Washington Heights Guide
Search

Best ofCafés

The Best Coffee Shops in Washington Heights

The best coffee shops in Washington Heights, from Ethiopian-sourced espresso on Pinehurst Ave to Colombian coffee and an all-day cafe on W 181st St.

Updated

Apartment buildings on Edward M. Morgan Place, the block where Semicolon Cafe is located
Epicgenius (opens in a new tab)CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab)

This guide is for people who want a good cup before a walk through Fort Tryon Park, a place to sit down on the 181st Street strip, or a coffee and a snack on the way up Amsterdam Ave. Washington Heights coffee is not one thing, and the places here come from different traditions.

We chose from the cafes listed on Washington Heights Guide and ranked them by how well they work as a coffee stop. Picks are editorial: the order is our judgment, not star ratings, review counts, or any scoring system, and every place is a listing on Washington Heights Guide with its own page, sources, and verdict.

Most of these close by early evening, and a few are small, so seats are not guaranteed. Each listing page has hours and a note on what we could and could not confirm.

  1. 01

    Best for Ethiopian coffee

    Cafe

    Buunni Coffee (Pinehurst)

    The original Buunni location. A 2023 Infatuation guide said all of its coffee comes from small growers in Ethiopia, and noted espresso drinks, cold brew, and beans sold by the pound. The same write-up called the shop tiny, and it closes at 5pm daily.

  2. 02

    Best coffee and a bite

    Cafe

    Salento Colombian Coffee & Kitchen

    A Colombian coffee shop and bakery open daily 8am to 8pm. The Infatuation's 2023 guide called it one of the best places in the neighborhood for coffee and a bite or a substantial breakfast, with empanadas, arepas, and a case of buñuelos.

  3. 03

    Best all-day cafe

    Cafe

    The Uptown Garrison

    Coffee and pastries start at 7:30am on weekdays and 9am on weekends, according to its hours page, before the room shifts to lunch, brunch, dinner, and a bar. A good fit if you want one place that works at any hour.

  4. 04

    Best egg sandwich with coffee

    Cafe

    Semicolon Cafe

    A Korean-influenced cafe at 9 Edward M Morgan Pl, near Broadway and W 157th St, open daily 8am to 7pm according to its site. Known for brioche egg sandwiches, bingsoo, and pastries.

Sources