New York is filled with cafes all along the streets, and they are warm and cozy. The items on their menus are delicious and convenient, suiting the fast-moving lifestyle of the city. If you want to visit New York and experience the real vibe of the city, you must spend some quality time at these best cafes. We’re going to take a look at the top ten best New York cafes for an exciting city vacation.
This beautiful cafe is a perfect place for all the Instagram lovers. They have amazing hot chocolates and many lavender-infused drinks, which have a perfect balance between herbal and rich flavors. They also have cute floral decor cups and rustic decor, which will make you spend hours in this beautiful cafe. They have many different outlets, and if you visit this place during weekdays, you might notice some busy people working around in this comfortable cafe. During weekends, you may have to rush a little, as this place fills up pretty fast.
Highlights:
- Ambiance: Each location is designed with a warm, rustic, and chic aesthetic, featuring floral patterns, vintage furniture, and welcoming vibes that transport you to the French countryside.
- Menu Favorites: Their Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookie gained fame after being featured in Oprah’s Favorite Things. Freshly baked croissants, quiches, and madeleines are standout items. Lunch offerings include hearty soups, salads, and sandwiches. Their drinks include classic coffee options, matcha lattes, and creative seasonal specials.
- Brunch: Many locations offer an all-day brunch menu, which is perfect for a leisurely meal.
- Retail: Maman also sells branded merchandise, cookbooks, and pantry items like jams and coffee beans.
Locations: Maman has locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and other cities like Montreal and Toronto. Some notable NYC spots include Soho, Tribeca, NoMad, and Chelsea.
This popular coffee shop is spread all around the city. It has a laid-back vibe and separate spaces for people who want to work or study. There are various types of coffee for different customers. Many types of cappuccinos, lattes, and iced coffees are available, and they also offer several non-dairy options. This sweet and cozy cafe is also a great place to make new friends and get to know more people in this busy city.
Coffee: Birch emphasizes sourcing high-quality beans and roasting them in-house for a balanced, flavorful coffee experience. Their menu includes espressos and espresso-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes. They offer a rotating selection of pour-over and drip coffees, as well as seasonal specialties and non-coffee options, like teas and matcha.
Food: Light snacks such as pastries, cookies, and breakfast items are available to pair with your drink.
Sustainability: Birch Coffee has been a strong advocate for sustainability, using eco-friendly practices, compostable cups, and encouraging reusable mugs.
Locations:
Birch Coffee has several locations across Manhattan, including neighborhoods like:
- Flatiron: Their flagship shop, with a spacious layout and lots of natural light.
- Upper West Side
- Murray Hill
- NoMad
3. Coffee Project
Situated on the busy streets of New York City, Coffee Project is a cool and experimental cafe. They take time to come up with new takes on the classics, offering two popular coffees: Project 1 and Nitro Coffee. These are deconstructed coffees, and if you’ve never heard of them, don’t worry. The baristas here are friendly and explain the procedure to you in a simple manner, helping you make this delicious coffee.
Deconstructed Latte: A unique experience where the latte components—espresso, steamed milk, and the finished drink—are served separately, allowing you to taste each element individually before combining them.
Nitro Cold Brew: A smooth, velvety cold brew served on tap.
Seasonal Specials: Rotating drinks like flavored lattes and signature beverages based on the season.
Pastries and Light Bites: Freshly baked goods, croissants, and other snacks pair well with their coffee.
Focus on Specialty Coffee: Coffee Project emphasizes the art and science of coffee brewing, offering meticulously crafted beverages that highlight the nuances of the beans. They partner with ethical coffee producers to source high-quality beans.
Locations:
- East Village (Manhattan) – The original cozy shop that started it all.
- Brooklyn – A larger space perfect for relaxing or working.
- Chelsea – A stylish location with a focus on their training programs.
4. La Colombe Coffee
The main attraction of this place is not the ambiance or innovative styles, but the delicious coffee they serve. They have clean cafes with minimalistic decor, as people don’t come here for the design, but for the coffee. It’s the best coffee in New York City, and you shouldn’t miss it if you’re visiting the city.
You might find this cafe really busy, especially the SoHo one, but the baristas make an effort so that you don’t have to wait too long. They have great draft lattes, and their drinks are usually complex and flavorful. Sounds great.
Draft Latte: A signature drink, La Colombe’s Draft Latte is a creamy, cold coffee drink infused with nitrous oxide for a velvety texture, available on tap at their cafes and in canned form for retail.
Espresso-Based Drinks: Expertly crafted lattes, cappuccinos, and cortados.
Pour-Overs and Brewed Coffee: Made with single-origin beans, highlighting complex and bold flavors.
Cold Brew: Smooth, rich, and perfect for hot days.
Seasonal Specials: Rotating drinks featuring unique flavors and ingredients.
Food Menu: Light bites like croissants, pastries, sandwiches, and granola. Select locations offer an expanded menu with more substantial food options.
New York City Locations:
- Soho – One of their flagship locations, offering a chic vibe.
- Bryant Park – Ideal for grabbing coffee near Midtown.
- Tribeca – A stylish space with plenty of seating.
- Financial District – Convenient for those working downtown.
This amazing café in SoHo is a break from all the hustle and bustle. The streets are always filled with shoppers, pedestrians, and many people who are always running late. This is the escape from all of that. They have wooden logs and picnic tables for people who want to have a nice chat, or you can use the benches outside the café to sip and have a look at this beautiful city. You will always find people socializing here, but if you’re in a hurry, you can easily pick up your order as they have fast service for you.
- Espresso-based drinks: Ground Support offers expertly crafted lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos, made with high-quality beans sourced from well-regarded roasters.
- Drip Coffee & Pour-Overs: They serve a variety of single-origin drip coffees, and pour-overs are available for a more tailored and flavorful experience.
- Cold Brew: A popular choice, the cold brew here is smooth and rich, perfect for a refreshing pick-me-up.
- Seasonal and Specialty Drinks: Depending on the time of year, you might find creative, seasonal drinks or special offerings, like flavored lattes and iced beverages.
- Food Menu: Ground Support features a selection of pastries, bagels, and savory snacks. Expect freshly baked croissants, muffins, and light breakfast options to pair with your coffee.
- Location: 399 W Broadway, New York, NY (in the SoHo neighborhood).
6. Stumptown Coffee Roasters
This café is connected to the Ace Hotel, and you can order in the café or through the lobby. This brightly lit café is always swamped with different kinds of people, like hipsters, tourists, teenagers, or professionals. If you have a little time, you should stick around and have a fun time. Though it may get crowded as they have limited stalls available, the coffee here is spectacular. They have really good options, and they also offer takeaway cartons of cold brew.
- Espresso Drinks: Stumptown is particularly known for its expertly crafted espresso drinks, including lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos. Their Hair Bender espresso blend is a customer favorite, with notes of chocolate, cherry, and toffee.
- Cold Brew: Stumptown’s Nitro Cold Brew is one of their signature offerings, served on tap. It’s infused with nitrogen for a smooth, creamy texture and a naturally sweet flavor profile.
- Brewed Coffee: Their single-origin drip coffee options are carefully brewed to highlight the unique flavors of beans sourced from top coffee-growing regions. You can also find pour-over options at some locations for an elevated coffee experience.
- Seasonal Drinks: Like many top coffee spots, Stumptown offers seasonal drinks, such as flavored lattes or limited-edition blends, depending on the time of year.
- Food Menu: Stumptown offers a selection of pastries, such as croissants, muffins, and cookies, to pair with your coffee. Some locations may also serve light breakfast options like sandwiches.
7. Brooklyn Diamond Coffee
The cold brew here is handmade in Brooklyn, and it’s delicious. They have great cold brew as it is smooth and refreshing, bottled for you. This neighborhood café has great butter cookies and puddings. They have another outlet in SoHo if you’re around that area. They also have a friendly atmosphere with wood ceilings and amazing giant murals.
- Espresso Drinks: Expect classic espresso-based drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, Americanos, and mochas. The baristas craft each drink with attention to detail, using high-quality beans to ensure great flavor.
- Brewed Coffee: Brooklyn Diamond offers a variety of drip coffee options, often rotating single-origin beans to bring out the best flavors from different coffee-growing regions. Pour-overs are available for those seeking a more nuanced coffee experience.
- Cold Brew: The shop serves a smooth and refreshing cold brew, perfect for a warm day or anyone who enjoys a less acidic coffee option.
- Specialty Drinks: The café also features seasonal specials and creative drinks, so you can expect to find unique lattes or iced coffee concoctions depending on the time of year.
- Food Menu: Pastries: Brooklyn Diamond Coffee offers a selection of freshly baked goods, such as croissants, muffins, and cookies, as well as light breakfast items like bagels.
- Sandwiches & Snacks: They also serve savory options, including sandwiches that make for a quick, satisfying meal alongside your coffee.
- Location: 1087 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11221 (Bedford-Stuyvesant area).
Manhattan and the Hamptons have many outlets of this amazing café and it’s a paradise for Instagram lovers. This is not only a café, but they also have a great stand-up espresso bar, which is worth visiting. Some of New York’s best cappuccinos are here. Many of Victoria’s Secret models like Gigi and Kendall are regulars here because of the amazing espressos.
- Espresso Drinks: San Ambroeus is renowned for its espresso, cappuccinos, and macchiatos, made with expertly pulled shots of espresso and perfectly frothed milk. The coffee is rich, smooth, and made with a focus on Italian coffee traditions.
- Lattes and Americanos: Their lattes are velvety, and the Americanos are rich and balanced, ideal for those who prefer black coffee with a bit more body.
- Cold Coffee: During warmer months, iced lattes and iced coffee are popular, offering a refreshing yet satisfying pick-me-up.
- Signature Coffee Drinks: San Ambroeus occasionally offers unique, seasonal drinks, often with a touch of Italian flair, like affogatos (espresso poured over gelato) and other coffee-based desserts.
- Pastries & Desserts: The café offers an impressive selection of Italian pastries, including cannoli, croissants, and brioche, as well as cakes and tarts. Their desserts are often beautifully presented and pair wonderfully with their coffee.
- Location: San Ambroeus has several locations in New York, including: Greenwich Village (the flagship location).
This SoHo Cafe will give you all the Californian vibes that you need. The decor is filled with all the things California is famous for, like coconuts, surfers, surfboards, and sunscreen. This little nook of a cafe is sweet and cozy and gives you a great place to relax and have a chat. They have little swell bottles with palm leaves on them, ready for use. The classic avocado toast and acai bowls are refreshing and delicious. The beans are from Brooklyn and make the coffee smooth and amazing.
- Espresso Drinks: Summers NYC serves a variety of espresso-based drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos. The café uses beans sourced from top-tier roasters, ensuring a high-quality, flavorful cup.
- Cold Brew & Iced Coffee: Their cold brew is a favorite, offering a smooth, bold coffee experience that’s perfect for those looking for a refreshing pick-me-up. Iced lattes and iced Americanos are also popular during the summer months.
- Specialty Drinks: Summers NYC also features creative drinks and seasonal specials, often incorporating fun flavor profiles and unique twists on coffee favorites.
- Pastries & Light Bites: The café offers a selection of freshly baked pastries, including croissants, muffins, and other delicious baked goods, perfect for pairing with your coffee.
Location:
Address: 171 East Broadway, New York, NY, located in the Lower East Side, a trendy neighborhood known for its mix of historic charm and modern flair.
This small cafe is a Japanese outpost that is open day and night. It can accommodate around 10 people, and High Collar is more about the experience. Here, they offer a variety of beans and many types of brewing methods, which you can choose from. If you seem a little confused about your order, the baristas can help you out as they are the friendliest ones here. Take your time as you leisurely sip your coffee and have a great time.
- Japanese-Inspired Coffee: High Collar offers a unique twist on classic coffee drinks by incorporating Japanese brewing techniques. One of the most popular drinks is their Japanese-style iced coffee, brewed directly over ice to preserve the coffee’s freshness and flavor.
- Espresso Drinks: They serve expertly crafted lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos, using beans sourced from high-quality roasters. The drinks are often served with precision and artistry, with a focus on balance and smoothness.
- Cold Brew & Nitro Coffee: Their nitro cold brew is another popular offering, served on tap for a creamy, smooth texture. It’s perfect for coffee lovers who enjoy a rich and less acidic coffee option.
- Specialty Coffee: High Collar rotates their coffee offerings, providing guests with seasonal beans and unique blends that showcase different flavor profiles.
Food Menu:
- Pastries & Light Bites: High Collar offers a selection of freshly baked pastries, including croissants and sweet treats that pair perfectly with their coffee. You might also find traditional Japanese snacks or sandwiches on the menu.
Location:
64 Bleecker St, New York, NY (East Village).
I am Sabiq Rasel is an Entrepreneur and broadcaster. I believe that every sip of coffee holds the potential for a moment of inspiration, creativity, and every cup tells a story.
