Freshly baked Croissanteria croissants 🙂
What is the one thing that our beloved Chapel Hill, everyone’s favorite college town (unless you went to Dook, in which case, I’m sorry), has in common with NYC? It’s the abundance of seriously cool and delicious coffee shops! I’ll have to admit, I’m a bit of a coffee snob and the Keurig at the office just isn’t getting the job done. And recently our tea kettle broke, rendering the french press in our East Village abode out-of-order. I’m pretty sure this was a sign from the coffee gods and I’ve taken the opportunity to try out almost every worthwhile coffee establishment within a half mile radius of our apartment and my place of business. These are the winners when it comes to getting my caffeine fix, in no particular order:
1. Croissanteria – Top-notch coffee made with Brooklyn Roasting Company beans in a lovely atmosphere. And it’s RIGHT around the corner from our apartment! The combination of convenience and quality here may nudge Croissanteria into the #1 spot on my list of top coffee shops. It’s near impossible for me to resist picking up a chocolate croissant with my morning coffee when they’re right out of the tiny oven. Also, their smoked salmon sandwich is to DIE for.
Ave A @ East 4th St
2. Mud (and the Mud Truck) – The Mudtruck Blend, marketed as “Pure New York City Fuel” was brewing in our french press before the kettle mishap. The best way to describe it is just really excellent coffee. The Mud Truck parks outside the uptown Astor Place metro stop in the mornings, making it a lifesaver on mornings when I’m rushing out the door.
East 9th St @ 2nd Ave
3. Manhattan Espresso Cafe – My favorite place for an afternoon cappuccino on those long work days. This tiny place (there are about 5 seats) is cash only under $10. Last time I went sans-cash I was forced to get one of their freshly baked, still warm-out-of-the-oven oatmeal raisin cookies and a biscotti to reach the $10 minimum. It definitely made my day.
49th St between 3rd Ave & Lex
What’s your coffee order?
4. La Colombe – Best iced coffee in Manhattan, IMHO. Coffee is served on saucers with spoons (even for to-go cups) with milk options in ceramic pitchers instead of the standard thermos kind. The atmosphere is cool and industrial. The small wooden tables are usually occupied by brooding writers, perhaps due to its proximity to NYU. Another thing I love about La Colombe is their commitment to ethical long-term trade with coffee growers and dedication to carry “earth conscious” beans. With the coming of spring I am very much looking forward to La Colombe’s iced coffees and strolls through nearby Washington Square park!
Lafayette St & East 4th St
5. Joe The Art of Coffee – Em and I stumbled into this West Village gem on a snowy Saturday to warm up before brunch. What an awesome discovery! Joe has been named one of the “Best U.S. Coffee Bars” by Food & Wine and I definitely agree. Cozy atmosphere and quality coffee.
Waverly Place @ 6th Ave
Honorable mentions: Konditori, The Bean, Macaron Cafe, Porto Rico Importing Co.
Go a little crazy and skip the standard Starbucks to give one of my recommendations a try. You won’t be disappointed!
xo,
a
scorpio bites 