Pause Cafe — Restaurant in New York

A Pretentious Excuse for a Coffee Shop – 1/5 Stars

I have visited countless coffee shops, and I have never encountered one as unwelcoming and absurdly pretentious as this place. I walked in, fully prepared to enjoy a nice cup of coffee while getting some work done, only to be met with a ridiculous and downright rude policy: No laptops allowed. Excuse me? In 2025, a coffee shop that actively discourages people from working or studying? That’s like a gym banning people from exercising because it “ruins the atmosphere.”

Let’s start with the ambiance. I assume they’re aiming for some kind of hip, “vintage European café” aesthetic, but it just comes across as dimly lit, cluttered, and impractical. The seating is uncomfortable, the tables are too small to even fit a proper notebook (not that they want you to bring one, apparently), and the music is just loud enough to be annoying but not enjoyable. They seem to have mistaken “cozy” for “claustrophobic.”

Then, there’s the staff—an insufferable mix of smug and indifferent. When I asked if I could use my laptop, the barista barely looked up from their phone before mumbling something about “preserving the communal experience.” Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize this was a sacred temple of forced social interaction and not a coffee shop. Meanwhile, half the customers were sitting alone, scrolling through their phones. So let me get this straight—I can mindlessly browse TikTok, but the moment I open my laptop to do something productive, I’m suddenly a pariah? Make it make sense.

The coffee? Overpriced and mediocre. They clearly put more effort into writing pretentious descriptions on the menu than actually perfecting their drinks.

I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt and at least enjoy my overpriced drink in peace, but the sheer vibe of this place was insufferable. A coffee shop that actively discourages work in a world where remote work and freelancing are more common than ever? It’s not just out of touch—it’s anti-customer. This place isn’t about coffee; it’s about aesthetic gatekeeping.

Save yourself the frustration and take your money somewhere that actually appreciates its customers. There are plenty of other coffee shops that will gladly take your business without treating you like a nuisance for wanting to get...

I happened to walk into this place randomly on a Sunday afternoon, and I really enjoyed it! Aside from friendly staff, the coffee was good, the ambiance was cool, and the bakery selection, menu, and even the ready-to-drink refrigerated options were surprisingly expansive considering the relatively small size of the place.

It's worth noting that I arrived at around 11 am, and the place was pretty packed. Seating is limited inside, so if you're visiting in the colder months, be aware that it may not be the best place to bring a large group for a sit down. I did notice however that people would come and ago within a reasonable amount of time, so it's not impossible to bring 4-5 people. Anything bigger might be a challenge, though. They have a lovely outdoor set-up with plenty of tables and chairs, however, so if you're visiting in the warmer months, this place is definitely worth stopping by!

Since it can get busy during peak hours and they do have a working kitchen, be aware that getting your drink may take a little more time than usual in comparison to your standard coffee shop that only makes drinks. So I'd be hesitant about choosing this place if you're in a rush and on your way to work.

Overall, a lovely, pleasant surprise and I'd...

You guys- I LOVED this place! The food was delicious, but the interior!! Let me tell you! (I definitely should've taken a pic but I didn't have time) It is soo nice and super calming inside. It's kind of like a southwestern meets Moroccan meets country cottage vibe lol if you can imagine that. There were all these different cool rugs, little mini faux coal stoves, an exposed brick wall (which, I know, exposed brick downtown- big deal right? but no it definitely added to the vibe they had going) and even the ceiling had character! This is a place you absolutely want to hang out in and just chill (hopefully you can all do that post COVID apocalypse). The only thing that was off a little was the staff- the cashier seemed to just be OVER it (over everything- working, the other customers, me lol) and a little sad actually, but can you even blame them right now when literally every server's job is uncertain? And also this was right before Cuomo changed the rules about inside dining again so maybe they already knew what was coming. Idk- I wish them the best and hope they're alright. Anyway- moral of the story here is I will definitely come back and tell people...