(212) 255-5511

224 W 20th St (Cross Streets 7th & 8th Avenues)
New York, NY 10011 40.7425 -73.9978

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Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown

CAFEGRUMPY.COM

Hours:

Mon-Thurs 7am-8pm

Fri 7am-9pm

Sat 8am-9pm

Sun 8am-8pm

Price:

$

Last updated 7.20.11

Category:

Restaurants, Diners

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Cafe Grumpy

Featured Review

Corrina Laughlin

Contributor

In Short – Don't let the name fool you--the staff at Cafe Grumpy is actually friendly and upbeat. The café has two rare Clover machines, computer-calibrated devices that produce one fresh-brewed cup of coffee at a time. Coffee lovers can choose from a monthly rotating selection of beans from around the world, plus baked goods. Mellow music wafts through the cozy, narrow café, filled with laptop-toting customers and chatting friends, while two outdoor benches allow for prime Chelsea people-watching. – – Hits – The technology behind the counter…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Don't worry, espresso lovers---Cafe Grumpy also serves delicious lattes, cappuccinos and other espresso drinks along with its Clover-made coffee.
Know Before You Go:
Grumpy lovers living in Brooklyn can check out the Greenpoint location at 193 Meserole Avenue, near Diamond Street.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Exactly the kind of business that should not be welcome in Chelsea- a neighborhood that has worked so hard to hold on to the dying breed of cozy, neighborly businesses all the while being pummeled by Gap, Starbucks, etc.”
drinks
90.0% positive
  1. “In addition to the amazing coffee, I found the service impeccable -- polite, informative, and just all around nice (RARE in NYC).”
  2. “It was easily the best coffee we had on our trip to New York.”
  3. “Cafe Grumpy is the best coffee in Manhattan”
  4. “suggest if customers annoy you after a certain amount of time and you want them to leave, don't open a little coffee shop in a residential neighborhood, fool.”
  5. “Granted, I give Cafe Grumpy 5 stars with the best coffee in the entire city!”
  6. “Great little coffee shop (seem to be relatively few and far between in Chelsea) with fantastic coffee (go for their triple ristretto).”
  7. “Every cup made to order in the Clover, which is a huge leap forward in coffee brewing.”
  8. “Great little cafe; fabulous coffee”
  9. “Excellent coffee, made with care.”
  10. “This has been a MAJOR bummer and despite the great coffee, I haven't returned since due to the service.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “Added bonus: the muffins were delicious and we did a little star spotting around 20th street”
service
87.5% positive
  1. “Reading the other reviewers' comments, I've run into the same rude barista on one occasion but the rest of them are very friendly and helpful particularly with recommending a particular bean from the ever changing list.”
  2. “This has been a MAJOR bummer and despite the great coffee, I haven't returned since due to the service.”
  3. “Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.”
  4. “In addition to the amazing coffee, I found the service impeccable -- polite, informative, and just all around nice (RARE in NYC).”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Every cup made to order in the Clover, which is a huge leap forward in coffee brewing.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/28/10

WORSR SERVICE IN CHELSEA!

by CSMobileUser4 at Citysearch

Sadly standing in the cafe waiting for my espresso. Ordered a double and asked them to make one of the shots decaf. The bartista acted as if I asked for her to slit an atom and coped an caffenine agitated attitude. So it the coffee make. DUDE don't waste ur time. This place is so lame.

1 Star Rating: Poor

08/07/09

True to their name!

by Halcyon Design LLC at Citysearch

Exactly the kind of business that should not be welcome in Chelsea- a neighborhood that has worked so hard to hold on to the dying breed of cozy, neighborly businesses all the while being pummeled by Gap, Starbucks, etc.

This is a small quaint cafe with a really bad attitude.

There are signs up stating "no laptop use". After asking why, the lovely gentleman behind the counter said, "we don't like people to linger."

"Linger"???? really?

Am I allowed to read a book while I sip my coffee? Or just a magazine- how many pages of my magazine am I allowed to read before I have to leave?

Can I sit and talk to my friend? Or is that not allowed either... maybe just a quick chat- we won't get into anything too deep or heavy over coffee.

Unbelievable...

I suggest if customers annoy you after a certain amount of time and you want them to leave, don't open a little coffee shop in a residential neighborhood, fool. Or don't allow for any seating at all- why not just have take-out business? Better yet, have you thought about a desk job?

I hate bad attitude- and I hate this sort of stupidity in my neighborhood. It's just so counterproductive.

  • Pros: location
  • Cons: run by idiots
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/19/08

Amazing Cappucinos

by tyahma at Citysearch

The cappucinos are below the radar, but they are the most Italinate drinks you can get this side of an Alitalia flight.

  • Pros: The cappucinos, espressos and the muffind
  • Cons: Lack of Wifi, man.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/07/08

Coffee heaven

by NativeNYer5296 at Citysearch

THE place for anyone who cares about quality. Excellent coffee, made with care. Every cup made to order in the Clover, which is a huge leap forward in coffee brewing. Menu usually has a half dozen coffees from around the world. It changes monthly, so I go regularly to sample them all. I am constantly amazed and delighted by the flavors and aromas. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

  • Pros: Outstanding coffee, made to order.
  • Cons: Could use more seating.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/26/07

Best Coffee in New York

by sydneycoffee at Citysearch

My two sisters and I visited Cafe Grumpy on a recommendation from a friend in Sydney. We were not disappointed. It was easily the best coffee we had on our trip to New York. We were four days into our New York holiday and hadn't found a true espresso anywhere (we had tried little cafes and big). We were pleased not only with the barista's skills but the cafe itself was reminisent of the local cafes in Sydney's hip suburbs. Added bonus: the muffins were delicious and we did a little star spotting around 20th street . Great stuff!!

  • Pros: Coffee, muffins and ambience
  • Cons: Didn't find any cons

The Details on Cafe Grumpy

Place Categories:

  • best little coffee
  • really bad attitude
  • knowledgeable staff
  • huge leap
  • annoy customers
  • impeccable service
  • rude barista
  • recommending particular bean
  • delicious muffins
  • cozy neighborly businesses
  • poor execution
  • great little cafe
  • really nasty email