by Galia Shkedi ’24
The $1 pizza places and cheap delis near school are everyone’s favorite, but there are few places to sit down with friends, grab a drink, and get to work. After some digging, I found the 5 best hidden coffee gems near NEST+m. *Note: These are not ranked in any particular order. Although, Black Cat LES is one of my personal favorites. The rest of the cafés are ranked based on Google reviews.*
Black Cat LES - $ 4.4☆ - 172 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002 Black Cat is my favorite café near NEST. Their iced coffee is great, and the place itself is super cozy. It’s filled with comfy couches and seats, and it radiates warmth, giving off a Friends vibe. You’ll usually see people typing away on laptops, taking advantage of the free WiFi and great workspace among the cozy seating. Sometimes people even bring a dog or two! Overall, Black Cat is a lovely place to snuggle up with a drink, a snack, and some friends.
Ost Cafe - $ 4.4☆ - 511 Grand St, New York, NY 10002 Ost Cafe is a petit café with a lot of charm, well-loved by locals and regulars alike. The exposed brick walls and lighting create a casual yet homey atmosphere. The comfortable seating makes it the perfect place to work on a laptop. Ost Cafe offers a menu catered towards desserts and quick bites; its popular items are pastries, coffees, and teas. The leafy, relaxing ambience adds to the popularity and great reviews of Ost.
Cafe Social 68 - 4.7☆ - 68 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 The relaxing, minimalist vibe of Cafe Social 68 is a good spot to make a quick pit stop with friends. They offer an extensive menu filled with breakfast items, lunch foods, coffee, tea, specialty drinks, and smoothies. They also offer popular vegan options. Cafe Social is a great place to hang out with people (as in their namesake), but it also offers free WiFi if you want to get some work done.
Ludlow Coffee Supply - $ 4.3☆ - 176 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002 Ludlow Coffee Supply is the perfect place for coffee connoisseurs. It’s a nice place to stop by and grab a cuppa or a freshly baked bite or sit and contemplate for a while. There's plenty of table space to get some work done on a laptop, do some journaling, or read a book. Ludlow has a cool vibe as an indie coffee shop and is a great meeting place to catch up with friends.
Beloved Café and Restaurant - 4.8☆ - 198 Allen St, New York, NY 10002 Beloved Café and Restaurant is an open space with outdoor seating and a self-proclaimed vegetarian restaurant with lots of vegan options. Offering an extensive coffee menu, this place is perfect for caffeine lovers or those just enjoy specialty drinks. They also offer brunch all day, although their food is a bit more pricey. If you’re in need of a meal to go with your coffee, this is the place to go.
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