Please help, searching for great latte, midtown west.....

[labrunasf]

Help! Heading in to town for business, usually stay near Grumpy's in Chelsea. Have changed hotels and in a panic about where to get my delicious morning latte. Any ideas much appreciated. Also fond of Ninth Street Espresso. Please tell me all the good coffee is not downtown. Thanks.

[kathryn]

What intersection is your hotel near?

[labrunasf]

W54th between 6th and 7th.

[kathryn]

You're actually fairly close to Zibetto. Standing only/no seats, and pretty good espresso.

[labrunasf]

Thank you! I didn't see your posting before I left but I found Zibetto. I felt as though I was back in Italy. Good espresso and delcious Apricot Cornettos.

[sholli]

I haven't been yet, but my husband said that Stumptown at the Ace Hotel (W29th/Broadway) made the best latte he's ever had. Maybe not totally convenient for you, but he was waxing poetic about it.

[kathryn]

Their mocha is also GREAT! I think they use Mast Brothers chocolate. Swoon. But it's not necessary considered Midtown.

[Miss Needle]

I haven't had it, but DH was very disappointed with Stumptown's mocha. He said the hot chocolate part was premade, poured out of a plastic container.

I think the mocha at Culture is really excellent. They use squares of Valhrona chocolate as the hot chocolate part. And while I'm not a shortbread fan, their vanilla bean shortbread has a beautiful texture and taste and is a perfect complement to coffee. So much better than their assortment of cookies they have (they really need to change vendors). The shortbread is baked in-house.

[kathryn]

The "premade" part is probably Mast Brothers chocolate syrup.

[labrunasf]

I've heard that, thanks! I'll make the trek at least once to try it out.

[kathryn]

They also have beans from their Brooklyn roasting plant, if you'd like to bring some home with you. Check the date on the bag before buying, so you get the freshest possible.

[orthorunner]

WHile not a latte drinker myself, two places I frequent for my Illy fixes are BiscoLatte (46th and 10th) and Holey Cream (53rd and 9th) If you're further east, there is Fika espresso bar on 58th, around 6th. There is also a coffee spot just north of Port Authority though I can't remember the name; it's on 9th on the east side of the street...

[kathryn]

Casa Cupcake? 522 Ninth Ave at 39th St?

[orthorunner]

Nope, I remembered: Empire Coffee. Have no idea if it's any good, have just noticed it when walking by.

[labrunasf]

Thanks for all of your suggestions, very helpful.

[stephaniec25]

Stumptown on 29th near 5th and Culture which serves Chicago's Intelligentsia coffee on 38th near 6th