Highest-rated cafes in the New York City area by diners

From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's famed London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.

During the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, cafes regularly entertained the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.

Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British in 1773, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute.

Boston's London Coffee House, which had opened nearly 85 years earlier, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Merchants' Coffee House hosted the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere.

Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.

Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become landmarks of our daily lives. But where's the best one to find refuge and that perfect caffeinated cup near you?

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in the New York City area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of February 2025. Cafes with at least 20 reviews tagged as "coffee" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of New York City were included. As a result, some cafes featured may primarily serve other items besides coffee and tea. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 25 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Keep reading to see if your favorite cafe made the list!

You may also like: Closest national parks to New York City

1 / 30

#30. No Stress Coffee

- Rating: 4.8/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 42-77 Hunter St. Queens, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

2 / 30

#29. Clockface Coffee

- Rating: 4.8/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 275 74th St. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

3 / 30

#28. The Barn Coffee Shop

- Rating: 4.8/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2608 Hoyt Ave. South New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

4 / 30

#27. Serendipity BK

- Rating: 4.8/5 (56 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 229 South 3rd St. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Gelato, Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

5 / 30

#26. Caffè Panna

- Rating: 4.8/5 (48 reviews)
- Address: 16 Norman Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

6 / 30

#25. Sweet Scene

- Rating: 4.8/5 (92 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 35-13 34th Ave. Astoria, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

7 / 30

#24. Alita Cafe

- Rating: 4.8/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 797 Grand St. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

8 / 30

#23. Cafe Con Libros

- Rating: 4.8/5 (41 reviews)
- Address: 724 Prospect Place Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Themed Cafes, Bookstores, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

9 / 30

#22. Hamlet Coffee

- Rating: 4.8/5 (52 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 465 Rogers Ave. Ste 1 Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

10 / 30

#21. Frisson Espresso

- Rating: 4.8/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 405 West 44th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

11 / 30

#20. Tea Art

- Rating: 4.8/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 147 Sullivan St. New York, New York
- Categories: Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp

12 / 30

#19. Cotter Barber

- Rating: 4.8/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 321 Graham Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Barbers, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

13 / 30

#18. Sonbobs

- Rating: 4.8/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 34-15 28th Ave. Astoria, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Desserts, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

14 / 30

#17. Cafe Nube

- Rating: 4.8/5 (102 reviews)
- Address: 940 4th Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Tacos, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

15 / 30

#16. Casita

- Rating: 4.8/5 (57 reviews)
- Address: 318 11th St. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Wine Bars, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-rated delis in New York City by diners

16 / 30

#15. Balancero

- Rating: 4.8/5 (97 reviews)
- Address: 30-95 37th St. Astoria, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

17 / 30

#14. Getaway

- Rating: 4.8/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 158 Green St. New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

18 / 30

#13. Black Milk Coffee and Crepe

- Rating: 4.8/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 666 Franklin Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Creperies, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

19 / 30

#12. Caffè Aronne

- Rating: 4.8/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 112 Greenwich Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

20 / 30

#11. Ginjan Café

- Rating: 4.8/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 85 East 125th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: How much it costs to park at LaGuardia Airport

21 / 30

#10. Whistle & Fizz

- Rating: 4.8/5 (307 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 254 Greene St. New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

22 / 30

#9. Tadaima

- Rating: 4.8/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 51 35th St. Bldg 5, Floor 2 Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Patisserie/Cake Shop
- Read more on Yelp

23 / 30

#8. Cairo Rx Cafe

- Rating: 4.9/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 1932 Bath Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

24 / 30

#7. Pabade Cafe and Bakery

- Rating: 4.9/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 135 East 110 St. New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

25 / 30

#6. Sunday C&C Eatery

- Rating: 4.9/5 (76 reviews)
- Address: 348 Bowery New York, New York
- Categories: Food Trucks, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

26 / 30

#5. Yardsale Cafe

- Rating: 4.9/5 (110 reviews)
- Address: 620 5th Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Patisserie/Cake Shop
- Read more on Yelp

27 / 30

#4. Un Posto Italiano

- Rating: 4.9/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 206 Garfield Place Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Pasta Shops, Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

28 / 30

#3. Sip A Cup

- Rating: 4.9/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2517 30th Ave. Astoria, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

29 / 30

#2. Regular NYC

- Rating: 4.9/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 19 Rector St. New York, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Bagels
- Read more on Yelp

30 / 30

#1. The Kasbah Café

- Rating: 5.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 3919 Greenpoint Ave. Sunnyside, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, African
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Rasha Aly and Carren Jao, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 313 metros.

You may also like: The highest-value homes in New York City