Ciao Bella Coffee — Restaurant in New York

Since we didn’t really venture out much during the pandemic, we haven’t cry visited Brooklyn for over a year. But, this fabulous and cozy little café gave us a perfect reason to go back to Brooklyn!

The interior is really nice, with relaxing vibe. Not big, but not tiny either. Bright with loads of natural light coming in from the large windows. Nice amount of seating on both sides, with a good space in the middle which is necessary when a line forms. And we did see lines forming during out visit. Seems like Ciao Bella Coffee is a local favorite.

They had a box of masks and hand sanitizer bottle for customers. You never know when your beloved mask breaks or gets super dirty. I have seen some people trying to take a sip of drink while they still had mask on! (I admit I have come close to doing the same…).

As we walked up to the ordering counter, I was welcomed by very friendly smile by lovely barista, Sumayyah, and selections of pastries! They had pound cake, cookies, croissants, donuts, and few other items.

After looking at everything, we decided to order Cappuccino, Mocha, Almond Croissant, and Blueberry Donut.

Another great thing about Ciao Bella Coffee, on top of the relaxing vibe, clean space, and friendly staff, is the different milk offerings! I requested my Mocha to be made with Macadamia Nut Milk! I really like Mocha, so I’ve had my share of Mocha from many different places. Let me tell you, Mocha from Ciao Bella Coffee was the one of the BEST one I’ve had! It was chocolatey and sweet, but not overwhelming, with a hint of nutty flavor. Delicious!

My Yelp Elite partner ordered Cappuccino with Oat Milk. You could taste a bit of oat flavor, which made the coffee milder and extra tasty. Cappuccino is something we often order at a restaurant at the end of our meal, but they don’t make them like the one here at Ciao Bella Coffee. This one was delightful!

We also tried Mini Cannoli Siciliani during our visit. They are freshly piped at order, and really great treat! I always think the filling is a bit too sweet for me, but I really enjoyed their cannoli! It was creamy, velvety, and elegantly sweet. Great little cannoli!

We also got to meet the owner, Marco. He was very friendly and welcoming. Sumayyah was one of the friendliest barista I’ve ever met in all of NYC! And she really knows how to make an excellent cup of coffee! You want to get an amazing cup of coffee creation? Head over to Ciao...

Charsu and I stopped here before making our journey into the city. I was expecting a quick in and out. Honestly, I couldn't have been more wrong.

The people here are FANTASTIC! The baristas are friendly and bubbly. One of the co-owners came and talked to every single person that came in. You could tell that he has pride in his business and the community. Quite a few times, when we were talking, he waved or greeted someone enthusiastically. You can tell this is a great local spot. The sense of community and friendship is overwhelmingly positive. Everyone was so friendly.

I ordered a sinful chocolate chip cookie. This cookie was moist, crumbly, and delicious. I am still having thoughts about this cookie...it might be borderline obsessive. The cookies are made in house. Some of their other pastries are bought in from local vendors such as the donuts from The Doughnut Plant. (I did get two donuts and they were yummy). I also tried the banana nut pound cake and the cannoli. Both pastries were absolutely delicious. The Banana cake was moist and flavorful. The cannoli was creamy and had a drizzle of amaretto (I think) on top that add extra oomph!

They have a chef that comes in during the weekdays to make savory items, such as, empanadas and paninis. I will have to come back for some empanadas :)

I also ordered a hot chocolate. I am not going to lie, I was disappointed that they didn't have marshmellowies or whipped cream. However, this hot chocolate was so delicious, it actually didn't even need it. gasp! It was perfect the way it was!

I would highly recommend this place if you need a sweet treat and/or a delectable drink served by people who care. I would also say stop by if you ever feel lonely or need a break because you will definitely leave...

The barista became so upset when I asked her to clean her hands and wear gloves that she walked from behind the counter/register and slammed her body into me while I was in the process of covering my cups. I told her she cannot just push past me and that she has to wait until I grab my food and exit the area. She boxed me in and I could not move. She exclaimed that I should get out of her way so she could get her things and leave her job but I couldn't go anywhere!! I became furious that she actually put her body against mine. I BEGGED her to back away from me and she told me that she wanted me to hit her!! She kept saying "please hit me"! The owner sat in the coffee shop and watched the whole thing unfold. I only knew she was the owner when she went behind the counter to serve the other guests. Instead of asking her employee to back away from me and my personal space and to leave me alone, the owner asked me to stop yelling. I was trapped in between a wall and the only area to exit the coffee station where I had been preparing my cups and packing my items. I never felt so violated in my entire life. I could not call the police because I am a salon owner in the area and I had clients waiting on me to return to the salon. I didn't have time to wait for police to come. Today I walked in that Cafe so happy and then left feel so violated. I was a victim of bullying and intimidation at this coffee shop that I have been visiting from since the first season that they opened. The barista tried to bait me into striking her by slamming her whole body into mine! This should have never happened. I don't wish...