My Favorite Coffee Shops
This week, we’re diving into my favorite coffee shops in the city. I want to note that there are SO many places on my list that I haven’t tried yet, but I think that I’ve made it to a good bit for the time that I’ve been here. Each of these places has something special that I like about them, and I rated them out of 5.
Café Lyria
Rating: 4.5
Neighborhood: NoHo
Coffee Order: iced latte with honey & cinnamon, cow milk
Notes: I personally love the coffee at Café Lyria. There is some discourse online about the crowd inside being judgmental or intimidating, but I’ve never felt that way! It definitely gets super busy and loud, so it’s not a guarantee that you will be able to sit, but when you can get a seat, it is a great place to meet a friend or do work!
Caffe Reggio
Rating: 4.2
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Coffee Order: cappuccino, cow milk
Notes: I went to Caffe Reggio for the first time when I was visiting the city in 2022. They are the home of the original cappuccino, and they serve coffee, dessert, pastries, lunch, dinner, and drinks! They have super late hours, and I love the interior. The only qualm I have is that it’s very crowded and sort of cramped. I prefer to hang out with friends here than do work, but many people do bring their laptops and books. Big fan of the tiramisu!
St. George Coffee
Rating: 4.0
Neighborhood: West Village
Coffee Order: iced vanilla latte, oat milk
Notes: I LOVE St. George!!! When I studied in London, it was one of my favorite places to work, and the same goes for New York. Prices are the best in the city, and the food is small (of course it is, it’s Brandy Melville) but fantastic. Points docked because I don’t like oat milk very much, but for a $5 latte and a great place to work, I’ll drink it. Not to mention the location – the West Village is the place to eat & drink!
Sote Coffee
Rating: 4.7
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Coffee Order: iced maple cinnamon latte, cow milk
Notes: I LOVE Sote Coffee! My latte is always fantastic, and the inside is so cute. I am always super productive when I sit there to work, but I also love to take a coffee and then walk around Central Park. It’s right near the 72nd St station.
Butler
Rating: 4.5
Neighborhood: Dumbo, SoHo
Coffee Order: iced vanilla latte, cow milk
Notes: Butler is so good and both locations that I’ve been to are large, which is unusual for New York. The coffee is a little pricier – I’m paying $8-9 for a latte, but it’s consistent and good. I like sitting there to do work a lot!
Bird and Branch
Rating: 3.8
Neighborhood: Hell’s Kitchen/Theater District
Coffee Order: changes every time!
Notes: Bird and Branch is on 45th street right by Moulin Rouge, and you can always bet you’ll see someone on Broadway there. They have fantastic whipped ricotta toast and stay open till 7:30 most nights. If you can score a seat, it is also a nice place to work but is very small. I prefer their tea, but am hoping to find a coffee I love soon.
Joe Coffee
Rating: 2.7
Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Coffee Order: Sugar Cookie Latte, Black & White Latte, or Masala Chai
Notes: Coffee is really inconsistent, but the chai is fantastic. I only include in this list because it’s the most convenient place for me and is a great spot to work from home. Baristas are also very kind.
Honorable Mentions
% Arabica, Enly, and Variety. % Arabica, specifically the one in Dumbo has consistently good coffee. And Enly is incredible, but I paid $12 for my tiramisu latte so I will not be returning. Variety Coffee is a great place to do homework because they stay open until 9 PM and have a bunch of locations, but there’s nothing that special about their coffee. They set a simple syrup out, so you can sweeten yourself, but I like their maple syrup.
Still Searching…
Do you have a favorite coffee shop in the city? Let me know so that I can go try it!