Sote Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in New York

I absolutely love Sote Coffee Roasters! This small, artisan coffee shop at 329 Amsterdam Ave is the perfect neighborhood hideaway — inviting, warm, and just the right size for grabbing a coffee or spending some time working or reading .

The coffee is truly outstanding — from expertly pulled cappuccinos to latte art that shows real care. Their house espresso blend delivers bright notes of red apple, caramel, blackberry, baking spices, and even pear — with a rich, syrupy mouthfeel that makes milk drinks particularly wonderful .

What really sets Sote apart is the genuine hospitality of the owners, Besa and Arber. They’ve created a welcoming “third place” on the UWS where you immediately feel part of the community. Their passion for quality coffee and connection shines through in every visit .

Despite being cozy and sometimes busy, there’s enough seating to feel at ease — perfect for relaxing or catching up on work. Even during peak times, the vibe remains calm and friendly .

✅ Highlights:

Exceptional coffee, roasted in‑house with great attention to sourcing and freshness

Espresso and milk drinks that bring deep flavors and smooth texture

Lovely small space, thoughtfully designed for comfort and connection

Owners who are warm, kind, and engaging — you’ll feel...

4.5 stars. I think I must have walked by this coffee shop several times in the past couple of months before I finally realized it was there. The front is quite unassuming, and it doesn’t help that it’s almost hidden by all the scaffolding on the street. It was a nice surprise going inside, and seeing how lovely and inviting the interior was. The plants, small wooden café tables, leather sofa and various framed pictures gave the shop a cozy, laid back vibe. It’s no wonder that there were many patrons there during my visit.

They have a small menu of specialty coffee and a small selection of pastries. I ordered Banana Bread ($5.50), Carrot Cake ($5), Blueberry Scone ($5) and an Americano ($4) to go. The coffee was full bodied and smooth. Exactly what a needed on that cold day while waiting for the bus. Both the Banana Bread and Carrot Cake were good, but I really enjoyed the Blueberry Scone. It was dense but light and had a nice crispy crust. Prices are also quite reasonable IMO.

It’s really nice to see small, independently owned coffee shops like this one instead of more Starbucks. And I hope more people support this great little neighborhood...

If there’s one type of business the UWS can’t have enough of its independently owned, cozy, non-chain cafes, and Sote fits the bill. It has a relaxing atmosphere and an array of coffee drinks you’d expect. The food options are a bit limited — scone, muffin, chocolate chip cookie (which was pretty good) and it would be cool if they could expand that menu. Overall, a nice place to meet up for a coffee and chat, or to get some work/reading done, and it already seems popular. One slight issue for me is that when you order a coffee and cookie to stay, the default is that without asking whether it is to stay or go they give you a disposable cup and the cookie in a paper bag. This was true for almost everyone at the café, but I also noticed one customer who had a plate and a coffee mug. I don’t understand the system, but perhaps it’s something you need to ask for? I would recommend having the default be coffee mugs and plates for those who plan to stay. It’s kind of wasteful and inelegant for a place like this to serve coffee drinks in disposable cups. And this is an elegant place, with a sofa and...