NYC café recommendations

December 31, 2014 9:47 AM

Where would you meet a friend if all you wanted to do was sit and chat and read and people watch? Preferably in Manhattan but rest of NYC fine too — and must serve hot chocolates.

I’m picturing calm music (not too loud) and cosy but bright, possibly with big windows (or, alternatively, a fireplace would work too :)). Any recommendations/favourites? I know this question has been asked before but places change so I am hoping for an up-to-date, comprehensive list of MeFi's finest.

posted by mrsh to Food & Drink (13 answers total)

Maybe the Joe on Waverly just west of 6th? Waverly is, obviously, not a big street, but you'll definitely see a lot of people coming and going. It's one of the more quiet Joe outposts.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:55 AM on December 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

Bubby's in Tribeca is pretty good for this.
posted by Mchelly at 10:04 AM on December 31, 2014

I'd go to Celsius in Bryant Park and watch people ice skating.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:14 AM on December 31, 2014

Max caffe in morningside heights
posted by melissasaurus at 10:24 AM on December 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

I love Grounded (google maps, yelp) in West Village for exactly this.
posted by yaymukund at 10:27 AM on December 31, 2014

I like Sarabeth's. The one on Central Park South is adorable. You can do it later in the morning on a weekday, the place is deserted, I don't see it happening on a weekend though.

The English muffins are amazing! A table in the front gives you a view of Central Park, a table in back overlooks a patio/garden.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:39 AM on December 31, 2014

The lobby of the Marlton Hotel on 8th St has a fireplace, comfy couches, decent music, an espresso window that can probably make hot choc, and stellar people watching. Also open WiFi and free newspapers.
posted by nicwolff at 11:23 AM on December 31, 2014 [1 favorite]

Bourbon Coffee on 14th is pretty chill.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:33 PM on December 31, 2014

My daughter who works at City Bakery/Birdbath is yelling across the room for you to go to any of their locations for the best hot chocolate ever.
posted by kinetic at 12:41 PM on December 31, 2014 [2 favorites]

LA Burdick on 20th between Broadway and 5th is a chocolate shop with a cafe that serves hot chocolate and the best lemon ginger honey tea anywhere. They have a sandwich board on the sidewalk that usually says Hot Chocolate in the winter.
posted by maggiemaggie at 2:12 PM on December 31, 2014

Irving Farm
City Bakery has good hot chocolates
The Grey Dog
Lobby of the Ace Hotel is too dark for reading, but good for working on a laptop, and there's a Stumptown Coffee branch inside
Birch Coffee
posted by PartOfThisCompleteBreakfast at 4:05 PM on December 31, 2014

If you are serious about your hot chocolate and are willing to open your wallet pretty wide, Cafe Sabarsky on the upper east side is very pleasant.
posted by girl flaneur at 4:09 PM on December 31, 2014

Response by poster: Thank you all for your input; some of these sound really great and I'll be sure to give them a try. Many thanks!
posted by mrsh at 3:18 AM on January 20, 2015