Olive Tree Cafe
Bar · New York
Savor local flavors beneath Manhattan's iconic Washington Square Park
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About Olive Tree Cafe
Nestled at 117 MacDougal St in New York's vibrant West Village, Olive Tree Cafe offers a distinctive dining experience that's as unique as its surroundings. Our cozy bar atmosphere invites you to unwind and savor a wide array of culinary delights. We pride ourselves on our diverse menu, which combin...
Nestled at 117 MacDougal St in New York's vibrant West Village, Olive Tree Cafe offers a distinctive dining experience that's as unique as its surroundings. Our cozy bar atmosphere invites you to unwind and savor a wide array of culinary delights. We pride ourselves on our diverse menu, which combines local flavors with global influences, reflecting the rich tapestry of our neighborhood. With 4.3/5 stars based on 395 reviews, we've earned a reputation for exceptional service and authentic flavors that keep customers coming back. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or settling in for an evening, Olive Tree Cafe is more than just a restaurant; it's a place where every taste is satisfied, and every moment feels special.
What Customers Say About Olive Tree Cafe
Olive Tree Cafe is a cozy spot known for its fun atmosphere, live music, and friendly service, especially from staff like Scott, David John, Ella and Alex. Customers love the unique chalkboard tables and the variety of food options. Some negative reviews mention aggressive service and seating issues.
Popular Dishes
Best For
Tip: Great spot before a show at the Comedy Cellar. Make a reservation, especially if you want to see the live music on Monday evenings.
Features
What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around Olive Tree Cafe
Olive Tree Cafe is located in New York, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Historical Heritage
- Judson Memorial Church, Campanile, and Judson Hall (A 189m) — iglesia estadounidense Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
Religious Buildings
- Q16539945 (A 124m) — church building in Greenwich Village, United States of America
- Washington Square Methodist Episcopal Church (A 142m) — church building in Manhattan, New York, United States of America
Parks & Gardens
- Minetta Green (A 80m) — park in the United States of America
- Minetta Triangle (A 127m) — park in the United States of America
- Father Demo Square (A 137m) — park in Manhattan, New York, USA
- Downing Street Playground (A 171m) — park in the United States of America
Other Points of Interest
- Vanderbilt Hall (A 103m) — building of New York University School of Law
- Furman Hall (A 166m) — building of New York University School of Law
- Mills House No. 1 (A 202m) — building in Manhattan
Data from Wikidata
Frequently asked questions about Olive Tree Cafe
Olive Tree Cafe New York Reviews
Amazing! Food was spot on and they were so accommodating for our group of five. The server was so pleasant and made sure we headed down for the show on time.
Went here for dinner late night with my parents and loved it. Super low key and food was delicious. My waiter Alex was awesome and super helpful. Can’t wait to go back
We came for a drink before seeing a show downstairs and the live music was amazing. Six person band, brass, guitars and singers singing everything from Christmas songs to Bob Marley. Bartender was great, just good vibes all around.
In 1987, when my dad was 27, he spent a few months in NYC as a young Hungarian construction worker. One of his favorite places was the Olive Tree Café - he used to tell me about the Chaplin films playing on the wall and how you could draw on the tables with chalk. He and his best friend came here often after work. Now it’s 2025, I’m 27, and visiting New York for the first time with my best friend. We came here last night; watched Chaplin films, drew on the table, had amazing truffle fries, and a long, heartfelt conversation. It was truly unforgettable. If I ever have a child, I’ll tell them to come here too one day. Thank you for keeping the magic alive. ❤️
Small, yet fun little restaurant next door to the iconic comedy cellar. Service was fast and friendly. The hummus and cheese burger were both delicious. Ella was the waitress and she was great.
Our server David John was so funny and attentive! The food was phenomenal, and I loved drawing on the table with the chalk provided. Most of the portions are very large, and easily splittable. 10/10 would recommend
The place I keep coming back to whenever I swing by NYC, after having moved out more than for 20 years ago. Love the variety of food options (especially the Middle Eastern platter), the ambience (exquisite lighting, chalk on slate tables, gentle music), Charlie Chaplin’s silent movies (this time “Modern Times”)… a place where time stands still; truly special!
Get the wings!!!! Hands down best wings in the city, not sure what type of sauce they use but it’s delicious. Cooked to perfection every time too. Can’t go wrong with most of the stuff on the menu. They give you chalk for the tables and always make sure to play a couple rounds of hangman lol.
Was going to see a show at Players Theater and got there early....stopped in for a drink...Scott was awesome! I asked him for a cherry in my drink and I got cherries!! He told us all about the comedy club and we had a good time...after the play we stopped by again for another drink and he was more then willing to talk to us! Because of him we will be back for dinner there and a show after!
Was there last night with my girlfriends and we had the best time there. Love the chalk board tables the Borscht was amazing so was the salad the Buffalo wings and lime sauce and my chicken kebab and of course the truffle fries. We ate everything and were happy with everything. The staff is incredible. Our waitress was nice and attentive but did not over crowd us. Im still thinking about the kebab and how flavorful it was. This is place i will coming back to for great comfort food.
Good spot to hang out before seeing a show at the cellar. But service can take a while and food was ok. The set up was nice for a quick catch up and can double up as a date spot.
We had a reservation for 6 people 5 days in advance but upon arrival they separated us to 2 different tables in a tiny corner. I tried to explain to the waiter that we need a single table because we were from different countries and we rarely see each other, but she interrupted me and said that it’s not gonna work because they have a regular customers birthday for 50 people which is more important than our group, and we can only have this inconvenient setup. I rarely experience such a rudeness.
Me and my friends walked into Olive Tree Café just wanting to grab a couple of shots before heading out. The level of disrespect was unbelievable. Apparently, Olive Tree Café thinks suggesting “cheap shots down the street” is good customer service. If that’s how you treat customers who are simply trying to order a drink, you don’t deserve their business. We walked right out and honestly, you should too. There are plenty of places nearby that will happily take your money without insulting you.
If there was no star review I would’ve left it! I just walked in with my friends and the host said for how many? I said we want to just grab couple shots and not stay. Her answer was unbelievable! We don’t serve shots here just neat drinks, there is some other places down the street that have cheap shots that you can go! Do I look cheap to you? And her answer was no just saying because you can spend your money better there… you’re in the hosting industry you can never talk to a customer like that! Rude and not nice!
Since we got to the restaurant the personal was being very aggressive, our intention was buying a bottle and they got mad because I ask for a taste. There was a Server making comments about how annoying was that, in front of us. Honestly is a place I’d go for watching a comedy show but not for having just a drink, servers are so rude and makes you not to enjoy the experience of being there.
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About Olive Tree Cafe
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117 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
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117 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
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park in the United States of America
building of New York University School of Law
park in the United States of America
park in Manhattan, New York, USA
church building in Manhattan, New York, United States of America
building of New York University School of Law
park in the United States of America
iglesia estadounidense
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