By Kate Collinson
So you’ve met someone but you’re not convinced they’re special enough to take out to a full-on dinner date quite yet? Take them for coffee! Sharing a coffee is the classic date-non-date. It’s like dipping your toes in the water before you jump in. If things aren’t going so well, coffee can be short and sweet. If you’re getting along like a house on fire, you can relax over several cups, or propose a walk or a meal after wards (and don’t worry, we’ve got that covered – see neighborhood restaurant suggestions below).
When it comes to the place, however, choose wisely. Choosing a cafe with top-notch coffee might also earn you some brownie points as a coffee connoisseur. And above all, avoid the generic like Starbucks. Try a few of our favorite coffee dates spots…
For the coffee snob…La Colombe Torrefaction319 Church St (between Lispenard and Walker Sts), TriBeCa – several other locations
Almost like an anti-chain coffee chain, these people are coffee purists – there’s no menu, just walk up and order what you want. What you’ll receive is the perfect, strong coffee fresh from the espresso machine. Unlike other locations, the TriBeCa location has ample seating with big, airy windows.
Move away from the hustle and bustle of Union Square to this inviting cafe tucked inside an historic Gramercy Park brownstone. The house beans are roasted on a farm in the Hudson Valley to make a delicious espresso. The perfect spot for the footprint-conscious and those who want to support local business.
Later: Travel to Spain at nearby Bar Jamon (Tapas).
While the Chelsea Market and 10th St locations of this great coffee company lack plentiful seating, the original 9th St location features seating inside and a quaint outdoor seating area at the front, perfect for lazing about on a sunny day.
Later: Take a stroll through Tompkins Square Park and share some pommes frites and beers at
The Belgian Room (Belgian).
For the diamond in the midtown rough…Culture Espresso Bar72 W 38th St (between 5th Ave & Avenue Of The Americas), Midtown
Quirky wallpaper, chandeliers and great espresso – how can you go wrong? Have your cup inside or get takeout and take a stroll over to nearby Bryant Park.
667 10th Ave
(between 46th St and 47th St), Hell’s Kitchen
A quaint and cosy spot. Order a coffee (made from illy beans) and one of the 25 flavors of biscotti – including white chocolate lavender, sambuca and orange blossom. A coffee date with a twist!
Later: Have a light dinner at Kyotofu (Japanese).
Move away from the hustle and bustle of Union Square to this inviting cafe tucked inside an historic Gramercy Park brownstone. The house beans are roasted on a farm in the Hudson Valley to make a delicious espresso. The perfect spot for the footprint-conscious and those who want to support local business.
