There are plenty of NYC coffee shops serving up high-quality java; however, for those wanting a truly experiential sip you’ll need to do a bit more digging.
Luckily, we did the research for you.
Hey, we’re definitely not complaining about having to drink so much coffee.
And you’ll want to hop on the caffeine train too once you start exploring the following unique NYC coffee shops!
Need help capturing the best of NYC — with you in the photos? Book one of our Private Photo Journeys, a walking tour that includes photos of your group to keep. Or get a styled, custom shoot that tells your unique story through an NYC Influencer Shoot or Professional New York City Shoot. Email [email protected] with inquiries.
1. Upstate Stock
2 Berry St / Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Along with selling affordable 100% American-made accessories — mainly crafted in New York — their coffee drinks are both amazing and creative.
Purchase one of their notebooks made with 100% Rainforest Alliance-certified paper and order a “Camp Fire Latte.”
The drink is laced with smoked maple syrup and pairs perfectly with a locally-made sticky bun or maple donut.
Another option: the curative Coconut Matcha Latte. Yum!
2. Mellow Yellow
1729 1st Avenue / Yorkville, Manhattan
This chill cafe serves up strong coffee and good vibes (literally; it’s a major part of their brand!). The bright yellow interior uplifts while the art-adorned walls inspire.
Their Turkish coffee pairs deliciously with Moroccan dishes like shakshuka (shown below), and pita za’atar and tabouleh.
Wi-Fi and a big front window make it the perfect place to spend an afternoon.
3. The Chocolate Room
51 5th Avenue (Park Slope, Brooklyn) & 269 Court Street (Cobble Hill, Brooklyn)
Two of life’s greatest pleasures come together at this decadent cafe, where chocolate is infused in everything from the coffee to the cakes to the booze.
It’s a cozy space full of marble tables, atop which your server can bring you a Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout, chocolate fondue, chocolate port, mochaccino and more.
Our pick:
The “Cafe Torino” blending dark hot chocolate with an espresso shot and finished with a foam top.
For conscious drinkers, the Chocolate Room uses Brooklyn Roasting Company’s Fair Trade Certified, organic and locally-roasted beans.
4. Fine & Raw
70 Scott Street / Bushwick, Brooklyn
This chocolate factory crafts raw and half-raw treats made at 140-degrees or cooler, all in an open factory that makes it easy to see the process.
By doing this, the chocolate retains its terroir so you can actually taste where it comes from and the process is fascinating to watch.
We recommend pairing a lucuma-laced bar with their mocha for a fabulous afternoon treat.
5. Cocoa Bar
21 Clinton Street / Lower East Side, Manhattan
Can you tell we like chocolate?
This small cafe serves some of the most delicious sandwiches — perfect for a working lunch.
If your sweet tooth is calling out, order the “Chocolatté.”
The drink is mocha-laced with hard chocolate melted into steamed milk with espresso.
Choose between mint chocolate, cinnamon, white, spicy or dark chocolate for your flavor.
At night, it becomes a cozy wine bar (that also serves a mean Espresso Martini). In fact, no laptops are allowed at the counter after 7pm.
6. Blank Slate
121 Madison Avenue / NoMad, Manhattan + 941 2nd Avenue / Midtown, Manhattan
If you’re looking for Instammable cafes in NYC that are also delicious, you can’t miss Blank Slate, a cafe with stunning interiors and satisfying coffee and food.
For java drinks, they serve everything from cortados to Vietnamese coffee to mochas and beyond — and with every type of milk you could ask for. They also have fun sweetener flavorings like vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, and rose.
Pair your beverage with a beautifully-plated avocado toast topped with chili honey or opt for something heartier, like their Breakfast Bowl featuring warm farro, kale, wild mushrooms, squash, cheese, avocado, and sunny side up egg with pepita cilantro drizzle. Yum!
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7. Pasticceria Rocco
243 Bleecker Street (West Village, Manhattan) & 9402 4th Avenue (Bay Ridge, Brooklyn)
Serving the neighborhood since 1974 — and still in the same family— Pasticceria Rocco is where you go when you’re craving traditional Italian pastries and cookies the size of your head.
We love sitting in their naturally lit atrium sipping one of their crazy flavored lattes, with options like Red Velvet, Vanilla Cupcake, and Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie.
They’re pretty darn good at their latte art too, as seen below!
8. Coffee Project
239 E 5th Street / East Village, Manhattan
This is where you dip into java heaven through the “Deconstructed Latte”:
A shot of espresso, milk and a latte, each in a separate glass.
By having your latte like this, you’re able to better taste the unique flavors of each ingredient. And don’t think the milk is anything to skip over; it’s from Battenkill Valley Creamery and pasteurized at a low temperature to preserve the natural flavors.
The vibe is chill with lots of wood tables and natural light, and the “Nitro Flight” is worth making another trip for.
9. Variety Coffee Roasters
Multiple locations throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan
For a classic coffee experience in a clean and welcoming atmosphere, head to Variety Coffee Roasters.
The brand opened their doors in Williamsburg in 2008, and thanks to their dedication to quality, have expanded to have multiple locations across Brooklyn and Manhattan.
You’ll feel their passion in every sip, as you enjoy a menu reflective of the various coffee regions and their distinct seasons.
Beans are sourced from places known for producing incredible coffee — like Mexico, Guatemala, and Ethiopia — and they roast their coffee beans in-house in Brooklyn, allowing your java drink to taste extra fresh.
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10. Doughnut Plant
Various locations across Manhattan, Brooklyn & Queens
Doughnut Plant is so much more than just a coffee shop.
First of all, you absolutely must get one of their square doughnuts filled with housemade jams and creams — like the Peanut Butter & Jam featuring their own homemade peanut butter and their own homemade strawberry jam.
If you’d prefer something classic, they’ve also got cake doughnuts — as well as yeast doughnuts, sourdough doughnuts, doughseeds doughnuts, vegan doughnuts, gluten-free doughnuts, and a rotating menu of special limited-edition seasonal doughnuts.
For those craving a cuppa joe, they put just as much passion into their coffee as they do their fried dough. In fact, they make their own coffee that is fresh roasted in small batches. Have a cup in shop and then buy a bag to take home!
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Are there any unique NYC coffee shops we missed? Please share in the comments below!
Need help capturing the best of NYC — with you in the photos? Book one of our Private Photo Journeys, a walking tour that includes photos of your group to keep. Or get a styled, custom shoot that tells your unique story through an NYC Influencer Shoot or Professional New York City Shoot. Email [email protected] with inquiries.
*Featured image via Free-Photos/Pixabay
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