Four Queens coffee spots to hide away in this winter
/By Victoria Merlino
The first snow of the season hit Thanksgiving weekend, and we at the Eagle are already tired of sitting in our apartments, waiting for the sleet to stop.
If you’re like us and hate the cold, dear Eagle reader, fear not. For there is at least one cozy place to go when the snow won’t let up and you want a change of scenery on your day off: the neighborhood coffee shop.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Brookside Market
With a host of specialty lattes and an assortment of freshly baked pastries, Sunnyside’s Brookside Market makes a great spot to watch traffic go down Queens Boulevard on a wintery afternoon. The shop has a commitment to supporting the neighborhood, and it shows through what they serve: meats are sourced from local grocery store Butcher Block, and baked goods from nearby Long Island City company Amy’s Bread. If you’re looking for a treat, try the popular Buddha Bowl — a delicious mix of potato hash, egg, avocado, sriracha sauce and chives.
Sweetleaf
Purveyor of “the city’s best espresso,” according to Bon Appétit Magazine at least, Long Island City’s Sweetleaf tops many java lovers’ lists. Sweetleaf’s staff takes the scientific approach to making coffee, using different data and metrics to pull the same fireworks of flavor from their cups each and every time you take a sip. With its robust menu and eclectic sense of style, Sweetleaf will tempt you to stay a while.
Cannelle Patisserie
A bit of France in the heart of Queens: Cannelle Patisserie brings classic French baking to the World’s Borough. The two founders, Jean-Claude Perennou and Gnanasampanthan Sabaratnam, met in the kitchen of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in 1996, and opened the East Elmhurst bakery in 2007. Since then, the shop has a delightful mix of pies, tarts and cakes to keep the mouth watering. Pick up a cup of coffee and a banana muffin, and enjoy.
Cafe de Cupping
This Flushing spot serves up a variety of sandwiches, desserts and coffee. Be sure to get your camera ready: Cafe de Cuppings intricate latte art will leave your Instagram feed buzzing. The shop’s honey toast is also a fan favorite among reviewers.
