SoHo Specialty

Some people are saying this is the east coast counterpart to Erewhon, and the comparisons are apt: This boutique health food store has a stellar hot bar, an especially well-curated selection of healthy snacks, and as many functional beverages you could try in a year. The vibe is really good and the service is friendly, if not always fast.

Founder Rachel Krupa had an ambitious goal when she opened The Goods Mart in Silver Lake: to create a convenience store unlike any other in the country. Now, with the Silver Lake location sadly shuttered, The Goods Mart has made a move east, occupying a much-needed space on Lafayette in SoHo. Think of it as the corner store for a new era, where prices are low, the quality is high, and the mission is rooted in community. Shelves are devoid of artificial colors, flavors, and other nasties and even the slushies are made with organic ingredients and served in paper—not plastic—cups. But back to the mission: Customers have the option of donating to different monthly charities at checkout, while good food approaching its sell-by date is delivered to the homeless in partnership with the nonprofit Lunch on Me.

The Smile to Go is a SoHo grab-it-quick joint with a huge selection of food that is filling and tasty and healthy.

Every corner of Soho's Flour Shop pops with rainbow-colored sweet treats—cakes, specifically. Owner and mastermind Amirah Kassem is as much a sculptor as she is a baker, many of her cakes, although classic in flavor, are totally untraditional in appearance—think trompe l'oeil burgers and fries, flowerpots, even ice-cream cones. Many are mini edible masterpieces—the explosion cakes in particular—with layers of rainbow sponge interspersed with creamy frosting, sprinkles, and chocolate pouring like lava out of the cake itself. Aside from the truly incredible cakes, donuts, and desserts, Kassem's color-happy aesthetic, which dominates the space as much as it does the confectionary, is light-hearted and fun (and beloved by sugar-high littles). For adults who need a dash of savory with their sweet, a well-balanced cup of La Colombe's coffee is readily available to wash down that slice of funfetti cake.

While you don't want to bring too much web-dependent work since the Wi-Fi can get choppy if the café is packed (it's small and gets full on weekends), this is probably the prettiest spot in the city for an afternoon of writing or reading. While the French-inflected menu is full delicious options, it's the cookies—arguably the best brain food ever—that get the most praise. And the coffee game is pretty strong, too.

No matter that no more than five people can fit in Olive's at once (and that it's really easy to miss when walking by), the sandwiches, soups, and salads here are mighty: While the offerings change daily, you can always count on a pretty delicious (and hearty) turkey sandwich, or a chopped salad packed with everything you could ever want. There's also a location in the Financial District.

No matter that no more than five people can fit in Olive's at once (and that it's really easy to miss when walking by), the sandwiches, soups, and salads here are mighty: While the offerings change daily, you can always count on a pretty delicious (and hearty) turkey sandwich, or a chopped salad packed with everything you could ever want.

With cafes in four major cities, La Colombe is looking to build a little empire—which makes total sense. Their in-house beans are some of New York City's best, and the café itself is serene and beautiful. Locations vary in size (some have tables where you could totally pull out a laptop), you can usually find a place to at least perch for a bit.

With cafes in four major cities, La Colombe is looking to build a little empire—which makes total sense. Their in-house beans are some of New York City's best, and the café itself is serene and beautiful. Locations vary in size (some have tables where you could totally pull out a laptop), you can usually find a place to at least perch for a bit.

With cafés in four major cities, La Colombe is looking to build a little empire—which makes total sense. The in-house beans are some of New York City's best, and the café itself is serene and beautiful. Locations vary in size (some have tables where you could totally pull out a laptop), and you can usually find a place to at least perch for a bit.