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$ | Upper East Side |
Grab a quick pick-me-up at either of Birch's two Upper East Side caffeine dealers (the other is at 171 E. 88th St.), but don't be fooled if you hear it called a chain—despite the company's now many locations, this is a local business that roasts all of its coffee beans in small batches just across the East River in Long Island City, Queens. Varieties of single-origin coffee and espresso change by the season, and as an added bonus they sell Dough Donuts, baked and delivered fresh daily.
134½ E. 62nd St., New York, New York, 10065, USA
Known For
- Different kinds of single-origin coffee
- Good cold brew
- Dough Donuts sold here
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$ | Fort Greene |
Tight on space but long on taste, this slim café is named for its two primary menu categories: coffee and desserts. Baristas know most customers both by sight and by their La Colombe coffee beverage of choice. Pair yours with pastries from the best of the local bakeries or opt for something savory like a salad or a sandwich on Balthazar bread.
180 DeKalb Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11205, USA
Known For
- Small space
- Across from the park
- Neighborhood vibe
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$$ | Upper West Side |
Never mind that you're in the middle of a shopping mall—soups and sandwiches don't get much more luxurious than at acclaimed chef Thomas Keller's low-key lunch spot (one floor down from his extravagant flagship, Per Se). It draws long lines for good reason; fork-and-knife open-face tartines, like the tuna niçoise, are delicious. Share a mason jar of salmon rillettes—cooked and smoked salmon folded around crème fraîche and butter. For lunch fare with this much pedigree, the price is actually a bargain. Grab dessert, a fresh macaron or éclair, from the nearby bakery window.
10 Columbus Circle, New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Chicken soup
- Croque madame
- Desserts from bakery window
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, Credit cards accepted
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$ | Union Square |
Drop in for the famously decadent babka (a yeast bread with layers of chocolate or cinnamon), rugelach (flaky, crescent-shape cookies), or any of the other baked goods, but stay for a coffee and a light meal. The front counter is for breads, cakes, and cookies; the back counter turns out sandwiches, quiches, and salads.
18 E. 16th St., New York, New York, 10003, USA
Known For
- The famous babka
- Everything baked on-site
- Open 'til 8 pm
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$ | Harlem |
If you want to kick back in a comfortable environment with lots of natural light, try this laid-back neighborhood hangout. Its beans are sourced from the Brooklyn Roasting Company (one of the city's finest coffee emporiums), and, in addition to quality java, its menu features paninis, savory crepes, and other casual fare, as well as several wines by the glass and beers in the bottle.
2104 Frederick Douglass Blvd., New York, New York, 10026, USA
Known For
- Brewing locally roasted coffee
- Space for coworking
- Sweet and savory crepes
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Greenpoint |
Made famous by the HBO television show Girls—the character Ray works here—this indie coffee shop roasts its beans in the roastery next door and sends them to its other cafés around the city. Café Grumpy serves all the usual drip coffee and espresso drinks plus pastries, with gluten-free options. This location, opened in 2005, was the first.
193 Meserole Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11222, USA
Known For
- Artisanal coffee
- Appearing on HBO's Girls
- Freelancer-friendly
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$ | |
In addition to excellent coffee, tea, and even kombucha (on tap), this bustling café near the Q train serves local farm-fresh and homemade fare from eggs and biscuits to veggie and poke bowls. Sandwiches come piled high with organic ingredients such as fresh avocado, leafy greens, and the "world's best" pastrami. You'll want to try all 10 grilled cheeses, be it classic cheddar, fig and apple, or another delectable variation. Though a tad cramped, the café's more than 30 tables are spread out in two rooms.
1603 Cortelyou Rd., Brooklyn, New York, 11226, USA
Known For
- Memorable sandwiches
- Organic ingredients
- Cozy size
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$ | Cobble Hill |
The folks behind Frankie's 457 and Prime Meats in Carroll Gardens operate this bustling café whose limited seating only heightens its cachet. The expert staffers pull espresso drinks and pour-overs made with the latest and greatest roasts from nearby Stumptown. If you want to try something different, look for the output of "guest roasters" like Mad Cap from Grand Rapids, Michigan, or Anchored Coffee of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At the pastry counter you can pick up cookies, croissants, quiches, or the toothsome soft pretzels.
210 Court St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Known For
- Expert baristas
- Guest roasters
- Pastries
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$ | |
If you're planning a picnic at the Pratt Institute Sculpture Park or looking for a low-key meal, this take-out counter and café will do you right. Prepared salads, sandwiches, and excellent pastries are pricier than your average corner deli, but then again, most bodegas don't have farro salad, salmon burgers, or pear brûlée cheesecake on the menu. Service can be slow.
318 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11238, USA
Known For
- Top-quality pastries
- Hot breakfast prepared to order
- Don't expect fast service
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$ | |
Attentive baristas expertly prepare luscious lattes and single-origin cold-brewed coffee in this stylistically minimal corner coffee shop. Owner Buck Berk personally travels to farms around the world to find Coffee Mob's beans, which are roasted at Brooklyn's Pulley Collective. Enjoy your coffee with pastries or a bagel and feel revived with both caffeine and the shop's abundant natural light.
1514 Newkirk Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11226, USA
Known For
- Single-origin coffee
- Attentive baristas
- Natural light in shop
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$ | Park Slope |
Expertly baked pastries like croissants, tarts, turnovers, macaroons, and financiers are the darling showpieces at this Belgian-inspired bakery, though the soups, salads, and sandwiches are also delicious. There are tiny self-service tables and, in good weather, sidewalk seats. It closes at 7.
374 9th St., Brooklyn, New York, 11215, USA
Known For
- Being Bill De Blasio's favorite coffee spot
- Tight seating at peak weekend hours
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$ | Park Slope |
This unpretentious café is owned by TJ and Vera Obias, husband-and-wife pastry chefs who make everything on premises "du jour"---some of the delectable classic French and American baked goods are even made fresh twice a day. Breakfast, brunch, and lunch menus include frittatas, melts, and salads. Coffee drinks, cocktails, beer and wine, and an interesting selection of iced and hot teas round out your options.
365 5th Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11215, USA
Known For
- Custom-made cakes
- Pastry selection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$ | |
Doughnuts have become a national obsession, and dedicated shops have opened up all over New York City and Brooklyn. This retro-cool shop has an extra edge: all the doughnuts are vegan, and they also come in more than 200 flavors. Staples include traditional glazed, chocolate, and jelly-filled, but depending on the day you might find inventive creations like espresso mocha, strawberry kiwi, tangerine basil, and peach cobbler.
222 Montrose Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11206, USA
Known For
- Great option for vegans
- Wild daily flavors from blueberry--chunky peanut butter to mac 'n' cheese
- Horchata latte
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$ | Little Italy |
It's hard to choose among the classic Italian desserts displayed in the pastry cases here, but keep in mind that they come in miniature versions so you can try a few. Whatever you opt for—either to take away or to eat in—you can be assured that the recipes have been perfected, as Ferrara has been serving since 1892.
195 Grand St., New York, New York, 10013, USA
Known For
- The flaky, cream-filled lobster tail is a favorite
- Full bar as well as coffee drinks
- Old-school atmosphere
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$ | Midtown West |
Friendly, family-run Gregorys is a staple for hurried New Yorkers, who appreciate the quality coffee, tea, baked goods, sandwiches, and more from this and other Midtown locations. Gluten-free and vegan options also are on the menu. Expect some seating inside, but mostly aim to grab and go.
762 7th Ave., New York, New York, 10019, USA
Known For
- Some seats but mostly grab and go
- Reliable quality and service
- NYC-based chain
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$ | Upper West Side |
Linger over a danish or a slice of Sacher torte and bottomless cups of coffee at this old world–style bakery-café in Morningside Heights, where you'll rub elbows with students and professors from nearby Columbia University and locals who often line up before opening time to get pastries fresh from the oven. It's also near the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.
1030 Amsterdam Ave., New York, New York, 10025, USA
Known For
- Slices of cakes from carrot to chocolate
- Apple strudel
- Popular with writers and students
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$ | Prospect Heights |
One of Brooklyn's minichains, Hungry Ghost fuels the borough with coffee, teas, and snacks in sleek, mid-century-modern environs. The beans are from Oregon's cult label Stumptown, and the sandwiches and many baked goods are made in-house. This location gets busy, but you can usually find a seat among the communal tables and comfy leather chairs.
235 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11217, USA
Known For
- Artisanal coffee
- Snacks
- Sandwiches
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$ | Gramercy |
Steps from Union Square, this busy café (known to locals as 71 Irving, aka the address) roasts its own beans and serves excellent people-watching along with espresso drinks, sandwiches, muffins, and snacks. There are now locations around the city.
71 Irving Pl., New York, New York, 10003, USA
Known For
- Minichain with a neighborhood vibe
- Excellent coffee
- Closes at 5 pm
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$ | West Village |
The very first location of what is now a mini chain in New York City, this jewel box of a coffeehouse only has four tables (and a bench outside), but if you're lucky enough to nab one, you'll feel cozy and comfortable among the West Village regulars who frequent the place. Oh yeah, the coffee is quite good, too.
138 W. 10th St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Strong coffee
- Friendly atmosphere
- Local hangout
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$ | Chelsea |
New Yorkers love Joe because it's a minichain that was born and bred right here in the city. And while there are locations scattered around Manhattan, this diminutive spot has the distinction of being the one-time place of employment of the guy who inspired the Saturday Night Live character and nightlife authority Stefan, as the actor who played him, Bill Hader, would regularly pop in here before heading up to 30 Rock. It's also a good pitstop for those walking the High Line. This place has everything.
405 W. 23rd St., New York, New York, 10011, USA
Known For
- Good for people-watching
- Friendly service
- Affordable, high-quality coffee
