Spring is in the air, and it’s a nice excuse to stop and smell the coffee. And it’s not just Europe that has a café culture which inspires you to sit and stay awhile, especially in the nicer weather. These are cool cafés in NYC that aren’t your usual Starbucks.
Sporty & Rich Café
What started as an aesthetic mood board, bloomed into a print magazine, and flourished as an apparel line. What does an editorial concept have to do with your coffee? The whole idea of Sporty & Rich is to evoke a balance of beauty and wellness in your everyday life. Wearing the affirmation is one option, but New Yorkers can take this abundance mindset further at the flagship store’s Café & Juice Bar. Here, you can grab all the usual café offerings, customize a smoothie, opt for a juice, or one of their four bone broth flavors. You can enjoy your beverage while browsing the store’s merchandise in their lounge space, or on the outdoor terrace.
PlantShed At Kith Women
PlantShed and Kith Women are collaborating on a joint space in the center of SoHo. The building, once run as the landmarked Manhattan Savings Institute Bank, now sells the latest clothing brands and apparel. But it’s also your stop for flowers and a coffee before continuing your shopping day. The florist has a bloom bar, where you’ll have a choice of the latest seasonal stems, and the design team is there to help with arrangements if you’re not the creative type. Aside from your bouquet, you can also find other knick-knacks for potting before grabbing a matcha. In the outdoor courtyard, you can also eat your smoked salmon toast or drink a hibiscus lavender tea (a spring exclusive).
Patisserie Fouet
Patisserie Fouet, while seemingly French, is a fusion of French and Japanese ingredients. Founder Chef Yoshie Shirakawa is an award-winning pastry chef from Japan. She was a culinary instructor in Tokyo and the executive pastry chef at Dessert Café Luxée & Bohemian in New York. In 2015, Chef Shirakawa opened her own space. The menu is full of treats that celebrate the aesthetic quality just as much as the flavor. While the Union Square location is no longer around, the Midtown location gracefully swooped in so you can keep munching away on your guilty pleasures. Staples of the café include the Hojicha and Sesame lattes, and spring means the chance to taste your new favorites. The spring offerings include Raspberry creme soufflés, a Sakura Sake Panna Cotta, and a soft serve.
Ladurée SoHo
If you appreciate the luxuries of high society’s past, Ladurée is the café for you. The patisserie started as a candy brand and bakery in 1862, on 16 Rue Royale in Paris. After a fire destroyed the iconic building, the owners discussed building a patisserie in its place with the addition of a tea room (the first of its kind). Wealthy Parisians flocked to the neighborhood. The empire grew, and now, there are fifteen locations in America alone. The SoHo location, however, is the first to have a tea room. You can try their famous assortment of macaroons (a Ladurée employee created the first sandwiched macaroon) or pick from their extensive tea list. An iced cherry blossom latte under the cherry blossom trees is a rite of passage during an NYC spring.
L’Appartment 4F
L’Appartment 4F was a viral sensation during its opening in 2022. A couple made handcrafted small batched bread and pastries in their home oven and sold baked goods straight from their apartment. The couple was eagerly ready to expand when the Brooklyn Heights association reached for a new neighborhood bakery to occupy the former Emack & Bolio’s ice cream shop. They’re known for their hand-rolled croissants like the Matcha Chocolate Almond Croissant — pair that with a cookie coffee, and you’re golden. The French-written menu and dramatic chandelier visible from both floors give the space a true French vibe. The bakery also turns into a natural wine bar at night.
FAQs
Q: What are Sporty & Rich Café’s hours?
A: The Café is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Q: Where is PlantShed at Kith Women located?
A: It is located at 644 Broadway, New York, NY, 10012.
Q: Does L’Appartment 4F host private events?
A: Yes, the bakery hosts events. To inquire about that, you can reach them at [email protected].
