21 Best Cafes in New York City you NEED to try

If you’re planning a trip to New York, or maybe you’re a local, don’t miss these best cafes in New York City that are definitely worth a visit.

New York City is filled with tens of thousands of cafes, you could almost argue that its cafe culture is comparable to that of Paris’. And in a city that never sleeps, what better way to stay awake than with a cup of caffeine?

Whether you’re looking for that morning commute cup o’ Joe, speciality coffee by region, the best pastries in town or just an aesthetic cafe to work from, we’ve got you covered with the 21 best cafes in New York City.

Without further ado, let’s get into it! Here are the best cafes in New York City.

1. Lê Phin

Vietnamese café located in the East Village. Dare I say Vietnamese coffee is some of the best in the world? This place is the closest I’ve ever come to the real thing. They are known for their Pandan lattes and Pandan matcha! Seating is limited and gets filled up quickly, so make sure you get here early or upon opening to snag the cutest most sought-after tables in this café 🤭

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨ Ambiance: Cozy vibes
☕️ Specialty: Pandan lattes & Pandan Matcha
Click for more info

2. Leon’s Bagels

The cutest little window coffee-shop in the West Village. Their theme is “nothing-fancy”, as they believe all that’s needed to bring 2 people together is a simple, delicious bagel. The Bagels are incredible– get the everything bagel, you can thank me later..

🛜 Wifi: No
🌱 V/VG/GF: No
✨Ambiance: Casual aesthetic
☕️ Specialty: Bagels
Click for more info

3. Maman

There are various locations of this aesthetic french-inspired café throughout NYC, and all of them are worthy of a visit. However, the one listed in the Guide above is in Brooklyn, and that’s the one featured in this video! With the beautiful rope hanging table swing and farm-to-table decor.

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Aesthetic garden vibes
☕️ Specialty: Nutty chocolate chip cookie & favorites from the south of france
Click for more info

4. Ladurée

It’s LADURÉE. A Classique. A French-lovers paradise. Try to plan ahead and reserve seating in the back garden so you get to sit amidst the blooming trees (perfect for photo ops!) The aesthetic of every single one of their dishes is too pretty to consume, and you will want to capture all of it. Make sure you arrive with a fully charged battery! And, don’t forget to leave with your lovely little green bag filled with macaroons of your choosing.

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Aesthetic & floral vibes
☕️ Specialty: Macaroons, brunch
Click for more info

5. Ralph’s Coffee

Ralph’s Coffee is one of the most aesthetic and luxurious coffee shops in the Upper West Side, in my opinion. Created by a legend himself, Ralph’s coffee is the perfect blend of its brand, combining classic & chic to produce a timeless cafe. Click this link and see the vibes for yourself! Also, the croissants are buttery and so light; like air.

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Luxury aesthetic
☕️ Specialty: Coffee & Ralph Lauren cafe accessories
Click for more info

6. Remi Flower & Coffee

This place is absolutely on my bucket list. Flowers AND Coffee? Say no more, I’ve heard enough to convince me. Watch this gorgeous video here for a glimpse of the lavender coffee! They sell flowers, plants AND coffee. They also do floral catering, which is perfect if you need an arrangement for an event.

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Aesthetic & Floral
☕️ Specialty: Lattes, plants
Click for more info

7. Buvette Gastrotheque

One of their very many locations, Buvette NYC is just as iconic as its sister restaurant in Paris 🇫🇷
Enjoy a spectacular brunch here, and one of their exquisite cocktails. Try their Croque Forestier Madame (roasted mushroom & sunny side egg), Chèvre (steamed eggs with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes) and their Yogurt with berries and granola, both are just delightful, as is everything on their menu.

🛜 Wifi: No
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Intimate and charming
☕️ Specialty: Classic French dishes, wine
Click for more info

8. Good Thanks Cafe

This place screams modern aesthetic. A must-visit on any café bucket list. Inspired by the Australian coast, this cafe offers up many creative dishes including healthy bowls, salads, smoothies, juices, breakfast and lunch. Some dishes you should try are: Kimchi bowl, Chickpea curry with eggs, and the Açai bowl. These are just some of my favorites, but try anything from their extensive menu and you won’t be disappointed.

🛜 Wifi: No
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Trendy
☕️ Specialty: Egg/savory dishes
Click for more info

9.RHYTHM ZERO

Kent street has some of THE cutest cafés ever- one of them is Rhythm Zero. You have to check out this spot in Brooklyn. Looking more like a stylish museum than a coffee shop, Rhythm Zero aims to bring people together via a comfortable and cozy gallery look. Added bonus, they serve amazing sorbet, so don’t skip out on the opportunity to try one. If you get a table outside, you’ll enjoy nice views of the water as well.

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Minimalistic
☕️ Specialty: Coffee, Sorbets
Click for more info

10. Dante West Village

Little more of a restaurant than a café, but you can definitely enjoy a breakfast with coffee here if you so choose to 😍. This West Village gem offers up small plates & cocktails, and many choose to enjoy a coffee or aperitif on the beautiful outdoor terrace.

🛜 Wifi: No
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Dressy, Upscale
☕️ Specialty: Cocktails, Happy Hour
Click for more info

11. % Arabica

% Arabica started in Kyoto, Japan, and is now a globally recognized coffee shop, with its second iconic NY location in DUMBO Brooklyn. The other NY location is in Nolita on Prince street. % Arabica is known for its freshly ground coffee, that you can also get fresh roasted at one of their locations- authentic coffee at its finest. Need I say more? Give this place a try if you’re in either of the areas!

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Some
✨Ambiance: Modern & trendy
☕️ Specialty: Kyoto Latte, Spanish Latte
Click for more info

12. Fellini Coffee

They literally just opened up in May 2023! Although they’ve only been around for a few months, they have already made their viral debut across Instagram and TikTok…and it’s easy to see why. With the cutest outdoor setting, colors, and trendy small corner style, this cafe is a total cafe lovers (& instagrammable) paradise. It’s also the perfect place for a pick-up café, or to grab a pre/post workout drink.
Aesthetics and vibes here are just 🤌🏽

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Casual aesthetic
☕️ Specialty: Protein-ccino, Dirty Chai
Click for more info

13. Vesuvio Bakery

Another iconic Prince street café (like % Arabica!), this Italian Bakery in Soho will quickly become your favorite. A little gem that’s been around for many years, Vesuvius is an adorable Italian neighborhood bakery with the most delicious PIES. And cookies! It’s been around for 100 years, and reopened after 11 years, maintaining the charm which dates to “back in the day.”

🛜 Wifi: No
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Takeaway, Casual
☕️ Specialty: Cookies!! Any of them
Click for more info

14. Butler Bakeshop & Espresso Bar

Boasting some of the finest espresso you can find. Try a cup with one of their freshly baked goods and their CRUFFIN- yes, it is both a croissant and a muffin! 🥐🧁
*Helpful tip: if you want to skip the long line and get your coffee to go, they have a little to-go window just outside. Pictured right below!

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes!
✨Ambiance: Casual Trendy
☕️ Specialty: All-day breakfast, Cruffin
Click for more info

15. Bakeri

2 locations in Brooklyn, this café & bakery has some of the best freshly baked sourdough bread in the area, yummm. There are no shortage of baked goods here! Bakeri is known for its delicious delights, and that includes the pistachio raspberry muffins, chocolate-chip pumpkin bread, hazelnut rosemary cookies… the list goes on and on.

🛜 Wifi: No
🌱 V/VG/GF: No
✨Ambiance: Casual & cozy
☕️ Specialty: Sourdough bread & Sweet pastries
Click for more info

16. Cafe Regular du Nord

We love a good Parisian-centric café. This cafe brings a Euro-style approach to Brooklyn, fostering artistic, homely, and cozy vibes wrapped up into one delicious little coffee shops. You’ll catch many locals hanging around here, and if you’re lucky enough to grab a pastry before they sell out, you won’t be disappointed! A must-visit if you’re in Park Slope.

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Artistic, Cozy, Homely
☕️ Specialty: Any of their freshly baked pastries
Click for more info

17. Octavia Coffee

The sweetest and tiniest coffee shop you’ll ever see. The staff here has the most infectious energy, and the barista is amazing! Lots of indoor and outdoor tables, even within a small space. PLUS- they have so many vegetarian-friendly options and coconut milk, which is super uncommon and so appreciated.

🛜 Wifi: No
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes, many
✨Ambiance: Nostalgic, aesthetic
☕️ Specialty: Egg & Cheese Croissant.
Click for more info

18. Café Kitsuné

Various locations all over the world, this café serves up some of the most full-bodied and flavorsome coffee ever. Cafe Kitsune describes the cafe experience as, ‘enjoying a quality coffee in locations that are both modern, cosmopolitan, and welcoming.’ Well, we won’t say any more. You’ll just have to go and check it out for yourself.

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Modern, Minimalistic
☕️ Specialty: Coffees, which have notes of chocolate and hazelnuts, with a smooth and syrupy texture
Click for more info

19. Librae Bakery

A Third Culture Bakery located in Cooper Square. A Middle East inspired bakery with bespoke mouth-watering delights, and the biggest croissant selection I’ve ever seen. The pastries are absolutely, without a doubt, DIVINE. Try the hot pistachios rose croissant (if it’s still available 🤭) and even better if you can catch them right out of the oven.

🛜 Wifi: No
🌱 V/VG/GF: No
✨Ambiance: Casual, hip
☕️ Specialty: HOT PISTACHIO ROSE CROISSANTS
Click for more info

20. Matchaful

For all the Matcha-lovers: A place you can’t miss out on. Did you know you can also get a vegan soft serve here? Add that to your list as well when visiting this place.

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Casual trendy
☕️ Specialty: Matcha (duh), Vegan matcha soft serve
Click for more info

21. Coffee Project New York | East Village

I’m a sucker for cafes that experiment with their coffee, and by that I mean the exotic drinks you see on the menu, have no idea what they are, but are definitely going to order it anyway. And you WON’T be disappointed with your choice at Coffee Project. Everyone is so friendly, and there is limited seating.
*HOT TIP- Don’t forget to ask for a Stamp card! 10 stamps = 1 free drink ☕️

🛜 Wifi: Yes
🌱 V/VG/GF: Yes
✨Ambiance: Trendy, Aesthetic
☕️ Specialty: Try to Sakura Blossom Latte
Click for more info

This post was all about the 21 best cafes in New York City.

a bientôt 🫶🏼