Winter is officially here, and while we try to keep warm through the holiday season, why not warm up with a hot cup of joe?! With so many cafes to choose from in NYC, it can take you a while before you find one you truly enjoy. Sure, you can go the safe route and stop into a Starbucks or Dunkin’ on the way to work (guilty), but there are plenty of others worth trying nearby!
If you’re looking for a good cup of coffee in NYC, here are 20 of the best coffee shops you should check out:
1. Lê Phin, East Village
This Vietnamese cafe specializes in phin-brewed coffees that are both flavorful and filling! Their lattes are our personal favorites, especially since they come with their in-house pandan syrup. Be sure to grab one of their pastries or baked goods to pair it with!
Where: 259 E 10th St
2. Sey Coffee, Bushwick
This Bushwick outpost looks like a warehouse-turned-coffee shop (very fitting for the area if you ask us) and offers some incredible roasts. The white washed brick walls and abundance of plants alone make it worth the trek to Brooklyn, but once you take a sip of some of the Sey’s microbrewed beans you’ll understand the difference. Their seasonal rotation of espresso, iced, and drip coffees make it worth going back frequently.
Where: 18 Grattan St, Brooklyn
3. Intelligentsia, Chelsea
For a quality cup of coffee you can count on the coffee chat Intelligentsia. In NYC, however, the company only has one location—the Highline Hotel in Chelsea.
Where: 180 10th Ave, at Highline Hotel
4. Blue Bottle, Multiple Locations
You’ve probably been to a Blue Bottle location before since there are plenty across the city. They offer various coffees from all over the world that they’ll make in front of you at their pour-over bar.
Where: Locations in Manhattan & Brooklyn, see them here.
5. Cafe Grumpy, Multiple Locations
A neighborhood cafe that began in Greenpoint, Cafe Grumpy is a great local spot for your daily cup of joe.
Where: Locations in Manhattan & Brooklyn, see them here.
6. Culture Espresso, Midtown
If you work in the Midtown area this is a perfect spot for a great cup of drip coffee, a cortado, and some freshly baked goodies.
Where:
307 West 38th St
72 West 38th St.
247 W 36th St.
7. Devoción, Multiple Locations
Devoción is a coffee roaster that gets their beans directly from Bogota, Colombia. The shop is spacious, the prices won’t break the bank, and the espresso is delicious. Need we say more?
Where: Multiple locations, see them here
8. Everyman Espresso, Multiple Locations
Get your caffeine fix through pour-overs, espressos, or AeroPress at Everyman Espresso.
Where: Locations in Manhattan & Park Slope, see them here
9. Ground Support Cafe, SoHo
A cozy coffee shop in SoHo that isn’t packed with tourists (usually). Ground Support is ideal for a quick cup to-go or a casual midday meeting.
Where: 399 West Broadway
10. Coffee Project, Multiple Locations
You may have had a deconstructed cocktail at some point, but have you ever had a deconstructed cup of coffee? Everything will be given to you separately and you can build your own coffee for yourself! Fancy.
Where: Multiple locations in Manhattan & Brooklyn, see them here.
11. Hi-Collar, East Village
Hi-Collar is an interesting coffee shop that’s well worth a try. It’s a small “Western-inspired Japanese cafe” that offers siphon coffee and lunch options, as well as a sake menu by night. And if you’re interested in a fluffy soufflé pancake, they were the original NYC shop to carry these tasty breakfast treats!
Where: 231 E 9 St.
12. Birch Coffee, Multiple Locations
With a lovely warm interior design, you can count on Birch Coffee to have the perfect vibe for any occasion. It should be noted they’re a bit pricier than other shops, but the Kyoto drip iced coffee is a must-try!
Where: Locations in Manhattan & Long Island City, see them here
13. La Colombe, Multiple Locations
The coffee here is so good that, although there are several locations in Manhattan, they all seem to stay quite busy! If you don’t mind waiting in line, La Colombe is definitely worth the wait.
Where: Locations in Manhattan, see them here
14. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Multiple Locations
If you’re in Greenwich Village or Flatiron, stop into Stumptown Coffee Roasters for your dose of caffeine. Being a hotel, the Ace Hotel location brings in all sorts of folks and is a great place to enjoy a fresh brew and possibly meet new people.
Where:
Greenwich Village – 30 W 8th St
Flatiron – 18 W 29th St (Ace Hotel)
Brooklyn – 212B Pacific St, Brooklyn
15. % Arabica, Multiple Locations
This Japanese import now has a three NYC locations scattered around, and it’s a delightful spot to grab a unique brew on the go. Their espresso machines crank out some of the freshest coffee in the city, and the Brooklyn location that started it all even has goodies from Balthazar and ice cream during the summers. The Kyoto-via-New York beans are worth the hype.
Where:
DUMBO – 20 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn
30 Rock – 1254 6th Ave
Midtown – 37 W 54th St
16. Black Cat LES, LES
Not only is Black Cat LES one our favorite spots to work remotely in, but their coffee keeps us around all morning and afternoon too! Their cozy atmosphere and delicious caffeinated beverages keep us always coming back for more. If you’re a fan of tea, you should also try one of the special teas straight out of their “Tea Book.” Oh, and while you’re at it, stop in during one of their comedy show nights or other random happenings that are always going on!
Where: 172 Rivington St
17. Root Hill Cafe, Gowanus
“We cook, we bake, we do coffee” according to their motto. Root Hill Cafe’s coffee selection keeps it simple, and we think that’s why we like it so much. At very affordable prices, you can get anything from Chai latte to a cappuccino. But be sure to try out their food too to see if their mantra holds true for you.
Where: 262 4th Ave, Brooklyn
18. Pause Cafe, LES
Pause Cafe is a little Moroccan gem that is one of our favorite LES coffee shops around. Their “coffee bar” has a pretty great selection including a number of lattes (try out their speciality “Moroccan Drip”). They also have some African foods and teas to try too.
Where: 3 Clinton St
19. Ninth Street Espresso, Multiple Locations
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Instagram/ @ninthstreetespresso
With 3 locations in the city (2 Manhattan, 1 Brooklyn), Ninth Street Espresso is one of the best for…you guessed it…espresso! This will always be our recommendation should you stop in, but there are other options too. Their coffee beans reign from places all over the world like Kenya and Peru, and all taste refreshing from the very first sip. If you need a quick pick-me-up, be sure to stop here!
Where:
Alphabet City – 700 E 9th St
Tompkins Square – 341 E 10th St
Gowanus at Threes Brewing – 333 Douglass St, Brooklyn
20. St. Kilda Coffee, Hell’s Kitchen
St. Kilda is an Aussie cafe that curates worldwide coffee beans right in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen. They specialize in espresso, filtered and cold coffees, but are constantly rotating brands and coffee beans based on the season. These self-proclaimed “coffee nerds” prepare every pour with precision and use advanced coffee/water techniques to create the perfect drink every time. Be sure to stop in and see what the hype’s about.
Where: 328 W 44th St