Laughing Man Cafe — Restaurant in New York

There are certain moments in our day that, though simple in form, hold the power to shape our outlook. Today, after dropping off Woody—a dog I’ve been training—at his home on Chambers Street, I found myself at Laughing Man Coffee.

The rain had started to fall, New York’s sidewalks slick and silver. I stepped inside seeking nothing more than a dry seat and an espresso. What I found was something richer: an experience.

The coffee, a blend of balance and depth, had none of the harsh acidity so common in hurried roasts. Three shots in, and I was alert, but not jittery. This was quality, not quantity.

There is a kind of social texture to this place. The conversation floats at a volume that engages the senses without demanding them. It is not silence, but symphony. A café that understands the psychological need for both individual thought and collective energy.

Now, I must note the absence of WiFi—once a deal-breaker for someone like me, a gig worker born in the waning days of dial-up and matured during the battles for net neutrality. We, the so-called entitled millennials, have grown to expect connectivity everywhere. Yet perhaps that expectation reveals more about our conditioning than about necessity.

Laughing Man doesn’t cater to convenience—it delivers on purpose. It is not merely a place to consume, but to reflect. That, to me, is worth five stars. Not for what it lacks, but for what it offers with intention.

Today despite a smaller crowd, I noticed people talking above the decibels I have my AirPods on. I think the weekday morning work crowd has better energy. Saturday Brunch, I noticed they have a square terminal I think it’s the best choice for merchants. I have a terminal myself and love it. Shout out to Jack Dorsey.

Esta bueno el pan con aguacate 🥑, el café me supo un poco a citrus, Muy bueno también. Me siento muy a gusto con el...

If you love good cup of coffee, Hugh Jackman, and using your money for good cause, then this is the coffee shop to visit! Many says that they have the best coffee, latte, and espresso in NYC, and I might just agree with that, and that is coming from a non coffee lover. Yes, I am more of a tea lover, but I do appreciate a good cup of coffee. And here, I had THE best Flat White, ever.

However, I must warn you, the inside is super small. I heard it was small, but upon visiting, I was surprised of how small it really was. There is no seating, other than small bench by the small window, and that is mostly used for people who are waiting for the coffee anyways. It gets packed after a handful of people in there. But it is worth the wait in the crowded, tiny little space.

We got Hugh’s favorite, Flat White, and a special of the day, White Chocolate Lavender Mocha. If you are not familiar with Flat White, it is a beverage that originated in Australia, yes, where our beloved Huge is from. It is prepared by pouring microfoam (kind of steamed milk) over a single or double shot of espresso. I’ve had Flat White in the past, but none of them were this good. It was smooth, velvety, deep in aroma and flavor. It costs around $4, but it was totally worth it! Now I have more than one thing to thank Australia for; Hugh and Flat White (and Koala). And, please note that Hugh donates all his profits to the Laughing Man Foundation. Read my full review of the shop and coffee on my food blog,...

I randomly stumbled on the place while I was scootering to the WTC path train. Was feeling tired and decided I needed a coffee, which is weird for me as I don't drink coffee since it makes me sick to my stomach and jittery.

Much to my surprise the ice coffee I got was really really good (which is saying a lot for me as i don't like coffee!). Don't know how they did but it also didn't make me feel sick or jittery. Just very smooth and nutty. An iced coffee and a biscotti was like $5.50 I think, which I don't believe is an unreasonable price in NYC (but I may wrong... again, I don't ever really drink coffee). I've made it a habit to stop by once a week or so to get an iced coffee because it really was that good (again, huge thing for me as I don't like coffee).

The place isn't really a sit down place due to the size, but they do have a couple chairs out front and a dog water bowl if you have a pet with you.

The reason I'm not giving a 5 star is because they don't have a menu, which kind of throws me. When I went in and asked for one, the guy behind the counter told me that they didn't have one and that I just tell him what I want and he gets it for me. While I appreciate the dedication to customer service, its difficult for me to know what to ask for in the first place without actually knowing what my options are. I'm pretty sure they have more there than just one flavor of coffee (or even more than just iced coffee) however i have no idea as...