East Village Specialty

Apollo serves warm, fresh bagels with a chewy inside and crusty exterior, well-coated with sesame seeds or everything spice, if you choose. Their menu is simple, with a few types of bagels and a few types of schmear, plus tomato, whitefish, lox, and the typical bagel fixings.

This coffee spot is known for its fruit lattes, which you’ll either love or hate. They’re made with just espresso, milk, and fresh fruit, which cuts the bitterness from coffee.

Abraço roasts all their own coffee, and it’s better than what you’ll find almost anywhere else. It draws a loyal clientele for that, but also for the great pastries, vinyl records, and European vibe. Keep in mind they don’t offer alternative milks here—just whole milk, half and half, and whipped cream.

This tea shop is named for a Led Zeppelin album—it’s on the basement level of the building on the cover of Physical Graffiti. It doesn’t offer much by way of atmosphere, but you come for a cup of hot tea or a tin of loose-leaf to take home; they have a whole wall of oolongs, green teas, pu-erhs, and medicinal herbal blends. If you’re looking to try something new, the shopkeepers are friendly and knowledgable guides.

This chai shop, owned by brothers Ayan and Ani Sanyal, makes traditional masala chai inspired by the summers and winters they spent in Kolkata as kids. They also sell chai concentrates and mixes you can whip up easily at home.

If In-N-Out has an East Coast equivalent, it’s 7th Street Burger, which has a cult following for juicy smashburgers and crispy fries slathered in sauce. (Vegetarians: They do have Impossible burgers here.) Depending on the location—there are nearly a dozen in Manhattan alone—they stay open late; this one’s open until 3 a.m. on weekends, and it’s a beacon of grease and cheese on a boozy night out.

A beautifully outfitted spot for grab-and-go meals, El Rey and its menu live at the intersection of healthy, filling, and delicious. The offering is a tight edit of easy, craving-quenching, nutritious foods like chia pudding and granola, nutty farro salad, spicy chicken bowls topped with zesty yogurt, and flavorful add-ons like pickles, avocado, or eggs. For a caffeinated indulgence try the Mexican mocha, then settle into a window seat for prime people watching while you drink.

Sundaes and Cones relocated to the East Village after its first two decades based in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Here you'll find all the classics, but most people come for their specialty Asian-influenced flavors—e.g. wasabi, ginger, and black sesame. They also make delectable ice cream cakes topped with fresh whipped cream.

Whether you’ve had Van Leeuwen on the streets of Brooklyn or in Culver City, it’s instantly recognizable. They’re particularly famous for their vegan ice cream, a combination of cashew milk, coconut milk, cocoa butter, and carob beans that’s incredibly creamy and indulgent (and a major victory for the dairy-sensitive).

This bagel shop is drawing big crowds, which we totally get: The hand-rolled, wood-fired bagel sandwiches are actually easy to eat (they’re much smaller than their brethren), and for the most part, they’re great—particularly for those times when the only thing that will satisfy is a bagel sandwich. Favorites include: the salmon classic, a basic tuna salad, and the egg salad.