Post Overview: Best coffee shops in Chelsea

I’m convinced the best part of exploring a new neighborhood is the food and drink scene. And with a neighborhood as lively and vibrant as Chelsea, competition is steep.

Everyone claims to be the best, but let’s be real — without taking out a personal loan, there’s no way any person can afford to try it all.

Lucky for you, I’ve lived in New York City for over eight years now and constantly find myself meandering my way back to Chelsea to “just try one more spot”. So over the years I’ve been able to create a list of the best coffee shops in Chelsea, to help anyone searching for a great cup of coffee.

Now, I like to pretend I didn’t spend my life’s savings on finding a decent cup of coffee (kidding!) but this list took a lot of trial and error. Don’t let my terrible financial decisions (or caffeine jitters) go to waste!

Without further ado, let’s jump right in to the best coffee shops in Chelsea.

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Best Coffee Shops in Chelsea

#15. Seven Grams Coffee

If the name of this cafe looks familiar to you, it’s probably because you’ve seen it come up on every list of the best cookies in New York City. Popular for their chocolate chip cookie (which practically melts in your mouth), Seven Grams also happens to be one of the best coffee shops in Chelsea.

The Chelsea coffee shop is named Seven Grams because they believe it takes exactly 7 grams of premium coffee grounds to make the perfect shot of espresso.

And I’d argue the name is fitting! The coffee is unfussy and has no need to be overcomplicated with different milks and flavoring. The espresso speaks for itself. It’s some of the smoothest coffee in Chelsea and the flavor really packs a punch.

Address: 275 7th Ave, New York, NY 10001

#14. Blue Bottle Coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee hails from San Francisco, a city well respected for its mastery of coffee. However that doesn’t stop it from being one of the best coffee shops in Chelsea.

You’ll find Blue Bottle all over the city because New Yorkers can’t get enough of their coffee. The cafe in Chelsea is located within Hudson Yards. Hudson Yards is a massive mall that features tons of high-end shops and restaurants.

Specializing in pour-overs, Blue Bottle Coffee has mastered every drink you can conceive of. From foamy lattes, airy cappuccinos to vibrant iced Americanos, everything is exceptional.

The atmosphere is airy, minimalist and clean. While this isn’t a great spot for studying, it is a great coffee shop in Chelsea to catch up with a friend.

Address: 20 Hudson Yards #228, New York, NY 10018

#13. St. Kilda Coffee

St. Kilda Coffee is an unassuming hidden gem when searching for the best coffee shops in Chelsea.

At first glance, you may not even notice this is a coffee shop because the font they use is a trippy wavy design. If it wasn’t for the intense aroma, I probably would have walked past it without realizing.

The Australian coffee shop is modern and minimalistic with fun pops of green from the plants sprinkled throughout the cafe. Serving Sey Coffee (which is hands down some of the best in NYC), it’s easy to spend hours lounging at this coffee shop in Chelsea.

The coffee is bold and does exactly what you want caffeine to do and the staff is friendly. Don’t be shy to ask for recommendations if you don’t know what you want!

Address: 213 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011

#12. Café-Flor

Café-Flor is a spacious cafe perfect for drinking coffee and getting work done during the day and for gathering with friends and unwinding with a glass of wine by night.

This Chelsea cafe is part coffee shop and part retail shop selling florals and home decor. The second you step foot into Café-Flor you’re greeted with an intense aroma of coffee and flowers so if you’re sensitive to smell this may not be the place for you.

The cafe is filled with flowers and the art on the walls is amazing. There is plenty of seating, so finding a table to enjoy a bite or drink shouldn’t be a problem. You’ll find bistro chairs and green leather booths that add to the charm making this one of the cutest coffee shops in Chelsea.

Cafe Flor is laptop friendly and outlets are easy to access so expect to find New Yorkers busy at work with a great cup of coffee nearby.

Location: 218 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011

#11. Citizens of Chelsea

Opened in 2016, this Australian-influenced cafe prides itself on its community by building a safe space to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. It quickly became one of the best coffee shops in Chelsea.

Whenever I swing by Citizens coffee I am always greeted by an eager staff member who goes above and beyond. The kind staff, delicious food and it being one of the cutest cafes in NYC, I can’t help but keep coming back.

The interior is vibrant and bright, filled with green plants and fun tiled floors. Citizens coffee hit the nail on the head when it comes to creating a welcoming environment

I highly recommend the Smashing Avocado (avocado toast). It is some of the best food I’ve had at a coffee shop in Chelsea. Served on multigrain toast, Citizens Coffee adds pickled onion, feta and a beetroot hummus creating not only a delicious meal but a memorable one.

Address: 401 W 25th St, New York, NY 10001

#10. 787 Coffee

Now this Chelsea coffee shop isn’t special to the neighborhood, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a shoutout. 787 Coffee is some of the best coffee in New York City, period.

The coffee is consistently great and the baristas are always top-notch. I especially love the purpose-driven mission of this charming cafe, which is to provide a farm to cup coffee experience while supporting the local community.

The coffee is grown and processed on a farm in Puerto Rico by the owners of the cafe. The goal is to grow coffee in a sustainable manner and offer livable wages to the locals they hire. It’s a beautiful thing and the end result is exceptional – some of the best coffee in Chelsea! Swing by and see why locals love this spot so much.

Address: 256 W 15th St, New York, NY 10011

SoHo Coffee Shop 787 — 787 Coffee (SoHo Location)

#9. Variety Coffee Roasters

If you’re looking for one of the best coffee shops in Chelsea that you can work from, might I suggest Variety Coffee Roasters.

The cafe gets flooded with natural day-light and is a great spot to study or work remotely from. Finding a seat shouldn’t be a problem since the coffee shop has plenty of tables and chairs to pick from. You’ll find multiple outlets sprinkled throughout the cafe to charge your laptop and stay for hours.

What really makes Variety Coffee Roasters one of the best coffee shops in Chelsea? They have a bathroom! The amount of times I’ve found myself attempting to work at a cafe only to have to cut my time short because there’s no bathroom available, is ridiculous.

Also any cold brew fans in the house? I’ve found that Variety Coffee Roasters serves some of the smoothest cold brew in NYC, without the sour taste — I highly recommend trying it!

Address: 261 7th Ave, New York, NY 10001

#8. La Colombe Coffee Roasters

If you’re looking for a delicious cup of joe, look no further than La Colombe Coffee Roasters. La Colombe is one of the best coffee shops in Chelsea, guaranteed to satisfy any caffeinated craving you might have.

With an array of coffees, teas and treats, La Colombe takes it one step further and offers certain speciality drinks on-tap. The company has grown so much so, that you can find cans of the cold brew and draft coffees at grocery stores throughout the country.

Not to mention La Colombe has a lot of locations around New York City, so it should come as no surprise that a list of the best coffee shops in Chelsea includes them.

Location: 601 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001

#7. Fabrique Bakery

No list of the best coffee shops in Chelsea is complete without adding one bakery to it!I mean who doesn’t love a heavenly baked good to pair with their coffee?

At Fabrique Bakery, everything is made in-house and always served fresh. This Swedish bakery originally started in Stockholm and now boasts two other locations in London and New York City.

Famous for their cardamom buns, when I tell you, run don’t walk — I mean it! The treat is perfectly dense and full of flavor and unlike anything I’ve ever had before.

For those who don’t know what a cardamom bun is, it’s honestly a bit complicated to explain — but I’ll try. Essentially, cardamom buns are best described as a cross-breed between a cinnamon roll and pull-apart bread. Typically a soft, flakey interior with a crunchy exterior and stuffed with a sugary cardamom dusting.

Regardless, New York City is lucky to have a location. I suggest trying any treat Fabrique Bakery makes and sip on some of the best coffee in Chelsea.

Address: 348 W 14th St, New York, NY 10014

#6. Bean & Bean Chelsea

Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters is a woman-owned coffee shop in Chelsea that serves some of the best coffee in the neighborhood. Opening the first shop almost 15 years ago, the mom & daughter duo who started the company in 2008 have since opened a total of four locations throughout New York City.

Each of the locations are large in size and make for some of the cutest cafes in the city. Large windows allow ample natural light to fill the coffee shop, creating an open and inviting environment.

This is one of the best coffee shops in Chelsea if you’re looking for a work-from-home spot. Since there are tons of seating opportunities and outlets at your disposal, you can linger for hours.

You might notice that the face of the company is a cute little sloth, the reason? Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters saw there was an environmental issue with sourcing coffee beans that led to endangering sloths habitats.

In an effort to help, Bean & Bean partnered with The Sloth Institute and have offered to donate a portion of online proceeds to endanger sloths.

Address: 318 8th Ave, New York, NY 10001

Bean & Bean
coffee shops in Chelsea — Image Courtesy Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters

#5. Terremoto Coffee Room

Anyone searching for a local, authentic, quality coffee shop in Chelsea needs to try Terremoto Coffee Room. Everything about this Chelsea coffee shop feels intentional and well-thought out.

It’s one of those places where you can tell right off the bat that customers and their experiences come first and the coffee just naturally speaks for itself.

The walls are lined with really cool artwork and unique wallpaper, giving off all the cozy vibes. The cafe is tiny though, so don’t expect to hangout (at least not on the inside). Occasionally Terremoto Coffee Room has a live jazz band playing outside of the shop while folks sip on their cappuccinos.

Address: 328 W 15th St, New York, NY 10011

Terremoto Coffee Room
coffee shops in Chelsea — Image Courtesy Meatpacking District

#4. Telegraphe Cafe

One of the best coffee shops in Chelsea to grab a bite to eat is Telegraphe Cafe. Serving an extensive menu for a cafe, you can expect to find a plethora of sandwiches, soups and French bites.

This Chelsea coffee shop is family owned & operated and has been around since 2003. The spacious spot is welcoming, inviting and a great spot when you’re hungry.

I recommend the roasted pepper & onion breakfast sandwich on a croissant. Pair that with a strong cup of coffee and you’ll be unstoppable the rest of the day.

Address: 107 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011

#3. Day Drinks

Located in the Chelsea Market, one of the most unique coffee shops is Day Drinks. What sets this cafe apart from competition is that this Chelsea coffee shop is set up to look like a cocktail bar. But the kicker is, no alcohol is actually being served here, just coffee!

Full of brass detailing and a marble high-top bar, folks come from all over the city to experience one of the best coffee shops in Chelsea.

Day Drinks really plays into the whole “cocktail bar” thing by serving cold brew on-tap and fizzy bubbly tea. One of my favorite parts about this coffee shop is that you can customize the level of caffeine you’d like in your drink. This way you’re able to enjoy as many drinks as you’d like (or at anytime in the day) without all the jitters!

Address: 425 W 15th St, New York, NY 10011

Day Drinks
Coffee Shops in Chelsea — Image Courtesy Chelsea Market

#2. Yanni’s Coffee

If you’re searching for a coffee shop in Chelsea that is worth both your time and money, make a beeline for Yanni’s Coffee. Not only is this one of the most adorable coffee shops in Chelsea, it’s also more affordable than most.

Now before you send me hate mail, New York City prices are outrageous — and I agree with you! But if I can get an Americano for less than $5, it’s making my list of best coffee in Chelsea.

Yanni’s is a small, clean cafe that’s filled with natural light and has seating all up against the windows making this a great spot for people watching. Don’t forget to add a treat to your coffee order because the pastries come from the famous Balthazar’s bakery.

But wait there’s more, not only do they sell some of the most Devine baked goods, Yanni’s also goes the extra mile and makes cookies from scratch! Offering vegan options as well, it’s easy for anyone in need of an energy boost to find something at this Chelsea coffee shop.

Address: 96 7th Ave, New York, NY 10011

#1. Kobrick Coffee Co.

Kobrick Coffee Company has stood the test of time and provided locals with some of the best coffee in Chelsea for more than 100 years. The 4 generations of Kobrick’s who have run the company have really fine tuned the roasting process, getting it down to a science.

In order to keep optimal freshness Kobrick Coffee Co. hand roasts their coffee in small batches. They serve Fair Trade, organic, and Rainforest Alliance certified drinks so New Yorkers can rest assured knowing their sipping on a sustainable cup of Joe.

A full array of bean juice concoctions can be found on Kobrick Coffee shop’s menu. There’s the regular drinks like cappuccinos and cold brews. However if guests are feeling adventurous there’s also the ability to order a coffee cocktail, judgement free of course.

Address: 24 9th Ave, New York, NY 10014

Best Chelsea Coffee Shops (Post Summary)

In sum, here’s a roundup of the best coffee in Chelsea. This is the same list I share with to dear friends who are visiting, whether for the first time or the tenth.

Kobrick Coffee
Yannis
Day Drinks
Telegraphe Cafe
Terremoto Coffee
Bean & Bean Chelsea
Fabrique Bakery
Variety Coffee Roasters
787 Coffee
Citizens of Chelsea
Cafe Flor
St. Kilda Coffee
Blue Bottle Coffee
Seven Grams Coffee
La Colombe Coffee Roasters

Map of the best coffee in Chelsea

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There you have it, that is our round up of the best coffee shops in Chelsea! We hope you enjoyed our list and let us know if you think we missed a spot.

Cheers!