There aren’t many hangouts that can claim to be relaxing, stimulating, laid back and exciting at the same time for different people. However, a good café is just such a place, and the good news is that there is no dearth of good cafes in NYC. So the next time you feel like sitting with a book, hanging out with friends for a quiet evening or letting your creative juices flow, here are the places to go to.
Iris Café, 20 Columbia Place, Brooklyn Heights
Rated as the best café for 2010 by the New York Magazine, this Brooklyn Heights destination is a real treasure off the beaten track. It bakes its own sumptuous range of pastries, buns and cookies and you can literally feel the freshness as you step in. The coffee out here is flawless, and to top it all, you get freshly prepared all-day breakfast meals. The ham and beef sandwiches here are must-trys, and if you feel like taking some eggs or farmstead milk back home, they sell those too.
La Colombe, 319 Church Street
You are greeted by the fragrance of coffee the moment and you walk in, and anticipation turns to delight when your mug arrives. The coffee here is that good. The ambience does justice to its industrial TriBeCa neighborhood, with lights that hang low, exposed brick walls, and minimalist interiors. As you sit back, you can admire some of the photography on the walls. It is Italy shot by the owner, who also happens to be an amateur photographer. If you hang around a bit, you will come across a very interesting blend of regulars who come from far off places such as Australia, Senegal and China.
Joe, 141 Waverly Place
A small, intimate café tucked away in West Village, Joe is quite an atmospheric place with a chic bohemian décor. It lives up to its trendy and upscale neighborhood in more than just interiors. The coffee, pastries and cookies here are excellent.
Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee, 138 West, 10th Street
Situated in the heart of Grenwich Village, this café rolls itme back and takes you straight into the 1950s, when the anti-establishment writers and poets known as the Beat Generation held sway. The place is full of memorabilia from that era, including tables, old number plates, lots of books, and a narrow bench. The coffee here is excellent too, and comes with a very unique, creative touch. If you are fed up with a regular cappuccino, try out the Half Lou, the Mad Max or Dirty Harry.