If you looked up ‘off the beaten path’ in a dictionary we’re pretty sure the description would just be a picture of NYC. Nestled in the unlikeliest of places are coffee spots that bring an at home feeling to the busiest of neighborhoods.
New York isn’t new to the concept of hidden drinkeries. The term Speakeasy was coined in this very city during the prohibition era when unlicensed saloons were tucked into back alleys and falsified fronts. Patrons were obliged to speak quietly about such a place in public, or when inside it, so as not to alert the police and neighbors.
While coffee isn’t a prohibited beverage in this town, it’s hidden coffee shops makes you feel like you’re being let in on a well-kept secret. And truth be told, they are a place where locals go to get away from the hubbub of the fast paced city that surrounds. Something most visitors would never imagine is possible.
Our personal favourite spot is Intelligentsia tucked into the back of the High Line hotel lobby. With not one, but two outdoor spaces – at the front and back of the hotel, this spot is the perfect locale to decompress and catch your breath with a cup of American roasted joe.
If the weather is behaving the Intelligentsia Minibar, a fully refurbished 1963 Citroen coffee truck serves a limited selection of espresso and pour overs for passersby along 10th Avenue. We highly recommend a stop at this spot when touring with Dapper!
Other spots worth a visit include Red Fleece, in the Brooks Brothers Menswear store and Toms Roasting Co found in the footwear store of the same name.
