Coffee Date at Smør Bakery
Let’s get this party started
First up to bat is one of my favorites: Smør Bakery in the East Village (12th between A and B).
Key pointer right off the bat here - be sure not to confuse Smør Bakery with Smør, its equally lovable (but sandwich-forward) sister shop right next door. If you’re looking for coffee and pastries (which I know you are), Smør Bakery is your best friend. Here are my fast stats…
Let’s get into it. The coffee and pastries are battling for star of the show here and I cannot name a winner. We’ll talk coffee first.
They use their own beans, which is always fun to see. I like knowing that I’m getting something unique to a particular shop. And speaking of unique, THE drink to order here is a cardamom iced latte. I’ve never seen cardamom flavor anywhere else, but it is p e r f e c t in coffee. They also offer vanilla and lavender flavors, so there’s something for everyone but no overwhelming list to choose from.
Smør Bakery’s espresso is strong yet smooth, and their iced lattes are an ideal caramelly color - never too light and milky. I got mine with oat, but they also offer dairy milks and almond milk [oat and almond are a 50 cent upcharge (not bad, imo)]. In fact, their prices are generally tame - I don’t remember the last time I saw a drip for under $3.00 at a specialty NYC cafe. With my accoutrements, my latte came out to $5, which is better than I can say for most coffee purchases (oops!). If you’re not in the mood for coffee, they also offer chai, matcha, hot and iced teas, and lemonade.
Okay, food. Smør Bakery is, of course, a bakery at its core, and let me tell you… the pastries are damn good. I love a bakery with funky options like an earl grey doughnut (seasonal) [edit: I bought it and it was phenomenal] and sweet/savory diversity. Keeping with the theme, the cardamom bun is one of my other top choices. There is often a baker making pastries at the front of the store, but even if you couldn’t see them in progress, you’d never doubt the freshness of those treats. They’re all priced reasonably ($5ish each) and are displayed in a pretty, clean case (which counts for major points).
If you want something more substantial, Smør offers a brunch menu of egg plates, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt with granola, etc. Everything feels a little bit indulgent in a good way (think cheesy eggs, various aiolis, bee pollen). I will admit, options are limited for those with dietary restrictions. I didn’t notice any gluten free pastries advertised and there’s definitely a lot of dairy going on.
Let’s discuss *ambience*. Smør Bakery doesn’t have a ton of seating, but I’ve never had to fight for a table. There’s always steady foot traffic, but most people opt to grab and go, so tables are usually available. Their outdoor tables are large enough for 2-3 people with laptops, but inside tables are quite teensy, so cross your fingers for side-by-side seats if you’re going to get work done with a friend. And while I love posting up with my iPad at here, it’s not the best for curling up with a book. Seats consist of benches and stools, perfect for productivity but not for long-term coziness.
Wifi is free, fast, and the staff are happy to give out the password (in fact, the staff are always kind and helpful). There are only outlets by the window seats, so come with a full charge if you’re planning on hanging around for a while.
The abundant natural light, excellent playlist, and general positive energy here make me so productive. Small touches like a market wall full of specialty sauces and tinned fish make Smør Bakery unique and comfortable.
Really, I only have one qualm: the bathroom situation.
Tragically, Smør Bakery is too quaint to have its own bathroom, so if you ask, you’ll be sent over to their aforementioned sister shop next door. This is all well and good except for those few morning hours when sister Smør isn’t open yet. So, if you’re visiting Smør Bakery before 11:00am, expect no bathroom. I’ll survive, I guess.
Alright, folks. That concludes my very first review, and it was a great one. More coming soon.
Xoxo,
Liv ☕️
☕️☺️