Soho Coffee Shops

La Colombe was founded by JP Iberti and Todd Carmichael more than two decades ago and has become one of North America's top coffee destinations, known for their high-quality organic and fair-trade coffee roasts, which range from light and flavorful to dark and full-bodied.

The company's lovely SoHo outpost, located on Lafayette Street, is spacious and bright, serving as a popular community gathering spot serving a wide variety of espresso beverages alongside light cafe fare. Diners can select from company favorite roasts like the bold Corsica, raw and dense Phocea, and fragrant and creamy Nizza or try reserve roasts like the African-blend Afrique or traditional Italian Savoia.

270 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012, Phone: 212-625-1717

Maman SoHo is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Armand Arnal, serving up delicious Southern French fare from the force behind New York restaurant favorite La Chassagnette.

The cafe is known for its inspired seasonal French fare, crafted with local produce according to techniques meant to emphasize natural flavors and recall Old World charm.

Diners can enjoy favorites like quiche lorraine, chickpea galettes, and focaccia pissaladière alongside a wide variety of French-style pastries, including favorites like baba au rhum and clafouti. Toby's Estate beans are prepared in cafe favorites like cappuccinos, Americanos, and macchiatos. The restaurant's delicious nutty chocolate chip cookies have been listed on Oprah's Favorite Things, a perennial favorite selection for visitors.

239 Centre St, New York, NY 10013, Phone: 212-226-0700

Coffee Shops for a Date

Mariebelle is a delightful European-style cafe housed within one of SoHo's top handcrafted chocolatiers, founded in 2001 at its current location on Broome Street. The elegant sweet shop serves up signature chocolate-infused desserts at its Cacao bar, which showcases antique furnishings and gorgeously-appointed crystal chandeliers.

French-style crepes, gourmet bakery cookies, and trendy cafe sandwiches are served up alongside an assortment of gourmet coffees, ranging from macchiatos and Americanos to dark or white chocolate-infused mochachinos. Hot and iced chocolate drinks feature flavor infusions like cardamom, banana, and Aztec spices. Other beverage options include fine looseleaf teas, European wines and champagnes, and fresh fruit smoothies.

484 Broome St, New York, NY 10013, Phone: 646-763-2196

Cafe Belle is the vision of the Scala family, who have been baking authentic Italian pastries and baked goods in Naples, Italy for more than seven decades.

The family has helmed several bakeries throughout the Brooklyn, Long Island, and New Jersey regions and are returning to their cafe roots with a new venture in SoHo on Mulberry Street. Delicious traditional Italian pastries are served up alongside a collection of favorite cafe beverages, ranging from Americanos and cappuccinos to chocolate frappes, Italian-style espressos, and iced flavored lattes. Non-coffee favorites include chai lattes and iced green teas. Cafe sandwiches are served up throughout the day, along with a selection of pies and baked goods.

280 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012, Phone: 212-837-1605

Dominique Ansel Bakery is a celebrated bakery from one of New York's most famed pastry chefs, known for the invention of the cronut, named as one of TIME Magazine's top 25 inventions of 2013. Ansel opened his SoHo bakery in 2011 and invented his signature doughnut-croissant hybrid on premises.

Diners can still grab original cronuts throughout the week, which typically sell out as early as 7:30am each morning on weekdays. Other excellent pastry selections include cookie shots, frozen s'mores, traditional kouign-ammans, and Paris-New York pastries, a chocolate and caramel-infused twist on the classic Paris-Brest. House blend coffees and espressos are served up in a wide variety of cafe beverages, including lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos.

189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012, Phone: 212-219-2773