We had unexpectedly sunny, beautiful and warm weather. And took a stroll through the old Village.

A rather typical, yet still stunning brownstone.

Rare to see a New York alley-way that leads to a garden - instead of, well, another alley-way or just garbage.

There are even gardens.

Here’s a gardened brownstone.

Reflection of a brownstone.

The lock may be newer than the bike.

Decisions, decisions.

With three Joe locations, which one to visit?

Each one offering a unique and truly enjoyable experience.

The tucked-away neighborhood-y café in the West Village packed with locals.

The always buzzing and popping East Village/NYU loft location.

And the chic espresso bar in the Alessi store down in SoHo.

Plus, the espresso at each is top class.

Joe has you covered for one of the best espressos in NYC, and probably a café mood to match what you’re up to for the day. Just take a look at the videos for a look at all 3.

You have your choice. With Joe you can not go wrong.

Joe

Joe Official Website

Joe : West Village

141 Waverly Place, New York West Village - ABCDEFV Trains at West 4th Street

Joe : East Village

9 East 13th Street, New York East Village - 456LNQRW Trains at Union Square

Joe : SoHo (Alessi Store)

130 Greene Street, New York SoHo - RW Trains at Prince Street

It was getting late on a cloudy, overcast day in the West Village. What a difference daylight savings time makes. And we wanted an espresso.

We found a cute little chocolate boutique/café called Chocolate Bar.

With a name like Chocolate Bar and street-facing window seating, my son and I had to give it a try.

The espresso was decent. The brownie was on that super-fine border between not yet done and baked, giving it a perfect texture of gooeyness and cake that made me forget for an instant if I had ordered a brownie or fudge. Mmmm, tasty. It even made my son lick his lips as he watched me eat it. The atmosphere was charming, if a touch too commercy with all of the chocolate wares.

The baristas were wearing what looked like chocolate-colored bunny ears, but I was not entirely sure. And the menu had some inviting chocolate drink options.

Definitely worth a second visit. Next time I’ll try the Mint Mocha and find out exactly what it is the baristas are wearing on their heads.

Address

Chocolate Bar - 48 8th Avenue, New York where West 4th and Horatio intersect. ACEL123 Trains at 14th Street.

Music

Edith Piaf – Johnny tu n’es pas un ange

Yesterday was a bit crisp, but beautiful. Blue and sunshine.

So my son and I ventured through the West Village to enjoy a sidewalk café espresso at Cornelia Street Café. The café is located between Bleecker and West 4th, so it gets a good amount of foot traffic but also is slightly sheltered from the hecticness of both.

Thus, providing a great location for an urban pause. The sidewalk café is just what we wanted on a day like yesterday.

A decent espresso. But, once again, Cornelia Street is another good example of location, location, location, and the appropriate ambience.

If you’re rumbling through Bleecker, next time take a side step over to Cornelia Street Café.

Address

Cornelia Street Café – 29 Cornelia Street, New York between Bleecker Street and West 4th Street. ABCDEFV Trains at West 4th Street.

Music

Edith Piaf – Mon Manège À Moi (Tu Me Fais Tourner La Tête)

On a rainy fall day, my son and I found a log cabin of a café, serving a tasty espresso in the Village.

Ok, so we did not accidentally ‘find’ it. Joe was on the day’s agenda. Our visit to the third café serving Joe espresso in New York.

Tucked away on Waverly Place in a quiet part of the Village in between the bustle of NYU and the far West Village, this Joe café provides a great complement to the other two.

There is the university/academic hangout just south of Union Square, in the middle of the action. Then you have the SoHo chic Joe Espresso Bar in an Alessi boutique on Greene Street. And then this living room of a café where I was searching for the fire place, it was so cozy.

And the espresso is tasty, as in the other two cafés.

What type of style would Joe choose if there were a 4th café?

Address

Joe – 141 Waverly Place, New York between 6th and 7th Avenues. ABCDEFV Trains at West 4th Street. 1 Train at Christopher Street – Sheridan Square.

SohoKind Previous Visit to Joe the Art of Coffee in the East Village

SohoKind Previous Visit to Joe at Alessi in SoHo

Music

Edith Piaf – Padam…Padam

Another afternoon in the West Village.

A walk through Washington Square Park.

Baby was a little tired and edgy.

Fortunately, I caught his happiest minute of the day in the Square on camera.

Then we found another cute café, Amy’s Bread Café, on Bleecker in the West Village.

I munched on quite a tasty orange butter cookie. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming. And I liked that there were tables as well as window-side bar-stools to enjoy the scene.

The espresso was good. Bummer that it came in a paper cup.

And the music did not seem to fit the café. At least it was at a low volume. No crime though, just unfortunate, as well over an expected ratio of the establishments (bars, restaurants) in New York do not have fitting music for their settings. Surprises me each time I experience it. Beautiful places, cool places. Visually appealing. But someone forgets to take appropriate care of the music.

Anyways.

There are three Amy’s Bread Cafés in the city. The espresso, cookie and ambience definitely warrant a trip for my son and I to the others in Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen.

Address

Amy’s Bread Café – 250 Bleecker Street, New York at Leroy Street. ABCDEFV Trains at West 4th Street.

Music

Serge Gainsbourg – Initials B. B.

This afternoon had me wishing for a couple extra weeks of summer.

The summer felt as if it was slipping away.

Yesterday was gorgeous weather, but today was a bit overcast and breezy.

Would this be our last shot at a sidewalk café for the year?

Hopefully not.

But if it was, at least it was at Caffe Dante in the West Village.

Located just off of Bleecker Street there is a great vibe here. Caffe Dante is incredibly charming, maintaining its pre-war look.

The café is quite comfortable inside, brasserie-like, with plenty of tables outside from which one can observe the neighborhood.

My son was sleeping the entire time, which is quite rare. So I had an opportunity to sit back, relax for a bit to soak in the environment and take time for my espresso.

Those few cafe minutes a day are so beautiful, when I actually feel the here and now. And I’m not distracted by what is coming up later in the day or next week.

Just what I wanted on a Friday afternoon.

The cakes and tarts looked delicious, but I decided not to get one today. Maybe in the spring time, when the sidewalk café weather comes back…

Address

Caffe Dante – 79 MacDougal, New York at Bleecker Street. 1 Train at Houston. BCDEFV at West 4th.

Music

Serge Gainsbourg – Initials B.B.

Location, location, location.

And a cafe that fits so well into its setting that I was unsure which came first, the West Village? Or, Tartine? 

Tartine is reserved and enticing yet relaxed and comfortable.

Throw on top of that a good espresso, a mouth-watering pastry menu, friendly service and inviting sidewalk seating that almost whispers in your ear as you walk by - “take a seat; whatever you have to do today will still be there later, waiting for you. Enjoy now”.

Welcome to Tartine in the West Village.

The West Village is like an urban oasis in the urban jungle of New York. Absolutely amazing that the buzz of 7th Ave is just a few minutes walk away from Tartine.

Good people watching. Not a density of people, just a steady dribbling flow.

And my son must have sensed it as well, as he was content to watch me enjoy my espresso and strawberry custard. So I did not feel rushed.

He was so chill, I almost regretted not bringing a book and wishing I could spend more time at Tartine with another espresso.

Well, he was not quite that chill

Address

Tartine - 253 West 11th Street, New York on the corner of West 4th. 1, 2, 3 Trains at 14th Street or the 1 Train at Christopher Street - Sheridan Square

Music

Serge Gainsbourg - Sous le soleil exactement