There’s a hot spot on the upper Upper West Side. It is called Silver Moon Bakery.

My son and I walked by on a Saturday afternoon to see it absolutely packed. So I decided to make a mid-week visit to see what the crowds were for, and yet still be able to enjoy ourselves.

Plenty of outdoor seating (they need it for summer weekends) and a buzzing location in general. It benefits from the bending of Broadway to get plenty of foot traffic through the area.

The macchiato was large, which was a surprise; decent croissant. Comfortable service. Just do not stay too long, as indicated by signs around the café.

The people-watching is fantastic. Silver Moon is also kid-friendly, as evidenced by every other table having either a baby or a baby on the way.

Cool place, I just hope that they do not confuse their Qs (quality and quantity).

If you are uptown and need a refresher, check out Silver Moon Bakery.

Address

Silver Moon Bakery - 2740 Broadway, New York at West 105th Street. 1 Train at 103rd Street.

Music

Serge Gainsbourg – Black and White

Talk about unexpected and a fresh idea.

How about a Cali-style-quasi-In-n-Out-Burger-looks-like-a-taco-stand espresso bar in the heart of Manhattan?!

Welcome to Gilileo Espresso Bar on the Upper West Side.

There is no indoor seating, as the entire café is outdoors. You walk up to the window/counter to place your order, and then you can enjoy your café/snack in the covered bar and seating area. And somehow there is that air of New York style and sophistication; not entirely laid back Cali-style.

I’m curious to see what it looks like in the winter. But the idea definitely surprised me; the type of creativity that is invigorating to see here in NYC.

My son must be going through a growth spurt that is making him heavier by the minute and also quite tired, as shown in the video. His nap gave me a few minutes to take advantage of the location and sidewalk seating.

Now if only they could raise the bar a bit with the espresso, Galileo could be an absolute gem.

Address

Gilileo Espresso Bar – 176 West 94th Street, New York at Amsterdam Avenue. 123 Trains at 96th Street. Or, BC Trains at 96th Street.

Music

Serge Gainsbourg – Black and White

Baby and I checked out the Upper West Side Broadway café scene. Found a couple of intriguing options for future visits.

We had a macchiato and a fantastic croissant at Georgia’s Patisserie.

The macchiato was good, a bit frothy. But the croissant stands out. Light, fluffy and buttery.

As for the café experience, Georgia’s offers a nice open space. Good for baby strollers in the winter. Or, just that touch of privacy to your conversation, as I imagine chatter can create quite a buzz due to the acoustics.

Feels a bit loft-like with tall ceilings. Maybe missing just a bit of color I would expect for the warmth and character of a patisserie. Comfortable nonetheless. And while the weather is still nice, the outdoor seating is quite pleasant.

Social environment, good espresso, great patisseries.

I enjoyed it. My wife would enjoy it even more.

Address

Georgia’s Patisserie – 2418 Broadway, New York at West 89th Street. 1 Train at 86th Street.

Music

Serge Gainsbourg – Torrey Canyon

My son and I decided to spend a beautiful, but windy and chilly day, on the Upper West Side.

We had a pleasant surprise in finding Sip on Amsterdam Avenue.

Technically, it is on the Upper West Side since it is just below 110th. But the atmosphere and vibe seemed to reflect more what is going on in SoHa.

My attention was caught by the front of this small café opening onto the street.

Funky and chill is what comes to mind.

With a closer look, the paintings on the interior, dark rich colors, tiny bar tables and café tables all enticed me even more.

The service was eager. The espresso good. Although I almost did not even know it was there yet. Because I was playing with my son and thought that the ceramic cup on my table was the milk.

Good for a quick café. And by the DJ table to the side of the bar, I imagine there is a night scene as well.

These days, just the café for us though.

Address

Sip – 998 Amsterdam Avenue, New York at 109th Street. 1 or BC Trains at 110th Street.

Music

Serge Gainsbourg - Ford Mustang