The semester is starting up this week, and what better way to succeed in class than by becoming way too dependent on coffee? Whether finding the perfect study spot or warming up with someone special, each cafe near campus has a different vibe—there's something for everyone. Here are six unique little places to satisfy all your coffee cravings:
Cafe One, 1619 Amsterdam Avenue
Located right at the corner of campus, Cafe One is a super convenient place to grab lunch or dessert. Their food is pretty standard (soups, salads, and sandwiches), but it's guaranteed to be good. There's also a full display case of cupcakes, brownies, and dozens of flavors of macarons. It gets crowded during its busy hours, and seating is fairly limited, but service is fast. It's a great place to stop by for a quick snack and a coffee.
Filtered, 1616 Amsterdam Avenue
Also conveniently located across the street from campus, this is the place to get your work done with help from a nice, strong cup of coffee. I’ve heard great things about their slow drip iced coffee as well as their cappuccinos. They sell a few pastries and muffins, but it’s not the place to sit down and have a full meal. There’s a little seating area in the back with bookshelf wallpaper, strong Wi-Fi, and plenty of outlets—perfect for churning out that research paper that you’ve been avoiding.
Monkey Cup, 1730 Amsterdam Avenue
This coffee shop has a forest atmosphere with dark wooden walls and vines draping the ceiling. The baristas give focus and care to the coffee’s origins and brewing methods, and they grind your coffee beans and brew the cup in front of you. As for food, they have a few pastries on display, and their chocolate almond croissant is to die for. It’s a small cafe with very limited seating, but it usually isn’t too crowded.
Il Caffe Latte, 458 West 145th Street
This is as much a restaurant as a coffee shop, and it's a cozy little spot for a brunch date. It has charming, cozy decor with brick walls and French doors looking out to the street. The food is great, though a little bit pricey, and you can get a homemade slice of cake or pie for dessert. There's an upstairs area, which usually fills up around dinnertime. And if you stop by at the right time, you might stumble upon free jazz or poetry readings.
Sugar Hill Cafe, #B1, 410 West 145th Street
A cute little basement cafe with local artwork and an assortment of mugs as decoration. This is the definition of a hipster coffee shop, but that doesn’t make it any less excellent. It sells the usual coffee and pastries, but it also has a small lunch menu. Their ham and cheese sandwich is the best you will ever have. A good atmosphere for getting work done or grabbing a coffee with a friend.
The Chipped Cup, 3610 Broadway
This one is a bit of a walk from campus, but it's worth it. Another basement cafe, this is probably one of the prettiest coffee shops in Harlem, decorated by books, brick walls, and silhouette paintings. It's a calm environment for getting work done, and nearly everyone there has laptops open. There's coffee and tea as well as a variety of pastries (“victuals,” as they call them). There’s a gorgeous backyard area for when the weather gets warmer with a cozy little garden that’s the perfect haven in a large city.
