I often go to coffee shops not for the joe, but for a place to write. I have to squeeze in the time for daily blogging whenever and where ever I can! Coffee shops are vital spaces for New Yorkers. So many of us have roommates as well as commutes that make it impossible to pop home between things. When I go to a coffee shop, I think of it as renting a seat more than buying a  beverage! Caffeine addictions are of course a New York cliché too. For the first coffee shop I like to blog at-

The Bean

The Bean has reached the status of local chain, it’s so popular it now has four locations in NYC. Three are in the East Village alone, one in Williamsburg. If you’re and artsy-fartsy type (like me), it’s hard not to love the ambiance the minute you step inside!

Hanging colorful lamps, painted walls, and mosaics, how can you not be creative in this coffee shop? The Bean I’m featuring here is across the street from The Strand, New York’s iconic independent bookstore.

The specialty drinks have punny names, perfect for inspiring your headlines, titles, and tweets. Sip one of these and you’ll never want a boring ol’ Frappuccino again.

The Bean also has a pretty wide ranging selection of food options, including eggs, smoothies, empanadas, and pastries. It’s important to have some options other than coffee when your hunkering down to work for a while!

The one problem with The Bean is that it’s right by NYC dorms, so it can sometimes be swamped with students and hard to get a table. But when you get one, it’s really a great space for writing!

Just go to the East Village and bump into one of the three Beans. Or check out the precise locations here. I can’t speak to how the NutElla Fitgerald actually tastes – I almost never order specialty drinks! Too sweet! Would you try it?

Regular coffee for me, please (or a cafe au lait if I’m feeling fancy). I’m a cream, no sugar kinda gal!