When I lived in Manhattan, Joe the Art of Coffee was my coffee shop of choice. And then I moved to Brooklyn and spent many months trying to find an equivalent in my new neighborhood; every place I visited was good, but not perfect – either too crowded, too loud, too quiet, or too distractingly decorated to provide the optimal environment for writing.

It was with great joy that my husband and I stumbled on Red Horse Cafe. The decorations are chill and modern without being chilly or unwelcoming; seating options include armchairs, couches, window-mounted bars with stools, and traditional cafe tables. The baristas play music at just the right volume that is cool without being obnoxious. There’s free wireless, and you can sit there for hours without anyone bothering you or without feeling like you’re hogging the space.

The coffee, of course, is superb, with every traditional espresso option as well as a myriad of teas, juices, and even wine and beer. There’s also an assortment of tasty pastries and other edibles. Budget conscious? On weekend nights from 7-10pm, selected beers and wines are two-for-one. And their hours are extensive enough to satisfy anyone’s coffee consumption schedule. It’s the kind of neighborhood cafe you’ve only dreamed about – until now.

Red Horse Cafe
497 6th Ave, Brooklyn (at 12th Street)
F/R/M to 9th Street/4th Ave
718.499.4973

Monday – Thursday: 7:00am – 10:00pm
Friday: 7:00am – midnight
Saturday: 8:00am – midnight
Sunday: 8:00am-10:00pm

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Hankering for walnut brownies, overstuffed ciabatta sandwiches, homemade granola, piping-hot peanut butter cookies without all the yuppified Park Slope attitude? My home base for long conversations and tasty fare has been Naidre’s, a sweet cafe that escapes the stroller-mom madness of bustling Park Slope.

Inside resembles your breakfast nook replete with cookie jars, coffee pots, handwritten signs and the latest issues of Seed, Business Week, Entrepreneur, O and Time Out New York, spread out amongst the tables. Service is quick and incredibly friendly and you can tell a little bit of love goes into everything they make. From fresh tuna melts on multi-grain bread to the cinnamon raisin organic home-made oatmeal that sells out in a flash, to a bevy of healthy and decadent sandwiches, the options are bountiful and the vibe decidedly laid-back.

If the sumptuous selection of baked goods (some vegan, sugar and gluten-free but all are divine) don’t lure you back, check out their no cell phone policy – imagine a quiet lunch without someone barking into their phone. There is no table turn policy here and I’ve spent afternoon hours munching on energy cookies (think granola, cranberries and all the healthy bits rolled into a fortifying treat) and sipping on raspberry ice-teas. The coffee is always strong and fresh, and tea selections delightful (black current, mango, english breakfast, and a variety of green teas).

So head in with the breakfast crowd for fresh food on the go or kick back in the later hours at this Park Slope down-home cafe.

Two Locations:
Park Slope
384 7th Avenue
(Between 11th & 12th Streets)
Brooklyn 11215
TEL 718-965-7585
EMAIL naidre@naidres.com
Subway: F to Seventh Avenue

Carroll Gardens
502 Henry Street
(corner of Sackett)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
TEL 718-596-3400
EMAIL naidre@naidres.com

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