The Ridge Café — Restaurant in Town of New Paltz

The Ridge has officially moved onto Main St, and expanded into a great little cafe with ample seating, and a great atmosphere. Whether you need tea, coffee, spices, or a quick snack- this is the place to go.

Tea and coffee (hot or iced) is entirely custom, you literally pick it off the wall. Specifically the tea. You can mix and match it however you like- honestly, it’s a really cool concept, and I’ve never seen it before. It’s only about $4-$5, and the cup is quite large for the price. One recommendation would be to label their cups! Even a waterproof sticker makes all of the difference.

If you’d like, you can get tea leaves by the ounce- dry, same with spices. But, know that it doesn’t count toward your loyalty points (if that matters to you as a returning customer).

They have a nice little public bathroom (I’d assume for customers only), but I will say if I could give a recommendation, it would be to upgrade to a stereotypical commercial paper towel dispenser- one that you just pull down the paper towel and it comes out. It’s more sanitary, and would lead to much less waste. Also… the soap was literally water when I washed my hands- which was the purpose of me going to the bathroom- so, maybe a commercial pump soap dispenser? Idk, just some thoughts!

They have plenty seating. Outdoor, and then three separate indoor areas. One by the window which is bar stools, one by the ordering counter which is a lower bar stool, and then one at the back which is normal chairs. You’ll find something you like.

They have low music playing, which is nice for people who like a vibe- but not too crazy- and they even have a “now playing” thing- which wasn’t up at the time, but I really hope they end up using it because that would be really neat.

Overall, they turned the previous store that was there into a large cafe, and honestly I have no clue how they did it. And they turned their small tea/spice shop into what will now be a Main St staple. I wish them nothing...

I wasn't sure what to expect upon walking into this establishment, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's small, but a fabulous use of space. Both coffee and tea lovers will enjoy themselves here (whether seated inside or outside). The atmosphere is very calming, but light and bright. The barista welcomed me with a genuine smile, and welcomed me. Upon realizing it was my first time there, he politely showed me the options the store gives its customers. There's a section for selecting spices, loose tea, cooler items with a variety of drinks and more for purchase and personal use. The register section had a bakery case of fresh goods and also (YAY!)- FREE stickers. The menu isn't extensive, but certainly enough creativity to foster interest to any drink enthusiast. I purchased a Mocha (which I believe, comes from the local chocolate shop)and a Shroom Latte with honey and oat milk. The latte caught my interest, and I'm glad because it was SO good! No grittiness or weird aftertaste. You get the earthy flavor, but not smacked with "earth." This place is bookmarked...

New Paltz local here! I am so excited to have this place in the village. They have locally roasted coffee (a quick chat with the owners made it clear that they know their coffee), local pastries, and an AMAZING selection of loose-leaf tea and bulk spices.

LOCATION: It's a 2 min walk to Church Street and Main Street shops and restaurants, and a 5 min walk to Water Street Market. The vibe is welcoming, clean, bright, and modern. They also have outdoor seating and high quality speakers by the to door to play music, which is very nice because the shop is located on a main road.

EXPERIENCE: I got their sparkling iced tea (spicy hibiscus) which was AMAZING, and something I've never had before. I will be getting one of these at least twice a week. The owners are super nice and really knowledgeable! They were happy to talk to me and make recommendations based on my preferences. I can't wait to go again and...