the NYC café experience
the NYC café experience
a lesson in people watching + the right™ ambiance
cafés and the city- two things that seem to be inseperable.the novelty of a third place outside of work and home, a dedicated space to work or socialize, and the importance of a good sweet treat is not lost on the citizens of New York- and it isn't lost on me, either!through months of research compiled for my own enjoyment (and a little extra on top of that), i've found two of my favorites that encapsulate the cornerstone of what makes a good café so special!so- listen to some café tunes i've compiled to the right, or add some gentle café ambiance to your experience down at the lower left side of your screen, and enjoy!
what makes an NYC café?
the ambiance
NYC loves a good novelty café- something themed, something aesthetic, something pretty!if you can picture yourself enjoying yourself there with nothing but a drink or snack in hand, then you've found yourself a great ambiance-focused café.decor, display, lighting, and music are all key to creating a unique, enjoyable environment!
the menu
one of the most important parts of a café- the stuff you can eat!while i can't speak on the coffee selections (much more of a tea /
cider person myself),
a strong menu can make or break a
café visit!while having unique options is always an interesting plus, they don't have to be revolutionary-
taste is key!
the people
what kind of people populate this café? Depending on the day, you could be visiting to work, socialize, or enjoy some alone time! are these three a possibility?are the people that work there cool? could you go up to them and ask for a napkin without fearing for your life? that's always a plus.a space isn't alive without people- does the place have a pulse?
the favorites
the order: hot apple cider
the ambiance: nothing short of
incredible! caffé reggio is the village's oldest coffeehouse and it definitely
shines through- the charm
of decades of visitors is not lost on me.
the lights are warm, the
decor is charming, and it's crowded
in a way that's reminiscent of an
antique store.
the menu: i won't lie, the moment i
saw they had hot cider on the menu
i didn't even consider anything else.
they served it in a mason jar mug
with cinnamon sticks and a part
of me genuinely ascended to heaven.
the people: the place was practically
overflowing when i got there! i read
just about half of a v e schwab book
while i was there and had a really lovely conversation with a waitress about her writing style- i loved it!
.
the order: red velvet cake +
strawberry matcha
the ambiance: i visited just before closing
hour and i honestly wouldn't have been able
to tell the difference! the place was full of
people chatting and the music was incredibly
fun (i think they were all jazz covers of indie
songs?) and i loved the coziness of the furniture.
the menu: the way my jaw dropped when i
read through the menu. first of all, they had
some adorable pastries in the display case, and
secondly their seasonal drink for valentine's
was a strawberry matcha! incredible!!
the people: i didn't realize that i had somehow
found myself in a traditional italian café until
i heard the man who took my order speaking
italian with an older gentleman who was sitting
a few tables in front of me. the entire room felt like a bunch of old friends, and it was really heartwarming to people watch there!
