Coffee Culture: Top Five Cafes In New York City, USA

new york coffee shops
Photo courtesy of George Dogikh via Shutterstock

It won’t be surprising to hear that New York City is one of the most complex and diverse metropolises in the world. Food, fashion, architecture, history, culture…NYC is a hub for all of them. So too for coffee, especially in the last few years, as a host of gourmand caffeine purveyors has cropped up in the city, from Manhattan to Brooklyn and back again.

Here are five New York coffee shops to add to your itinerary:

1. Black Brick

new york coffee shops
Photo courtesy of Black Brick

According to many NYC itineraries, New York City’s geographical heart may be Manhattan, but Brooklyn is becoming more and more of a New York cultural hub every day. Just off Williamsburg’s shopping thoroughfare Bedford Avenue, Black Brick is one of the best coffee spots in the borough. A den-like ambiance, communal tables and exquisite lattes make Black Brick the perfect stop for a caffeine hit and a Brooklyn moment. 300 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn

2. Oro

new york coffee shops
Photo courtesy of Oro

Easily miss-able on the calm end of Broome Street, Oro is a quiet highlight on the New York coffee scene. The coffee is strong and creamy, the juices are fresh and flavorful, the granola is house-made fruit-and-nut heaven. Do yourself a favor and hit Oro up for breakfast one chilly New York morn. 375 Broome Street, Manhattan.

3. Café Gitane

new york coffee shops
Photo courtesy of Café Gitane

With its curved silver bar, mirrored walls and little circular tables, Café Gitane’s name (meaning “Gypsy”) is far from the only French thing about it. Nestled in the midst of super cool Nolita, Café Gitane is like a little French oasis in the middle of NYC. Make like a Parisian and people watch over a simple espresso and mini tablette of bittersweet dark chocolate. 242 Mott Street, Manhattan

4. Konditori

new york coffee shops
Photo courtesy of Konditori

I like French coffee, I really like American coffee and I love Australian coffee, but there’s just nothing like Swedish coffee. So hot, so strong, so dark, so not made for sugar or milk. I’ll never forget the insomnia I experienced after my Swedish friend brewed me a mug of black coffee so strong my heart was jumping about for hours. Much milder than that fateful mug, but still in the Swedish style, Scandinavian café Konditori is one of my favorites in NYC. There’s a little one near the Bedford Ave subway stop in Williamsburg, but I love the Manhattan Avenue one in Green Point. 687 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn

5. Ruby’s

new york coffee shops
Photo courtesy of Ruby’s

The pretty, buzzing Nolita streets around Prince, Mott, Elizabeth and Mulberry, with their many boutiques and eateries, are coming to be known to some as Little Australia. Indeed, my fellow expat Aussies have truly made their mark on this tiny corner of Manhattan, not least in the Aussie coffee institution, Ruby’s. A true favorite for locals and expats alike, Ruby’s is like a slice of Melbourne in New York. 219 Mulberry Street, Manhattan

What’s your favorite coffee haunt in NYC? Please share in the comments below.

Also Check Out:

Coffee Culture: Top Five Cafes In London, England

Coffee Culture: Top Five Cafes In Melbourne, Australia

Coffee Culture: Top Five Cafes In Paris, France

Jessie Festa

Jessica Festa is the editor of Epicure & Culture as well as Jessie on a Journey. She enjoys getting lost in new cities and having experiences you don’t read about in guidebooks. Some of her favorite travel experiences have been teaching English in Thailand, trekking her way through South America, backpacking Europe solo, road tripping through Australia, agritouring through Tuscany, and volunteering in Ghana.

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4 Comments

  1. Gemma-
    Thanks for this post! My husband is a Melbournian working in Manhattan and always looking for coffee that tastes as good as it does in Australia. We’ve spent time living in Melbourne and have come to search for Aussie fare while in New York. I’m sure he’ll love to check out Ruby’s for a long black and a bit of a taste of home. Thanks for posting!

    Cheers, Stacey

    1. @Stacey: We’re glad you enjoyed the post! 🙂

    2. Thanks Stacey, that’s so sweet! Ruby’s is definitely great for combating homesickness. I always head there myself when I need a flat white and to feel at home! Gemma

  2. Being a top cafe in a city like NY sure is some accolade – and especially in such a coffee mad city. Will have to check them out.

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