Cafe Select
SoHo-Little Italy-Hudson Square, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Cafe Select is worth booking for flexible Soho plans, especially breakfast, lunch, or a casual late stop when convenience matters more than ceremony. Daytime is the stronger use case; for a more formal dinner, compare it with Balthazar or Crosby Bar & Restaurant before choosing.
About Cafe Select
Cafe Select in New York City keeps long daily hours and has a casual dress code. The schedule starts at 8 AM every day and runs late, with closing at 1 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday, and 2 AM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Without specific details on price, cuisine, menu format, reservation policy, seating count, chef information, or awards, avoid building the plan around assumptions. Treat Cafe Select as a casual New York City option whose strongest planning value is its broad operating schedule.
Daytime and late-night planning depend on the hours
The hours make Cafe Select useful to consider across a wide span of the day: 8 AM–1 AM on Monday through Wednesday, 8 AM–2 AM on Thursday through Saturday, and 8 AM–1 AM on Sunday. Those hours are the detail to use when deciding whether it fits a plan.
Specific dishes, drinks, cuisine, lunch service, dinner format, takeout, delivery, dietary accommodations, or a special-occasion positioning are not available. Keep the expectation simple and practical rather than assuming a particular style of meal.
Use it when New York City logistics matter more than other details
The useful comparison is not whether Cafe Select is the strongest restaurant in New York City, but whether its hours and casual dress code fit the plan better than other options. If you are comparing venues, Balthazar, Crosby Bar & Restaurant, Lucky's Soho, 19 Cleveland, and Ketchy Shuby are other named places to consider, depending on the mood and practical needs of the outing.
Hours: Monday 8 AM–1 AM; Tuesday 8 AM–1 AM; Wednesday 8 AM–1 AM; Thursday 8 AM–2 AM; Friday 8 AM–2 AM; Saturday 8 AM–2 AM; Sunday 8 AM–1 AM. Dress: casual. Budget: Not specified. Good for: plans where late hours and a casual dress code are priorities. Skip for: diners who need details on cuisine, menu, pricing, reservations, awards, or special service features before choosing a venue.
Planning details
- Location
- 212 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
- Website
- cafeselectnyc.com
- Phone
- +12129259322
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Cafe Select reads like a SoHo study in architecture-first hospitality. It occupies mid-19th-century cast-iron stock and leans into the neighbourhood’s street-level logic: light, materials and proportion matter as much as the menu. The place channels a classic European café — legible indoor-outdoor thresholds, democratic seating and a straightforward, unpretentious manner — while retaining a charming, historic downtown sensibility. If you come for atmosphere, you notice the conversation between the dining room and the street: gallery foot traffic, cast-iron facades and a layout that privileges seeing and being seen in equal measure.
Best For
This is a daytime-minded SoHo café that fits naturally into the neighbourhood’s gallery circuit. It’s well suited to brunch and lunch crowds, casual hangouts with friends, and solo visits when you want to be part of the street-level scene. The format encourages shared moments and lingering at a table, which also makes it comfortable for small group dining. The menu’s European café and alpine classics — from Croque Monsieur to fondue and raclette — pair neatly with the space’s relaxed, conversational energy and its terrace-style relationship to the sidewalk.
Ordering Tips
Menu highlights lean toward classic, shareable European preparations: Croque Monsieur is an obvious single-order choice for a focused bite, while fondue and raclette read as communal plates meant for sharing across the table. For a lighter daytime visit, opt for a Croque or rösti-centered plate; if you’re with friends, consider the raclette or fondue to make the meal a communal experience that mirrors the café’s democratic seating. The dining room’s indoor-outdoor threshold makes a table by the entrance appealing for people-watching and gallery traffic.
Venue details
Ambiance
Homey and scene-y with wood floors, festive icicle lights on the ceiling, cozy Swiss chalet vibe in the back, and trendy European atmosphere.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Croque Monsieur
- Rösti Norwegian
- Fondue
- Raclette
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 212 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
Try Balthazar when the group wants a classic brasserie format and a more energetic dinner room. Pick Crosby Bar & Restaurant when polish and hotel-level comfort matter more than casual Soho flexibility.
Restaurant context
How Cafe Select compares in Soho
Crosby Bar & Restaurant is the better fit when the group wants a more polished hotel-adjacent room and is comfortable with a more composed experience. Cafe Select is the easier everyday choice: less about occasion dining, more about solving a Soho plan without overbuilding the night.
Balthazar is the more obvious brasserie pick, especially for diners who want the classic French brasserie frame and a bigger-room energy. Cafe Select makes more sense when booking friction, timing flexibility, and casual repeat use matter more than a grander dining room.
Lucky's Soho, 19 Cleveland, and Ketchy Shuby are the cross-shop set when the goal is a more specific dinner mood. Choose Cafe Select for the easiest, most flexible plan; choose one of those if the meal itself needs to carry the evening.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Cafe Select guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Cafe Select
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe Select | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Crosby Bar & Restaurant | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Lucky's Soho | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Balthazar | New York City | Brasserie, French Brasserie | 2026 Eater NY 38 Best Restaurants in New York City · #22Star Wine Lists 20262026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #622025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #7482024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #6592023 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2004 World's 50 Best Restaurants · #40 |
| 19 Cleveland | New York City | , | No published awards |
| Ketchy Shuby | New York City | , | No published awards |
How Cafe Select New York City compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to Cafe Select?
Cafe Select has a casual dress code. Keep the plan relaxed rather than formal.
How far ahead should I book Cafe Select?
Booking policy is not specified. The hours are: Cafe Select is open 8 AM–1 AM Monday through Wednesday and Sunday, and 8 AM–2 AM Thursday through Saturday.
What is Cafe Select known for?
Cafe Select is a New York City venue with long daily hours and a casual dress code. Specific cuisine, menu, price, awards, and service details are not available.
Where is Cafe Select located?
Cafe Select is located in New York City.
