Malta Coffee — Restaurant in New York

I was reading that other people had similar experiences with inattentive/rude staff, so I wanted to share my Yelp review on Google as well:

I had an absolutely terrible experience at Malta Coffee. I came in to purchase a drink and get some work done. When I entered, no one was behind the counter. I stood there for about 5 minutes before deciding to sit and get started on my work until the barista returned. I kept glancing back and forth toward the counter from my seat for about 20 minutes before just putting on my noise cancelling headphones and diving into my work, assuming that no one was coming anytime soon. When I looked up 30 minutes later, the barista was standing over me, asking if I'm going to order anything. I was startled by his hostility but said “of course” and headed toward the counter, but he remained hostile and kept insisting that I was only doing so because I was prompted. Even after I stated my drink order and provided clarification that I had been waiting for several minutes to order before getting caught up in my work, he continued to instigate, saying that he’d been waiting for me to make an order and didn’t understand how I could be so distracted by my work. Not only did he make me extremely uncomfortable, but he also completely failed to acknowledge that he was absent from the counter for 20 minutes.

I am utterly shocked by the level of hostility of the barista and the way that I was treated. It was entirely unprofessional, and it was honestly very poor business acumen on behalf of the barista, who should have just let it go and went ahead with my drink order once I (very politely and logically) clarified. Instead, he was rude and intimidating, and he lost a potential customer.

If you respect yourself and have an appreciation for kind and attentive baristas/staff, do not patronize...

Charging $9 for a small cheese pastizzi is outrageous. As a Maltese American, I know how difficult it is to find authentic Maltese food in New York City, apart from the Maltese Center in Astoria, Queens. When I heard about this café opening, I was excited to visit and share the experience with my family back home in Gozo.

However, every Maltese person knows that pricing a single pastizzi at $9 is absurd. In Malta, they cost about €0.50 (roughly $0.52 USD), making this a shocking markup. Pastizzi is one of the most affordable and beloved snacks in Malta, so seeing it priced this high feels exploitative, especially for something meant to evoke nostalgia and cultural connection.

While non-Maltese patrons might not realize this disparity, it’s incredibly disappointing for Maltese people like myself who are drawn to this café expecting a taste of home. Instead, we’re met with what feels like a misuse of our culture to justify an...

I stopped by Malta Coffee recently, and it instantly became one of my favorite spots in the city. The place has such a warm, welcoming vibe — it feels like a local hidden gem but with a polished, stylish touch.

I ordered a cappuccino with pistachio milk, and it was incredible. Super smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. You can tell the baristas here actually care about what they’re making. The service was really friendly too — they took the time to chat and make sure everything was just right.

What I love about this place is that it’s not just about coffee. They’ve got wine, beer, and cocktails too, plus a few light bites. It’s the kind of café where you can start your day with a great espresso or unwind in the evening with a glass of wine.

Definitely recommend if you’re around the Upper East Side. I’ll be...