I suppose the term "bargain" is relative and I woudl love to know about the identity of moderately priced hotels in midtown. In my experience event the cheapest places cost more than solid business class hotels do in most other cities (Houston included).

That said - although Brooklyn (and parts of NJ for that matter) can be great places to visit I think there's no substitute for staying in Manhattan when visiting NY city to "see the sights". Although I intended it to be implicit when I mentioned visiting the Stumptown cafe on Saturday I should have mentioned that the Ace Hotel where they are located is a new upscale, "boutique" type hotel that is targeted at a moderate price range. Rooms are sure to be small - it was until recently the Herald Square - a solid tourist class place that had been around for years. In that same category I can suggest the Hotel Stanford - another under the radar place on 32nd just off Broadway in Koreatown or the Radio City Apartments Hotel up on or near 49th about a block east of the theater district.

If you get a Metro card and take advantage of the terrific subway system than all kinds of good coffee places are readily accessible. That said.... the entire upper west side is a coffee wasteland once you're north of 40th Street and the same is true of the upper East side. Stay anywhere in midtown, Central Park South or further downtown and you should have a few places you can easily walk to in ten minutes or less.

I just spent the weekend staying up at Central Park West and 102nd Street. Ouch. The best we could do for coffee was walking four blocks to a new Whole Foods market for a cup of drip in their cafe.

really? how long ago? there's a Joe on 86th and an Oren's somewhere nearby columbia, although thats prolly a lot farther up, I rarely go up in the 100's

Phaelon56 wrote:I just spent the weekend staying up at Central Park West and 102nd Street. Ouch. The best we could do for coffee was walking four blocks to a new Whole Foods market for a cup of drip in their cafe.

Yeah... you missed out on the Joe the Art of Coffee, now serving Ecco beans.

malachi wrote:One quick correction (and one question)...

Correction: Ninth St uses Intelligentsia, not Counter Culture.
Question: so it sounds like you don't have respect for Stumptown. Out of curiosity, why?

You're right about that correction... Long night.

I do have respect for Stumptown. I'm heading to the Ace this morning to give the new place a try. I had just heard that the prices were high—glad to hear that isn't the case. My neighborhood breakfast/brunch place, Brooklyn Label, pulls Stumptown and so does SweetLeaf (?) in LIC, very close by. But the shots are not overwhelming to me, not at least so far. I'm really looking forward to trying the new place; I hope it's great.

Peppersass wrote:Ah, that was me, Chris, and I'm glad to finally know your name (I should have asked that day.)

I posted my favorable review of Knave in another NYC thread in Knockbox. As I said there, you pull an excellent shot, Chris, and pour fantastic latte art. I would have come back for more Sunday morning, but had to get out of town.

Thanks for the compliments, and I enjoyed talking "shop" with you.

Sorry if this got a bit off topic.

As an aside, I was in the city yesterday and stopped by 9th Street Espresso and had a really nice Macchiatto.



My girlfriend's latte was also very nice. Didn't get a chance to stop at Abraco, but next time..

any time i'm in the lower east side I make sure to stop by 9th st espresso, and get myself two shots. If you're in the area you should also try Abraço. It's smaller, with no tables and only a countertop, but the espresso is exquisite and they make they're own baked goods and I think full lunch meals, that are delicious.

Those cookies that look like giant oreos they used to (and maybe still do) sell at 9th street are lovely and went great with the Hair Bender...