I hate when people say this bc it’s so over used...but this is literally the epitome of a “hidden gem” It’s exactly what you’re looking for. Can’t believe I’ve passed this countless times. Quaint and Quiet (until I walked in) but it’s such a vibe. if it’s for you, you immediately feel you got it right upon entry.Smell of coffee affirms the taste. The options are limitless they have a limited edition menu that is worded perfectly. The bubble tea was tasty. I like places that make you feel comfortable to ask questions if you’re wanting to extend your palate. They have a back yard and front outdoor seating area which looks cool to meet up and potentially talk more comfortably.Parking is plentiful. They also had a cool community board of events that was cool to me. Oh yea they stay open mad late too.Just go.

They make some great bubble tea and chicken salad sandwiches. Havent tried anything else but Im sure its on par with what I normally get. I love the pleasant aroma outside whenever I walk pass the shop

Very nice cafe with cool board games and delicious bubble tea.

Ive stopped by Intrinsic many times when Ive traveled to Newark and Im never disappointed! Their egg, cheese, and spinach croissant is delicious and so is their bubble tea. The atmosphere is cozy and the decorations are always fun to see. This time my friends and I ate in the patio area out back which was very comfortable as well. I highly recommend Intrinsic Café and look forward to the next time Im in the area!

Super cute cafe! Ive had this on my list for a while and Im glad I spotted this. The building itself looks like a typical brick apartment, so if I were just passing by, Id probably miss it. Loved the atmosphere and will probably visit more often to get some college homework done.

What a unique lil cafe, full of the college vibe and vibrant atmosphere. Not to forget the unique blends of cocoas and teas, that just made me love Intrinsic so much more. Many unique flavors of bubble teas and coffees. I always ask for flavor recommendations or come up with my own twist. Friendly service, always a smiling face and clean quite relaxing atmosphere. Bonus if its nice out, relax in the courtyard!

Super cute place. Egg on croissant is so tasty, and theres a bunch of bubble tea flavors to choose from.

A surprising gem on an unexpected street. Beautiful interior and indoor patio. Tea and coffee are not overpriced, and the food looked solid.

Because of the pandemic, many small businesses are considering their next steps. When the opportunity presents itself, I try to support them any way I can. I stumbled upon Intrinsic Café in Newark, NJ, and I was so happy I did!Their front patio and open backyard space are cozy and inviting, great place to kick back and sip/eat your troubles away. They are accommodating in every aspect for this day in age: food selection, outdoor space, and service. These are fine qualities to possess in any business, even more so for a gem like this.Take some time to meet Wanny and Claude-Alix, the owner and manager respectively, of Intrinsic Cafe. They were wonderful, patient and always happy to see a friendly face. Thank you both for a wonderful first visit experience and I look forward to going back!Don’t forget to support small local businesses!

Its a really cute place. The egg on croissant is delicious, and there are a variety of bubble tea types to select from. I adore this business! The boba and cuisine are both fantastic!

Love this place so much! The Boba and food are delicious!

The nostalgia! I used to come here 2-3 x’s a week in undergrad at Rutgers Newark. Really cute spot. Never disappoints. Taro Almond bubble tea 😍 >

As a student this is a perfect place to study, the atmosphere is great, snacks/food is amazing. Outlets everywhere so you can always charge your appliances. It may get a little noising from making food or people talking but if you are not easily distracted, you wouldnt mind. I come here everyday after class. I have become a regular. Oh did I mention you can get rewards up to 20% off your order or a free bubble tea. :)

Very satisfied with there service and product delivery. Good coffee

Very chill place! Stop by to grab a quick snack or a pick me up. They offer great coffee, and teas. I have yet to try their bubble tea-but it seems to be popular. I go there to get some work done on my laptop. Definitely a college student hang but dont feel bad because you graduated 10+ years ago and you just happen to live close to Rutgers and NJIT- theyll make you feel like family. There is one staff member who remembers what you like, cant get that at Starbucks. They have seating outdoor in front and the back if you want a bit more privacy. Grateful that they are open during the pandemic because so many other small businesses are still closed.

Excellent service, very neat and cool place to hang out. Bubble tea its really good and the also have pastry and food.

If youre not looking where you are going you will miss out on this Cute little cafe...

Very pretty little cafe, bubble tea and cookies were awesome! We did take out but I would love to sit in and absorb the vibes someday

This place has a super cute aesthetic and the drinks are amazing!

Delicious bubble tea and pastries! Great deals, comfortable small environment, wonderful customer service and during non-pandemic times even board games to play with! They also have an outside area to sit and enjoy your order.

Pure amazing. It has delicious food and the bubble tea (boba tea) is fantastic. It also has games to play at the table area.

Bought the strawberry smoothie with boba but all my friends bought the tea. This was my first time trying boba and I really liked the smoothie. However, I didnt like the taste of the boba. Maybe it was just the flavor! Overall, great experience. If I lived nearby, I would go back again. everything was excellent

Amazing and very reasonable. We drove like 26 mins just to have some boba tea and it was worth every minute. Its clean and the staff was very polite and helpful with suggestions. A plus point is that its open late.

Delicious cup of coffee.

A quaint and friendly cafe. Warm and inviting staff with a healthy amount of banter. Very good Honeydew Mousse as well. Well priced with a special offers by the day. Theres also a cute garden in the back with a healthy amount of plantlife.

Amazing Bubble Tea 😍😍😍

The place is so peaceful and cute. Its a tiny little shop but its full of a bunch of love 💘. My friends took me there today. Me and my big guitar case had so much fun. Im definitely gonna go back!

I really like this place. Their coffees are really good, baristas are friendly, place looks cozy & lovely too! My only problem is their SLOW service! It is probably okay when you come there to chill, but for people taking a break from work to grab a cuppa, 20 minutes is a really long time! It would be 5 stars if the baristas were considerate of this.

Very cute coffee shop with an excellent cozy vibe. The snacks are great too

I had a hot white chocolate and it tastes amazing. I will definitely come back again.

I had never heard of bubble tea before, and was brought here by a friend. I let him do the ordering, because frankly Im not even sure what is what. I had the red bean bubble tea with coffee jelly bubbles. It was oh so so so good. The place is so sweetly decorated too. I had a bite of one of their nut cookies, which was really scrumptious as well.

Great coffee and great innovation by the people here. Great place when you’re on campus.

This place is GREAT! The bubble tea is amazing. They have so many different flavors and options you are bound to find something you like. Used to go all the time as a student and now that I graduated I still go back for a passion fruit & pomegranate bubble tea every so often. I would honestly say this place is better than the bubble tea found in the mall! Highly recommend

What a great cafe! I can see why it was pack on a Friday afternoon. Located right near Essex County College and Rutgers-Newark, this place had many young kids hanging out with friend. My friend and I were able to grab two seats. We both ordered Chai Spice brewed tea. My large was $2.40 after tax and his small was less than $2. Even though there were many people there, it wasnt noisy. My friend and I were able to hold a conversation. If youre looking for a spot to hang out with a friend, this is the place.

Such a cozy cafe to gather with friends or work on computer, both indoors and outdoors. The staff is very friendly, they offer an array of teas and few vegan options. They have a beautifully written menu on the wall when you walk in. There is a computer were you can select music to be played in the cafe, board games to enjoy and nice decorations.

Had a taro slush, a thai tea slush, and a mango slush all with boba and lychee jelly or strawberry jelly.... worst bubble tea ever!!!The staff having no regard for my wife and I; paying customers, were too busy swearing, talking to each other.Each drink had a bitter after taste, like either the bobas were a day too old and were chewy, or the ice they used was picked up from the floor, or off the toilet or something.First and last time trying this place out!I really wish I could’ve thrown the tea in front of them and asked for a refund or something. Was so disappointed.

Stevens is the sweetest person I have met.

Oh boy, does this place have good coffee and bubble tea options. Tons of flavors. I cant attest to the food, as I havent tried anything, but they do have several sandwiches and cupcakes. This place is ALWAYS crowded with the nearby college students, but the staff is friendly and even though it might take a bit to get your order, its worth it. Theres not much seating but most people take their drinks to go, so you can usually find a place to sit if youre staying. I find this a good place to meet people for casual conversation. Would recommend!

Best bubble tea in the area!

A little messy inside but thats its aesthetic. Quick service and nice selection of flavors

Such a cozy cafe to gather with friends or work on computer, both indoors and outdoors. The staff is very friendly, they offer an array of teas and few vegan options. They have a beautifully written menu on the wall when you walk in. There is a computer were you can select music to be played in the cafe, board games to enjoy and nice decorations.

LOVE it! Feels like Im on vacation traveling but Im at home in the city! They use metropolis coffee, one of my favorite local coffee brands here in Newark. I really enjoy the offerings, ambiance, and atmosphere here The short coffee is so yummy, great service, fun atmosphere!! I want to come back for a crepe !

Ver personable down to earth staff. They have a chill dining area where students can study or if they so dare game. There are tabletop games if you want to unwind. There is also a courtyard for when the weather heats up.

Nice place. My drink was good despite it not being exactly what I had wanted. I ordered when they were swamped, so I attribute the issue to that. Id asked the employee whether the Wolfs Bane drink had sugar, and was told it could be made without it. When I got it, it was super sweet, though, so Im not sure if they just forgot that detail, or if this is just the unsweetened version. The drink itself tastes good, so I cant bring myself to necessarily give it a bad rating, and if you like sweet drinks, youll be pleased. It tastes like a better version of a PSL. Next time Ill just try to be more clear so that I can get something I enjoy. Six bucks for a drink I wasnt happy with hurt my wallet a bit. I love the patio area, and the seating area inside is great too, with board games to entertain groups. Expect a long wait when theyre very busy, and maybe ask more questions about the drinks for clarity.

A fav spot for delicious Cafe food. Service is always super even when they have a full house.

Cafe food here - very tasty.

I thoroughly enjoy this cafe. Its a great place for a coffee or to just chill after class. Food is decent but more on the snack side of things, the real reason to go there is the drinks.

So I came for the first time today with my family whos never had bubble tea before! And, the experience was such a positive one! The bubble tea was so delicious, and Ive had bubble tea in NC, CA, and China, so it pretty much tastes like what Im used to.But what makes this a truly 5 star experience is that the manager made sure that my family was able to taste the different pops/tapioca and brought them some in a sample cup. In addition, he explained everything to them and helped us even when it looked like he was on break. Plus, he offered to give us a fresh batch of bubble tea to take home with us after we were finished eating!This was so a great experience and my brother really likes the tea here so hell be going more often.Go to this establishment. You wont regret it!

Great and friendly staffVery delicious tea !!!

Im leaving a 4 star review because the atmosphere reminds me of back in Japan; but 3/4 of my orders in the last 2 weeks were messed up and I had to toss them out. I didnt even realise this until after I returned back to work, so I couldnt do anything about it. I guess for the future, Ill just prepare my own tea to bring to work.

Chill awesome vibes. They have a beautiful backyard to hang out and they offer free boardgames for all to have fun with each other or friends. It gets crowded at times but its nice.

I tried this spot in the past with a friend and I am obsessed ever since. I liked the good vibes and flavorful food and drinks. Keep up the good work.

Nice staff, very cute outside seating in the back!

Have visited a bunch of bubble tea places. None of them stand a chance against this place. Atmosphere is great, the bubble tea however is the highlight of this place especially coconut tea. They need to work more on making sure to shake the tea enough, sometimes I’m left with small chunks that have a stronger taste than the rest of the tea but that’s just a grain on the beach. All in all great experiences, drive 30+ minutes but well worth the traffic.

At the first visit I was already in love. There is such a cozy and warm atmosphere in the cafe. Everyone is friendly and welcoming! Not to mention that the bubble teas are delicious!

This is my favorite place for snacks and bubble tea. Im an NJIT alum and every time I come back to campus I make sure to stop in. Ive never seen another place with such a selection of flavors and jellies. The baked goods are also always amazing. Staff is always amazingly helpful, kind, and just overall great. I would give it more stars if I could.

Great music playing, outdoor and indoor seating with board games and places to study. It can get busy sometimes but there is enough space. A great place to study off campus. Ive been coming here for 3 years now.

One of my go-to spots to grab some food. awesome location, well organised, and good customer service. I recommend this place!

Needs more space. Asked for light ice and got less drink. The top of the cup contains the max and the most quantity of liquid due to the v shape. And if the little bit of top is empty you are getting ripped off.Also, one of the employee needs some rules. To not smoke in there, might have been a friend of the employee but still, cant have anyone just walk in the preparation area smoking and all nasty looking.

Bubble tea could have been fresher. Service was friendly. Sitting area was very nice to sit for a long time to relax with friends or do work.As for fresher, the bubbles have more pop to them at other places Ive been and maybe the mixing could be better with the tight plastic sealed top Ive had at other places.

Friendly, cozy, and a lot of bubble tea options that can be customized. It is also the only local bubble tea place that opens at 8am (for now anyway). Very pleasant experience.

Solid. Love the vibe here. Lots of students come here to hang out and study, but its a great place. The bubble tea is great and so are the workers.

Their chocolate chip cookies were pretty good! 2 x $1 for the regular size ones and they even warm them up for you. Everything looks good on the menu, I would recommend going there!

Got two red bean bubble teas and two sandwiches for $14. Great spot for a quick bite or just bubble tea, but is rather small inside.

Very kind. I love coming here! Never disappointed. Either get bubble tea or a hot drink. Never tried the food but I live near here and the atmosphere is great.

Super cozy vibe, the people that work there are super sweet, and if you ever go you have to try the Mexican Hot Chocolate with Expresso!!

Love this quaint place

The staff is amazing! They are so friendly and welcoming. The bubble tea is served quickly and taste delicious. Love the cookies too!

Very fun place to chill out at. Good drinks and friendly atmosphere. The people who look after the place always seem in good spirits. Game boards are always available to just play while hanging out, and theres a small backyard for nice days.

Good coffee, tea and bubble tea

Charming place.

The bubble tea there is pretty good. The staff is so kind and sweet and always willing to remaking something if you dont like it. They also have yolos so you can try something new. Theyre pastries are amazing and they work with the ramen place next door so you can get from one and being to the other.

Usually theyre fast, but Ive been stuck there for unusually long on a couple occasions. Regardless, their baked goods are great and they make a good bubble tea. Not too crazy about their sandwiches, but Ive only tried them twice.

Great coffee and such a good vibe for students and nerds alike!

I thought the coffee bad and the scene somewhat glum. Music selection wasnt great. Walking distance to the museum, so maybe you will catch it on a better day.

Their bubble tea is great. They have a wide selection of games to play while you are there. I cannot give this place 5 stars because while I was there the manager and an employee were arguing in front of everyone.

If you get the pleasure to know me you will find out that I love coffee and it better be good. The coffee Cave hit it out of the park. Great staff it was my pleasure to be served by them.

Just amazingly staff a customer focused business and I can say this enough but I love every part of the Cafe.From the atmosphere which inspirers creativity to services you wouldnt expect... For example you can go next door to Ramen Gami and order whatever you like and it can be delivered to you in the cafe or in the backyard of the Cafe.This is truly an amazing place to visit especially if you go to school in the area.

Always a friendly staff, and its no accident. Great variety of drinks whether you prefer coffee drinks or bubble tea offerings. The desserts are excellent too. A great place to hang out with friends or study depending on the time of day.

This place is amazing, they have drinks, desserts, sandwiches, and riceballs. Also they have a bunch of games in the back for people to play. On certain days they have live mic or host bonfires. Its truly a nice cozy place.(5/5) on a good day. But, now waiting an hour for bubble tea, that not an experience, I want for bubble tea unless it made out of gold.

This place is so cute and cozy and it’s rlly admirable how efficient employees are even when swamped by customers!! they have the best coconut milk tea i’ve literally ever had and i will definitely be coming back

Since its a bit small inside I wouldnt reccomend going here to read a book or study and drink a cup of joe. Your right on top of other peoples conversations. With that aside, its a friendly cafe with good coffee and bagels. I found it nice that they put the cream and sugar in your coffee for you, its not something I find many cafes doing.

So worth the wait and much chill location for its area. Love the food.

The bubble tea there is pretty good. The staff is so kind and sweet and always willing to remake something if you dont like it. They also have yolos so you can try something new. Theyre pastries are amazing and they work with the ramen place next door so you can get from one and being to the other.

I had a surprise gathering thrown for me here 4 years ago in the backyard. Magical Summer nights are possible there. Now the bubble teas are equally 🔮 Staff is always adorable.

Amazing bubble tea and sweet treats. Also very reasonable prices!

I ordered a simple chai tea while I must admit the tea itself was good only half the cup was tea the rest was just foam

The bubble tea and ambiance of this place is great!The cafè has a wide range of board game options to play from.Relaxing place to hangout with friends and enjoy a cup of beverage while playing a fun board game!

Cute spot for students to hang out, its lively with conversation. They have day of the week specials for coffee and bubble tea. They offer small snacks like cookies and pastries, but if youre hungry and need a meal, Ramen gami is right next door. You can place an order there and ask them to deliver your food to intrinsic.

Cozy atmosphere, great and well-priced bubble tea (3$ for a large). Definitely worth a visit

Hot ginger tea with tapioca - would recommend

They are too slow. I understand they are students, but its bad for students who order and wait forever. Workers keep talking with themselves or customers they know.

A nice cozy cafe with wonderful pastry, tea coffee and bubble tea. The staff is amazing and friendly. It is one of the nicest places in Newark, Rutgers-NJIT neighborhood.

The drinks are absolutely delicious here. You have tje option if ordering from their expansive menu of bubble tea and other drink flavors. You can even mix and match flavors to concoct your own desired beverage. Come and sit or order your drink for take-out, the option is yours.

Bubble tea that gives you life. Pastries that feed the soul. Friendliest customer service. If you havent been, then you need to go!!

Good drinks. Good place for meeting friends, studying or working.

Great drinks. Food is boring but they are kind enough to let you bag your lunch. Cozy decor, excellent back patio, and awesome staff. Great hours.

Not the best coffee around, but such a cute place and the staff is always so nice. The heart of dorky Newark

The bubble tea is amazing! Great and friendly service. I go here all the time. I love the board games and theyre so clean

Good drinks but the speed of service and overall friendliness of the staff leaves something to be desired