It shouldn’t come as a surprise by now that David and I really love coffee. Honestly, I’ll take caffeine in any form that you will give it to me, but I prefer it in a well crafted cappuccino. I often say that Lorelei Gilmore is my caffeine spirit animal — as we both lose our coherence without java. It was for this reason that we sought out to find the best of the best of New York City coffee shops on our latest trip to our favorite city. We have narrowed our favorites down to our top three.
3. Blue Bottle Coffee.
The particular Blue Bottle Coffee we went to gets cool points for many reasons. One, it was inside of Gotham Market, which doesn’t just house Blue Bottle, but many other small specialty restaurants. The whole place gives off a cool warehouse vibe. Blue Bottle does great espresso drinks and amazing brewed coffee. The only thing I wouldn’t recommend this place for is hanging out, as its mostly bar stools and other uncomfortable seating.
2. Two Hands.
I love everything about Two Hands in Little Italy. I love the cozy atmosphere and the fact that its run by Australians. I love that it’s the kind of place that you feel like you just happened to stumble upon. I also love their well crafted coffee, and how they specialize in avocado toast that is beyond delicious. This is the kind of place that I would spend hours upon hours in — reading, writing, catching up with friends. I love this place and highly endorse it.
1. Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
We went to two of their locations, with my favorite being the one close to 34th street. They roast their own beans, which is obviously necessary to nab the top place on this list, and they also have great macaroons. But legitimately, this place makes one of the best cappuccinos I’ve had in my life.
There are plenty of fantastic coffee shops in New York City, these just happen to be our three favorites. This is a city with a Starbucks on every corner, but that shouldn’t be your go-to when the city holds so many other great options for you to enjoy!