Botani Cafe: Coffee Among Tropical Plants in Bed-Stuy

Botani Cafe is a cafe at 173 Lewis Ave in Brooklyn. Baristas drive the menu here, regularly introducing house-developed drinks alongside treats like a chocolate-stuffed, beignet-style doughnut. While it is a friendly neighborhood pocket, the indoor environment tends to feel more like a co-working hub than a conversational lounge.

Check hours before you go.

Is it worth the trip?

Yes — Botani Cafe is a cafe at 173 Lewis Ave in Brooklyn, rated 4.3 out of 5 across Google reviews. Baristas drive the menu here, regularly introducing house-developed drinks alongside treats like a chocolate-stuffed, beignet-style doughnut. While it is a friendly neighborhood pocket, the indoor environment tends to feel more like a co-working hub than a conversational lounge. Local goods like candles, books, and tumblers line the shelves, and warmer months open up outdoor seating. The schedule is 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM every day, so the visit fits an ordinary afternoon rather than a planned night out. Seating is usually the variable, not the coffee: counter seats turn over fastest, and a table by the window can be worth waiting two minutes for. Ask whether the beans on the board rotate weekly, and whether a smaller size is available if the default cup is larger than you want. It sits at 173 Lewis Ave in Brooklyn, close enough to fold into an ordinary walk rather than a dedicated trip.


Quick facts

Botani Cafe is a cafe at 173 Lewis Ave, Brooklyn, New York. Hours: Mon: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Tue: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Wed: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Thu: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sat: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM. The schedule does not change across the week, so a mid-afternoon visit and an evening one run the same way. Phone: +13472900067. Rating: 4.3 out of 5 across Google reviews. Website: http://andbotani.com/.


What do regulars say?

Regulars put Botani Cafe at 4.3 out of 5 across Google reviews, and the comments repeat the same handful of details rather than a long list of complaints. You will likely share the floor with a few local dogs, who are frequent visitors. Reviews describe a place that rewards a simple plan rather than a long one. Seating is usually the variable, not the coffee: counter seats turn over fastest, and a table by the window can be worth waiting two minutes for. Ask whether the beans on the board rotate weekly, and whether a smaller size is available if the default cup is larger than you want. It sits at 173 Lewis Ave in Brooklyn, close enough to fold into an ordinary walk rather than a dedicated trip. Hours run Mon: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Tue: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Wed: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Thu: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sat: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, so the two questions worth settling before you travel are the day and the time.

How does ordering work?

Ordering is straightforward once you know the pattern: counter service and counter service. You queue, you say what you want, you pay, and the food arrives at the counter or the table depending on the setup, which is why the door-to-table time stays short even at the lunch rush. If you are with a group, send one person to hold a table while another orders — the queue moves faster than the kitchen does. Seating is usually the variable, not the coffee: counter seats turn over fastest, and a table by the window can be worth waiting two minutes for. Ask whether the beans on the board rotate weekly, and whether a smaller size is available if the default cup is larger than you want. It sits at 173 Lewis Ave in Brooklyn, close enough to fold into an ordinary walk rather than a dedicated trip. Hours run Mon: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Tue: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Wed: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Thu: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sat: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, so the two questions worth settling before you travel are the day and the time.

When should I go?

Botani Cafe keeps one set of hours: Mon: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Tue: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Wed: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Thu: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sat: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Local goods like candles, books, and tumblers line the shelves, and warmer months open up outdoor seating. You will likely share the floor with a few local dogs, who are frequent visitors. A weekday visit is usually calmer than a weekend one, and the first hour after opening is the safest bet if you want the room to yourself. Seating is usually the variable, not the coffee: counter seats turn over fastest, and a table by the window can be worth waiting two minutes for. Ask whether the beans on the board rotate weekly, and whether a smaller size is available if the default cup is larger than you want. It sits at 173 Lewis Ave in Brooklyn, close enough to fold into an ordinary walk rather than a dedicated trip.


Before you go

Is Botani Cafe cash only? No — card payment is accepted, though it is worth checking before a large order.
Do I need a reservation? No — walk in and order at the counter.
Can I take the food to go? Ask at the counter; takeout is not guaranteed at every hour.
What are the hours? Mon: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Tue: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Wed: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Thu: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sat: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Where exactly is it? 173 Lewis Ave, Brooklyn, New York, reachable at +13472900067.
What should I order first? Start with the item the counter is known for and keep the first order short.
Is it good for a group? Yes, though the room is small, so a group should arrive early or split up.
What if the line is long? The queue moves quickly because the order is taken at the counter.
Can I call ahead? Yes — +13472900067 is the number the counter answers, and a quick call settles whether today's hours differ from the posted ones.
Is the schedule the same every day? Yes — one set of hours covers the whole week.
What should I check before leaving? Two things: the day's hours and the payment setup. Both are listed above, and both are the usual reasons a trip gets wasted.
Is it worth a special trip? If you are already in Brooklyn, yes; the visit is short by design, so it fits into a larger afternoon rather than replacing it.


More New York pages

Five more New York pages worth opening next: Specialty Lattes and Fresh Muffins at a Brooklyn Cafe; Bright Brooklyn Cafe Serving Coffee with Airy Seating; Brooklyn Coffee with Vanilla Lattes and a Thrift Shop; Chinese Takeout with Singapore Noodles on Franklin Avenue; Hong Kong Cafe Noodles Meet Baked Curry in Brooklyn. Each one is a single place rather than a list, so you can check the hours, the payment setup and the walk from the train before you leave the house. Read the closest match first, keep a second as backup, and treat the rest as a shortlist for a day when the first room is full. Each is a single place you can check before you leave.

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