For some, a date night might consist of pinging out a few messages over texts in a bid for a last-minute drink and a smooch. For others, it’ll be sharing ‘one cup of freshly brewed coffee for two’ deal. The remaining will spend the night with their pals getting in a few glasses of cocktails before hitting the club.
However, it is believed that the ultimate way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, and that makes them think about a warm, cosy cafe that is perfect for a first date. And if finding the ‘perfect cafe’ for a ‘perfect date’ seems like a task for you, we got you!
Below mentioned are the 16 best Chelsea coffee shops that are handpicked and listed down to make your ‘perfect date’ dream come true.
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1. Citizens of Chelsea
Citizens of Chelsea is an Australian-style best Chelsea coffee shop that features a neat and bright interior and the service is friendly. And if you live in NYC, you must be familiar with the Australian Coffee shop’s love for avocado toast. And similar to every other Australian coffee shop in Chelsea, this best Chelsea coffee shop serves avocado toast and salad. But wait, that is not the dish that is loved most by the customers, it’s chicken salted fries! The fries offered in this cafe define perfection and we are sure that it is nothing like you have ever tasted!
This Chelsea cafe opens its door to all its customers every Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays, the cafe closes by 5 pm. The cafe facilitates takeaways and deliveries so, in case you want to enjoy a good meal from home or workplace you can easily place an order via their website. However, there’s no reservation available.
2. Intelligentsia
Intelligentsia is hardly surprising to Chelsea cafe, but it makes the list because of its finest coffee quality and the incredible ambience and venue. Intelligentsia sources and roasts magnificent specialty coffee that can go well with any roaster. Their coffee is impressive in terms of taste, however, the only drawback is the price.
The outdoor seating area of this cafe Chelsea is breathtakingly beautiful, with copious greenery creating a coffee oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle. You can experience the coffee and the breathtaking views for yourself at High Line Hotel 180 10th Ave at W 20th street. This Chelsea cafe opens from about 7 am to 4 pm every day and apart from that, you can even order from the High line Hotel via the incentivo and toasttab websites.
3. Seven Grams Caffe
Seven Grams Caffe is a rare category, yet the best coffee shop Chelsea makes outstanding coffee and serves mouth-watering treats alongside. If you have a sweet tooth and want to experience the authenticity of NY, this place is surely heaven for you. They serve some irresistible chocolate chip cookies and various other baked items. Seven Grams Caffe roasts and makes their coffee and undoubtedly, they are good at both.
Even considering the New York standards, Seven Grams can be counted as an expensive Chelsea cafe, still, we recommend checking them out at least once at 275 7th Ave. Every Monday to Friday the cafe welcomes customers from 7 am to 6 pm, On Saturdays and Sundays the cafe is open from 7:45 am until 6 pm and 5 pm respectively. Trust us, it will prove to be an unforgettable experience.
4. Terremoto Coffee
Terremoto Coffee is a traditionally decorated cosy and one of the best Chelsea coffee shops situated on the West Side of Manhattan. They offer well-brewed high-quality coffee that is made excellently and comes with an equally elevated price. However, if you like pour-over coffee, it’s worth the high cost because the baristas there are highly skilled and make excellent pour-overs. Besides, a variety of single-origins are available too that change occasionally, so if you want to try all their best seasonal servings keep coming back to the cafe and try the latest.
The coffee is on the lighter side, which isn’t a bad thing unless you prefer bold. This Chelsea cafe is the ultimate destination if you enjoy light, complex, nuanced espresso and coffee. You can pay them a visit at 328 W 15th Street from around 8 am to 4 pm every Monday to Friday and up to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
5. Now or Never Coffee
Located at 30 Grand Street, New York, Now or Never Coffee is the ultimate spot where you can splurge on your favourite beverage. The ambience screams cosiness and hedonic satisfaction. This best Chelsea coffee shop serves freshly made coffee, and you can know that by the fragrance of ground coffee beans just when the order is in your hands. The cafe Chelsea also offers full access to customise your coffee as per your request. The service provided here is something that makes this Chelsea cafe stand out! It is very up to the mark and the staff patiently clarifies all your queries regarding the menu and takes orders carefully, ensuring that you get the best. For more information regarding the menu you can contact them via their website or connect over a call during business hours, that is, 8 am to 5 pm every day.
6. Stumptown Coffee Roasters
This best Chelsea coffee shop resides in the lobby of the Ace Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The place has proven to be a gathering spot for numerous travellers, artists, entrepreneurs, and coffee enthusiasts since day one. Besides serving the espresso bar, drip coffee, brew-by-the-cup offerings, and cold brew, the cafe Chelsea also provides beverages and sides such as Spirit Tea, Austin-style breakfast tacos from King David Tacos and pastries from Ovenly and Pain D’Avignon. Carrying forward the ancient building’s tradition the Chelsea cafe proves to be a place for inspiration and conversation. So, if you are looking forward to either of these with a nice cup of hot brewed coffee, consider visiting this between 8 am to 4 pm on weekdays and 7 am to 3 pm on weekends.
7. Variety Coffee
Variety Coffee Roasters has something that certainly isn’t very easy to find elsewhere in Chelsea. This cafe Chelsea is very spacious and well furnished so you won’t have to worry about snagging a seat. Also, the high ceilings feature an airy atmosphere in the seating area and give an overall welcoming vibe. The cafe has a lot of mouth-watering roasters to offer and often charges extortionate amounts for their handmade masterpieces; however, in comparison to other competitive Chelsea cafes, the price here is surprisingly low.
One of the best things about this cafe Chelsea is that, despite its lower price, the cafe doesn’t compromise on its services and quality of coffee. This best Chelsea coffee shop has a modest selection of blends and also offers various single origins to choose from, but that is not where it ends, the cafe also has a small selection of baked goods that is equally delicious. Check them out at 261 7th Ave during their service hours, that is, 7 am to 9 pm every day.
8. Culture Espresso
Located in Manhattan the culture espresso Bar is less of a focus than an oasis. It is one of the few places that serves genuine coffee and offers two variants of espresso from Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea and Four Barrel Coffee in Midtown. To balance the caffeine you can order a peanut butter and jelly bar alongside. They serve some of Chelsea best breakfast and have numerous options for sandwiches, curried chicken with mango chutney and pork loin with sun-dried tomato. However, the Figgy, prosciutto, arugula and goat cheese with fig spread are the ones that are most loved by the customers. You can try all these and more from their menu yourself during their opening hours, that is, 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 7 pm on weekends.
9. Joe Coffee Company Coffee Shop
Next on the list, we have a great spot to grab a cup of joe: Joe Coffee Company. This family-owned Chelsea cafe is dedicated to offering extremely warm hospitality and serves the possibly best coffee ensuring customer satisfaction. The cafe features numerous seating, so you are welcome to have a small get-together with friends and chit-chat. The ambience here is very unique yet understated, decorated aesthetically, this place is very cosy and comfortable. So if you ever feel like having a cup of hot coffee with muffins in a warm comfortable place, visit them at 405 23rd street. The cafe opens its door to customers from 7 am to 7 pm every day.
10. St. Kilda Coffee
St Kilda Coffee, located at 213 8th Ave is a small no-nonsense Australian roaster featuring single-origin coffee. Their speciality is their unique cup of filter coffee and espresso which they offer in a seasonally rotating menu of various coffee beans to choose from. However, since the cafe Chelsea is not very spacious you might have to stand in a queue or snag a seat to enjoy good food. It is one of the best cafes in London if you want to grab a quick breakfast before work. Their menu doesn’t have a large range to choose from, and here the merit is that you won’t be very confused before placing an order. Their serving also includes vegan and gluten-free options which are quite delicious; and if you are willing to snag a seat to enjoy some delicious pour-over or Americano in an unassuming atmosphere visit the place during their opening hours, that is, 7 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 5 pm on weekends.
11. Blue bottle Coffee
Similar to Intelligentsia, Bluebottle isn’t exactly a local New York café. Nowadays, Bluebottle coffee is not limited to only New York, it has expanded its branch to several other regions such as Boston, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and about a dozen other places worldwide. But it would be a mistake to judge the quality of coffee based on its location and origin. Even though it isn’t a small hometown café, it serves some great coffee that you must try once in your lifetime.
This best Chelsea coffee shop serves great espresso and pour-over coffee and has a decent seating area. If you prefer light roasts, Bluebottle is your ultimate cafe to visit in Chelsea at 450 W 15th Street. Their opening hours vary on weekends and weekdays, which are, 8 am to 7 pm and 7 am to 8 pm respectively.
12. Yanni’s Cafe
Yanni’s Coffee is a small, yet genuine coffee shop that serves incredibly brewed coffee and espresso. The menu at this Chelsea cafe is limited and expertly crafted. From the Americano and cappuccino to the matcha tea and cookies everything they serve is mouth-watering.
Although the cafe is not very spacious and the menu is not extensive, Yanni’s knows what they’re about and sticks to the best. It is certainly the best location for takeaways, especially during busier days. And to experience the best of this cosy Chelsea coffee spot, head over to 96 7th Ave from 7 am to 5 pm on Weekdays and 8 am to 5 pm on weekends.
13. Bean and Bean Chelsea
There’s something about the name of this cafe that makes us smile. Luckily, the coffee at Bean & Bean also makes us feel the same. This cafe Chelsea makes some of the best espressos that are hard to find anywhere in the city. Also, their pastries and baked goods are the finest and not worth missing out on! The interior of this cafe is bright and breezy and has plenty of seating. They also feature outlets for charging and can be easily accessed. It is the best Chelsea coffee shop and certainly a go-to place for refreshment and relaxation or even just to get the work done. And if you are looking forward to doing so, head over to this new york cafe at 318 8th Ave. They are open from 7 am to 6 pm every day.
14. Bird and Branch
Located in Hell’s Kitchen, this shop is built to give more and take less from the community by providing a job training program for local folks and a shelter system. They have also teamed up with Saint Frank Coffee roasters due to their conscious relationships with coffee producers. Their menu is made interesting with a selection of Chelsea best breakfasts that are named after birds. We recommend you try their Nightingale – a mix of earl grey tea soaked in milk with espresso, and served with the delicious egg sandwich alongside, which combines Chinese ingredients from childhood snacks. The cafe Chelsea is open for indoor, outdoor, and takeaway from Sunday to Friday from 8 am-3 pm and on Saturday 8 am-5 pm. This shop is built to give more and take less from the community by providing a job training program for local folks and a shelter system.
15. Cafe Grumpy
Next on our list is Cafe Grumpy, a Brooklyn-based company. Café Grumpy has expanded its branch with several locations all around New York, including the Chelsea cafe. The environment of this cafe is quite comfortable and welcoming in the warmest possible way, and there is plenty of seating. This cafe Chelsea also features outdoor seating, and that leads you to have a nice brunch or enjoy the coffee with a view. It’s a great place to loosen up and move aside from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Out of various items, coffee is something that is the principal draw at Cafe Grumpy. They feature a unique rotating menu of single-origins and blends; So if you ever feel like having a cup of caffeine, head over to Chelsea and stop by Café Grumpy at 224 West 20th Street. Trust us they serve some of the best coffee that you possibly get in New York.
16. Caffe Aronne
Last but not the least, Caffe Aronne is a highly versatile beverage spot in Chelsea that is very renowned for freshly brewed coffee. Surprisingly, this cafe Chelsea has numerous creative ways to fulfill its client’s needs. Their bites menu features Chelsea best breakfast dishes of smoked salmon, croissants, and artichoke to fully thrill their patrons. Besides, if you are big on soups get ready to spoil, Caffe arone has some delicious bowls to offer with a variety of butternut squash and kale sweet potato. This best Chelsea coffee shop even has a separate wine bar that stocks variants from beers to sparkling wine. The Chelsea cafe offers its clients both dine-in and takeaway and even accepts orders for delivery online during their business hours, that is, 7 am to 9 pm every day.
And this wraps up our list of 16 best Chelsea coffee shops that serve the best-brewed coffee and are listed down just for you! Drawing back Cupid’s bow to romance a loved one has never been easier, has it? Now that you know all about the best Chelsea coffee shops, try it out yourself to know what exactly you have been missing out on.
