New York City, otherwise known as the Big Apple, is a true tourist magnet. Its famous buildings, iconic film locations, acclaimed Broadway shows, hip clubs, and bars are what make the island of Manhattan appealing and fascinating. One can simply not forget the quirky peculiarities such as the smoking manholes and the whimsical miniature bronze statues that populate most central stations of the old, slow subway system. There’s even more—get mesmerised by the general artsy vibe, Central Park dressed with its best autumnal colours and the vibrant life of cool neighbourhoods and places such as Greenwich, Chelsea, Tribeca, or The High Line. New York City is truthfully a multi-sensorial experience. To explore it and make sense of it all, you will need all the coffee you can handle, so keep on reading our recommendations for the top 10 coffee shops in Manhattan, New York City.
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1. Plowshares Coffee Roasters
Boasting two hip locations in Manhattan, Plowshares Coffee Roasters has only reopened one coffee shop since the country-wide lockdown has been lifted in September 2020. Located along Broadway, in the neighbourhood of Bloomingdale, their flagship store serves the magical dark libation from 8am until 3pm. Not only you can slowly sip a sturdy cup of coffee in a stylish setting while working on your laptop, but you can also take home a bag of freshly ground coffee beans imported from the most renowned coffee regions in the world.
Plowshares Coffee Roasters
Address: 2730 Broadway, Store #5 New York, NY 10025
Website: Plowshares Coffee Roasters
Opening hours: 8am - 3pm (daily)
2. Lenox Coffee Roasters
A micro coffee roaster serving coffee since 2011, Lenox Coffee prides itself on having single-origin coffees on its menu. They’re based in Harlem but roast their coffee beans in Brooklyn and source their baked goods and cakes from local vendors. Step into this hip café for a medium roast to pair with a sweet breakfast bowl or a dark roast with ham and Swiss cheese croissant.
Lenox Coffee Roasters
Address: 60 W 129th St, New York, NY 10027, United States
Website: Lenox Coffee Roasters
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 7pm; Sat - Sun: 8am - 7pm
3. Box Kite Coffee
Seasonal coffees to satisfy every palate are proudly served by Box Kite Coffee. They source their coffee beans from different roasteries and judiciously—or, not—turn them into manual brews or strong espressos. The store is rather small so as to serve the purpose of a good coffee-on-the-go to kickstart your day or as a pick-me-up after a generous lunch.
Box Kite Coffee
Address: 128 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023, United States
Website: Box Kite Coffee
Opening hours: 8am - 3pm (daily)
4. Rex
Pour-over coffee lovers are invited to walk into this cosy little minimalist café where teas and coffees are stored on wooden shelves. Indulge yourself in their good selection of tasty sandwiches and all sorts of baked goods, from muffins to doughnuts.
Rex
Address: 864 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019, United States
Website: Rex
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 2:30pm; Sat - Sun: 8am - 1pm
5. Little Collins
Proudly serving blends as well as single-origin coffees from Latin America and Ethiopia, Little Collins has two locations but only one is operating due to the current pandemic. The knowledgeable staff wearing white shirts, black ties, and beige aprons operates with precision and dedication behind a wide white counter. The coffees can be paired with sweet or savoury treats. The customers’ favourites are the smashed avocado toast and the banana bread served with ricotta and berries.
Little Collins
Address: 570 Lexington Ave, SW corner of 51st & Lex New York, NY 10022
Website: Little Collins
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
6. Culture Espresso
An independent and locally owned coffee shop that has now grown into three locations. Presenting the coolest of them all, with flowery wallpaper giving a homey vibe and a chandelier hanging over the counter, this cafe is quite small but super cosy. There’s a long, wide table with a wooden counter and a narrower one next to the large shop window with a top that resembles marble. Together with a smooth coffee, their award-winning chocolate chip cookies are highly recommended!
Culture Espresso
Address: 72 West 38th St. New York, NY 10018
Website: Culture Espresso
Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)
7. Variety Coffee Roasters
Selling some fierce, red coffee bags, Variety Coffee Roasters has two locations in Manhattan (one on the Upper East Side, the other in the Chelsea neighbourhood) and three in Brooklyn. Beside brewing coffees with different contraptions, which you can find instructions on their website, this upbeat chain also serves a small selection of baked goods.
Variety Coffee Roasters
Address: UPPER EAST SIDE 1269 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10028
Website: Variety Coffee Roasters
Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)
8. The Elk
Even though The Elk sells groceries, beauty, and household products, its coffee is the main attraction. Founded by a Canadian expat, the beans sold here are roasted at Parlor Coffee in Brooklyn. The cafe has a rustic touch, an outdoorsy vibe, and minimalist decor with wooden panels, benches, and tables. The shelves that take up a small portion of the wall by the counter showcase eco-friendly and homemade products ranging from candles and jams to sauces. They also offer a good variety of sweet and savoury bites. Tempted? Yearning for a mocha and a breakfast burrito but can’t leave the house? Fear not as you can order online and have them delivered to your doorstep.
The Elk
Address: 128 Charles St, New York, NY 10014, United States
Website: The Elk
Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)
9. Third Rail Coffee
Located in Greenwich Village, this cosy café serves hot and cold coffees to your liking. Whether it’s a cappuccino with a silky-smooth foam or a cold brew that undergoes a 24-hour brewing process to make it extra strong yet never bitter, you will walk out with a smile on your face. If you come with an appetite, indulge in some delicious pastries such as sweet and savoury croissants or scones, banana muffins, brownies, gluten-free peanut cookies, and much more!
Third Rail Coffee
Address: 240 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012, United States
Website: Third Rail Coffee
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 8pm; Sat - Sun: 8am - 8pm
10. Hi-Collar
A Japanese-style café might sound odd for some, but this unique coffee shop pairs their hot and cold coffees and teas with Japanese specialties such as the world-famous thick yet fluffy pancakes and Japanese-inspired snacks such as a katsu sandwich or an “omurice,” a creamy omelette over tomato rice. If you’re not yet enticed, know that they also serve cocktails, over 15 types of whiskey, and all sorts of hard liqueurs including the traditional sake.
Hi-Collar
Address: 231 E 9th St, New York, NY 10003, United States
Website: Hi-Collar
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
Coffees in Manhattan
Manhattan’s coffee culture has risen to new heights in the past few years. It might not yet have reached the level of dedication and almost obsession as seen in Melbourne, Australia, but it has definitely become a fair contender. Independent coffee shops have in fact sprung up all over New York City. They serve the best brews and blends that are usually imported from renowned coffee regions, roasted locally, and freshly ground in store. Baristas then add the finishing touches and there you have it—an outrageously Instagrammable latte art on top of your flat white.
Editor’s Note: Due to Covid-19, the business hours of Lenox Coffee Roasters, Little Collins, and Third Rail Coffee may differ from the stated timings in this article. Please be sure to check the updated hours from their websites.
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