VIBE

Ingratiate yourself with the hipster and Euro-expat crowds by knowing how to navigate the complicated coffee menu at this gleaming coffee bar. Be prepared–this is the kind of place where the baristas wear skinny ties and fedoras and the espresso machines are as fancy pants as they come. (Yes, those are some of the only La Marcocco Strada MPs in town.) The bronzed-and-mirrored Art Deco space is slick in a retro sort of way, but if all that hipster glitz is a bit much for you, dive off into the calm private garden in the back and sip your artistically foamed brew in peace.

CROWD

Coffee fanatics; hipsters

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

This is hardcore hipster territory: skinny jeans, fierce eyewear, and ironic t-shirts recommended.

GO HERE WITH

Coffee fanatics; hipsters

WHY WE LIKE IT

If we can actually manage to order a coffee (so hard to know what to get, what with a slew of brewing options ranging from aeropress to French press), the coffee (beans by Ceremony Roasters) is crazy good. Plus there are the lovely croissants from Balthazar. And the garden is one of New York’s best-kept secrets.

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

Wi-Fi is always helpful at a coffee shop.

GOOD TO KNOW

If you’re looking for a scenic spot to sip, grab your joe to go and head one block north to The High Line. In the evening, the espresso bar turns into an actual bar with a decent selection of wines and bottled beers, and there’s a happy hour daily from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. The bathroom is located behind the counter, ask if you need to use it.

CLOSEST COMPS

Stumptown Coffee Roasters (New York); Intelligentsia Coffee (Los Angeles); Fernandez & Wells Café (London)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to New York City.