Sunrise Espresso Bar — Restaurant in New York

The Takeaway: A welcome addition to the neighborhood dining mix. Don’t let the weird thirsty signage and confusing vibe deter you from above average casual food.

This place is a new neighborhood enigma. To be blunt, it looks like a train wreck of a business and yet somehow it’s….working? The food is really good. The “diner-like” environment gives people something this neighborhood is desperately lacking: a place to post up and a table to work at for a few hours. It just hurts my soul when business owners with solid ideas don’t recognize consult anyone with creative experience and a pulse on aesthetics before spending their money on sub-par branding and design. I mean…landing on Sunrise Espresso Bar & Cafe as the name for a restaurant described as “a great Mexican diner experience” is…a confusing choice. And it was just weird as a resident of the area to wait for months and months expecting a cute new coffee shop to show up and then suddenly, boom. There are 4 sandwich boards with pictures of Mexican food and a logo/branded decal plastered on every inch of the exterior space, assaulting passersby. It’s just…a weird thirsty vibe. Although, I’ll give it to them, it damn well can’t be missed. Then you walk inside and are greeted by a gaggle of decorative Temu mirrors hanging on walls painted the yellowest yellow that ever yellowed. All topped off with the most random assortment of dated music—every genre under the sun. And for some reason a lot of slow ballads? Everything about the look and vibe of this place is unhinged. BUT the employees are friendly. The chef (owner maybe?) is making sure you like the food. It’s super chill. And the food is really, pretty good, above average even, for what it is. (Big portions too.) Kind of an unusual menu in terms of variety. The culinary POV of American diner but make it Mexican is like 70% there. Nothing is bad or unwelcome. It’s just conceptually a little off. I’ve dined there twice now. I even ordered the chia seed pudding to take out once in between because I was craving it. What can I say? The charm (and frankly, the decent food chops) are waring down my aesthetic snobbiness. Keep on keeping on, Sunrise Espresso Bar & Cafe: a great Mexican...

It’s rare to find a place in New York that is so warm and unfussy in atmosphere, unflinching in quality, and just so damn delicious. But thats what you get at this incredible spot for classic “American” brunch food and EXCELLENT Mexican cuisine.

Walked in for my first time today for Sunday brunch and there was a 10mn wait…after the meal I had, I’d wait 30mn or more for a table at this place. I abhor lines, so that says a lot. We were greeted warmly by Giovanni (who owns this place with his wife, and I’ll get to that in a second) and his daughter seated us. It’s a family affair!!

Immediatly upon sitting I clocked how delicious all the food looked at the table next to us. Steak and eggs, chilaquiles, salads, you name it…it all looked phenomenal.

I ordered an horchata with espresso (off menu item) and learned from Giovanni that the horchata (as well as all the salsa and the tortillas!!) is made in house by…his wife and damn was it excellent horchata. For our mains we split a banana walnut waffle (bonus blueberry and strawberry slices) and it was classic and delicious. The other dish was the Mixiote which I had never had before in my life…slow cooked ribs in a rich red sauce complete with stewed olives and bay leaves alongside the scrumptious platter of rice and beans. THESE ARE NOT ORDINARY RICE AND BEANS. These rice and beans are full of heart and love and joy and I need more of them right now as I write this review at 10:35pm. The mixiote came with a delicious tangy and bright green salsa and three corn tortillas made by Mrs Sunrise Espresso Bar. We ate it all and joked with Giovanni about getting a box for the rib bones. I kid you not, I thought about it. For what purpose? I do not know. Perhaps for security and comfort - that’s how good those ribs were.

Be a good neighbor, be a good patron, be a good eater and enjoy an excellent meal at Sunrise Espresso Bar. You...

A total gem in Brooklyn — do not skip this spot!

We were visiting from DC, Maryland, and Wisconsin for a girls’ weekend, and a friend recommended Sunrise Espresso & Bar — they said it was a must-visit, and they were so right. This family-owned and operated gem gave us the warmest welcome and the most delicious sendoff we could’ve asked for.

We were seated right away — no wait, even on a sunny weekend — and the vibe was absolutely perfect: bright, cheerful, and full of natural light from the big open windows. We sat by the sidewalk under the orange umbrellas, with cozy bench seating and people-watching galore. The coffee was delish, the croissants were buttery and fresh, and the waffles? Unreal. Every bite felt nourishing, made with care, and beautifully plated.

As more patrons arrived, it felt like a family affair — truly a neighborhood favorite where everyone knew each other and new faces were treated like regulars. Gio, Rosa, and Alvin brought so much heart and hustle — even stopping by our table to share their homemade hot sauce (10/10, by the way). It’s rare to find service that feels both genuine and joyful — but they deliver it with ease.

And here’s the best part: they also co-own Terrace Restaurant BK just down the block in South Slope, Brooklyn. Together with their cousins. You can absolutely feel the love, culture, and commitment to community in every moment.

✨ Affordable prices ✨ Delicious, fresh food ✨ Sweet, sunny atmosphere ✨ Incredible family-run energy ✨ No rush, no fuss — just joy

We came as visitors, but we left feeling like family. Can’t wait to come back — and we’re already telling...