Coffee, coffee, coffee. Iced, hot, whipped, short, tall, we all have found ourselves aimlessly staring at extensive menus at our local coffee shops. I know I have. This is a piece for all those who have blacked-out the moment a barista prompts you with, “What can I get started for you?”

My dad was the first person I knew to be a true “espresso snob,” hyper specific about where he would go to get his daily latte, having his order down to a science. It was him who made me the coffee obsessed twenty-year-old you know today.

Living in New York is magical for coffee addicts like myself, there’s not a block in the city without at least an artsy fartsy cafe or two. And I tried to hit at least, well, all of them. So, I figured why not make a little NYC coffee-shop guide of all the latest and the greatest, the niche and the basic, the loudest and the chillest places to grab a needed caffeine boost, or just chill and admire the atmosphere around you. And as an added bonus, I will tell you what’s worth getting, and what’s good to skip (but again, it’s just my opinion!)

Also, a quick shout out to Scarlett and Mia for gracing me the idea for this piece. All I do is yap about skincare and coffee, it only makes sense to write about it.

SOHO

Café Lyria

Never in my life have I been so blown away by a coffee shop’s overall atmosphere. Situated right in SoHo, Café Lyria is the perfect place to meet up with old friends, grab a quick latte and read a book, or even get some necessary work done. P.S — get the Iced Lyria (essentially an iced cappuccino) with any milk type if you make a trip over ;)

Address: 166 Crosby St, New York, NY 10012

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafelyria/

La Cabra

I figured I would include this gem on the list, even though my favorite order is a Matcha tea. Beware work from home guys and gals, no laptops allowed in these parts! Grab a journal, a matcha tea and one of their iconic pastries (love the cardamom bun) and you are good to go.

**Images via Google

Address: 284 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacabrabakery/

Gasoline Alley
Gasoline Alley, oh how I adore you. Quite frankly my favorite coffee shop in the city — and not for nothing. Not only is their coffee, and especially their chai, the best and perfectly strong enough, but the people watching is unmatched.

The cafe is nestled right in the triangular shaped median on Lafayette and Houston, with windows on both sides of the shop. There’s about 6 seats total in the cafe, but when weather is nice, there’s a few benches to sit and chit chat.

**Images via Google

Address: 325 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gasolinealleycoffee/

EAST VILLAGE

Ludlow Coffee Supply

The hours I have happily spent in Ludlow Coffee supply should receive an award. Working right around the corner from this cafe was a true blessing. It was here that I discovered Macadamia nut milk, a milk alternative no one asked for but everyone needs. With their free WiFi, lively baristas, and overall buzzing energy, Ludlow holds my heart in their hands.

**Images via Google

Address: 176 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ludlowcoffeesupply/

Mud Spot

Yes, this was the spot that Timothee Chalamet used to go to, and yes, it’s why every girl aged 17-24 goes there as well. But hear me out, there’s so much more to Mud that meets the eye.

Mud Spot single handedly made me obsessed with dirty chai lattes, and believe me, these are the winner. God knows what is put into these little cups of heaven, but I can inhale one in under 5 minutes with no complaints. And if you need a quick bite, the breakfast burrito is never a bad idea, and if you hold out until the weekend, you can snag their weekend brunch special.

All I can say is, thank you Mr. Chalamet, I understand your love for Mud.

Address: 307 E 9th St, New York, NY 10003

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mudcoffeenyc/

WEST VILLAGE

Oslo

Now, there are a few locations for this lovely little spot, but my personal go to is the one located right in the West Village. For my fellow maximalist decor friends, Oslo looks exactly like my ideal Pinterest decor board. The cappuccino here is simply wonderful, matched with the cozy environment and quirky wall art.

Address: 236 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oslocoffee/

BROOKLYN

Win Son

Last but absolutely not least, we have Win Son. I can’t credit myself with discovering this spot, but my good friends graced me with the knowledge of this phenomenal Taiwanese bakery and cafe. There may be a bit of a line outdoors, but it’s an indicator of what’s to come inside. Once in, grab yourself a mochi doughnut, some scallion pancakes, and a black sesame latte.