For my Columbia Publishing Course peeps, here’s a list in progress:

JAVA

The Chipped Cup (Hamilton Heights/ Harlem)

🙂

• friendly environment
• get there early enough and you’ll find a seat
• amazing coffee

😦

• can get crowded
• near 148th/broadway–not an unsafe era (I lived there for a year) but needs some aesthetic tlc; you may want to go with a pal

Jax Cafe (upper east side)

🙂

• so much seating you won’t believe it
• they still sell overpriced antique furniture, so if you’re in the market….
• Small back garden

😦

• coffee is meh, but we can debate that

The Bean (Union Square, another in East Village)

🙂

• Next to The Strand
• Fun vibe
• Open very late

😦

• crowded
• very fun area the East Village location (closer to Houston St).

Swallow Cafe 

🙂

• One in Bushwich (think Lena Dunham with a hangover) and one in Cobble Hill (think Lena Dunham going to a job interview) that are both wonderful.
• Good coffee
• Not so crowded, usually

😦

• cash only

City of Saints

🙂

• haven’t been to East Village location, but the Bushwick/East Williamsburg location is good for writing.
• Amazing coffee
• Oh my god their pastries

MUSEUMS

Frick Museum Art Reference Library (Upper east side)

🙂

• beautiful setting
• very quiet
• tons of tables
• sharp, sharp sharp sharp pencils
• free wifi

😦

• you have to be associated with a university (oh look you are) and cite a research purpose. It takes a couple minutes to fill out a form and get a free card but well-worth it.
• you can’t bring backpacks upstairs; free coatcheck in lobby

Guggenheim (upper east side)

🙂

• “secret” reading room that’s open to public on 3rd floor
• free wifi
• near a ton of other coffee shops, many with great outdoor seating

New Museum (soho)

🙂

• free wifi
• not an obvious place to do work so few people go there
• good coffee

😦

• busy after 1, especially on the weekends