Long Island City’s Sweetleaf is one of the only places in New York that doubles as a gourmet, artisanal coffee shop during the day and a cocktail lounge at night. Sweetleaf opened in 2008 offering freshly brewed coffee and warm baked goods out of its charming shop. It is still one of the only espresso bars in NYC that serves the famous Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ brew, but this coffee shop achieved a new level of patented goodness in 2013.
Sweetleaf owner Rich Nieto, with the help of his friend Rich Boccato of the nearby Dutch Kills bar, designed a cocktail lounge and menu to serve his customers until 1 a.m. on weekdays, and 2 a.m. on the weekends. Sweetleaf now implements the expert standards of mixology and quality ingredients they value in coffee - testing every drink until it is just right.
The coffee bar and cocktail bartenders are meticulous experts in drink making, and will not serve anything to their customers that isn’t exactly the way coffee or a perfect cocktail should taste. Their equipment follows suit -Sweetleaf prides itself on using the finest La Marzocco Linea espresso machine and pour-over coffee from California’s Verve Coffee Roasters, the only place in New York City to serve this brand.
Sweetleafcoffee shop allows guests tochoose from NYC staples, as well as a number of authentic imports. Enjoy a causal atmosphere full of classic indie rock music, and laptop stations while you relax with an unbelievable cup of premier coffee, then come back at night for the perfect cocktail and the ambiance you’re looking for after a long day.