I’m lucky. So far after more than 12 years in New York, I’ve worked in cool neighborhoods like Chinatown, Chelsea, and the West Village without ever having to trek to a Midtown office tower for my weekday commute. But I have found myself there many mornings for meetings or appointments, and I figured out the perfect way to survive the rush hour craziness.
I immediately make a beeline for Culture Espresso. I get in the long line that sometimes snakes out the door, wait until I’m at the counter and order a cappuccino to stay (coffee always tastes better in a real cup) and a chocolate chip cookie to go. This place is always packed because, despite the endless chain coffee shops in Midtown, no one can quite pull an espresso like Culture in this part of the city.
But stand guard and you can usually grab a stool or even a seat at one of the few tables. I like to sit at the window and slowly sip my cappuccino thinking about what lies ahead for another busy New York day. When my cup is empty and I can feel a little caffeine rushing through my veins, my morning can officially begin.