Long considered the ‘coffee shop desert’ of Manhattan, the Upper West Side now boasts coffee and pastries to rival the Stumptown’s of Flatiron and the Blue Bottles of Brooklyn. Check out our guide to some of the best coffee places on the Upper West Side.
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Entrance to 112th Street/Broadway Oren’s | Courtesy Cindy Liu
Oren’s epitomizes commitment to quality and prides itself on its detailed roasting process—all beans used in your cup o’ Joe have left the roaster that very day—and works with small, private farmers to scout out its robust roasts. Oren’s has some of the smoothest, tastiest almond milk lattes on the Upper West Side and distinctly flavorful American blends. They also serve pastries from Doughnut Plant and Balthazar as delightful accompaniments to this well-loved and well-priced establishment.
Fika’s Swedish roots mean bold Arabica beans and award-winning chocolate truffles, all hand-picked and made on-site. It boasts a quinoa hazelnut truffle, winner of several international chocolatier competitions, as well as shelves of unique preserves and hand-selected coffee beans. Its espresso is bold and so are its flavors.
Cafe Lalo stands as the Upper West Side’s reigning slice of Europe. With eclectic posters and equally enticing cakes on full display, the cafe prides itself on its bustling, distinctly Parisian atmosphere. Cafe Lalo offers authentic European brew—you’ll find delicious lattes and cappuccinos—and a brunch and pastry menu just as robust.
Chef and owner Olivier Dessyn, trained and certified in France, creates a relaxed, effortless atmosphere at his Upper West Side patisserie, serving some of the most delightful French pastries on this side of the Atlantic. Olivier’s abiding commitment to all-natural ingredients made fresh daily in Brooklyn gives a palpable difference. Enjoy Mille Feuille’s salted caramel or passionfruit macarons, eponymous mille-feuille, or celebrated ‘Royal’ (chocolate mousse on praline cake).
This beautiful latte just wants to make you happy. | Courtesy Cindy Liu
Filicori Zecchini
If Fika breathes Stockholm and Mille Feuille speaks of France, Filicori Zecchini is a taste of the world. Guests can customize their roast and enjoy some of the highest-quality coffee on the Upper West Side, brewed with European machines, accompanied by deliciously flaky croissants.
Elegant, beautiful, and homey--just how we like it.
Birch Coffee
Birch sources everything locally, including its legendary toasted almond tea. Try one of Birch’s popular flat whites or cortados for their signature medium roast, where the flavor of the bean trumps that of the roast. With ornamental ceilings laid against industrial piping, well-dressed baristas, quirky decor, delectable menu, and free used books for reading, Birch will become your new neighborhood favorite.
Mission: Try Every Dessert Here commences now | Courtesy Cindy Liu
Irving Farm Upper West Side
Irving Farm’s carefully sourced and delicately crafted coffees make it a staple in the Upper West Side. The shop features house-made and Balthazar baked goods with bold, sustainable, handcrafted brews. Irving Farm sources all its beans at its namesake Hudson Valley farm, focused on building an abiding relationship between grower and final cup.
La Toulousaine is the first original French boulangerie to launch on the Upper West Side and already boasts a loyal following. It’s not hard to see why: the legendary almond croissants are unlike any other in taste, butteriness, or texture, and the madeleines are incredibly popular.
On entering the dimly-lit cafe you’ll be greeted by the irresistible smells of Hungarian coffee, classic Hungarian napoleons, Rigó Jancsi (chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse cream), dobostorta (chocolate buttercream-layered sponge cake, crunchy caramel topping) and cherry or apple streudel. All these treats are handmade from scratch.
