There are countless places to have coffee in New York City. Blue Bottle and La Colombe are reliable chains when you are in midtown. There are the cafés that are aesthetically pleasing on Instagram, but are misses when it comes to coffee. A wave of Australian cafes has emerged on the Upper East: anyone is an ideal choice before a visit to Museum Mile. On nearly every corner is a deli for a basic of cup of joe with a dash cream.
But there are places that you go to when you want to enjoy coffee, a good pastry, and a beloved neighborhood. I look forward to going to any of these cafes listed below when I want to be inspired, to daydream, to linger, or to read.
When the barista noticed me taking pictures of my flat white, he said he would make it again if it didn’t look al right. Not a chance—it was the perfect coffee.
Every employee at Butler is as sweet as their pastries. Pastry chef, Ryan Butler, is one of the owners so you can’t go wrong with anything, especially the French toast brioche, which is warmed and drizzled with maple syrup.
I prefer this location to their Williamsburg location only because it is across the street from Brooklyn Bridge Park, which has a beautiful view of the city.
The Williamsburg location of Le Labo houses a café. The espresso is by La Columbe and the baristas will talk to you about life and perfume while happily preparing your coffee. The large selection of perfumes next door are of course fun to browse. I would like to say that their perfume Dallas has the potential to be the next Santal 33.
The best part of this shop is the experience of inhaling beautiful perfume while drinking a coffee. It is truly wonderful for the senses. Wouldn’t it be great if Le Labo had its own roast of coffee?
As an aside, the café is completely vegan. The beverages are made from oat or almond milk, and the cookies, cakes, and madeleines are by the Bushwick-based bakery, Whiskers (@brooklynwhiskers).
Unassuming. Lovely. Photogenic. Rustic. Quiet. This is Sel Rrose. I learned of Sel Rrose from the makeup artist Violette (@violette_fr), who suggested the café in one of her tutorials.
I enjoy having an espresso at the café when it first opens. While my coffee is being made, I peek through a small hallway leading to the oyster and cocktail bar, which opens in the evening. I am certain I can feel the good times from the night before echoing on the pastel walls.
Sel Rrose feels like you are in downtown New York while giving a nod to the French café experience. As a result, you don’t feel like you’ve fallen for a gimmick.
The West Village is chaotic during the weekend, but on a weekday morning, having a dry cappuccino at the Sant Ambreoeus on West Fourth and Charles must be one of the most serene scenarios in Manhattan.
Sant Ambroeus has opened quite a few locations in city in the past few years, but this is the best. Even though the the chain has a certain reputation as a place to be seen, it’s possible to feel inconspicuous at this location, like you’ve entered a portal to old New York.
Greecologies is known for their yogurt that is made on-site and can be garnished with an array of toppings such as walnuts, figs, mint, and sour cherry preserves.
There’s plenty of seating throughout the space: the front of the cafe overlooking Broome Street, tiny nooks throughout the café, and in the garden surrounded by vine wrapped walls.
As for beverages, I especially like their matcha rose latte and iced coffee.
The perfect companion to an iced coffee is a good croissant. The croissants from Greecologies are flown in from France. If you want, you can have them with house-made butter and preserves.
Follow us on Instagram @thisisglamorous
[instagram-feed]
