Crossbar - Coffee, Food, Soccer — Restaurant in New York

What? Crossbar. A new soccer themed cafe and space on the Upper West Side. Downstairs from the cafe there’s a space for toddlers to run around and practice soccer with the various balls they have (including the biggest football I’ve ever seen in my life). Toddler play is available to those between 2 and 6 years olds.

Where? 250 West 86th Street, so super close to all public transport links. Nearest accessible subway station is 96th street.

When? Toddler open play is available on weekdays from 9am to 12pm.

Cost? This is actually an amazing deal. Toddler play is free if you make a purchase of $20 in the cafe. Otherwise it would cost $10. I purchased avocado toast, an iced matcha latte and an apple juice for Darcy. So it meant that I got breakfast and she had a runaround (and actually impressed me with how great her football skills are!)

Our Rating - 8/10. For us, this is an easy commute so we’ll definitely be visiting again. The avocado toast I had was actually incredible, which honestly I wasn’t expecting at all. This is a very casual place to bring your toddler, and isn’t a crazy cost like some other spots. The cafe also has TV screens and shows all the soccer (football for the Brits following) games too if you want to watch a match! Not your typical playspace, but if you have a toddler that likes to run and kick a ball, this is the spot for you!

Anything else? The only negative I found was the fact it’s not very stroller friendly. Next time I’ll definitely be leaving the stroller at home. There’s around 10 steps to get in. Then the toddler soccer room is down another set of stairs, but there’s no chance of taking a stroller down there so I left mine in the cafe section and they brought my food downstairs. On my way out of Crossbar, I actually noticed they have a little outdoor platform which might actually hold a few strollers, but not sure if that’s the actual intention for this.

(Review originally posted on the @playinnyc Instagram account in...

$5.44/ cookie. The famous Chocolate chip & sea salt cookie, reportedly one of the best on the UWS. It’s on the pricier side but it’s massive and it’s very good. The touch of sea salt really adds something special to the flavor profile.

They’re baked fresh, on site, several times throughout the day. This is nice because it means you’re not obligated to come in the morning to score the freshest cookie.

I live right by Crossbar and I’ve liked it since it opened but I was not aware that Crossbar was noted for its pastries. I’m not altogether surprised to hear it though because any place that chooses to serve Devoción coffee I would, generally speaking, expect good high quality things from.

—Pastries & Coffee aside: Crossbar is a wonderful spot. I really appreciate what they’re doing and what they’re bringing not only to the neighborhood but to the city. I’m not sure how many places like Crossbar there are in NYC but they’re not common. We’re lucky to have them right here on the UWS. Crossbar is kind of the ‘anti sports bar’ or the ‘unamerican sports bar’. In more ways than one and not just in the choice of sports they choose to show. It’s reflected in the aesthetic/ decor of the place, the food and beverages they serve and, yes, the sports that they show. All of these factors conspire together to create the kind of spot that someone like me would go to. Quite a feat for...

Child-focused establishment

While I could have been there on an off weekend, this venue seems to be mis-marketed. Most of the cafe / bar photos appear to be adults enjoying soccer with coffee or beer and the main website landing page does not mention children. We were really excited to find a place in the neighborhood seemingly catered to coffee, not alcohol alone, for the EPL. However, this is more aptly a soccer-themed establishment primarily targeting children and their parents.

When our small group arrived, instead of the bright and sunny photos, we found out the venue had moved into the basement and next to an indoor field intended for children's practice that was notably not insulated from sound. While there were no active classes occurring, every other group present had toddlers, and many were on the field screaming and enjoying their time.

While this is a fantastic option for parents who want a coffee, cookie, or pint while their kids let off some steam, it is not ideal for those looking to enjoy a match with each other and other fans without the ambiance of the match audio being drowned out by loud...