recommend this place if you are in the area. Will go here again if I have the chance.

I really love this cafe! Ive tried to visit and have visited almost every sit down coffee place on the uws and this one is my personal favorite. Firstly — wifi and bathroom and lots of roomy seating? A holy trinity that is super hard to find? That’s already worth a map pin Secondly, the atmosphere is top notch. Everyone is so friendly including the owner Andrew! If you play board games, they’re very accommodating and good at explaining. There are also quiet hours 8-10 on Sunday. Def passed a charisma check— it’s hard to find a place that has such a welcoming feeling. I like rolling the dice at the counter… statistically I know the chances of free coffee are small but I still want it It’s also great to do work, study, and sketch. For some reason, a lot of cafes around here have such dim moody lighting — eye strain is not worth the dark academia aesthetic! Bring intellectual is associated with glasses but I already wear contacts, thank you very much. It also makes me paranoid that the darkness is covering for something. This cafe is brightly and warmly lit in every corner— the decor is also very good and cute. The tables are also square NOT round! Props to whoever did the interior design. I like the sticky note touch but the central pillar sheds like my hypoallergenic dog (which is to say, not much, but, when it does, very alarmingly). Im not very well versed in coffee but all of it does taste good and the staff recommendations have not missed 10/10. I am more well versed in sitting at places and I rate this 10/10 as a place to come and sit at.

Chaotic Good Cafe is a cozy little place. They opened last year, and they have a lot of games in the shop for friends to hangout there. The price is very affordable $5 per person per hour. If I were a kid again, I would definitely bring my friends there to spend the afternoon (and send my papa the bill) :P

Very cool gaming cafe in the UWS. Selection of game ranged from some classics (settlers, CaH) to some more advanced (WoD v5 books). Staff was very amiable and helpful. Wine weighed and served in coffee mugs was a fun twist. Conveniently right off the 1 at 86th Street. Have a visit.

A new neighborhood gem to be sure! Friendly, attentive staff, tasty beverages (highly recommend the lavender mint tea), and of course a game selection to knock your socks off! Atmosphere is modern/chic AND cozy/homey!

Nathaniel Larson

The cutest coffee shop. In a city that has so many, this one stands out. Not only does it have the board games, but the service in selecting a tea was fantastic. Cozy, with people working in a variety of projects or playing their games. People donate to give free drinks to teachers and first responders.

Artem Dergunov

Amazing place! You can choose to stay with an hour rate or unlimited hours. Outside food friendly. In the cafe you can choose many different kinds of coffee, tea, soft drinks. The atmosphere is nice. Not loud. A lot of different table games! There are comfortable tables for 2-3-4-6-8 people. Today was my first time and I’ll definitely come back

Eileen Mao

great board game cafe in the upper west side. they serve interesting and fun drinks (my favorite is the Vietnamese coffee, thai iced coffee, or hibiscus tea). great staff, nice atmosphere, and a ton of board games to choose from! suitable for all ages. if they’re not busy you can even come to just hangout/ do work/ read!

Matthew Rung

What a gem is right. Cozy, homey, nice staff, and great coffee. Open late! What a treat to have a place like this. Reminds me of a nice college town coffee shop from Ithaca. Event nights are a great idea too. Andrew and Simone are lovely.

Ashwin Ragupathi

Chaotic Good Cafe is such a gem! The atmosphere is cozy and playful — perfect for hanging out with friends or even a fun first date. One of the best parts? They have board games you can play while you sip your drink, which makes the whole experience even better. The drink menu is super creative too — I tried one with Skittles and it was just as fun as it sounds! They’re always experimenting with flavors and themes, which keeps things fresh and exciting. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a spot that’s a little different, in the best way possible.

Alon Grinshpoon

This place is a wonderful board game 🎲 cafe! ☕ Chaotic Good Cafe 🃏 on the UWS 🗽 serves a great selection of delicious 🤤 drinks (definitely try the hot chocolate 🍫) alongside an endless amount of board games and card 🎴 games. They have plenty of indoor seating 🪑, staff 👨‍🍳 is super friendly and welcoming, service is quick ⏲️, ambience 🎶 is fantastic, and the place is nicely decorated. 🛋️ I wish I came here more often!

Aaron Reyes García

Went here for the coffee, it is great coffee, that is the most important thing. Coffee was well prepared so I decided to buy some beans to do some coffee at home, with my purchase the guy at the register was great and gave me another coffee to try and it was even better so I decided to get that one too. One of the best coffees I had in months, great coffee, very friendly, good ambient and accessible prices for the location, totally recommend this place if you are in the area. Will go here again if I have the chance.

Sally Zhao

I really love this cafe! Ive tried to visit and have visited almost every sit down coffee place on the uws and this one is my personal favorite. Firstly — wifi and bathroom and lots of roomy seating? A holy trinity that is super hard to find? That’s already worth a map pin Secondly, the atmosphere is top notch. Everyone is so friendly including the owner Andrew! If you play board games, they’re very accommodating and good at explaining. There are also quiet hours 8-10 on Sunday. Def passed a charisma check— it’s hard to find a place that has such a welcoming feeling. I like rolling the dice at the counter… statistically I know the chances of free coffee are small but I still want it It’s also great to do work, study, and sketch. For some reason, a lot of cafes around here have such dim moody lighting — eye strain is not worth the dark academia aesthetic! Bring intellectual is associated with glasses but I already wear contacts, thank you very much. It also makes me paranoid that the darkness is covering for something. This cafe is brightly and warmly lit in every corner— the decor is also very good and cute. The tables are also square NOT round! Props to whoever did the interior design. I like the sticky note touch but the central pillar sheds like my hypoallergenic dog (which is to say, not much, but, when it does, very alarmingly). Im not very well versed in coffee but all of it does taste good and the staff recommendations have not missed 10/10. I am more well versed in sitting at places and I rate this 10/10 as a place to come and sit at.

Alix

Extremely friendly staff! I loved the vibe as soon as I walked in. Reasonable drink prices for the UWS, and I had my first Mazagran coffee here, which was was fantastic. I can't wait to return for the events they host. The UWS is in dire need of third spaces like this, and I'm thrilled the Chaotic Good has come! Edit: The Mazagran is consistently fantastic (I've had it about ten times now) and the Vietnamese coffee is perfectly strong and sweet!

G Frye

Chaotic Good Cafe is a cozy little place. They opened last year, and they have a lot of games in the shop for friends to hangout there. The price is very affordable $5 per person per hour. If I were a kid again, I would definitely bring my friends there to spend the afternoon (and send my papa the bill) :P

Saddy Snow

moved here from NH where we had these types of cafe everywhere. Super homey :) . Guy at the counter was super sweet. Drinks yummy, prices a little high but the overhead costs are probably nuts enough for it to be understandable.

Oscar Garza

Very cool gaming cafe in the UWS. Selection of game ranged from some classics (settlers, CaH) to some more advanced (WoD v5 books). Staff was very amiable and helpful. Wine weighed and served in coffee mugs was a fun twist. Conveniently right off the 1 at 86th Street. Have a visit.

Katelyn Ahladas

A new neighborhood gem to be sure! Friendly, attentive staff, tasty beverages (highly recommend the lavender mint tea), and of course a game selection to knock your socks off! Atmosphere is modern/chic AND cozy/homey!

We went into Chaotic Good at noon to ask about the colorful tiles that decorate the cafe and the owner literally stopped his day, during the lunch rush, to dig out leftover tiles and give them to us for free. While this is just incredibly kind, I have also gone in with friends and had a really fun night playing the board games (recommended to us by the owner, who really knows his shit). The coffee is good and the space is really cute. I’m really impressed by the Herculean efforts this cafe is putting into creating a cute and popping community space, which is so desperately needed in this increasingly expensive and isolating world. I will be patronizing this cafe frequently and am really rooting for its success.

Wonderful, welcoming space. Perfect for an hour stop for my writing. They have plugs for laptops, comfy seats of different levels and a ton of games! Great street views and I love the fact that it's off the main street around the corner just enough to be a quieter place.

Super friendly staff! Great coffee and board games! Wine and a super fun chill vibe! Great for adults and kids :/)

You need to go here if you want to see an inviting and charming place while enjoying a wide array of delicious coffee drinks. My husband and I will be back. I wish we had a place like this where we live.

Had dropped off my kid at Penn Station and then decided to spend the day in my favorite place in the world- NYC of course. Walked around the UES for most of the day and then hit the Met. Spent about 6 hours there till close. Grabbed a quick bite at Mamouns on the way back to the car when it hit me- I still have an hour drive and NEED coffee. It's about 10:20pm. Everything in the UES except for Dunks was closed. I get to the car and put "coffee" in the nav once I get to the UWS. Chaotic Good pops up. In my experience, anything with the word "chaotic" in it is 100% worth checking out. And I am so glad I did. As soon as I walked up the steps and into the cafe, I was greeted by a bunch of hellos from a trio who work there and look like they love their jobs- and I mean that sincerely. I looked around and it was such a chill vibe. The really nice guy (really good looking too I might add- go check him out!) behind the counter asks what I'm in for and I said coffee and he said just in time, was about to yell out last call. I walked out with a coffee and an almond croissant. I am a coffee snob thanks to my hubby. For being 10:45pm and having the last brew- the coffee was AMAZING. The almond croissant was so fresh = crispy on the outside yet soft and dare I say the "M" word- moist on the inside. Since they were closing and I still had a long ride, I didn't stay but guess what, in the immortal words of Arnold- "I'll be back!"

Just a fabulous place to get coffee. Wonderful location. Great coffee. Great trivia night. Amazing staff. I flew in to the city for work and found myself coming back to this place every day and even went to trivia with friends! It’s a gem.

Ananda Lima

Such a cool place, excellent atmosphere, friendly and accommodating staff and best vibes! Love the games, coffee and fun coffee mugs!

Irina Alexander K-y

Wonderful, welcoming space. Perfect for an hour stop for my writing. They have plugs for laptops, comfy seats of different levels and a ton of games! Great street views and I love the fact that it's off the main street around the corner just enough to be a quieter place.

Grace Oppy

We went into Chaotic Good at noon to ask about the colorful tiles that decorate the cafe and the owner literally stopped his day, during the lunch rush, to dig out leftover tiles and give them to us for free. While this is just incredibly kind, I have also gone in with friends and had a really fun night playing the board games (recommended to us by the owner, who really knows his shit). The coffee is good and the space is really cute. I’m really impressed by the Herculean efforts this cafe is putting into creating a cute and popping community space, which is so desperately needed in this increasingly expensive and isolating world. I will be patronizing this cafe frequently and am really rooting for its success.

Randall S

Went twice while staying in the UWS. Great concept. Great drinks. Great ambiance. Everyone that worked there was really nice. Had a great night playing some board games with the family. 5 out of 5 easily for the Chaotic Good.

Way crowded, but I guess there is a reason for that.

Great coffee! Pastries were okay cus they don’t warm it up. But great cafe to work from, loved the cozy atmosphere. Will definitely be back for coffee!

Vaishnavi iyer

Great coffee! Pastries were okay cus they don’t warm it up. But great cafe to work from, loved the cozy atmosphere. Will definitely be back for coffee!

Seems like a very sweet crunchy place for board games and hanging out with nice drinks. It’s funny that I specifically went there for the WiFi but the WiFi was horrendous (unusably slow) but luckily the cell reception was excellent and my tethering was literally 100x faster (I checked on fast.com). Anyhow, it seems like a really nice neighborhood place if you aren’t looking for wifi and I really enjoyed all the customer writings on stick-it notes on the walls. The iced tea was delicious.

Charlie Depman

Seems like a very sweet crunchy place for board games and hanging out with nice drinks. It’s funny that I specifically went there for the WiFi but the WiFi was horrendous (unusably slow) but luckily the cell reception was excellent and my tethering was literally 100x faster (I checked on fast.com). Anyhow, it seems like a really nice neighborhood place if you aren’t looking for wifi and I really enjoyed all the customer writings on stick-it notes on the walls. The iced tea was delicious.

Weird vibes. coffee is probably good idk.

I want to like this place more but how are you going to charge $5 per person per hour to play board games, while allowing people on laptops without drinks? I am happy to pay, but this seems a little silly.

My review is based on my specific needs which is to find a quiet place to work on the weekend. This is not the place for me, most of the tables were reserved for games (I understand this..) so I had to sit in the couch. It was very loud because there were families with kids and for the coffee/food it wasn’t really that great.

I am upset to be writing this because I have genuinely loved Chaotic Good and have been coming here regularly for the past few months because I live down the block. Today left me feeling disappointed and unwelcome. I had been sitting quietly since about 9:30 with two teas and a pastry (that wasn’t good), just like I’ve done so many times before. Around 12:30, the white male barista came over and told me they might need the table and that I had to leave. I get that New York is busy and people are always coming in and out, but there was no one waiting and no one else around me was asked to leave. Some had also been sitting there for a long time. Also, there’s no policy. I ordered food and two teas. Was I treated this way because I’m not white? I honestly don’t know. But it’s hard not to ask that question when you’re the only one singled out. What stung most was how it was handled. There was no friendliness, no small talk, no “thanks for coming in” just a cold directive white man. And that has been consistent. Despite coming in a few times a week, I have never really been acknowledged. It makes you wonder who feels truly welcome here. I am sharing this because I care about this cafe and the values it claims to hold. I hope the team takes the time to reflect on how these interactions come across and how they can better foster a space that genuinely feels inclusive and consistent for everyone.

Coffee was just okay, but what really ruined the experience was the $5 per person fee to play games — which they never displayed anywhere. No signs, no clear notice, nothing. It feels deceptive and leaves a bad taste.

Came in , sat down and got told the entire half the shop was rented out. We said oh ok no problem! Saw another open table all the way in the back by the book shelves. Sat down, my brother ordered us coffee and pastries. We had been waiting 15 minutes and no food in sight(our name wasn’t even called), then got approach and told that this table was also reserved and needed to move again in a rude way. “There were no more tables available” so I asked for a refund since my food wasn’t even made yet and left. Like dude why not say anything or put any signs on the tables. This table was all the way in the back too. What a waste of time and this was my first and last time there. More mad at the rudeness and the fact they saw us sit there and set up, like how am I supposed to know more than half the coffee shop is rented when there are no signs anywhere and not even being told anything until more than 15 minutes sitting there. Lame as hell

alejandro sanchez

Came in , sat down and got told the entire half the shop was rented out. We said oh ok no problem! Saw another open table all the way in the back by the book shelves. Sat down, my brother ordered us coffee and pastries. We had been waiting 15 minutes and no food in sight(our name wasn’t even called), then got approach and told that this table was also reserved and needed to move again in a rude way. “There were no more tables available” so I asked for a refund since my food wasn’t even made yet and left. Like dude why not say anything or put any signs on the tables. This table was all the way in the back too. What a waste of time and this was my first and last time there. More mad at the rudeness and the fact they saw us sit there and set up, like how am I supposed to know more than half the coffee shop is rented when there are no signs anywhere and not even being told anything until more than 15 minutes sitting there. Lame as hell