Stopped in with my pup so excited to check this out. Exceeded my expectations. Elegant space, cool vibe, welcoming adorable owners and baristas. And btw I’d go for the perfect cappuccino and their almond croissant even if I didn’t have a dog. But I do. So basically now we may never go anywhere else.

I mean really, what more can a girl ask for than a coffee shop that also has an endless supply of dogs walking through the door? I love the outdoor space here at Black Lab Cafe, it's the perfect spot to both people *and* dog watch on the Upper West Side!

The food here is amazing! I highly recommend the Lemon Square. It’s not too sour, but you still taste the lemon.

My favorite coffee shop in NY. Definitely a go to place either to have a coffee or a matcha (puppy lavender matcha is very good) while you work, or have a nice lunch (their fish tacos are super good). Staff is SO nice and helpful. Great customer experience. Also there are always so many dogs to pet!!

We were running late for the coffee plans and ended up having dinner- so glad we did! Everything was delicious! We ordered several dishes and all exceeded expectations. I highly recommend both salmon options - the salad was perfect. Service was above and beyond with friendly welcoming staff and timely service. Canine companion rates this place 100 stars.

Vaibhav Chaudhari

The Dead Poet cocktail is a must try! It is Grape flavoured and comes with cherry and lime on toothpick.

Tricia Chatter

An early New Year’s Eve stop for pints and prosecco turned into a perfect afternoon. Lively energy, an excellent bartender, and books lining the walls made it easy to see why the place filled up so quickly. Even better-you’re welcome to bring your own food.

Kevin Solano

Definitely the spot to grab a drink. I had the "snow queen" and "the winters day." It did not disappoint. They do not serve many food options but the drinks are top notch.

Scott Adams

Absolutely great bar! So many cool things about it and serves great drinks with excellent bartenders!

Jody Carter

Had a few drinks in here while on holiday. Nice bar, nice atmosphere, good music and the bar tender was friendly and helpful. Would deffo back.

Natalia Cruz

Personal a big fan of any literary bars, even if they don't have any books. This place is definitely a charming Irish pub, with both bar and table service. Will say that if you are ready for your drink and at a table its easier to order if at the bar and they'll bring it over. Love all the clever names they have for drinks / cocktails and fairly priced for NYC. I found the 500 Guinness wall cute. Also, always a big fan when they have the digital jukeboxes to play the tunes you want to hear. I got the cider they have on tap and the signature drink. Both very good and now I also have a new glass bottle.

George Gonzalez

Came here for the reviews and was not disappointed. Excellent pours and drinks delivered to your table. Sidewalk and on street seating available too.

Joanne Watson

My brother and I had a wonderful St. Patrick Guinness at The Dead Poet. The regulars were friendly and I think we struck up conversations with everyone on the tables on the sidewalk! We didn't eat there.

Faidon Kefaleas

The Dead Poet Bar on the Upper West Side is a cozy, literary-themed spot with a great atmosphere. The dark wood, bookish quotes on the walls, and dim lighting create an inviting space perfect for casual drinks. Their cocktail menu, especially the namesake "Dead Poet" with Jameson and ginger ale, is creative and affordable for Manhattan. Though small and often crowded, especially on weekends, the laid-back vibe and friendly bartenders make it worth a visit. Whether you're a literary fan or just looking for a great neighborhood bar, The Dead Poet is a gem you'll want to return to.

Sasha Blair

Probably my favorite pub in New York! Has some of the best Guinness in the City and a creative cocktail selection! My only complaint would be that the music can be a bit deafening when the pub is full. But other than that, great place with very friendly staff! Cheers!

Kevin F

Had a nice Guinness pour from Dead Poet plus a couple decent other beers in the Poet Pilsner and Ebb Kolsch. All in all a nice place to meet locals and out of towners alike. Barmen were really good at what they do that made the good atmosphere that much better. Pour one out for the Dead Poet!

+2

Felipe Tinoco

Great Irish pub! Super cozy, great atmosphere, many TVs if you’re looking for a place to watch sports and great beer selection! If you get hungry, they have popcorns or hot dogs for $2! Definitely coming back.

sergioha3549

A beautiful bar in the upper west side is a great Bar just in the middle of 81 street and 82 street the have amazing beers and a good food to enjoying. The place is open till 4m so you have time to have a cold beer after work that do have a food menu so you can have food and also a beer the atmosphere is a plus is a local bar but with friendly staff after all good bar to spending some time in there

dsm619

Really cool cocktail bar, love the decor and name of the drinks. We always wanted to come here but it would always be packed. The place is small inside as well l, but definitely worth coming here.

A.C. Antonelli

The Dead Poet is an awesome place to grab a low key beer (probably make it a Guinness, keep reading) on the UWS. The walls are adorned with, well, dead poets and prose, but there's a poetry to the bar itself too. An entire wall is set up backward so that it looks forward through the massive mirror you'll face when you sit at the bar. What can I say I'm a fan of subtlety. Also, the more Guinness you drink the closer you'll get to having your name on the wall. Some folks have had 500, 1000, even over 5000 Guinness pints here. I understand why.

+5

This corner coffee shop has a cool vibe inside. After ordering an iced latte I was accosted by two happy dogs, not something I was upset about. There is a nice outdoor patio to sit at. The cafe just opened, so their kitchen isn't open yet. Once they have some food to buy I will be sure to return.

Came here because I used to have a Black Lab and miss her terribly, so hoped for some Black Lab related theme. I'm surprised that they don't even have a pic of black labs on their walls while having some other smaller sized breeds. No tennis balls, nothing Black Lab related, really... The food was ok, but not to come back for. Cappuccino was alright.

Jordan Byrd

There is no food served here even though it says they have a menu online (on SinglePlatform) so ignore that. But, you can bring your own food in. Very small but great vibes! The dead poet drink was very tasty and I love that I got to keep the glass. Be aware that it is very loud, sit outside if you want to talk.

PhilYouIn

Bar looks like it’s been here for many years, and it’s obviously because it is a relaxing, pleasant place to stop by for a beer, drink or food. Bar seating, tables in back and out front. Bartenders were very friendly and welcoming. TVs throughout, bathrooms in the rear. Lots of interesting things to look at on the walls. Nice place.

+5

Nick Proctor

Wish I could give those place more stars, to put it simply it just didn't pass the vibe check of a good Irish Pub! Music was terrible.

jeffrey weiss

Popped in have a pint to this interesting "Irish" bar. We were waited/greeted right away and our order was taken. Beer was refreshing. Bartender had the personality of warm cellophane. Essentially, no interaction. The music playing was some hip-hop jive. Expected some good Irish tunes. The TVs were tuned to some sports talk program, boring, since there was no sound. Could have found European futbol match.

My recent experience at Black Lab Cafe in New York City was far from what I expected. Despite its name hinting at a pet-friendly vibe, I was surprised to find out that pets weren't allowed inside. This decision took away from the cozy atmosphere I was hoping for. Walking in, I immediately noticed the lack of warmth. Instead of the lively presence of pets, the space felt cold and unwelcoming. This absence definitely dampened the mood. On top of that, the service was mediocre. The staff didn't seem very engaged or interested in making the experience enjoyable. It felt like they were just going through the motions. The food and drinks also left a lot to be desired. The coffee was stale, and the pastries were dry. It seemed like attention to detail was lacking across the board. Overall, my visit to Black Lab Cafe was disappointing. It's unfortunate that such potential is being held back by their no-pet policy and lackluster execution. Unless they reconsider their stance and improve their overall experience, I'll be looking for other cafes that prioritize hospitality and inclusivity.

!!No longer dog friendly!! Should have been open and communicated this or tried for partial hours that were dog friendly. Instead just showed up one day (with the pup) and can no longer go in. There were many many other problems with the business that should have been addressed first before banning dogs…strange move. I know the team tries hard but have to be honest here, food is nowhere near good enough to survive as cafe alone. Coffee is fine but not worth going out of your way when there are other great options in the neighborhood

All these one star reviews are completely correct. This place was such a great addition to the Upper West Side. But now that they don’t allow dogs anymore, why bother? There are plenty of places to get coffee and such. Why couldn’t the owners just leave well enough alone? They will certainly my not make more money as a no dogs allowed cafe! That was the whole point in going there!

Chiara Parentini

I went to this pub for the first time tonight with my boyfriend. A waiter, chewing gum and looking pretty smug, saw us walk in and told us to sit wherever. When he came over, he didn’t bring any menus, and there was no QR code on our table, so we had no idea we were supposed to look it up ourselves. In a rush, we just ordered the first thing that came to mind. He asked if we wanted to pay right away or after our drinks, and we paid straight away. My boyfriend paid by card and didn’t leave a tip. The waiter looked at the screen and said “Thanks, that’s very generous of you” in a bitter, not sarcastic tone before turning his back and walking off. After that, he completely ignored us, acting like a sulky five-year-old. For context, my boyfriend is visiting from Italy, where tipping isn’t a thing. I’ve been living here for seven months and, even on a tight budget, I’ve gotten used to tipping. For him, it’s still new. He works as a waiter himself and earns very little, but he would never expect tips from anyone, let alone comment on it. I get that tipping is important here, and I always try to leave one. But tips are never something you’re entitled to, and it’s seriously unprofessional and rude to peek at what a customer leaves — let alone call them out for it and give them attitude after. That’s just petty and arrogant. I’m not going back. Drinks were okay, but the service was awful, and the place was way too crowded and loud. Some people just aren’t cut out for working with the public.