THE 4 BEST PLACES FOR COLD BREWS, DRIPS, ESPRESSOS AND LATTES IN MURRAY HILL AND KIPS BAY

HILL AND BAY

Don’t have time to sip and savor your caffeine fix? The coffee and smoothie window of this neighborhood bistro (grilled mahi-mahi tacos, kale caesar, burgers) has some pretty great drive-by joe. The window is open and serving a selection of art-house specials Monday through Friday at 7 A.M. and Saturday and Sunday at 8 A.M. You can also pick up a muffin or other sweet as a chaser. If you’re more of a sit down and enjoy the coffee consumer, you can do that, too. Stick around past the afternoon for one of Hill and Bay’s ‘hood get togethers, like trivia night or a  U.S. Open party.

hillandbay.com
581 Second Avenue
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street  9 minutes

Birch

This is a hands down favorite with the coffee snob brigade, i.e., the go-to spot for a Sumatran from Lake Toba, or a medium roast Carmo de Minas from Brazil. We love the fact the owners posts video interviews with regular customers, both those you’ve never heard of, and those you have. Think: Chelsea Clinton. She talks about being a mom, that her husband has 10 siblings and what great grandparents Bill and Hillary are.

birchcoffee.com
432 Third Avenue
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 14 minutes

Gregory’s Coffee

Any coffee-bar chain that can turn the silhouette of two cups o’ joe into a logo of a pair of glasses gets our vote for creative vision. Especially when the glasses are topped by a mop of hair that clearly is an insider reference (that would be Gregory’s founder, the stylish Greg Zamfotis) that lets us in on the joke. The 33rd Street location is one of about a dozen Gregory’s around the city known for their wide appeal — enormous lattes and flavored syrups —  and cult status with aficionados who come for the single-origin specials.

gregoryscoffee.com
48 E 33rd Street
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 16 minutes

Rose Bakery at Dover Street Market

Fashion icon Rei Kawabuko’s eclectic, labyrinth, hi-lo boutique has everything from sneakers to gardening tools to Commes des Garcons, natch. But who knew Rei could do refreshments, too? Along with breakfast and lunch items, the Rose Bakery in the basement of Dover Street offers espresso, cappuccino, flat whites and both hot and iced Americanos for shoppers who need a pick-me-up. The cafe has a London cafeteria chic vibe, warmed up by well-heeled patrons with their retro New York Times and paperbacks.

newyork.doverstreetmarket.com
160 Lexington Ave
Walking time from East River Ferry/34th Street 16 minutes