Café Standard

Cute place to grab drinks on the patio right next to the Standard Hotel in East Village.
We had an amazing brunch at Narcissa, also right next door to the Standard Hotel, and wanted to some celebratory drinks but they do not serve alcoholic drinks on Sunday before 12:00 noon — is this a NYC wide thing? Our sweet waiter, who also works at Café Standard, said that the drinks were way better at Café Standard so we decided to head over.
My friend ordered the PennyDrop, which tasted like a moscow mule and I got the London Calling which was made with gin cucumber juice, mint and prosecco.
Great place for people watching as the foot traffic flows by!

Located right in the front of the standard hotel, we dropped by here on a Saturday night around 11 to grab drinks and meet a friend who was dining at Narcissa. We weren’t even sure this place existed, as we planned on just hanging out at the Narcissa bar until he was done eating, but this bar out front was much more fun and caught our eye. There’s an indoor/​outdoor feel and we chose to sit kind of inside near the main bar. The place was packed but not so much so that you couldn’t move, and we were lucky enough to grab a table. I knocked back a few bourbons (they had a good selection) and the ladies I was with sipped on champagne cocktails and beer. The cocktail menu was decent, and the beer selection was cool, as they had many craft beers.
The vibe of this place is pure east village. I feel like you could wear anything here, literally seemed like no dress code. The service was a bit slow, but they were packed so that is expected. We were kind of confused as to how it worked, as we grabbed a table and the I went up to the bar to order drinks. However, the bartender said if we were going to sit at a table we had to wait for a server to take our order. Server didn’t exactly show up quickly. The table we got was very small, good enough size for three people to put drinks on, but I really don’t think you could eat food on it. They do serve food, but I didn’t see anyone eating a single thing as it was later at night. Felt like we were drinking in a garden, as there was foliage all over the place and this spot had an outdoorsy feel.

Classy little bar, my little brother and I were hanging out in the hopes of running into his favorite youtube stars (who were rumored to be staying at the hotel). Ambience is chic, alike to neighboring Chelsea establishments, they have indoor, heated outdoor and non heated outdoor seating. The service was very friendly, our hostess was sweet and showed us to the table that would be the warmest outside. Our server (short, pixie cut hair) was friendly and attentive, she didn’t hover but cleared our plates immediately, and refilled our water on time every time.
For food we had the avocado toast and the marguerite pizza, they were prices reasonable for being attached to a hotel. I wouldn’t recommend the café for dinner, but it’s a great spot to meet for a drink before or after dinner.
Alas, two hours later, we had not seen any YouTube stars, but we walked away having spent a happy afternoon people watching.

I like the setting, but terrible service for pricey bar food and drink.

This place is so adorable! I love the atmosphere. There are plants everywhere. The space is very open and is comfortable. The staff is so hospitable. They’re all friendly and smiling and happy to help you. They are quick to refill waters and are available to help. My friends and I shared three appetizers and wine. Everything was amazing! We ordered the calamari ($ 12), the Gaucamole and chips ($ 12), white wine and red wine. The wine ranged from $ 12-​$ 15 a glass (Norma for New York City) but they have a very nice selection. The quality is quite good. All the food was made to perfection. The calamari was breaded so nice and lightly. The appetizers were very affordable too! The bathrooms are big and easy to find. Even when it’s busy it feels like the Café has a lot of space. There were four of us and they sat us quickly during happy hour. They didn’t have any specials, unfortunately.

great vibe. can get pretty loud and crowded. friendly service. cool interior ceiling plants. nice restrooms.

We loved this place until now, I came here for my bday for one more drink but it’s was absolutely horrible service. First I apologize I ordered at the bar and decided to sit down at the table, it was around midnight I didn’t know you guys have a different tipping pool. Whoever worked the night of ¹⁄₂₂ her name is Steph T on the receipt, she had an attitude to everyone includes us, it was very disappointed. We got overcharged that we didn’t order and never get that we ordered, and right after she swipe credit card,(we could know because we got notification through Apple Pay thing) she didn’t bring a check right after, and the server Steph T was trying to disappear so we had to ask for the check as well. I don’t know what’s wrong this place but it was disappointing and was my birthday… We never got treated like this and NEVER AGAIN!!!

The best spot in the city to relax, read a book, sip La Colombe coffee (without running into everyone you’ve ever met), and maybe even have a delectable kale Caesar salad.
While the inside is very chic, the outside seating area is covered for winter months and offers a warm respite from a chilly day.

My experiences the Café Standard are lovely. The management and staff I’ve encountered are sociable and are always delighted to engage. The smaller menu is not limiting, but satisfies my taste for dishes rooted in high quality complimentary flavors that speak for themselves. After-​menu regret never creeps in, everything tastes good and the presentation never disappoints. The server I usually get is a young man, who is quite hospitable. His service has been of the highest caliber, and he authentically engages in conversation without hovering. I drink a lot of water and he’s never left me hanging. The bartenders are artists and I’ve had nothing but exquisite drinks. The only drawback is the difficulty in accessing a bartender, at times the bar is filled beyond the brim. Café Standards sophisticated ambiance permeates its opulent walls and I’ve definitely shazamed some of their music. I highly recommend trying it at least once, though its unlikely to be your last visit.

Do NOT come here for breakfast unless you are fond of mediocre service along with greatly inflated prices! I’d ordered a ham and cheese omelette, home fries potatoes, toast and coffee. For a total of $ 19.60 you actually get ham and minute amount of cheese omelette and a single piece of dried toast along with some tiny diced skillet potatoes plus a carafe of coffee. Top this truly bad choice in dining with being short changed. I placed $ 50 bill and received back $ 29.00. Can’t comment on their staff other than my server which proved to be on the lazy side a bit along with a side of bad math or plain dishonest!

Terrific atmosphere, even better was the service. The bartender (Danielle) asked what type of drink I was looking for and delivered one of the best tasting cocktails I ever had. The amazing part that she simply asked for my spirit preference and if it should be sweet or smooth.
My overall experience was nothing short of a terrific evening. I can’t think of a better place to spend a Sunday evening and get lost in the marvels of the lower east side.

I don’t understand why some people gave this place 1 or 2 stars. Maybe they’re talking about a different place… I’ve never been here for brunch, I only have been here later in the afternoon or later at night. But I have never, ever experienced any issues with their service. Yes, the wait can be longer later at night but come on guys, it is late at night in East Village. What do you expect?
I’m sure one of the bartenders will kill me for saying this but don’t leave without ordering their Espresso Martini (if you like Espresso, that is). It’s not on the menu (and for a good reason because it does take longer to make — but the wait is so worth it). You have to ask. You can even get it with decaf if you’re worried about losing some sleep.
And despite the swanky and trendy outlook, I find it much easier to talk to people here compared to other bars in East Village — or even dare say, NYC. Forget the one at Meatpacking District. With unpretentious, almost neighborhoody vibe and all, this is the place to be. 95% of crowds are local, men or women. If you are single, make sure you look your best, take a spot at a bar, order Espresso Martini and you don’t have to do a thing. Don’t try hard to impress anyone. As long as you have halfway decent conversation skills, you’ll do fine. You will thank me later, trust me. (I’m pretty sure this is going to be a running joke eventually. I’ll move on by that time… I’m kidding.)
Not too many tourists here. I have only come across 1 or 2 tourist types who are staying at this hotel, surprisingly.
Food — try their burger. It’s filling, tastes great and probably it is the best deal there, you-​get-​bang-​for-​the-​buck thing. Fried calamari is also excellent. If you want to go for dessert, I would suggest their apple pie. I’ve seen people trashing their food here but trust me, they ordered some wrong items!
Truly a multi purpose venue. You can use this for anything — happy hour, just chilling with your friends, date spot (make sure you tuck yourself into the corner table), after hour party, out to make some new friends or boy/​girl hunting spot. Whatever you decide to come here for, you will get what you need. And leave happy. Try it. It’s that good. I wouldn’t keep coming back here otherwise.

I give it three stars because of their ambience and their drinks which I loved called the London calling but other than that the food is very basic and the service is not good! The hostess was rude. She didn’t want to seat us in a table for 3 when it was two of us no tables available and someone was going to join us later. Rolled her eyes like it was a big deal. Also the waiter never came to see us not once until we had to ask someone to take our order. Not coming back here. There are plenty of other places to come back to in New York

Love this place! Great music, such an amazing atmosphere, awesome drinks and food and the service was just as wonderful — the experience made me want to stay in the actual hotel there!
Even though I came late at night, it definitely seems like a place that would be great to visit at any time of day, regardless if it’s bustling or slower time of day.
Can’t wait to go back.

This place is a cute spot for drinks on a Friday night. A little loud however if you like loud, crowded places, this spot is for you. The cocktails were pricey but really good. My favorite one was the watermelon one, I think it same love in the name.

The new spot in the east village. Nice for a quick snack and to hangout in the café for a little alfresco dining. The staff is great and attentive. Very nice place to enjoy with friends.

I was going to give this place 3 stars since I was thinking this was a 2.5, but I think the description of 2 stars is the perfect way to describe my experience: «Meh.»
I’ve walked past this place a number of times, and #brian and I have been close to coming here on a number of occasions. It’s in a great area, seems to have a cool atmosphere, and the outdoor seating is great. We finally stopped here for breakfast this past weekend.
I ordered a simple omelet with home fries. It was a whopping $ 15 bucks. It was actually $ 14 on the menu, but an extra dollar was tacked on for some reason. Had I been alone I would have said something, but given that I was trying to act cool in front of #brian I didn’t say anything. A dollar can buy a lot of things (5 bananas from trader joes, four quarters, even almost an entire miso soup) so maybe next time I will.
Anyways: back to the food. Cold eggs are absolutely the worst. Period. End of story. My omelet was luke-​warm at absolute best. My home fries, however, were cold, and my toast was burnt. I think they were just trying to see if they could make the three food items create a «goldilocks too hot, too cold, just right» experience. If that’s the case then my bad — well done.
I walked away having spent $ 20 on my food and coffee. I wasn’t in a terrible mood when I left but really was feeling «meh». I’d tag along with friends if they wanted to venture here for drinks just to check it out, but food wise this is a no thanks from me.

Excellent patio. Drinks are delicious. Flatbread and calamari are amazing! Seems like a great place to come for happy hour and enjoy the scenery/​people.

This place was terrible. I was staying in the hotel and decided to have breakfast here one morning. The rude hostess should have been my first indication to leave, but I decided to stay.
Service was painfully slow. I was one of 5 tables eating that morning and from time of sitting down to getting my food took over an hour! It took about 15 minutes for my waiter to even come take a drink order. The entire process was horrible.
When my food came out the portion sizes were incredibly small! And even the plates were very tiny and the food was almost falling off the edges of the plate. Greasy under cooked bacon, extremely salty potatoes and 1 piece of toast that was barely toasted and cold, and no jelly, jam or butter was provided. All this goodness after waiting an hour for my food. Drink refills didnt happen unless I tracked down servers and asked, and even then they were very slow to arrive. My server never checked on me once I got my food either.
I was in New York for 5 days and this was hands down the worst meal I had on my trip.
I give 2 stars because the space is beautiful with a nice outdoor seating area. I only hope that dinner here is better. Or maybe this place should just be used as a bar.

I went here on a Wednesday around 5pm with my boyfriend for a few drinks and a bite to eat.
I would definitely recommend coming here to either sit outside and enjoy the sun with some drinks, or even sit inside.
CAFE OVERVIEW:
–Very pretty and cute décor. Tropical laid-​back, but swanky vibe.
–Love the patio area for day or night — cute twinkling lights in the evening/​heat lamps.
–There are tables inside and outside on the patio. The inside is kind of small and has a long bar going horizontally across the café with barstools.
FOOD:
–I’ve only been here twice for after work drinks/​apps — I’ve had the Guacamole with chips and the Burrata & Prosciutto. Both were good to pick on!
DRINKS:
–I’ve had Old Fashioneds here with rye whiskey — they make a great one!
–I’ve also had the Pennydrop. I’d suggest this too — it is exactly what you would think it tastes like (vodka, lime, ginger syrup), and comes in one of those brass cups that moscow mules come in.
SERVICE:
–They came quickly to get our drink/​app order, but after they delivered it, no one came back to check on us for maybe 30 – 45 mins. It wasn’t that crowded either. Maybe they just needed more servers since it seemed like there was only 1 guy going around to all the tables.
Overall, it is a really cute place to stop for drinks and apps. I don’t think I would come here for a full blown dinner outing — it feels more like a spot to come for happy hour with a date or a few friends, or maybe breakfast/​lunch.

3.0 for The Standard food, 4.0 for wine and cocktails, 5.0 for the spectacular, one-​of-​a-​kind garden patio.
The Standard (on the patio) is a great place to unwind with friends on a balmy day with. The drinks menu has fun options, but all the cocktails, no matter the ingredients appear frilly lilly if you get my drift. The bourbon based cocktail we ordered came out pink with two straws! I laughed when my 6 foot 5 burly man-​friend was drinking it gingerly.
The food is kind of mediocre. Calamari was «meh», fries were «meh», so we stopped ordering food. The cocktails is where it’s at.

Have been here for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks while staying at the Standard East (and formerly Cooper Square Hotel).
Breakfast is small menu, but good. Morning glory muffin plus olive oil poached eggs on spinach and toast… perfect.
Lunch/​dinner is limited… the burger is very solid while the hummus/​crudités plate is above average for that type of appetizer.
Drinks are good, if expensive. Dirty martini was better executed than most.
Bottom line: decent if you are staying at the hotel.

I generally try to avoid hotel-​based restaurants, but after wandering the neighborhood for a late-​night (12 am Sunday night) dinner, briefly stepping into a pub around the corner, I ended up returning to this place in the lobby of The Standard Hotel where I am staying. And am I glad I did! Super nice host and super cool waitress. Great burger and fries. (Burger is literally 4 ½ inches thick) and oh! so tasty, with or without bacon and choice of Gruyère, Swiss or blue. Outstanding fries and good drink. Very cool but laid-​back atmosphere. Cool hanging garden above a radiant well-​appointed bar. I suspect also a great place for meeting up. Wireless (though I must be such a bore mentioning this…)

As we moved on through the neighborhood, the pressure was on to find a place that neither of us had ever been. Well that may be more my fault than hers. Being a downtown denizen, and daily venue-​muckracker, i’d at least stopped in & all but reviewed every place around here.
Although my crime-​boss partner resisted hoteling so early, I insisted and she finally relented. And lucky we are that she did. Because now we found ourselves walking in the lobby of this delicious easterly outpost of the standard. Into the hotel lobby, we greeted the hostess & asked about the bar. she explained that although the rooftop space was a private-​event only affair, the downstairs bar was ours for the pickin.
So we sauntered through the doors into the open air of this gorgeous Café. Wow. The space is just sumptuous. I know I know, all you jaded new yorkers are so spoiled by grandiosity that you may have missed all the fine details. So let me highlight them. Gorgeous round tables with wood detailing, even along the edges are complimented by these office chairs from the fifties. Only they’re brand new and styled perfectly. The bar itself is fully stocked, clearly by a guru of the spirits. The wall behind the bar is decked out higher by some art pieces that keep the eye busy, and mind reeling. And of course the bartenders are quick to make room for us, offer us menus, and all with such good looks as to make you blush.
Now me & my date were starting to warm up to each other a bit more. She of course went for the IPA on offer & I grabbed a smuttynose porter. Our glasses emptied as our stories continued, why you never take a date to starbucks, what its like to be a grad school professor that looks like a teenager, why a hamster makes such a good mascot, and how to drink heavily at a Unilocal outing. All this while denying any hint of having stalked across Unilocal anytime recently. Sure, sure I thought.
When it comes to day drinking, I have to say this open air bar makes a really perfect spot. Take your date here. She may give you the cheek at the end of the night, but she surely wanted to kiss you.

The Café Standard is a quaint neighborhood bar nearby St. Marks. It’s a nice place to grab drinks, socialize with friends and people watch. This café is more upper scale than the other nearby bars in the St. Marks area as most of them cater to the NYU crowd. Drinks and service were good. However we didn’t order food so I am solely basing this on the ambience, drinks and service.