Europeans often mock Americans for their coffee-drinking culture. But at least New York is no match for European capitals.

There are a huge number of great cafes here. We've tested a few and picked out 4 of them to recommend to everyone - and especially ones where we sat, drank, ate great cupcakes and enjoyed the atmosphere ourselves.

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Cafe prices

We found that coffee prices are very similar across New York, both in well-known and smaller, out-of-the-way cafes.

• Espresso - approx. 4,50 usd
• Cappuccino - approx. 5,50 usd
• Latte or Chai Latte - approx. 6 usd
• Brownies and cookies - approx. 4 usd

% Arabica Dumbo

My favorite coffee shop is definitely %ΔRΔBICΔ in the Dumbo section of Brooklyn with a great view right over the Brooklyn Bridge.

The Brooklyn branch is the flagship cafe in the US opening in 2021 - %Arabica is in fact a Japanese chain based in Kyoto.

The minimalist, clean interior is complemented by always absolutely great coffee, as well as a decent selection of pastries.

With a gorgeous bright environment and a top location near me, % Arabica is unrivaled in all of New York!

Tip: Stop by, take some great photos of the bridge lit by the rising sun from the Dumbo neighborhood, and arrive at the cafe early in the morning when there are absolutely no lines yet. On the contrary, the busiest time is between 10:30 and 16:00.

• 20 Old Fulton Street, Brooklyn - map
• 🕒 Daily 8:00-18:00
• 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

Devoción

Another great chain with several cafes around NYC is Devoción.

It offers strong and rich tasting coffee straight from Colombian farms roasted in Brooklyn.

The atmosphere of Devoción's cafes is cozy. The brick walls, warm lighting and original flower arrangements create a slightly old-fashioned but wonderfully homely atmosphere.

Devoción has a total of 3 cafes in Manhattan and 3 in Brooklyn (see map of all locations).

We visited the branch near the Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park.

• 25 E 20th Street, Midtown Manhattan - map
• 🕒 Weekdays 7am-6pm, weekends 7:30am-6pm

Magnolia Bakery

The Magnolia Bakery chain of bakeries and cafes operates in many locations in New York City (see map of all locations) and is one of the most well-known.

We visited the West Village branch and although it is quite exposed, it feels cozy and inviting.

There's not much room inside, though, and count on the fact that you're better off taking your coffee and cupcake to go.

Unlike the cafes described above, the coffee at Magnolia Bakery is more of a complementary item and you'll mainly go here for the great sweet desserts!

• 📍 401 Bleecker Street, West Village - map
• 🕒 S unday-Thursday 9:30-22:00, Friday and Saturday 9:30-23:00

Ralph's Coffee

The fashion brand Ralph Lauren is my love-brand, so I couldn't miss visiting Ralph's Coffee, a coffee shop located right in the flagship store near Central Park.

Of all the coffee shops we visited, we liked the coffee, but the environment here was probably the least welcoming.

The cafe space is small and crowded and we waited about 5 minutes to be seated.

However, my chai latte and brownie were absolutely fabulous.

You can buy beautiful stylish mugs or other tableware in the gift shop.

• 📍888Madison Avenue, Uptown Manhattan - map
• 🕒 S unday-Thursday 9:30-22:00, Friday and Saturday 9:30-23:00

Ralph's Coffee also has a food truck right under Rockefeller Center, where we stopped for a quick takeout coffee on our last day before heading to JFK Airport.

Here's a map of our favorite coffee shops.

What's your favorite coffee shop in New York? Share your experiences or photos with travelers from around the world in the comments below.