The 18 Chicest Coffee Shops in New York City

Happy Bones is a tiny and quiet Little Italy gem where you are immediately transported away from the hustle of NYC. This minimalistic coffee shop offers global publications and local art for viewing, stark white exposed brick walls and signature tortoise shell spoons for sale–in addition to a delicious espresso. Relax with your Flat White (the Aussie version of a latte and Happy Bones' specialty!) with the morning paper; when you order, select from a wide variety of milks (yay for dairy-free diners!). While here, you're bound to run into tons of downtown NYC creatives, and start your morning off on the right foot.

Happy Bones, 394 Broome Street, New York, NY 10013

Scattered all around the city, Birch is a convenient coffee shop with various types of coffee, lots of space to sit and work, and laid-back, rustic furniture. They have various non-dairy milk options–including hemp milk–and pride themselves on creating a sense of community amidst the chaos of New York City. Their "Ignition Initiative" encourages patrons to mingle; cups have "Hello my name is___," printed on them, and their Ignition Initiative cards provide a great topic to talk about which you can place on your table to welcome conversation. If you're not looking for a quiet place to work, Birch does more than coffee, helping you connect with others in a city where the fast-pace can make it difficult to make friends. With that said, if you're after a place to focus and sit on your laptop, they've got that on offer as well.

For locations, visit birchcoffee.com.

Maman is basically Instagram heaven. With their classic blue floral printed to-go coffee cups, rustic decor and 'grammable props abound, you could spent countless hours here sipping cappuccinos, dining on delicious French fare, and filling your feed with killer shots of all the action. If you like hot chocolate, order their lavender-infused version, which is an impressive balance of rich and herbal flavors. Hungry? You're in luck; here, they serve brunch in the back and you can order quiches and pastries to stay. During the day, you'll likely spot the well-heeled freelancers of NYC sitting on the rustic furniture among the potted plants and string lights, working and relaxing with their hot drink of choice. Step inside any of Maman's various locations around the city–they just opened up a Meatpacking District location–with its blue tiled floors and white washed wood panels and after a sip or two, you may begin to feel like you are in the South of France. Warning to those who fall in love with this quaint spot during the work week: this hotspot fills up fast on weekends.

For locations, visit mamannyc.com.

This may not be just a coffee shop, but this ristorante's authentic stand-up espresso bar at any of its many locations across Manhattan and the Hamptons make for some of the best Instagram moments, and some of the best cappuccinos. There is something sweet and magical about the espresso drinks here; they are absolutely delicious. Head here in the morning or midday for a pick me up, order a latté, double espresso or cappuccino to stay or to go. Don't be surprised if you spot Bella, Gigi, Kendall or Emrata grabbing a bite to eat while you sip your frothy fix–they're all regulars.

For locations, visit santambroeus.com.

A little slice of California sunshine beams out of this cheerful little nook of a cafe in SoHo. The simple decor of succulents inside hollowed out coconuts, surf boards, sunscreen and more makes the simple joys of picking up an iced latte, a cold pressed juice or a cold brew easy breezy. A variety of milks available in palm leaf decorated Swell bottles are ready for use and this grab-and-go spot's simple menu of light bites like classic avocado toast and refreshing acai bowls make picking what to eat a tough call–but delicious no matter what you choose. The coffee here is smooth and flavorful, roasted directly at Devocion in Brooklyn.

Summers NYC, 169 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012

World famous concept store, Dover Street Market, houses the Rose Bakery, which is a fresh break from the avant garde shop's eclectic retail experience. While Dover Street is known for one-of-a-kind, exclusive and limited-edition items, the Rose Bakery is much more humble offering of rustic cakes, teas and coffee.

Dover Street Market's Rose Bakery,160 Lexington Avenue, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10016.

Coffee at Hi-Collar is all about the experience. An awesome Japanese outpost that serves coffee by day and sake by night, this café is exclusive in feel–as it seats about ten people. You will continually hear "Choose your Bean" here; choose from a variety of them, then pick your brewing method. Expert tip: try the Mizudashi Iced Coffee and a green tea Rice Krispy treat. Not sure what to go for? The baristas here are some of the friendliest in the city, and will definitely give their advice on what to drink and how best to enjoy it. Pull up a chair at this counter to pay $7 to sip coffee from a $700 gold leafed Christofle cup. Head here to feel like royalty for the time it takes you to sip a cup of coffee.

Hi-Collar, 214 East 10th St. New York, NY 10003

This cool café nestled in downtown Manhattan's Nolita neighborhood is a perfect spot to take a break from shopping or a great meet up spot for friends. Sip delicious mochas, indulge in a bag of crack chips (a must have!) and enjoy the epic people watching thanks to the big window and lounge seating up front. The lighting and decor here also make for the best Instagram flat lay shots around–expect to add an image or two to your feed each time you visit.

Café Integral, 149 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012.

A great little Lower East Side gem with small quarters makes for an intimate and charming space thats perfect for a solo lunch or a coffee meet up. El Ray has a laid back California vibe; if you love avocados, you will love this place! Grab a coffee here, but also make sure to order something to eat. Here, the kale salad is highly recommended; if you are looking for some protein, add a beet pickled egg for a lunch or brunch that's healthy and absolutely delicious. Whether you choose to dine in or take a cup to go, be sure to take a moment to sip your cortado under their neon sign and spend a moment people watching in peace.

El Rey,100 Stanton Street, New York, NY 10002

Nestled in a cozy corner on the ground floor of the charming High Line Hotel, Intelligentsia Coffee quickly became a great go to staple on NYC's west side. Here, the quiet ambiance makes for a delightful experience, and a borderline European coffee outing. There is a small courtyard in which guests can sit outside, meet up with friends and enjoy the weather while having an iced almond milk double shot latte, or take your cup to go but enjoy the cozy décor as you order. Intelligentsia is known nationwide for how seriously they take their coffee–so this spot delivers a quality cup in addition to an atmosphere that makes you want to order your cappuccino to stay.

Intelligentsia Coffee @ High Line Hotel, 180 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

Soho can sometimes feel like it's trying too hard to be too many things–a shopping scene, a culinary hub, a street style haven, the list goes on–but Ground Support is a welcoming change of pace that serves delicious coffee without the fuss. There are wooden log benches and picnic tables in the seating area for coffee drinkers to meet or work, but the park bench in the front that faces the street is prime real estate here. If you can get a seat in the front, take it fast–this place can get crowded and loud fast given its hot location. The vibes here are airy and simple, with ample space for working and/or socializing—over an espresso and a butter crunch cookie, of course.

Ground Support, 399 West Broadway, New York, NY 10012

While Pietro Nolita is actually a restaurant and not just a café, you will need every excuse to visit this all-pink restaurant, and their creamy lattes and effortlessly charasmatic ambiance are an ideal reason to visit. It's not just about the look of this place, their authentic Italian owners and kitchen make their knack for pulling the perfect espresso one for the books.

Pietro Nolita, 174 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

They've got coffee down to science here–literally. The pour-over bar–where baristas make fresh cups to order, so expect a slightly longer wait than your typical coffee shop–is where the magic happens. Freshly ground, poured and served, the drip coffee here is where it's at–as is their cold brew, which you can buy in cans or cartons to go. This coffee shop is no-fuss and all about the java; if you're a serious coffee lover from the west coast, this place has your name on it (since you may recognize it from its SF and LA outposts).

For NYC and Brooklyn locations, visit bluebottlecoffee.com.

Connected to the lobby of the dark and seductive Ace Hotel is a brightly lit Stumptown Coffee Roasters, which you can order from either their shop, or from the hotel lobby's communal workspace. With its mixed crowd of beautiful people, hipsters, tourists and working professionals, it can get quite crowded and there are only a few bar stools, but coffee here is strong and served well. The to-stay cups here have fun sayings on the inside, reading "Good Luck" and "Fun Times" which is bound to put a smile on your face once you get to the bottom of your cup, and consider being sad that your delicious java experience is over. With that said, it doesn't have to be–this place serves delicious options to go along with takeaway cartons of cold brew.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters @ Ace Hotel, 18 West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001

Refuel at this six seat espresso bar inside of the Club Monaco's flagship store after a Fifth Avenue shopping spree. Not only does Toby's Estate offer pour overs, but baristas here pull espresso shots on a La Marzocco Strada machine with painted matte white surroundings to match the space's cool, easy vibes. If you're looking for a place to sip your hot drink, head into Strand bookstore and take a seat on their plush couches, or visit Putnam & Putnam flowers–both have store in store locations in Club Monaco as well.

Toby's Estate Coffee @ Club Monaco, 160 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010

Brooklyn Diamond is a neighborhood coffee shop, specializing in cold brew coffee, handmade and bottled in Brooklyn. Their cold brew is deliciously smooth and refreshing and is bottled and ready to take on the go. With a new location in SoHo, the vibe here is friendly and environmentally conscious; wood ceilings, plenty of greenery and a giant mural that is comprised of the compost and discarded materials from the cafe's construction pay homage to its green roots. Food wise, the almond butter cookies or chia seed pudding here are a must.

For locations, visit brooklyndiamondcoffee.com.