If you’re in NYC, you know it’s hard to find good coffee and breakfast right now. If you’re like me, you need a solid place to get coffee and breakfast on the run.
I am an essential worker in NYC. I may be a quippy Copywriter on the side, but my day job as a Case Manager at a homeless shelter is considered essential. I’m a human being, sometimes I oversleep and don’t have time to cook, forget to prep breakfast, skipped buying those Luna bars on the way home so I don’t have to go to the grocery store twice this week (#socialdistancing). The reason doesn’t matter. The point is, we essential people still need options!
If you’re NOT an essential worker right now, but are also addicted to coffee like I am- This is for you too. I got you!
While many restaurants closed down fully, several restaurants are open for contact-less or curbside pickup and delivery. The same thing happened with coffee shops and cafes. Starbucks (the cafe locations, anyway) and Gregorys locations are closed down fully for now.
In an unprecedented tragedy, my favorite cafes Grounded Cafe and Gimme! Coffee are temporarily closed.
So what does a coffee-loving essential worker in NYC do?!
Find 8 Coffee shops that are open for pickup and delivery!
- Wattle Cafe
An Australian cafe serving up artisan, healthy brunch and coffee options. They are nestled between Murray Hill and Kips Bay on the east side of Manhattan. Their focus is on simple, healthy and whole foods. It is clear they focus on healthy ingredients from their more unusual dishes like cacao waffles with avo smash, to their more standard and signature Brekkie wrap.
Locations:
📍489 3rd Ave (Murray Hill)
📍 45 E 45th Street (Midtown)
Hours:
Monday-Friday 7:00am-6:00pm
Saturday-Sunday 8:00am-6:00pm
2. Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
Looking for a simple breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee? Or that latte you really need today 🙂 Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Co. is basically Old Faithful. You can get all the staples: bagel with a schmear, egg sandwiches, cream cheese and lox. They have two locations in the east and west villages.
Location:
📍 286 8th Ave (Chelsea)
📍63 East 8th Street (East Village)
Hours:
Monday, Wednesday-Friday 6:30am-3:00pm
(Tuesday Closed)
Saturday-Sunday 7:00am-3:00pm
3. Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee
Jack’s was NYC’s first coffee house to exclusively serve 100% organic coffee at their cafe. In addition, they have a vegan bakery! If you eat a plant-based diet, this is a solid bet to grab some breakfast.
Locations:
📍1335 Lexington Ave (UES)
📍139 Reade Street (Tribeca)
📍10 Downing Street (West Village)
📍138 W 10th Street (West Village)
Hours:
Monday-Friday 7:00am — 6:00pm
Saturday-Sunday 8:00am — 6:00pm
4. Culture Espresso
Culture is an independent and locally owned coffee shop, with 3 locations in the Garment District). While their delivery services are temporarily suspended, pick-up orders are still available online.They have award-winning chocolate chip cookies, among a daily assortment of fresh baked goods. They also have fabulous coffee — from drip to your favorite espresso drinks.
Locations:
📍307 West 38th Street
📍72 West 38th Street
📍247 West 36th Street
Hours at all locations:
Monday-Friday 7:00am-7:00pm
Saturday-Sunday 8:00am-7:00pm
5. Sunburst Espresso
Sunburst is a classic coffee shop and diner. Their coffee ranges from their house blend drip coffee to espresso drinks. They have baked goods as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner. They do delivery and takeout here, as well!
Location:
📍260 3rd Ave (Gramercy Park)
Hours:
Monday — Saturday 6:45am — 11:00pm
Sunday 7:45am — 11:00pm
6. Ground Central Cafe
Ground Central Cafe started as a love letter to NYC with a rock n’ roll vibe. While we can’t hang in there and soak in all the NY love… They have a wide variety of coffee and espresso options, and food options including pastries, salads, and sandwiches. They have 5 locations in Manhattan, but currently only the one on 2nd Ave is open for pickup and delivery.
Location:
📍714 2nd Ave New York, NY 10016
Hours:
Monday-Friday 6:30am-7:00pm
Saturday-Sunday 7:00am-5:00pm
7. Abraco Cafe
A Brazilian cafe in East Village that spans the breakfast cafe vibes through cocktail hour. Everything they have is available for takeout with a few different options.
They have a daily prix-fixe menu (the “family meal” bundle, which I’ll discuss more below). They also sell coffee, breakfast, beer, wine, cocktails all for takeout.
Abraco has a few buying options. They offer many house-made favorites such as their olive cookies, olive oil cake, among others. Staff has curated a list of grocery items (mostly dairy- butter, milk, eggs) that you can purchase online to pick up during designated open hours (Wednesdays after 8:30am).
Their house-roasted coffee and olive oil cake are the only items available for delivery at this time.
Abraco is selling some bundles of items together. The “breakfast bundle” includes house-roasted coffee, house-made granola, 3 pieces of seasonal fruit, and 2 slices of olive oil cake for $30.00. They also do a daily “family meal” bundle, and a “happy hour” bundle.
Abraco may not be as great for the grab and go aspect of breakfast, but they’re doing a lot with the bundles and their food items are still available!
Location:
📍81 East 7th Street (East Village, b/t 1st and 2nd)
Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday 8:00am-6:00pm
8. Mud NYC
If you know the Mud coffee truck and are a big fan — you’re in for some good news! This cafe and restaurant serves breakfast and brunch all day, as well as coffee, beer and wine. All of their menu items are available for pick-up or delivery!
Location:
📍307 E 9th Street
Hours:
Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:00pm
Saturday-Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm
On a more serious note, thank you to everyone who has to be out, whether it’s for health care work, social services, or retail and food service. This is something that helped me to maintain some normalcy in *gestures broadly* all this… I hope this can be helpful in a small way!
*Updated as of 4/26/20. I included the website links so you can double-check since things are changing so quickly.
Augusta Bargeron 