The Top 10 Cafés of New York

In our last article, we presented the best coffee houses of Paris. Now we investigate the coffee scene of the American megapolis, New York City.

In recent years, the coffee fever has taken over New York and addresses serving good cups are multiplying and rivaling each other, making the classic Starbucks a chain now drowned among many specialty coffees.  Coffee is a drink now popular among all Americans who constantly run in all the cafes of New York before going to work.

There is no typical coffee house in New York. Indeed, this drink has many variations, besides the traditional espresso, obtained by pouring boiling water under pressure on roast and ground coffee. If desired with whipped cream, ask for an espresso con panna.

An elongated espresso is called an americano. With a hint of hot milk, it is called macchiato (not to be confused with caffe latte, a coffee mixed with milk heated by steam and covered with a thick milk foam, itself different from the cappuccino, which is covered with a light foam).

Without milk foam, it is called cortado. To get a mocha, pour chocolate on the espresso, then heated milk and possibly whipped cream. On the following list, you will find the New York cafés where you can taste these fabulous coffees:

 

10. Breads Bakery

• Address:  18 E 16th St, New York City, NY 10003-3111
• Telephone: +1 212-697-1463
• Opening hours: Sun 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM, Mon – Fri 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM, Sat 6:30 AM – 8:00 PM
• More information about the coffee house: https://www.breadsbakery.com/

If you are in Bryant Park or Union Square, visit this New York coffee shop on 16th street by all means! It is so lovely with the buzz of the happy customers around. The staff is very kind and the place is self-service. One of the staff members will go around the tables and chat with everyone which is a kind gesture and a nice plus. The selection is unique, the quality is superb. However, the prices may seem a little bit high!

You can purchase the freshest baked goods at the front of the shop, while the salads and the sandwiches may be ordered at the back. The seating is limited, so be careful to arrive at the proper time. You will see many people spending their time with their electronic devices. It will be hard to leave this café with its wonderful atmosphere!

The coffee is amazing, they have regular coffee and Danish. Café au lait, Cortado, Americano are also available. The latte is great. You must try the cronuts and the creztels (half-croissant- half preztel) which are New York’s latest food craze. Chocolate babka and almond croissant is something to die for. Everything is fresh out of the oven. Sweet muesli bread, pain au raisin and quiche is tasty too. You should not miss this place, that is for sure.

 

9. Maison Kayser Columbus Circle

• Address: 1800 Broadway, New York City, NY 10019-1404
• Telephone: +1 212-245-4100
• Opening hours: Sun – Sat 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
• More information about the coffee house: http://maison-kayser-usa.com/

Maison Kayser Columbus Circle is a charming little New York café with tasty French food conveniently located in the Lincoln Center and Columbus Circle areas. The service is very helpful and professional, you never have to ask for coffee to refill. This café is perfect for a little break from the rush, to relax and chill out after an exhausting day. The prices are quite reasonable.

Just invite your friend to sit down for a delicious coffee and pastries to talk over your recent life events. You will love it. The only disadvantage is the noise since it is usually very busy and crowded. But as we know, good places can attract a lot of people.

They have Caffè Americano which is really nice. Macchiato, Mochaccino and the Café au lait are absolutely delicious. The salmon roti, the Croque Madame (a grilled ham and cheese with an egg sunny-side up). and the French Onion soup is a must try.

They cook the ham and eggs in a small Dutch oven and serve it with bread with melted Gruyere Cheese and Bechamel sauce. Amazing. A wide variety of desserts is also available. The baguette is so good. You definitely should not miss this place if you walk around in New York. Very high quality.

 

8. Mille-Feuille Bakery & Cafe

• Address: 2175 Broadway, New York City, NY 10024-6686
• Telephone: +1 212-362-6231
• Opening hours: Mon – Fri 7:30 AM- 7:00 PM, Sat – Sun 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
• More information about the coffee house: https://www.millefeuille-nyc.com/

Mille-Feuille Bakery & Cafe is a classic French bakery with a fine outdoor seating with a wonderful neighborhood ambiance, just sit out and enjoy watching the people going by on the pavement. A little Paris in the heart of New York! So loveable. A sign is advertising a plain or chocolate croissant and coffee for $5 up until 11A. The tables are arranged like puzzle pieces, there is not too much place.

The staff is very friendly (especially Sisou) and you will get your order in time, the time commitment is minimal. The instructor is so patient and always answers your questions. They have a loyalty program where if you make 10 purchases, your coffee is free.  The prices are reasonable.

The coffee is amazing, especially in the company of a flaky chocolate croissant (there are many other croissants on the menu, such as strawberry croissants). Their café au lait an iced matcha is great. The Macaron Class and the chausson-aux-pommes are a must try. They are delicious! Here, your sweet tooth will be definitely satisfied. You have to try this place, it is so cozy. You can’t miss it during your New York City trip. Their coffee is excellent!

 

7. Ferrara Bakery & Cafe

• Address: 1800 Broadway, New York City, NY 10019-1404
• Telephone: +1 212-226-6150
• Opening hours: Mon – Thu 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM, Fri 8:00 AM – 1:00 AM, Sat – Sun 10:00 AM- 12:00 AM
• More information about the coffee house: http://www.ferraranyc.com/

Bakery Ferrara is a family business founded more than a century ago. They prepare cakes according to the recipes of the last century, with a taste similar to Italian. The atmosphere is very enjoyable with a lot of space. If you desire to have a cocktail, a coffee, a lunch, a pastry or a gelato, this is the place for you.

You will love the antique interior and the gold embellishments. The service is outstanding and the staff works hard to satisfy you. However, the place can be very busy, so you’d better reserve a place or come in the morning hours if you want to avoid the crowd. Prices are a bit high.

Coffees are delicious, don’t miss the Caffe Mocha, which is supreme. You can also choose cappuccino, espresso, and latte. They are freshly prepared. You can order three small treats (for example Eclair, NY Cheesecake and Cream puff) for 9.95 dollars. The buttercream is light, airy and not too sweet.

You can choose a cake with a chocolate and vanilla layers that are moist and light and so tasty. Their classic Italian pastries are mouth watering. The chocolate covered cannoli, the tiramisu, the Napoleons and the Diplomat are a must try. This place is definitely a must try. One of the best New York cafés.

 

6. Paris Baguette Bakery Cafe

• Address: 6 W 32nd St, New York City, NY 10001-3802
• Telephone: +1 212-244-0404
• Opening hours: Sun 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Mon – Fri 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sat 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
• More information about the coffee house: http://www.parisbaguetteusa.com/

If you are staying in the neighborhood of Grand Central or the Empire State Building, you should definitely visit this place. The interior is beautiful and impressive. Just grab a pastry or a coffee if you need a quick breakfast due to your busy schedule.

They offer so many choices that everyone will find something that will satisfy his or her cravings. The customer service is good and attentive, the place is clean and well maintained.

The cappuccino is amazing, just as the tea. They also offer red eye, americano, and espresso. The prices are reasonable, a regular coffee is just one dollar with a pastry, specialty drinks such as iced milk coffee are a bit more expensive. Be careful, if you are hungry, you will buy everything here.

You will not be able to resist your cravings. They offer a wide selection of bread that you can mix with cheese and meats from the deli located upstairs, tasty croissants and sandwiches are also available. The French pastry and gateaux are a must try. Oh, the berry tart with the delicious sweet custard!

You can also taste the cakes prepared in an artistic way with a wide variety of flavors. If you have Birthday, you can order a special one with a Happy Birthday name on it. Don’t miss this place if you plan to visit New York.

 

5. Russ & Daughters Cafe

• Address: 127 Orchard St, New York City, NY 10002-3103
• Telephone: +1 212-475-4881
• Opening hours: Mon – Fri 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Sat – Sun 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• More information about the coffee house: http://www.russanddaughterscafe.com/

Russ and Daughters Café is a unique New York coffee shop with an authentic Jewish cuisine on the Lower East Side near Orchard Street. Another outpost of the place is located in the neighborhood of the Jewish Museum. They waiters are dressed in white lab/butcher coats and serve you at the counter (at a table with an impressive marble top).

You can observe the staff at the semi-open kitchen. The interior is so nice with its herringbone marble floor, a sculpture of a fish swimming through a bagel, the vintage black-and-white photos, and the bathroom wallpaper. The retro feeling will definitely appease you…

This is a perfect place to have breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. The paper placemat menu is changed every day, they add two special entrees in the evening. The Reserve app makes dinner reservations available one month in advance. Russ and Daugthers can be so busy that sometimes you have to wait more than an hour.

You will appreciate the diner style coffee, coffee soda is amazing! Russ and Daughters House Blend will be an interesting choice. Homemade sodas, egg creams, beer, wine, cocktails… Shissel is one of their most famous dish, typically Jewish, just as challah, bialys and sliced pumpernickel. Stetl is a board with sablefish, tomato, red onion, capers, bagel, and cream cheese. Definitely worth a try. One of the best New York cafés.

 

4. Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe

• Address: 342 E 11th St, New York City, NY 10003-7417
• Telephone: +1 212-674-7070
• Opening hours: Sun – Thu 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM, Fri – Sat 8:00 AM – 1:00 AM
• More information about the coffee house: http://venierospastry.com/

Venieros is a phenomenal New York coffee house that was opened in 1894 in Manhattan. This place is a true Italian pastry shop, probably one of the last ones in New York City. They have a to-go counter and a seated dining area.

If you arrive by car, note that it is difficult to find parking places around. This New York café can be quite busy (especially on weekends), the lines are very long, so you are better off if you arrive in the morning.

The coffee is superb, especially the espresso and the melange. You will surely find a coffee after your own heart at this New York coffee shop. The chocolate milk tastes like coffee.Veniero offers many of their pastries in a mini version: thus you can eat guilt-free or try multiple desserts.

Cookies are crunchy and sweet. Sfoglitella is must try, which is a flaky bite with sweetened ricotta. Their tiramisu is rich, creamy and layered with chocolate and coffee. Whipped cream and cannoli are also delicious.

The selection of the cakes and pastries is endless. Chocolate layered cake? Yummy…Your sweet tooth will definitely be satisfied here. It would be a sin to miss this place during your New York trip.

 

3. Little Collins

• Address: 667 Lexington Ave, New York City, NY 10022-3603
• Telephone: +1 212-308-1969
• Opening hours: Mon – Fri 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sat – Sun 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• More information about the coffee house: http://www.littlecollinsnyc.com/

This New York coffee house is named after the famous Collins Street in Melbourne, which offers many interesting coffee shops. You have to take a 30 minutes subway ride from the JFK Airport to get to this place. You can just sit down on an open bench and enjoy your coffee at this trendy and quaint place.

The barista will entertain you with his legible Australian accent. Little Collins will not cause any disappointment. The staff is friendly and attentive, even though the place is very busy. The seating is very limited, Their products reflect their love of coffee.

The coffee is delicious with a few roast options, they use counter culture beans. You can choose a short macchiato, a cafe latte, a Sweet Uncle Fred or a wonderful cappuccino. The perfect place to start your day with a fine breakfast with some classic Aussie staples. The breakfast muesli “muze” is great.

This is the only place in NY where you can get a Bunderberg Ginger Beer, which is a really special beverage. The avocado toast, the eggs, and the pastries are a must try. A wide selection of cookies is available. You can keep your food fresh in a freezer if you do not want to eat all at once. Highly recommended. One of the best New York cafés.

 

2. Tisserie

• Address: 870 7th Ave, New York City, NY 10019-4369
• Telephone: +1 212-463-0850
• Opening hours: Sun – Sat 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• More information about the coffee house: http://www.tisserie.com/

If you are walking through the east 50’s in New York, you should not miss Tisserie, which offers high-quality Aussie style coffees. This New York coffee house is a perfect mixture of Melbourne and New York. The modern design of the place is really impressive.

Everything looks superb inside. However, you have to count on the crowdedness, so you are better off if you do not arrive at the busiest times (do not expect to sit inside at lunchtime). The small tables turn over quickly. The staff is really polite and kind (and they are Aussie too), the will serve your coffee with a smile and good humor.

Do not miss the almond milk latte. The barista will do a great job here, he uses high-quality coffee. The latte is smooth and so full of flavor. The scrambled eggs are cooked perfectly. Smash is made from seven-grain bread and avocado on top and a little sea salt, lemon, and chili flakes.

So delicious! Just as the vegemite on toast. If you are a fan of Australian style flat whites, you will like this New York coffee house. Don’t miss it if you ramble on the street of New York City.

 

1. Fluffy’s Cafe & Pizzeria

• Address: 9th Ave & W 58th St, New York, NY 10019
• Telephone: +1 212-245-0440
• Opening hours: Sun – Sat 5:00 am – 4:59 am
• More information about the coffee house: http://www.fluffyscafe.com/

This popular, little New York café -an all-in-one place- is located on a corner south of Lincoln Center, near Columbus Circle. They offer a wide range of delicious foods prepared in front of you. You can choose the ingredients, which are always fresh. Open 24/7 and they deliver.

The owner is always there to make sure that the dining area is in order and to communicate gently with the customers. The place is sometimes crowded, but the quality and the friendliness of the staff will definitely compensate you. The prices are reasonable, your wallet won’t complian too much. Everything is tidy and clean.

They offer a wide variety of coffees. You can choose from Cappuccino, Macchiato, Americano, Café au lait, Caffé Caramel and others. The Philly Cheesesteak is something to die for. You can opt for French Toast with bacon, lovely pancakes and waffles for breakfast. A large menu is available with soups, pizza, cold sandwiches, pasta, rice bowls etc.

You definitely should taste the hamburgers made with fresh ground beef and fresh herbs mixed in. The desserts such as Carrot Cake and New York style cheesecake topped with fresh blueberries are so tasty. The perfect place for a quick bite or to pick up take-out. Don’t miss it.

 

Summary

The United States has long been the home of Italian emigrants who have since left many cultural, gastronomic and traditional traces. Let’s not go so far as to suggest that the Italians brought coffee to the United States, but what is certain is that they have helped to give its nobility to the hot drink in the USA.

New York is often associated with coffee shops. A couple of Woody Allen movies played a key role in creating the romantic café image of New York: Sex and the City, Felicity and so on. Hanging out with friends in the cozy coffee shops of the city of the Statue of Liberty can be a vast experience. Did you get the feeling to discover this exciting milieu?

If you are interested in the warmer countries, check out our article about The Best Cafés of Mexico City, the heart of Mexico.