Updated May 3, 2024
Found yourself in the Lower East Side and in need of a drink? Keep reading for the Best Coffee Shops on the Lower East Side…
The Lower East Side (LES) is situated a few blocks below the East Village. The LES is historically known for being a melting pot full of immigrant communities, with neighborhoods like Little Italy and Chinatown bordering it. As time has passed, there’s now a good mix of old and new; you’ll find tenement buildings right across from trendy brunch places.
I find that a lot of New York City transplants (especially those straight out of college) want to live in the LES, as it is demographically pretty young. I don’t blame them… it is really fun in this area. There is no shortage of restaurants, bars, and cafes!
Best Coffee Shops on the Lower East Side
1. Ludlow Coffee Supply
Ludlow Coffee Supply is serving up excellent coffee on the LES! It’s a small space with minimal seating inside, but would be a great place to work for those who manage to snag a seat (there’s free wifi). There is also a small outdoor seating area with a handful of chairs if you don’t mind sitting outside!
They have several signature drinks, and I ended up trying their Bourbon Vanilla Latte ($6). It’s one of their most popular items—and I get the hype. The flavor was more nuanced than other vanilla lattes because of the bourbon, which provided a warm and buttery taste.
One of my favorite places for a delicious coffee drink!
📍176 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
2. Café Grumpy
Cafe Grumpy’s LES location on Essex Street opened back in 2011 in what was previously Zelig Blumenthal’s Judaica shop. The original brick walls and colorful tile floors were kept, paying homage to the shop’s history.
I tried the Iced Honey Oat Latte ($6.75), which cost $0.50 more for the iced version. What’s nice is that plant-based milks are available at no extra charge here. I was anything but grumpy after taking a sip of my latte! The coffee was bold and complemented by the creaminess of the oat milk and sweetness of the honey.
Be sure to visit any of their 11 locations, which include places like Greenpoint and the Financial District!
📍13 Essex St, New York, NY 10011
3. Roasting Plant
Each cup of coffee at the Roasting Plant is brewed to order with their own in-store roasting and brewing system—so you know you’re getting the freshest brew each time! The inside of the shop is unique because there is a wall of giant vacuum tubes filled with beans that are ready to be roasted. You get to choose your own beans before passing it over to the barista for grinding.
I’m no expert in coffee roasts, so the friendly staff helped me pick the right blend. I don’t remember exactly which one I got, but it was more on the mild and smooth side. My Latte ended up being around $6 and was super fresh and delicious. It was a one-of-a-kind coffee experience—definitely worth making a trip here.
📍81 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
4. Round K by Sol
Round K by Sol is a cafe and bar inspired by Korean culture. The front of the cafe looks very unassuming (almost as if it’s just a small counter), but there are seats in the back! I came here to try a drink, but ended up getting some food as well.
Their specialty coffees include the Butter covered latte ($8.50) and Flat Purple ($8). I tried the Flat Purple because it was ube-flavored! The nutty vanilla flavor of the ube cream really went well with the black coffee.
My friend tried the K-BBQ Party Toast ($14.99), while I had the I am Avocado Toast ($14.99) with Kimchi Butter ($2.50). The Party Toast had bacon on top of sourdough bread with coleslaw and sauce; my friend really enjoyed it! I thought the kimchi butter really elevated my avocado toast by adding some tanginess and acidity.
Round K by Sol is putting such a unique Korean twist on their food and drink offerings. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for a yummy place for lunch and drinks!
📍78 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
5. Davelle
If you’ve seen really aesthetic pieces of toast on Instagram or Tiktok, there’s a very high chance that they’re from Davelle. Davelle is a Japanese cafe serving up great food and lattes. I had to get the Berry and Cream Cheese Toast ($13) with the Hoji-cha Latte ($5.50).
The jam and cream cheese were placed in a checkerboard pattern on top of the soft, fluffy shokupan milk bread. I really enjoyed the contrast of the tart jam with the sweet cream cheese. The hoji-cha latte had a strong roasted flavor, which was absolutely delicious. I was pleasantly surprised to find red beans at the bottom of the drink too!
Davelle is the ideal spot to go to when you want to catch up with a friend and take cute food pictures—all while having a delicious meal and beverage.
📍102 Suffolk St New York, NY 10002
6. Sonnyboy
Okay, so Sonnyboy isn’t technically a coffee shop. It’s an Australian brunch spot that also has coffee on the menu, but same difference right? I tried their Cold Brew ($5), which was smooth and the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. I saw another table ordering espresso martinis, so that’s on my list to try next time. However, the star of the show was definitely the food.
When it comes to toasts, my ultimate weakness is having it topped with some type of fruit paired with a cheese and drizzled with honey. That’s why the Burrata + Fig Toast ($17) is my recommendation for anyone who comes here. The soft burrata, juicy fig, crunchy sourdough, and hot honey altogether made for one of the most delicious bites I’ve ever had.
📍65 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
7. Créme
Créme is serving both coffee AND artisanal soft serve ice cream. They specifically use La Colombe coffee beans, which I’ve had before and really enjoy. Not to mention, the relaxed ambiance of the shop makes it such a pleasant place.
I had to try their Cold Brew Soft Serve ($7) while I was here. The coffee flavor was so pronounced—I loved it in this format! The cold brew flavor is dairy-based, but they do offer other vegan options as well.
This would be the perfect thing to get on a hot, humid NYC day.
📍27 1/2 Essex St New York, NY 10002
8. Dudleys
Dudleys has been a Lower East Side staple since 2012! Yet another Australian brekkie/brunch place made the list, but that’s only because Australians really know how to do brunch…
I ordered the Banana Bread ($6) and Flat White ($5) for a quick and easy breakfast. The banana bread has a caramelized exterior and is topped with honeycomb butter. There is something about the caramel and banana pairing that makes it top tier. The espresso flavor really shone through in the flat white because of its smaller size than other drinks like lattes or cappuccinos.
Dudleys also has good service, which is another reason—besides the food—that makes me excited to come back!
📍85 Orchard St New York, NY 10002
9. Little Canal
Right on the border of the LES and Chinatown lies Little Canal, coffee shop by day and restaurant bar by night. The soothing atmosphere and friendly baristas here really makes it so I want to stay here all day….but it’s a small place, so it can get busy during peak hours.
They’re serving vegetarian and vegan breakfast items, so you know what that means. Target audience: reached. I got the Mocha ($5) and the Hangover Wrap ($15). The mocha was chocolatey and luscious; I’m not sure if they used milk chocolate because it tasted richer and sweeter than other mochas I’ve tried. With eggs, cheese, home fries, avocado, tempeh, and chipotle sauce, this wrap really did it for me. It was so decadent and everything I wanted in a breakfast burrito.
📍26 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
10. Koré Coffee
Koré Coffee is such a cute and aesthetic espresso bar with Korean influences. Fun fact: koré means “whale” in Korean! They offer the traditional espresso drinks, but they’re known for their Signature Tiramisu Lattes, which are topped with homemade mascarpone whipped cream.
I ordered the Tahini Black Sesame Latte ($8). The drink had the right amount of nuttiness and the foam just took the drink to the next level! Cheese foam drinks are my favorite to get at boba shops and this latte was pretty reminiscent of that. It was like having a black sesame dessert, but in drink form.
Also, don’t forget to pick up a croffle! The croffles are TOO good to pass on. Flaky, buttery, and topped with fresh cream… What more can you ask for?
📍26A Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10013
Best Coffee Shops on the Lower East Side
From my perspective, Lower East Side coffee shops are more independent than those in other areas in the hectic Apple. Think: small, cozy coffee shop instead of popular coffee chain. Make sure to visit some of the best coffee shops on the Lower East Side!
- Ludlow Coffee Supply
- Café Grumpy
- Roasting Plant
- Round K by Sol
- Davelle
- Sonnyboy
- Créme
- Dudleys
- Little Canal
- Koré Coffee
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