Whether it’s a double espresso shot to get you kick-started on a frosty morning or a languorous brunch while watching Manhattanites bustle about doing their holiday shopping, the Lower East Side is replete with first-class coffee shops. Here are four of the best near the condos at One Manhattan Square.
Caffe Vita | 124 Ludlow Street
New York has given rise to many a great coffee shop, but you can’t deny Seattle has played its part too; that’s where Caffe Vita started out life, but you’ll now find stores in NYC, including this one in the heart of the Lower East Side. The single-origin and dark roast coffees are superlative pick-me-ups on a bitterly cold day—or come here for your lunchtime caffeine hit, paired with a slice from nearby Scarr’s Pizza. Caffe Vita is also a great spot to pick up a couple of bags of coffee for your One Manhattan Square condo—right now, they’re selling a special Holiday Blend.
Ludlow Coffee Supply | 176 Ludlow Street
Praised by Time Out as “great for people watching,” Ludlow Coffee Supply is a mightily cozy coffee joint dotted with retro leather sofas, a vinyl player, and grand shop-front windows through which you can watch fellow New Yorkers shuttle by. As for the beverages: the drip coffee is excellent (and very affordable), while the rich maple latte will make you forget how cold it is outside. The avo toast—available three ways—makes this place a shoo-in for lazy brunch sessions, and if you happen to be in the market for something stronger, they’ve now started serving beer and wine here.
Café Grumpy | 13 Essex Street
Since opening in 2011, this no-nonsense coffee spot has garnered quite the loyal following—that’s reflected in the range of merch they sell, from mugs to totes to baby onesies(!). It goes without saying that the brews here are superb, with delicious roasts sourced from Guatemala, Peru, Ethiopia, and El Salvador. Oh, and if you’re looking to get your teeth into that new novel, Café Grumpy is the place to do so—they make a point of having no Wi-Fi here.
Black Cat LES | 172 Rivington Street
Taking the idea of a coffee shop to another level, Black Cat LES provides mountains of board games—from Balderdash to Scrabble to Chopper Strike—meaning you and your friends can settle in with a hot drink and make a winter’s afternoon of it. Handmade pizzas and peach cobbler will tempt you to stay for dinner, while the caffeine-fueled comedy evenings will have you laughing your heads off till closing time.
Find an elegant condo near the Lower East Side’s finest coffee shops. Speak to the Extell Development team about One Manhattan Square today.