Cozy Downtown Coffee Shops and What to Order this Fall
New York City’s saturated coffee scene offers much more than a mere caffeine kick. From big-on-TikTok cafés known for overpriced lattes and designer-clad customers to cozy, community-centric hidden gems that roast their beans in-house, the concrete jungle is packed with spots to get your caffeine fix. Fall is here, and memories of those cold brews and iced oat lattes are fading in favor of more seasonal sips, namely the infamous pumpkin spice latte. But there are so many other fall-friendly drinks to keep you warm and thrill your tastebuds in this coffee-obsessed city. For proof, head downtown and stop by our recs below, like a cozy East Village coffee shop serving Vietnamese coffees in a tranquil setting and a Chinatown joint whose signature lattes and sweet treats are both Instagrammable and delicious.
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This laidback Seattle café debuted on the Lower East Side back in 2012. Tucked away on Ludlow Street, this tiny, dimly lit spot features an in-store roaster, a vintage espresso machine, and tattooed baristas serving up dark roast coffee and seriously potent single-origin brews. Also on offer are many fall-appropriate drinks, from a “Golden Milk Latte” (oat milk, maple syrup, turmeric root adaptogenic powder) to a “Mudhoney Mocha” (cocoa, brown sugar, wildflower honey, choice of milk). There is no seating, so sip your takeaway coffee while stopping by the street’s many edgy fashion boutiques, or head to Seward Park and make it a chill fall day.
124 Ludlow St; T. (212) 260-8482
A fixture since 2007 in the East Village’s coffee scene, this cash-only, no-fuss espresso bar (with a no-laptops policy) remains a favorite of locals and coffee enthusiasts. Here, excellent espresso-based drinks are made with house-roasted beans. We highly suggest pairing your cup of java with a house-made organic pastry, like a slice of Abraço’s much-loved signature olive oil cake. For a perfect fall afternoon in the heart of the East Village, grab a counter seat at the bar and enjoy your sparkling espresso cream or espresso con panna (an espresso with house-made whipped cream) as jazz booms from the turntable at this ever-lively downtown gem.
81 East 7th Street, New York; T. (212) 388-9731
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Coffeeheads love Jack’s Stir Brew. So much so that there are multiple locations across town, including the original Greenwich Village spot opened in 2003 by crop-to-cup pioneer Jack Mazzola. Every location serves Jack’s adored specialty coffee drinks, made with ethically sourced, organic coffee beans. The perfect-for-fall offerings are endless, from the “Happy Jack” (a honey and cinnamon latte) to a honey macchiato. But for fans of Instagrammable settings and people-watching opportunities, there’s no place like their Roxy Hotel location. Pair your latte or hot apple cider with a tasty vegan treat and grab a seat in the hip Tribeca boutique hotel’s ornate and vibey lobby.
2 6th Ave; (212) 519-6600
This beyond-cozy, impossibly charming Vietnamese cafe on 7th Street is a tranquil delight. The dreamily designed interiors are filled with sunlight, vintage furniture, fresh flowers and plants, and relaxing vibes. Opened in 2022, Lê Phin is the definition of a cute, quintessential East Village coffee shop, lovely for getting some work done or cozying up with a good book on a chilly fall day. Enjoy a velvety black sesame latte, a Vietnamese coffee with creamy condensed milk, or a pandan latte made with homemade pandan syrup and espresso at your new favorite coffee shop.
259 E 10th St; (929) 422-3972
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Koré Coffee is a pint-sized, family-run coffee shop tucked away on Elizabeth Street, just off busy Canal Street. At Koré, which means whale in Korean, the specialty lattes, like their viral tiramisu lattes, are the name of the game. Pair sweet with something even sweeter, and treat yourself to one of their croissant-waffle hybrids, aka the “croffle,” which hails from South Korea. They’re topped with fluffy, homemade whipped creams, like black sesame mascarpone or matcha, and are both Instagrammabble and delicious. Not in the mood for sweets? This soothing Chinatown spot’s coffees, made with Counter Culture beans, are great, too. Their strong cold brew will give you wings.
26A Elizabeth St; T. (929) 257-1255
This gem of a coffee house was opened in 2020 by Chinatown locals Daniel Lam and Sandy Truong. In this cozy, rustic-chic spot, baristas use ethically and organically sourced beans to create delicious specialty coffee. Their signature drinks are popular for good reason: the honey and oat milk latte and a “Coke & A Dream” (Mexican Coca-Cola and espresso over ice) are to die for. On their head-turning fall menu is a salted maple latte, a “Pumpkin Pie Cold Brew”—brown sugar-infused cold brew topped with pumpkin cold foam and dusted with Graham cracker crumbs—and, yes, a pumpkin spice latte. Sun’s out? Enjoy your preferred beverage in front of the skateboard-wielding cool kids.
54W Henry St, New York; (202) 905-2088
WORDS Alex Catarinella
IMAGERY abraconyc.com