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Queens is the go-to spot for filling meals and desserts you won’t find in any other borough. The small locally owned dine-ins are an integral part of New York City’s culinary reputation, but the hidden gems among these already impressive establishments are Queens cafes! In this borough, you can enjoy a cup of coffee alongside claw machines or angry bird plushies, while petting pooches or shopping for plants. Next time you’re searching for a unique place to relax and fuel your inner creativity, look no further than our guide to the most creatively themed Queens Cafes!
House of Saturn is the crown jewel of themed Queens cafes in College Point. Astrology is central to the space, its decor, and its menu items. They can create as many smoothies as there are zodiac signs, (Sagittarius is a personal favorite), and if your moon sign isn’t pointing to one of their specialty juices, their Jupiter sandwich or Jasper Avocado Toast are written in your stars for sure. You might think the menu is the best part of House of Saturn, but the decor is just as interesting. The hand-painted stars, astrological murals, and colorful furniture make visitors feel like they’ve walked into one of the tarot card decks on the game table. While you’re waiting for your order, you can play any space-themed board game on the shelf or read your friends’ future with free tarot cards. Is House of Saturn in your future? Signs point to yes.
Château Le Woof is one for the dogs. Literally. This cafe has a dog groomer. This Astoria cafe is home to a dog play area, shopping, and dine-in space for dog owners and dog lovers. The dining section for you and your dog includes treats like Pupper Ice Cream for your canine companion and any choice of pastry from the French-themed patisserie for yourself! Many establishments are pet-friendly but few places encourage and cater to pets the way Château Le Woof does. The cafe also offers organic dog treats, sustainable chew toys, and take-home treats for purchase. Finally, this dog-centered world is about community. Rather than a typical coffee shop full of technology and focus, Château Le Woof is for friends, family, and play.
More of a cat person? You’re next breakfast outing is best spent at Cute Cat Cafe, a warmly lit spot in Ridgewood, Queens with light wood walls and, of course, cats. The cats at Cute Cat Cafe are free for you to meet and pet if you choose, because really, what cat themed cafe would be complete without actual cats? The walls are decorated with funny cat pictures to compliment the cafe’s signature: the cat-themed latte art. The baristas specialize in adorable foam cat faces, friendly sentiments, and colorful shapes that are guaranteed to put a smile on any cat-lover’s face. Cute Cat Cafe is open through lunchtime and if the cats don’t manage to make your day, the treats and cozy setting will! Discover more cat and dog cafes in NYC here!
This Instagram sensation is, from the outside, a small spot on Main Street of Flushing. Inside, M Tea is a house of pink, with floating hot air balloons, diner-like cubicles, and an aura of soft stage lights. M Tea’s specialty, aside from being the only pink wonderland cafe in the city, is freshly brewed tea and milk tea with boba. The cafe’s pink theme doesn’t end at the decor. While M Tea has multiple flavors and colors on its menu, most of its signature fruit teas are pink versions of the originals, like Pink Lychee, Blush Peachy, and Pink Cherry. Don’t forget about M Tea’s desserts! The picture-perfect crepe cakes and pink pastries, like the peach mochi, are what tie M Tea’s pink-themed dining experience together. Here, you can study, have a photoshoot, or simply let the dreamy surroundings lift your mood!
Kunst Coffee Haus is an environmental science student’s dream. The Bayside cafe is all about atmosphere and experience, with plants ranging from potted flowers to a ceiling-high fiddle leaf fig. At first glance, Kunst’s plant-covered tables, with seemingly small eating space, appear as a plant shop. But if you look behind the still-growing fern, you’ll notice a small table and an empty seat with your name on it. The menu has as many flavors as plant types, with a special section of homemade items like ice cream and oatmeal. There are several options for lunch, like different types of toast, bagel pizzas, and crepes! In a bustling city, Kunst should be your first choice of Queens cafes when you need to reconnect with nature and unplug.
Elevenses is New York’s only Lord of the Rings-themed Cafe. Located in Astoria, Queens, Elevenses minimalist design with LOTR memorabilia brings Middle Earth to the city. The earth-toned color scheme, the themed sketches that hang on the walls, and the clock labeled with each of the hobbits’ seven daily meals are subtle nods to the books. Elevenses takes the theme one step further by hosting cafe movie nights, with Lord of The Rings movies at the top of the watchlist. Even the menu items, crafted in-house from scratch, contribute to the adventure. Elevenses prides itself on being environmentally conscious, hosting a series of vegan and vegetarian options, and having its own original pastries, teas, and cakes. It’s the perfect place to re-read one of your favorite fantasy books with a blueberry filled galette, or connect with other LOTR lovers at a social event!
The puzzle game that swept across iPhones everywhere in the early 2000s never left. Angry Birds has a cafe and it’s only in Queens. You can’t miss the theme. Look up, you’ll see scenes from the Angry Birds movie. Look towards the cafe, you’ll see bird-shaped cupcakes and tarts in the color of the game’s characters. Look to the back of the spacious store, and you’ll find numerous plushies of your favorite bird to play with and merchandise from the global phenomenon. This retail cafe has plenty of seating and its explosion of primary colors stays true to the theme. Not only can you eat lunch and dinner at the cafe, but you can also purchase hoodies and T-shirts to wear while you eat! Iswii gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Angry Birds universe with original shop items and cafe specials like Bomb’s Black Tea or an Angry Tea latte.
Hot take: Bees are cute and should be appreciated. No cafe in Queens understands bee appreciation like Woodside’s Bee Cafe. The inside is a haven of natural plants and warm fairy lights. There are classic Queens dishes, like kimchi fries, evening cocktails, and multiple flavors of bubble tea. To those who fear a bee sting, don’t worry, Bee Cafe is still for you! There are no bees inside or even in the cafe’s outdoor Bee Garden. The theme goes as far as the logo and the outdoor space, but the Bee Garden is a perfect place for informal gatherings or a friendly catch-up. Outdoors is a food truck-style serving station and a beautiful array of flowers and vines. Whether you’re kicking back outside or studying inside, Bee Cafe offers you a rare, dual environment of creativity.
Sweet Cats Cafe takes creativity to a new level. If the neon lights and huge assortment of stuffed animals on the shelf don’t draw you in, the claw machines certainly will! This dessert shop offers guests the chance to do more than just choose from dozens of dessert options, the claw machines are an arcade-style chance to win an adorable plushie! There are floats, slushies, and several flavors of Yakult on the menu. Not to mention, the cafe specializes in cake design. It’s a hot spot for birthday orders and cake lovers who want a meticulously handcrafted, colorful design. Sweet Cats is also opening a new location in Manhattan in the future, so we can only imagine what they’ll plan for their new space.
Arya is a small corner of Tibet on Queens Boulevard. The open-space concept and tall windows of this cultural cafe make it hard to miss, but the unofficial theme is emphasized most at the back of the room, where Arya, with Tibetan Arts Home, sells home goods, jewelry, clothing, and gemstones. The shop is a stunning array of Tibetan-artifact-inspired lamps and utilities as well as one-of-a-kind fashions. In the sit-down section of the cafe, you can enjoy multiple flavors of smoothies, lassis, coffee, and teas.
Sweetleaf Coffee Roasters is a place of music and coffee. The hand-painted mural at the center of the cafe features prominent musical artists and Long Island City pride. The walls of one seating area are covered in black and white artist portraits behind hanging frames of golden musical records. The shop currently has multiple locations and is known for their original coffee packets like their Cold Brew and Rocket Fuel. Sweetleaf makes their own coffee and what sets them apart is their mission to experiment and refine coffee beans their own way, with their own flavors. The dynamic and colorful ensign of the space is made to reflect their drinks and remind New Yorkers that coffee and music are central to the city’s identity. Sweetleaf’s old-world charm and dedication to punk, rock, jazz, and more genres of sound culminate into a multi-sensory experience where taste in music and taste in coffee are an equal priority.
Next, check out 15 Iconic New York Restaurants, Bars, and Cafes
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