Ange Noir Cafe — Restaurant in New York

The first time I came here I wasn't sure if I'd come back. Not for any particular bad reason, I was just coffee shop hopping around trying to find a good place to do freelance work on the weekends. There are at least three long tables and a variety of seating options that are great for large and small groups, and single visitors like me. The tables are a little high to work comfortably but it's fine.

The environment is dark, moody, and thematic, which is nice at some times, but at others I find myself wishing for a much brighter cafe atmosphere with lots of natural light that is common in other places.

The coffee was fine but I ordered a lemon (and cane sugar? don't remember) crepe that was unsatisfyingly low on ingredients that weren't the crepe itself. I don't usually judge a place after one visit, and I've been there a few times after. I like chocolate and discovered the Nutella Latte was pretty good. The last time I got it though it didn't taste anything like the others. The barista happened to give me a free iced mocha that was abandoned so it more than made up for it!

The other food I got here was the BBQ Pulled Pork Pretzel Burger. Was a bit higher than what I was looking for ($10), but WOW it was so good. The barista agreed, "Good choice!". I've also gotten The Grand bagel which was very good.

Only other thing is that I don't know how to pronounce the name so it's difficult to...

Ange Noir is the worst neighbor I've had in twenty years of living in NYC. By day is a little cafe but at night it becomes 'Hell Phone' a nightmare dive bar. There is a separate Google listing for that where you can see videos if you're curious. They have no soundproofing at all and blast music at over 100 dB until 3am. All night, every night, Wednesday to Sunday.

Our building is next door and no matter how much we ask, they will not turn it down. In winter, there will often only be a couple people in there but it doesn't matter, they turn it all the way up and hammer away. It's awful.

In summer, they has made the street feel less safe as drunken kids from the bar routinely break bottles on the sidewalk, stand around in our doorway, and get into fights in front of our building. We've tried getting the police involved but they won't do anything.

I'm all for supporting small business but not one that treats it's neighbors so badly. This has really affected our quality of life and no amount of pleading has made any difference at all with them. Please do not support this...

Angel Noir Café has a lot going for it, and almost all of it is lovely. The service is warm and welcoming in a way that feels increasingly rare these days. Prices are refreshingly reasonable. Portions are more than fair. It’s the kind of place you want to root for.

But here’s the thing: it’s dark. Like, “why am I drinking a cortado in a speakeasy? dark.” The lighting, or lack thereof, feels more suited to a jazz club at midnight than a neighborhood café at noon. Sitting there during the day feels like wearing sunglasses indoors. It dulls the mood, flattens the vibe, and makes you want to grab your coffee to go instead of staying awhile. Maybe it’s a personal preference of the owner, but it works against the daytime energy that a good café thrives on.

And that’s the real shame, because everything else about Angel Noir is so dialed in. If they simply brightened the space, I wouldn’t be surprised if foot traffic jumped overnight. People want to feel energized, not entombed.

All in all, this place has the potential to be a local favorite. Just turn...