Top Coffee Shops

"America runs on Dunkin".... and no, I have not included DD on this list even though America glorifies Dunkin and Starbucks - not saying that I am a coffee snob (eh, maybe). But I feel that it should be like"America runs on coffee." It's insane the amount of coffee we consume everyday, I mean, I know I drink a lot and my friends can testify.

I do believe that coffee shops are truly unique in NYC. All the ones I've visited each have their own character and believe it or not, not every coffee shop serves the same kinds of coffee. A latte at Gregory's Coffee isn't like a latte at Chalait. Mind you, this is just my opinion and I'm not belittling Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts - I happen go to those two very often because it's convenient. However, depending on my schedule, time, and where I am, these are my favorite coffee shops (so far and not in any particular order) that I frequent and do recommend.

 1. Toby's Estate Coffee. I've been to the Flatiron location and the one in West Village only, so I can't vouch for the one in Brooklyn, but by far, my favorite coffee shop in West Village! For one thing, most of the coffee shops I visit are very crowded no matter what time of the day I go, but Toby's on Charles St. isn't very crowded and it's actually quite spacious. They've got little round tables in the center with cute little plants and newspapers which is pretty neat, and then they have two long bars by the windows.

What I recommend: Flat white

Location: 44 Charles St, New York, NY 10014 (note: they have multiple locations)

2. Chalait. Oh man, out of all the coffee shops I've been to, this has got to probably be the most "Instagramed," as they are known for their marble tables and chic but simple aesthetic. It's very small but very easy to find if you happen to take the 1 train downtown since it's the first place you see on your left. It's probably most famously known for their menu of matcha-infused drinks i.e. matcha latte, matcha cortado, matcha hot chocolate...you get the point. They are also known for their amazing avocado toast. Matcha + avocado? If you know me at all, then you know that those two are my favorite drink and food item.

What I recommend: Matcha latte & classic avocado toast

Location: 224 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014            

3. Bibble & Sip. The winner of the cutest name ever. I believe I came upon this coffee shop via Instagram and it has the cutest theme. As you can see from the image above, alpacas are their mascot pretty much and I am a sucker for cute latte art, and Bibble & Sip does just that. Along with caffeinated drinks, they also serve delicious pastries and savory items like quiches and sandwiches. The only downfall to this cafe is that it's crowded pretty much any time of the day so getting a seat can be difficult.

What I recommend: Matcha jasmine latte, Earl Grey cream puff, chocolate chip cookie

Location: 253 West 51st Street New York, NY 10019

4. Hungry Ghost. I don't go to Brooklyn often but I might have a reason to because this particular coffee shop. It's a little bit difficult to find but it is so worth the trip. The first thing I noticed walking in was the amazing tiles - I am also a sucker for pretty floors. If you look up this coffee shop on Instagram, you'll probably notice a lot of people using the floor as background for their coffee shot. It's pretty small yet cozy and quaint since they have a few chairs set up with small round tables. The decor is minimal but pretty memorable as well as their coffee.

What I recommend: Latte (my go-to drink)

Location: 647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY (note: they have multiple locations)

I won't lie - I'm a coffee fiend, so there will most likely be a part two or a continuation of this as I have many favorite coffee shops. I do hope my recommendations serve useful.

Thanks so much reading and I hope you have a good week!