The Elk

“Definitely a hidden gem in the West Village for some intimate coffee and laptop space.”

“Avocado toast with fried egg on top was amazing, and the chili flakes add a nice kick to it!”

“The ambiance of the cafe was very calming, music selection is a mix of calm indie music.”

The Elk

Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Caters: Yes
Good for Working: Yes

Price range.

$$ Price range $11-30

8 reviews

  1. Open early on a weekday morning like any good coffee shop. Got in before the morning rush so I can get my food quickly. Friendly staff and nice ambiance to enjoy a meal with lots of light coming in through the windows.

    After viewing the pictures, decided on the Avocado Toast w/Fried Egg ($10), Pumpkin Olive Oil Cake ($4ish), and an Iced Coffee ($4ish). First: the iced coffee is damn good. Added a bit of cream and some simple syrup for a well balanced summer drink. Second: the cake is just the right amount of moist as per most olive oil caked, with a hint of pumpkin that makes it unique; delicious. Third: huge spread of avocado on the bread. A little tough to eat with all the ingredients, but it all works well together. Could have used more chili flakes.

    The price point is high, just like much of the area. However, the coffee is made right and the atmosphere is perfect. Many other things to try here.

  2. Good avocado toast. Bad kale caesar salad. Food takes a while to come out and there's not enough seating for the volume of people coming through at all hours.

  3. The Elk offers a much needed fresh take on the NYC coffee shop scene, offering quality made coffee, fresh pastries, and a light brunch menu (the avocado toast with fried egg is nothing short of incredible).  The space itself is quite small but very open, resembling a ski lodge with beautiful light flooring and white painted brick walls.  The scene is very casual, but filled with West Village types (and your occasional celebrity considering it's location) either doing work or enjoying an intimate coffee date with a friend.  The service is usually very friendly and fast, which appropriately fits the warming vibe of the space.

    Note that nothing about this place is cheap, with most of the menu items seemingly priced to fit the neighborhood.  That said, the ambiance and intimate feel of The Elk are what makes it one of the best coffeeshops in New York.

  4. 5 dollar for 8oz of grapefruit juice?! i was like, what the fuck right now. eggs, juice and fitness classes are probably the three most overpriced things in the city (booze is in its on pantheon, of course).

    but i really digged the spot. its a young mix of writers, artists and business/finance types. the brunch looked really good too…i want to come back at some point for the food. its a great corner spot, no pretense, for a quick cup or an intimate meal. the tables are really cute, they even say things like "no laptop zone"….which is smart, because people it keeps from camping out at this tiny spot.

    ill come back, and ill order some eggs benny on kale. i was eyefucking it for a minute.

  5. Chill, friendly little coffee stop that's relatively close to the Hudson River park. Not cheap but what you would expect in this nabe. Crowd is very, very West Village.

    We had the egg sandwich, which is fantabulous and one of the most distinctive I've ever had: Cage-Free Local Egg, Ham, Cheddar, Roasted Tomato, Kale, Served on Sullivan Street Potato Panino. The runny egg and potato bun are especially memorable.

    Coffee was on point–we had the iced variety. Pricey but stiff.

    Staff is really cool and friendly. Seating turns over frequently so you can actually hang out for a bit. We were going to heaad back to the river but stayed, seduced by this little place.

  6. This place!!!!! Such a beautiful and carefully thought out space. The details are everything here. If I lived in the neighborhood I would definitely be here all the time but alas I live in Midtown East.

    Seating is a bit limited so try to go at an off-hour or very early in the morning.

  7. Another hidden gem in the West Village!  The Elk is perfect for both meeting some friends over a cup of coffee / good food AND working independently.  The way they do it is that they keep the tables 'laptop-free' (don't know how hard they reinforce that rule but the sign's there!) and there's some counter seats near the window where people with laptops do work.  Avocado toast with fried egg on top was amazing, and the chili flakes add a nice kick to it!

  8. Nice little coffee shop that's bright and quiet. They serve healthy veggie bowls as well as more indulgent fare. Staff is pretty nice for coffee shop standards and coffee itself is solid.

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Charles Street 128
New York 10014 NY US
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Monday, 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Tuesday, 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesday, 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday, 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday, 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Saturday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sunday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm