It’s cozy inside Five Java. There’s no other word for it. It’s like one of those little coffee shops you see on T.V. shows based in New York. Sitting on a bench at a small table, I’m reminded of Central Perk from “Friends.”
The furniture pieces at first glance seem mismatched, but actually work well together: an older styled couch tucked into one corner alcove, another alcove with two different styled recliners. It gives the whole place a casual feel. The decor plus Adele, Sam Smith and other soft pop artists playing in the background gives it a calm vibe.
You could almost miss Five Java. It’s connected to Five Bar on Sixth Street, but there’s nothing marking it as anything but another entrance to its sister restaurant, other than a brown door with two signs above it. One sign advertises sales of the New York Times. The other says you get a dollar off if you came on bike.
Inside, it’s quiet. There are only a few people here at 8:30 on a Monday morning, drinking coffee or juice and typing away on their computers. I spent a little time reading the New York Times on my phone and part of me felt bad. It seemed against the aesthetic of the whole place. I felt like I should have had a hard copy of the paper spread out before me while I sipped on a mug of coffee before leaving with the paper folded and tucked under my arm.
It’s a bit like if Starbucks were less uniform, less crowded and a little more like the idyllic coffee shop Starbucks sometimes tries to be. You could almost forget Five Java was a part of Five Bar if not for the alcohol behind the counter. But the mixing skills must transfer because Five Java’s breakfast drink menu consists of mixed coffee drinks, fresh juice blends and smoothies.
They have the basic coffee house offerings. You can get an espresso, a latte, a cappuccino, a cafe au lait, and more plus fresh juices that blend fruit and vegetable flavors, and a couple of smoothie options. They also have pastries, cookies and muffins in a little display on the counter. If you’re looking for a more filling breakfast, they have that too. Some of their breakfast offerings include a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit, spinach feta wrap, avocado toast or a parfait bowl. For lunch you can grab a chicken biscuit, a BLT with egg white, a chicken salad croissant or a salad.
You place your order at the counter, pay and then take a seat. If you can’t snag one of the couches or comfy chairs, there are two long tables in the middle of the room, or a bench with a few small tables along a wall. It’s a setup that seems designed to invoke conversation. If more than a few people are there, odds are you’ll end up sitting next to somebody you’ve never met.
When I finally left, it was an odd sensation walking across the street to my car. Inside Five Java was so comforting and calming. Stepping out into the daylight and the city street was like waking up to reality after a really good dream.
I was actually a little sad to leave, but class and the real world beckoned. So I left, but I’m already thinking of excuses to come back –– like that story I have to write at some point on Thursday, or maybe that book I’m trying to finish or, most likely, because I just really want to try that spinach wrap.
Five Java is located at 2324 Sixth St. They’re open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
