I really liked the egg salad toast. Good product and good coffee

Wonderful to have Purple Waves @ #frederickdouglascircle (NE corner of #cpw & #cpn) join the neighborhood! It’s the absolute best/most delicious addition to #frederickdouglasblvd #restaurantrow in a *long* time!! The cafe fare is elevated & utterly sublime (the lox are a must try, made by their amazing Chef Ella!); the coffee & chai are top notch; the vibe is cool; & the intention is community-focused. The place is light, airy, & cozy/modern. The owner (Sharon) and her team are super warm, courteous, & competent- just right attention.

Fresh and delicious food, warm atmosphere. Perfect for children. Absolutely recommended! They had a music show for the children by @CityBirdsmusic which was fantastic and very high quality.

Brandon Wilson

Loved the super friendly staff, including the owner who stopped by to ask how everything was going; the menu was quite varied and healthy, & lattes great, especially the 2 seasonal ones we tried; ambiance delightful — lots of sunlight, good mix of seating, cheerful decor w. lots of goods from local farmers & vendors in market section, free WiFi, & location central to subway & bus stops, though on edge of busy and bit chaotic traffic circle, making cafe signage not as prominently ideal. Outdoor seating a big plus during warmer months which this clearly wasn’t, but chairs still optimistically there :D Cafe works hard to operate sustainably and therefore participates in an innovative local program that offers recycling of fresh flower arrangements post their short life at a special event, so not wasted. Very creative! Highly recommend checking out as would be a regular IF lived in NYC, and not Somerville, MA!

Alejandra Cuellar

I got to know this place thanks to my daughter Natalia, and it was love at first sight. 💜 Purple Waves is a beautiful, cozy spot with delicious coffee — perfect for eating, working, or simply enjoying a peaceful moment. What I loved the most was its coherence and purpose: if you want your coffee to go, you need to bring your own cup; they even sell products like milk in returnable glass bottles. 🌿 A truly genuine commitment to the planet! I had the pleasure of meeting the owner and talking about sustainability and purpose… such a lovely and inspiring person. Without a doubt, one of my favorite places in NY. Highly recommended from the heart! ☕️💜

AVM

Great gift to the neighborhood. Food is not just tasty but good for you. Ingredients were outstanding. I enjoyed delicious crunchy toast with hummus, whole chick peas and shredded multi colored carrots with pickled veggies. All of the menu looked good. Espresso drink with oatmilk was perfect. Come with your own cup for take out coffee because there really isn’t good recycling for all those #5 tops. New addition of packaged foods from local farms is a bounty for this area and well worth a visit. Cafe inside and out was very pleasant.

Diana Koulouthros

Absolutely blown away by Purple Waves! From the moment I walked in, the vibe was relaxed yet vibrant, the staff incredibly welcoming, and the food—wow. Every bite felt thoughtfully prepared, but one dish truly stole the show: the grain bowl. This wasn’t your average grain bowl—it was a symphony of textures and flavors. Perfectly balanced, nourishing yet indulgent, with fresh, high-quality ingredients that made each forkful better than the last. It’s rare to find something that hits both comfort and creativity so perfectly. Highly recommend this spot if you’re looking for something unique, satisfying, and full of soul. Purple Waves, you’ve earned a fan!

Vivian Lin

Love this place!! What a gem. I got the egg salad sandwich & coffee and both hit the spot. The sandwich was served with a delicious side of greens… the dressing was sooo good. It’s also a beautiful space to get some work done. I love that sustainability + community are a huge priority for this small business. You can tell they really care. They reduce waste as much as possible + have great events. Highly recommend Purple Waves!!! Will be back soon 💚

Ryan Brown

This place is amazing. Excellent coffee. Creative menu and delicious food. Beer and wine selection on point. Pleasant space in a great location…beautiful view of Central Park and Frederick Douglass Circle Plaza. Kid friendly. Practices sustainability. Wonderful addition to the neighborhood!

Osvaldo Valdes

Saw that Purple Waves was now open while walking to my usual coffee spot but now I have found my new place for coffee and lounging. It was great and the chef and owner are so nice! I got the lox toast and upgraded it to an everything croissant. It was heaven!! I def recommend stopping by and trying this place out, you will not be disappointed

Aanchel Shah

Got the maple sea salt latte and the turkey cranberry sandwich. Both were great! Amazing staff and space.Very cozy inside. They rent it out for private events as well. Grateful to have spots like this in the area. They care a lot about sustainability and fostering community so definitely check them out!

Jane Yoon

This place has my favorite egg salad sandwich in the world. I live an hour away but I will literally travel just for their egg salad sandwich and a lovely time al fresco with a friend! The vibes are so nice here. I also love their lattes.

Hadar Shalmoni

I really liked the egg salad toast. Good product and good coffee

Moriya Fahima

Fresh and delicious food, warm atmosphere. Perfect for children. Absolutely recommended! They had a music show for the children by @CityBirdsmusic which was fantastic and very high quality.

Uygar Dogan

Lovely little establishment. They don’t offer “to go” cups and instead they give u a reusable cup to bring back. Environmentally friendly, kind, cute and cozy. The wine list is also nice.

Maple sea salt latte is incredible! Great community space, owner is extremely friendly. Highly recommend for a date spot or getting some work done :D

Cute café!! Loved the maple sea salt latte💕 FYI they don’t do single use plastic so if you want a to go drink you need to bring your own cup.

This place is great for both foods and services. I visited here with my friends and requested something that is not allowered in usual cases. But the employee was considerate of us and readily agreed. Thank you for her sense of ownership and service spirit. I hope you visit this place to enjoy coffee and desserts and get good energy.

iris cohen carmel

I love this place and with their new market option, they will defiantly see me more often . The food is great and the vibe is fun and relaxed and super cute place to visit after a day in the park.

Erin Geraghty

Maple sea salt latte is incredible! Great community space, owner is extremely friendly. Highly recommend for a date spot or getting some work done :D

Vicqueline Escalona

Cute café!! Loved the maple sea salt latte💕 FYI they don’t do single use plastic so if you want a to go drink you need to bring your own cup.

이창헌

This place is great for both foods and services. I visited here with my friends and requested something that is not allowered in usual cases. But the employee was considerate of us and readily agreed. Thank you for her sense of ownership and service spirit. I hope you visit this place to enjoy coffee and desserts and get good energy.

Overall a good experience. You do pay up mostly for the ingredient origin - i didn’t find the food to be that great otherwise. The coffee wasn’t the best - note that they won’t serve you To Go unless you bring your own cup, which is an interesting choice being at the corner of a subway station.

Jan Pytela

Overall a good experience. You do pay up mostly for the ingredient origin - i didn’t find the food to be that great otherwise. The coffee wasn’t the best - note that they won’t serve you To Go unless you bring your own cup, which is an interesting choice being at the corner of a subway station.

Our first experience here was great! Maple sea salt latte was flavorful, raspberry donuts were delicious. Second visit, tried the winter spice latte, another specialty. It was good but not exceptional, not distinguishable from a regular pumpkin spice. Asked about the raspberry donuts and was told they were a special and wouldn’t be coming back. Fair enough! Can’t carry everything all the time. Tried the lemon loaf, which was good but the tiniest slice of lemon loaf I’ve ever seen. Overall an average visit, not worth the trek out of the way or price paid. Third visit, tried their “artisan milk alternative” with their honey cinnamon latte. They “don’t have” the reusable travel cups that they used to sell and don’t offer disposable cups, making the only option for coffee to sit in the shop and have it in a mug. Truly one of the nastiest coffees I’ve ever tried. Inedible. Burnt, bitter, almost medicinal in taste. The barista was able to remake the latte with regular milk but told us that’s just how their speciality milk tastes, which seems off to me. Also, for a shop to insist on customers sitting in for their coffee, you’d figure the latte art would at least be the standard little heart shape or simple pour, but no. Some of the worst looking lattes I’ve ever seen. Disappointing after such a promising first visit.

Used to be my favorite place to eat and work, but no more. The sandwiches that were so tasty are gone. Most of the seating is gone, in favor of a random assortment of specialty groceries that ill-fits the neighborhood. So sad. Probably the coffee is still good, but I don't bother as I don't want to spend time there anymore.

Tessa Tyo

Our first experience here was great! Maple sea salt latte was flavorful, raspberry donuts were delicious. Second visit, tried the winter spice latte, another specialty. It was good but not exceptional, not distinguishable from a regular pumpkin spice. Asked about the raspberry donuts and was told they were a special and wouldn’t be coming back. Fair enough! Can’t carry everything all the time. Tried the lemon loaf, which was good but the tiniest slice of lemon loaf I’ve ever seen. Overall an average visit, not worth the trek out of the way or price paid. Third visit, tried their “artisan milk alternative” with their honey cinnamon latte. They “don’t have” the reusable travel cups that they used to sell and don’t offer disposable cups, making the only option for coffee to sit in the shop and have it in a mug. Truly one of the nastiest coffees I’ve ever tried. Inedible. Burnt, bitter, almost medicinal in taste. The barista was able to remake the latte with regular milk but told us that’s just how their speciality milk tastes, which seems off to me. Also, for a shop to insist on customers sitting in for their coffee, you’d figure the latte art would at least be the standard little heart shape or simple pour, but no. Some of the worst looking lattes I’ve ever seen. Disappointing after such a promising first visit.

bob stachel

Used to be my favorite place to eat and work, but no more. The sandwiches that were so tasty are gone. Most of the seating is gone, in favor of a random assortment of specialty groceries that ill-fits the neighborhood. So sad. Probably the coffee is still good, but I don't bother as I don't want to spend time there anymore.

Purple Waves pretends to be a community-building, sustainability-driven café — but in reality, it has awful coffee, terrible service, and misplaced priorities. They don’t invest in loyal customers or create a welcoming experience for newcomers. Wherever I’ve lived in NYC at different stages of my life, I’ve always thought of the local coffee shop as a place that brings people together and builds community. This one completely misses that mark. I gave Blue Waves three chances. At first, it seemed promising. I’d stop in, order coffee in a reusable cup, and return the cup later. That worked fine — until it didn’t. 1. I came here for tea and a cinnamon swirl at least five times, and twice they couldn’t even prepare the tea I asked for. I stopped going. 2. A few months later, I gave it another try when a friend from LA visited and we went for lunch. My friend specifically asked for drinks to be served with the food. They forgot. The sandwich took forever, my coffee arrived cold, and when my friend asked for it to be reheated or replaced, the staff flatly refused. Only after I reminded them of our request did they begrudgingly reheat the coffee and slam it down on the table with attitude. I stopped going again. 3. Today was my final attempt. They had no reusable cups available — not my fault. I asked if I could borrow an indoor cup (for a fee) and return it an hour later on my way to the subway. The staff dismissed me, saying indoor cups were only for dine-in and that “everyone says they live next door.” I simply said, “Thank you, have a good day,” and left. This time, I won’t be back.

Islander

Purple Waves pretends to be a community-building, sustainability-driven café — but in reality, it has awful coffee, terrible service, and misplaced priorities. They don’t invest in loyal customers or create a welcoming experience for newcomers. Wherever I’ve lived in NYC at different stages of my life, I’ve always thought of the local coffee shop as a place that brings people together and builds community. This one completely misses that mark. I gave Blue Waves three chances. At first, it seemed promising. I’d stop in, order coffee in a reusable cup, and return the cup later. That worked fine — until it didn’t. 1. I came here for tea and a cinnamon swirl at least five times, and twice they couldn’t even prepare the tea I asked for. I stopped going. 2. A few months later, I gave it another try when a friend from LA visited and we went for lunch. My friend specifically asked for drinks to be served with the food. They forgot. The sandwich took forever, my coffee arrived cold, and when my friend asked for it to be reheated or replaced, the staff flatly refused. Only after I reminded them of our request did they begrudgingly reheat the coffee and slam it down on the table with attitude. I stopped going again. 3. Today was my final attempt. They had no reusable cups available — not my fault. I asked if I could borrow an indoor cup (for a fee) and return it an hour later on my way to the subway. The staff dismissed me, saying indoor cups were only for dine-in and that “everyone says they live next door.” I simply said, “Thank you, have a good day,” and left. This time, I won’t be back.