Our Top REFUEL Recommendations: New York City
New York City has a coffee shop on nearly every corner. Having explored a fair few of them now, as well as some beautifully calming tea houses, as we make our way around the city, we have put together our top picks that span most areas so that no matter where you are in NY, we can guarantee if you want to put your feet up and watch the world go by with a cold brew or a warming cup, or hop onto some WiFi and have a meeting, you can’t go wrong with any of these options.
Oslo, West Village
Let’s start with our number one favourite, smoothest, creamiest coffee in NY. You have to taste it to believe how good this blend really is.
It’s in the name but Oslo is a Norse-themed artisanal Brooklyn coffee roastery and they have a few spots in the City but this West Village one is our favourite.
Their coffee beans come from farmers who use ecologically and socially sustainable practices, helping to support a healthy ecosystem and to provide a fair living for their workers. These are the only farms that can produce the high quality coffee that they use. The care that goes into growing, shipping and finally roasting these coffees really is reflected in the flavour of the finished product. It’s not just any ordinary cup and the staff aren’t any ordinary humans. Despite the hardships COVID-19 has thrown on them, the owner Justin has turned up daily with a smile on his face ready to give people that little bit of normality so craved in 2020 in the form of a cup of coffee. It’s all about the simple things in life. Next time you’re in the Village, ask for a Cortado with oat milk and let us know what you think.
236 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014
Devocian
Devocian Coffee is the only farm-to-table coffee roasters in the world, and you can taste it. They work directly with their farmers and FedEx to get the purest, most delicious specialty coffee to Brooklyn overnight.
When it comes to meetings in Williamsburg, this is our number one hotspot. The light pours in through the central skylight, the sofas are so comfy you melt into them and the coffee is worth every cent.
Gasoline Alley Coffee
Gasoline Alley Coffee has been providing New Yorkers with seriously great coffee for nearly a decade. They have four locations over SoHo, NoHo, Flatiron and West Village so depending on where you are, if you need a quick pitstop, you can always rely on their beautifully roasted beans to keep you fuelled.
SoHo: 154 Grand Street, 10013
NoHo: 325 Lafayette Street, 10012
Flatiron: 24 East 23rd Street, 10010
West Village: 310 West 14th Street, 10014
Sant Ambroeous
This may not be your typical coffee shop, but this restaurant’s espresso bar at any of its many locations across Manhattan and the Hamptons make for some of the best frothy fix options in NY.
There is something so delicious about the espresso here; whether it’s the dainty scalloped china it comes in, it is velvet soft.
Order a latté, double espresso or cappuccino to stay or to go.
Soho: 265 Lafayette St, New York, 10012
West Village: 259 West 4th Street, New York, 10014
Happy Bones
New York City is all about energy and creativity, and Happy Bones exists to inspire and energise New Yorkers. It is both a café and local art space known for its flat whites as well as its white brick walls and incredible array of international publications to browse whilst enjoying some downtime.
No matter what the weather, it’s always such a bright, welcoming and airy space that was established by two New Zealander’s with an obsession for great coffee, to get your best caffeine fix in the Lower East Side.
394 Broome Street, New York, 10013
Maman
We simply love Maman. With their rustic decor and classic blue floral everything, you could spend hours here sipping cappuccinos and dining on delicious French fare.
During the day, it’s filled with freelancers sitting among the potted plants and string lights. We love all the locations, especially Soho and now Meatpacking District location, with its white washed wood panels and blue tiled floors does in fact make you feel like you could be for a second, in the South of France. Our favourite locations are:
Soho: 239 Centre Street, 10013
Tribeca: 211 West Broadway, 10013
Meatpacking: 837 Washington Street (inside Samsung), 10014
Bellocq
Bellocq Tea Ateliér can be found tucked away down an unassuming street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Entering through giant industrial doors, you enter a haven of hanging plants and plush, coral cushions.
It’s quite a marvel into the world of luxury tea. They encourage you to explore their collection of over 50 loose leaf teas and blends, rare Japanese incense and artisan sourced gifts from around the world.
The perfect peaceful pitstop if you’re in Greenpoint.
104 West St, Brooklyn, 11222
Birch
Scattered all around the city, Birch is a great coffee shop that is ‘committed to being the best part of your day’, with an abundance of places to sit and work in a laid-back, relaxed environment.
What we love most about Birch, is that they pride themselves on creating a sense of community amidst the chaos of NYC. They have an ‘Ignition Initiative’ which actively encourages you to mingle and welcome conversation.
Birch is more than just coffee if you’re wanting to connect with others in a city where the fast-pace can make it otherwise tricky. With that said, if you're looking for a spot to just focus with your flat white, you can do that too.
Our favourite location is West Village, 56 7th Ave, 10011
The Smile
The Smile is a cozy, subterranean café on picturesque Bond Street in Downtown Manhattan. It’s a firm favourite in the local community and serves as a clubhouse of sorts serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as exceptional coffee.
They have smaller outposts called Smile To Go too which are some of the best, healthy-ish places to grab lunch with seasonal salads.
We also love a good branded cup and places that don’t use plastic straws!
26 Bond St, New York, 10012
Buvette
This West Village restaurant has been around since 2011. It’s very small and very quaint but that’s all part of the charm. It’s like walking into a beautiful little restaurant in the middle of a French village with French music and French staff to really add to the experience. It can become a bit of a tourist hot spot so we love to go first thing on a morning and both the selection of teas and coffees here are delicious. The steamed eggs and the pastries are something else too! If you love all things French then Buvette is an absolute must.42 Grove Street, New York, 10014
Plant Shed
PlantShed boasts one of the largest plant and floral selections in New York City. The flagship store covers an entire 5-story building and is quite literally jam-packed with thousands of indoor and outdoor botanical species, fresh-cut flowers, containers and garden supplies.
We love their location in the heart of Nolita on the corner of Prince Street and Bowery though. It has the most beautiful, modern Scandinavian design and offers a highly curated selection of trendy plants and lush florals as well as great coffee. Lots of freelancers tend to work here during the week.
209 West 96th St (at Broadway), New York, 10025
Té Company
Té Company is the only destination in NYC if you love a beautifully crafted Taiwanese Tea. The owners have established personal connections with farmers and families in Taiwan over the years and it’s incredible to see how they truly bring their stories and teas to life; giving so much more character to what you’re drinking.
What we love about Té is that they offer lesser known styles alongside tested classics to highlight small town heritage. They truly honour the mastery practiced by some of the best tea makers in the world that they work with and it shows.
163 W 10th St, New York, 10014
The Elk, West Village
The Elk is a firm favourite in the West Village. Try finding a better Matcha Latte elsewhere, they really know how to make the very best.
It’s bright and well-designed, with a few tables that are a work-free zone and some stools in the window if you want to take your laptop with you and watch the world go by. Whilst at the time of writing, {July 2020} NY is still in Phase Two of reopening so whilst you can’t sit and watch the world go by just yet, you can go in and shop their fresh bakes, sandwiches to-go, dried goods and they also have a great edit of candles, cards, CBD oils, journals and succulents so there’s lots of ways you can still enjoy all that they have to offer.
128 Charles St, New York, NY 10014
