DTUT would be perfect if they only had wifi. Otherwise, the cafe meets all my elements of a "favorite cafe". Cute lighting, eclectic decorations, solid coffee drinks, and comfy couches. Lines are never long and they have very friendly baristas. One downside is that the pastries/food selection is limited.
Review Source:Being new to NYC means finding my favorite cafés and coffee shops. I'm glad to say that this will be my first review.
UT-DT is really an eclectic place, it reminds me a lot of the cafés back in San Diego: spacious and airy. There are some great feats from this UES cafe. A lot of seating! Couches, comfy chairs, benches and they're all different. Lots of coffee tables both long and lean v short and squarish. The sound is good, the music is always changing, not too loud but not to quiet. The lighting is dim but not dark. The walls are brick with painted canvas all around.
And now to get to the good stuff: the coffee!
The house drip is good. For $2 you can't go wrong, make it for here and it comes in a clay cup with UT-DT etched in. But if you want to switch it up, you can get juice and BEER here! Or smart water or even coconut water. This place really is great. However...
The cons: no wifi (wtf... Isn't this NYC!?) and there are FLYS everywhere, on the coffee table, on my couch, next to my jacket ... :/
So it's 4 stars because of the insects and lack of the World Wide Web. In this order: Blue Bottle, Joes, UT-DT!
I kinda liked this place. This place is located close to where my sister lives, so I thought I would stop by when I was visiting her.
First off, love the location. There is a park across the street, so when the street isn't full of traffic, you get a nice view of lots of trees.
The decor inside is nice, kinda antique like. The chairs aren't that comfortable, but they look cool. I felt a little like I was in my grandma's house.
Most importantly, the cappuccino is really good. I really enjoyed drinking my cappuccino feeling like I was back in time with my view of the park in front of me.
Urban, unique, original, comfortable and great service. If you are in the UES , definitely make it a point to stop here and enjoy a cup of coffee and a pastry. Bring a book and relax in any of their wonderfully comfortable couches. Â Or sit and write a paper, catch up on homework or simply meet friends for a casual chat.
The place gets five stars on the condition that they start offering Wi Fi soon.
The service is warm and homey and you always feel like you are meeting good friends. Awesome vibe for this much needed upper east side cafe.
Come on down ! make it happen!
such a cute & cozy little find while coming back from the queens 10k! i decided an iced latte was in order and pulled out my trusty yelp app, since i'm never up in this area so far east. i expected a little mom & pop coffee shop, but surprised to see a very spacious set-up, complete with beautiful antiquey looking sofas, and armchairs. the tables are old wooden doors, and there are also bar stools if you want to sit at an actual table to do some work. two girls wee the baristas and they couldn't have been sweeter. my latte was smooth and strong, but also refreshing. i sat back in one of the armchairs, heard faint tunes of the head& the heart playing, and i was in bliss. this would be a perfect place to just relax on a cold, rainy day, to study, or just catch up with a group of friends over coffee.
Review Source:whoa, didn't expect this place to reopen. used to frequent the old one when i was in high school. back then it was a dimly lit place to watch awkward private school kids have their first kiss. well, the new dtut is a less-loungey, more sophisticated, albeit hipster coffee shop now. kinda reminds me of rohrs(RIP), but without the draconian policies and criminalizing of loyal customers. wish this place well. i will be back.
Review Source:I gave "DTUT" five stars, so I'll give "DT-UT" the same (oh you crazy hyphen). I'm not going to re-hash my review, but I'll give this update - I was upset with DT-UT's iced tea when they first opened, but no longer. I tried their iced Earl Grey tea, and man was it good.
Classic coffee-house without pretense, WITH A LIQUOR LICENSE. Open long hours. What's not to love.
They're back! A great (re)addition to the neighborhood.
Facebook page is up to date. Yelp will hopefully catch up (I put in a request).
<a href="/redir?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpages%2FDTUT%2F611538915526498&s=bbfdc9bc9c69a1561c9e661a16a247ce3427e93a0e9ce0025eefb0fd0a37c0f3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com…</a>
Good news DTUT fans...it's coming back soon to a neighborhood near ME! Â In April 2013 they said they would be opening in early May. Â New location further UT at 1744 2nd Ave., at 91st St. Â I'm guessing they got a good deal on the rent because of the subway construction out the door. Â I didn't know of its earlier incarnation all the way downtown at 85th St (who goes south of 86th St? Â That's wack)
Review Source:I've been going here on and off for about ten years now. Â It gets 4 stars just for nostalgia. Â This was a like a weekly hang out for my high school buddies and me after an awful day at school just a few blocks away. Â I don't even think I was even drinking any sort of coffee back then, but I have fond memories of nearly burning down the place with the do-it-yourself smores.
The main difference between now and ten years ago is the fact that it is exponentially harder to get seats for a decent sized group of friends, and about 80% of the current customers are on their laptops. Â It's kind of like walking into a twilight zone because back in the day you'd be lucky to see maybe 2 or 3 people on laptops just because they weren't so prevalent. Â I don't really remember seeing all these signs with rules back in the day, but I guess they are they to curtail people from taking up space while on their laptops for 9 hours.
It's still nice to drop by if I'm in the area with a friend or two and get a nice little snack or drink. Â I would have to say my experiences at Espresso Royale up in Boston has made me realize there is more to life than DT-UT.
UPDATE: CLOSED. Â :(
Love this place and can find very little wrong with it. I used to go here often whenever I visited New York and immediately fell in love with the smores. Now that I live out here, I take all the out of towners so they can sample the smores! I love that there's a diverse crowd and plenty of options for food and drink. Also lots of varied seating. The worst part of course is trying to find a seat!
I just had a private party here and DT-UT was great to work with. I was told there was a $10 per person minimum but when we got there they weren't strict about this at all, and we spent considerably less than that amount. They were great about reserving the space for us and responding to our requests. Can't think of a better place for a group to hang out.
And Free Wifi! That's enough in itself to make me the happiest person alive =)
The Upper East Side: Not Just for Frat Guys Anymore
Back in the days of yore, when I first moved to New York, DTUT was much, much different. It was exceptionally darker, exceptionally more tapestry-clad and exceptionally more pseudo-hip. Let's put it this way: They used to have an open mic night.
Needless to say, it's much better now.
Though sometimes overcrowded (mostly due to parties in the back), this is simply one of the best places on the UES to get some work done. Free wifi, ample seating (most of the time) and good food. They've got great soups and their sandwiches are from Eli's which, let's face it, is just about as close as the Upper East Side is getting to Whole Foods.
They also tend to play great music. A lot of people don't care about this, but I'm a music dork... so I'm pointing it out.
As far as coffee goes, this place will likely make you an addict. Your first mug (and by 'mug,' I mean 'trough') of coffee is two bucks. Your refills are a dollar. That's right; a dollar. I suppose you could say that "all you need is a dollar and some cream."
I'm trademarking that.
I should mention, however, that if you happen to show up during "storytime" without an iPod, you might suddenly be afficted with the desire to strangle someone. Most likely, a mother who has just outfitted her kid with a Prada bib and size 1.5 Nike Shox.
All in all... I highly recommend this place to you... unless of course you're the person who ends up taking my seat.
Hmm... Neat, quaint place in the city..but left a lot to be desired.
I came here to be a geek and meet my Engineering pals to study---not knowing that the lack of lighting in this place makes it virtually impossible to use be able to see what one is writing let alone utilize a calculator.
Good place to meet for a cup of coffee and chat- however read? No. Most def No. Dark, loud, this place is pretty much for socializing.
Cute and quaint- I tried to get into this place b/c many of my friends rave about it? But wasn't feeling it...Bummer. Have yet to find the 'perfect' cafe in NYC. Weird right?
"How you doin'?" I asked the girl on the couch as I flashed her a slightly crooked smile.
"Great" she smiled back, "but, I am waiting for someone"
"Oh, sorry.. but can't blame a guy for trying... you know".
She nods understandingly. Her answer allows me to avoid elaborating that I merely wanted to find an empty seat. You see desperate times call for drastic measures... and finding a seat at DT-UT is no ordinary task! You have to use all your wiles and charms, and be thankful that the Central Perk-esque aura allows you to get away with it!
I must confess that I do like DT-UT despite everything. The giggling toddlers in the back room, the lounging crowds, the "pay-to-remain seated" signs (one's gotta earn a living, you know), lack of any outstanding desserts (dry cupcakes) etcetera
They have a good cappuccino, a wide selection of coffee drinks, sandwiches and soups, a comfy curtained nook, free wi-fi, scrabble boards, internet access, beer and wine, etc. You can sit and read, write, do the crossword, chat with friends, surf the web, flirt or just chill... but please don't come here to study for hours n hours (that's only allowed at Think Coffee!)
In a word, Cute.
This is possibly one of the cutest coffee shops I've been to!
They have a great selection of desserts. A much better variety, and quality than found at many coffee shops. (They also serve booze!)
If i lived in the neighborhood, I could see myself becoming a regular.
A great spot for a quick snack break, or a lingering drink.
Beware of afterschool birthday parties in the back room! Â Luckily I scored a spot in the cozy curtained nook and had already gotten two hours of work done before the children arrived en masse with their little girly giggly squeals of delight and excitement. Â The adult party hosts were just getting things started as I packed up my things, bundled up and made my escape into the wintry, blistery, snowing-in-March cold. Â Phew! Â Close call! Â Not that I have anything against kids - I actually love them, but not when I'm trying to get work done.
DT-UT is an old staple when it comes to needing a chill-out spot in the UES. Â If I lived closer, I'd probably be here quite a lot. Â I love the free wi-fi and I don't mind buying something every hour. Â Electricity ain't free, folks, and they gotta pay their bills too. Â I also give them bonus points for sometimes serving Italian wedding soup that ain't half bad.
My only gripe is that they no longer have a "dt" (downtown) counterpart. Â If they did, then it wouldn't be such a hassle for me to experience the cozy, chill goodness of DT-UT. Â (And they'd be fulfilling the first half of their name.)
I practically lived at DT-UT when I first moved to NYC. I was unemployed and needed an escape from my living situation which happened to be a 5 minute walk from this place. I'd spend hours here every day, reading, doing crossword puzzles, and studying for the GRE. I became addicted to their quiches and flavored coffees. Not to mention the wonderful pastries they offer - especially the ginormous rice krispy treats!
It can be hard to find a spot to plant yourself, as this place is very popular and therefore often packed (particularly on weekends). Â I can't speak to the wi-fi situation because I haven't been since I got a laptop. It's a nice spot to spend a few hours alone or chatting with a friend.
Despite the free wi-fi (why don't they all do that?!), and very cute mix-and-match furniture, DT-UT just doesn't do it for me. Cupcake was ok though on the dry side.
But, what's with the attitude with the staff? I have given the girls behind the counter the benefit of the doubt for their attitude and rudeness. The first time I thought perhaps it was the end of their shift and they were tired. The second time I thought perhaps it was PMS. The third time I thought perhaps someone had spilled hot coffee on them so they were cranky for a reason. The fourth time I thought perhaps they are both quitting smoking and in the irritable phase. The fifth time I had enough and decided there's no reason for me to go back.
Little overpriced. Rudeness behind the counters. Seriously who do you think you are? some high class coffee shop? I don't see known celebrities coming in here do you? How about bringing down the attitude a notch to serve your fellow local people hmmmm??
Seems more trendy and pretentious than a good quality coffee shop.
Alright so you get free wireless and maybe I came on a wrong day of Sunday since there was just no way to sit down to eat my overpriced sandwich and enjoy my overpriced americano which btw was not the best. I certainly have had better. Â When I told them I needed to take it to go, the people showed me annoyance as if I was being too demanding.
Nice atmosphere, cozy and chill. but the attitude just doesn't do it for me.
I'm not a coffee drinker but this place makes me want to drink coffee. I could certainly pig out on one of their heavenly brownies!! Oh... and you can't forget their rice crispy treats -- they have anything and everything that you can think of in that department and they're huge!!
Enough said.
Romance Factor: Â 2
Hobnob Potential: Â 2
Destination Rating: Â 1
Strong suggestions: Bring along your laptop - FREE WIFI!! No need to tap into a strange neighbor's signal from downstairs :o)
One word: S'mores! Â Another three words: Rice Krispy Treats! Â I'm a happy girl.
Everyone else has pretty much said it all in terms of the pros and cons of this place. I'm here for the free wifi, myself.
For Writers: Â This can be a good place to come for group writing, but it gets crowded quickly and there's never any assurance you can find a comfortable place to sit. Â the seating is erratic - old couches to a huge table with plugs nearby. Â But, if you're in the area, anyway, it can't hurt to try and snag a table if you can.
Four stars - I wish they had a place like this in SF. Â The free wireless internet is great - and they let you plug in. Â They have pretty good coffee, but their large selection of pastries are mediocre. Â The H&H bagels are wonderful, of course. Â They have a nice selection of sandwiches from ELI's and various soup options. Â I love that no one really bothers you here - you can sit here and work on your computer, study, chat w/ a friend, or watch the World Cup and NO ONE bothers you. Â They have an hour long story hour for kids on Tuesday and Wednesday from 11-12 pm - so expect less tables during these times. Â It can get pretty crowded, but you'll eventually get a seat. Â They also advertise happy hours - although I've never been here at night. Â They have great hours as well.
Review Source:I spent two feverish days studying for a ridiculous exam at DT/UT (I got an A!) and during that time I grew to love this place. Â Is the rumor true that Central Perk took its inspiration from DT/UT? Â I don't know, but it has definitely become part of the lore that builds around TV shows based in New York city. Â The coffee drinks are great and so are the sandwiches. Â Next time I go back, I intend on ordering some sort of s'mores. Â The only thing wrong with DT/UT is that on certain afternoons they clear out the back room for story-telling hour. Â And I don't like being around so many children and their pushy New Yorker parents when I need to study!
Review Source:Fun times. Â Good beer and wine, GREAT coffee and pastries. Â Perfect for a mixed crowd of people with different definitions of "going out." Â My favorite part is the sign that says that the cashier won't take your order if you are on your cell phone. Â :) Â They aren't rude about it, just honest.
Review Source:Great place for a cup of coffee, if you go at the right time. Â And even if you don't go during the right time, it still can be fun. Â Tuesday and Wednesday mornings offer "Story Time". Â About 30 toddlers and their parents/nannies take over the place amidst a stroller traffic jam. Â The only place in town you will hear people discuss the detriments of unilateralism with a "Wheels on the Bus" chorus rising in the background. Â
Free Wi-fi, although the connection is inconsistent. Â Friendly staff, especially Charlie from Toledo.
Really cute loungey and trendy coffee house on the UES. It is pretty popular for people on dates with other people...or their laptops. The prices are right and the staff is friendly- good luck getting a seat though as it gets pretty crowded. I would get their early to set up camp and plan on staying for a while. Beware of all the under agers there as it's a hot spot to go when you don't have the proper ID...heck, that's where we used to go in HS.
Review Source:Waaay cute just wish it wasn't so far from where I live. I made the trek to the UES to be pleasantly surprised by how cute this place is! Great thrift store couches line the perimeter of the back wall and there's a cute little nook where you and 8 friends can hang out on your own. My friend tells me there are these "pick-up" books where you can write something about yourself and people can peruse and contact you if they're interested. Then you meet at DT-UT face to face! I thought that was pretty cool. I couldn't find the book(s) though... probably someone else had it.
The rice krispie treats are tasty though I have to say a little pricey. The angel food cake was delicious. I'll definitely come back here for a s'more.
Looking for a late night desert and a comfortable sofa?  Well you need to look out for DT.UT (downtown/uptown cafe lounge)  its the closest thing that I have  found in NY to Central Perk. - even has live music sometimes.  The cakes are incredible (rice crispie treats as big as your waist) and smores galores...coffees are laced with whatever takes your fancy and check out the hot apple cider with caramel....fantastic!
Review Source:A real life "Central Perk," this cool and unusual Cafe fills a need for adults (pick-up joint) as well as kids (great sweets in a unique environment). Â The space features mix-and-match vintage sofas and armchairs that people can hang out in all day -- if you get there early enough to actually snag one. Â Go for the incredible desserts include the Tootsie Roll Rice Crispie Bar, fondues or s'mores.
Review Source: