Pretentious coffeehouses in NYC

The oddly named Tea Lounge in Park Slope is another coffee house which is popular with writers. I remember visiting their Seventh Avenue location which is now sadly shuttered. Oh btw they have yummy cookies, muffins and other baked goods as well and free wi-fi.
Tea Lounge
837 Union Street,
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 789-2762

@Uptowngirl: You are getting me hungry with your talk about food. I love cookies. Ajadedidealist, I will have to visit some of the places you listed to see which one I like the most. Thanks for posting your list.

Would be good to make a distinction here: are you going for pretentious, a word with negative connotations enough to make it seem that the place is somewhow over-rated, or are you going for simply the kinds of places where writers are likely to hang out, which could be a lot more neutral? You can add the Pink Pony and Cafe Esperanto to the list. they each have their charms, but I wouldn't be caught dead writing in either one.

The Pink Pony
Cafe Litteraire & Cine Club- tells you everything right there, doesn't it?
176 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002
I used to love to stumble over there for brunch after studying late in my student days.


Cafe Esperanto
114 Macdougal St
New York, NY 10012-1245
Also harks back to my student days, and I loved this place because it was open all night, and full of people at odd hours of the morning, which was a great boon in my insomniac student days.

@Everyone have any of you really managed to do real work while sitting in a cafe? I always have this constant nightmare that my broadband connection is one day going to die on me and then I will have no choice but to head to a Starbucks to meet my deadlines. My brother in law actually used to go to study in his neighborhood Starbucks I would never be able to do so I love people watching way too much and would be too distracted to do anything.

@uptowngirl I actually find it easier to work in a cafe; I go on Facebook a lot less when there are people all around me, possibly peaking over my shoulder. The only thing I don't like about working in public coffee houses is that the internet connections tend to be sooooo slow. But then that may be why I don't go on Facebook or look at other internet distractions as much....

I'd rather write at home, and when I'm out in the world enjoy just being out in the world and not being also in work mode.

I always feel this sense of shame compelling me to WORK and write when I'm working in public. When I'm at home I end up using my laptop in bed, munching snacks, and falling asleep over hilarious youtube videos of animals doing odd things...

I never go out the door to write, at least if I can help it. Although I do have a laptop, I prefer to do my writing in my pajamas sometimes, or just in a house pants. House pants are those you wear around the house, but would not go outside in them.

Plus I get very dreamy when I work and do absent-minded things like talk to myself, and I'd rather others don't witness that.

@ajadedidealist I completely concur. I get so much more done when I'm not sitting at home procrastinating.

@Uraniumfish I've become unashamed of my dreamy moments. I doubt that my random out-loud thoughts are the craziest thing my fellow New Yorkers have ever witnessed.

@BroadwayBK (Smile) Yes, I see your point...

@Uraniumfish Is Cafe Esperanto still open all night? I tend to go through some insomniac phases during the warmer months and I'm always looking for things that stay open. They say this is the city that never sleeps, but....

As far as I still know, it's still open all night, BroadwayBK, and definitely recommendable for insomniacs. Have thankfully not been an insomniac too much lately, so haven't needed to make use of the place...

Yes, there's something about the horrible cold that makes one sleep through the night and thrive during the day. Perhaps what little warmth the sun provides has something to do with it.

I unfortunately find the opposite @BroadwayBK. Cold means I turn on my nice space heater, which means it gets so warm and comfy, which means I just have to close my eyes for a few seconds...whoops! when did it get to be dinnertime?

And I do also want to point out, esp. @uraniumfish, that I'm being a bit jokey when I say pretentious - I mean those coffeehouses that conjure up the image of the typical wannabe-writer-scribbling-away-over-lattes - I really do love all the cafes I've mentioned, and visit them frequently!

I do get a bit lazy when it gets cold out. But when it gets warm - look out for I do my best to go out when I get a chance. What is better on a hot day than a nice glass of cold lemonade, or herbal ice tea.

@ajadedidealist Thank god ! I thought it was only me who suffering from an unbearable desire to sleep all the time during the winter.. I really do take the term hibernate to heart but as hhusted says come summer and all I want to do is go outdoors and play!! I love the heat and the humidity and can't wait for Spring to arrive..

You said a mouthful, uptowngirl. You said it all. While summer is coming, we will have snow. But while snowing is falling, think of summer.

I hear you, @uptowngirl. I miss taking long walks most of all - but the city is so cold now!

Well, think hot, ajadedidealist, and visualize yourself on a beach in your bathing suit. That will make you happy.