AngelaOne of the things I love most about living on the Upper West Side is how many wonderful neighborhood coffee shops we have, each with its own personality. Whether you’re looking to settle in with a cappuccino and people-watch, grab a really good coffee on your way to the park, or bring the kids along for a babychino and a treat, there’s a spot for just about every occasion.
Some are favorites for the coffee itself, others for the atmosphere or the little details that make them special. These are the Upper West Side coffee shops we find ourselves coming back to again and again.
Black Press Coffee
274 Columbus Avenue (between W. 72nd and 73rd Streets)
Our go-to, and still my favorite. The coffee is consistently excellent, the housemade flavors are worth trying, and there’s a real sense of community here. I especially love the benches outside on a sunny day. There’s something about sitting with a good coffee and watching the neighborhood go by that never gets old. If you’re looking for a regular spot to make your own, this is it. It’s also a great place to grab a coffee before heading to Central Park with the girls. If you’re planning a morning out, we’ve rounded up our favorite spots in our Upper West Side playground guide.
Solid State Coffee
104 W. 71st Street
A very close second. I love the atmosphere inside, particularly the little corner with two wonderfully cozy chairs. It’s where I like to take myself for an indulgent, kid-free coffee morning when I can manage one. The coffee is thoughtfully-sourced and roasted, and the house-baked pastries make it tempting to stay longer than planned. The girls are also big fans of their babychinos, so it works for both kinds of coffee dates.
PlantShed
555 Columbus Avenue (at W. 87th Street)
Part coffee stop, part flower shop, part little escape from the city. I love that you can pick up a cappuccino surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers. I usually skip the flavored coffees here because I prefer housemade syrups, but the cappuccino is lovely. The girls, meanwhile, are completely sold on the bear-shaped financier. It’s a small detail, but anyone who takes little ones for coffee knows that the right pastry can make the whole outing.
Variety Coffee Roasters
455 Amsterdam Avenue (at W. 82nd Street)
A great neighborhood option at the corner of Amsterdam and 82nd. I often pair a coffee run here with a little detour past one of our favorite decorated stoops on W. 82nd Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus. My order is especially good here because they offer self-pour vanilla bean simple syrup for free. I love a small, thoughtful detail like that. Variety also roasts its own coffee in Brooklyn, with coffees that change with the seasons.
SOTE Coffee Roasters
329 Amsterdam Avenue (between W. 75th and 76th Streets)
This one belongs to my husband, who considers it his favorite spot for a cortado. SOTE is a proper coffee-first neighborhood gem, with beans roasted in-house and lovely owners who have built the shop around their love of coffee and community. If you’re someone who appreciates a really well-made espresso drink, put this one on your list.
Fellini Coffee
523 Amsterdam Avenue (between W. 85th and 86th Streets)
Fellini brings a little Italian café energy to the neighborhood, plus a bit of a downtown cool (its first location was in the West Village). I love that there’s a coffee window for a quick grab-and-go, but the outdoor seating is my favorite. On a nice day, it’s one of my go-to spots to grab a cappuccino and sit outside for a bit.
Irving Farm Coffee
224 W. 79th Street (between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway)
Irving Farm was one of the very first coffee shops we discovered when we moved to the UWS, and it’s still a place I love coming back to. Housed on the ground floor of a brownstone, it feels especially cozy on a cold winter day, when all you want is a good coffee and somewhere warm to settle in. We love finding a spot toward the back, where there’s room to linger and books for both grown-ups and little ones to browse. It’s one of those places that makes you feel right at home in the neighborhood.
Kobrick Coffee
269 Columbus Avenue (between W. 72nd and W. 73rd Streets)
Coffee by day, cocktails by night. This new Columbus Avenue spot is home to Kobrick Coffee during the day and Dahlia Lounge in the evening, co-owned by actor Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos, The White Lotus) and his wife, Victoria. A fun new addition to the neighborhood, and one to keep in mind when you want your coffee stop to turn into a longer evening.
Mast Market
353 Columbus Ave (between W. 77th and W. 78th Streets)
We love stopping by Mast Market for a mocha (made with their chocolate, of course) while the girls get their hot chocolates. I always enjoy having a little browse around the shop while we wait, and there’s usually something that catches my eye, whether it’s one of their artisanal chocolates, a snack for later or some fresh produce from local markets. It’s such a nice little neighborhood spot to have nearby.
One of my favorite things about living on the Upper West Side is having so many wonderful little spots woven into our everyday routines. Some mornings it’s a quick coffee after school drop-off, others it’s a leisurely cappuccino with the girls and a pastry to share. And every once in a while, it’s a quiet moment all to myself. Whatever the occasion, these are the neighborhood coffee shops that make the Upper West Side feel like home. And if you’re looking for somewhere to eat after your coffee, we’ve also rounded up some of our favorite NYC restaurants to visit with kids.
