Cool "literary" cafe downtown?

[foodshark73]

Aspiring-poet cousin is in town, and I want to show him there is life beyond Starbucks. Where can I take him, preferably downtown, that will have a good atmosphere? TIA.

[sugartoof]

Third Rail Coffee. A little small but should fit.
Ost or Joe's.

Stumptown/Ace might be Downtown enough.

71 Irving isn't bad either.

None of these are of the romantic college student reading Proust while sipping espresso variety, if that's what you're looking for, but they're all lively, with good coffee. For atmosphere I would pick Ace, but it is a more adult crowd.

Less of an endorsement of their coffee....Think Coffee might fit what you're after.

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Ost Cafe
441 E 12th St, New York, NY 10009

Third Rail Coffee
240 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

[boccalupo]

71 Irving Place. Cafe Pick Me Up.

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71 Irving Place
71 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003

Cafe Pick Me Up
145 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

[sgordon]

EarthMatters on Ludlow. A little crunchy / hippy-dippy but the food is good, and there's a couple of levels with lots of seating, free wi-fi, etc. Lots of books to browse through as well.

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EarthMatters
177 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

[michelleats]

Sounds like Housing Works Bookstore Cafe might be your cup of tea (or coffee): http://www.housingworks.org/social-en...

[Elizabeth E.]

Teany Cafe at 90 Rivington Street. Cute place and it's owned by Moby -- that might interest your cousin.

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Teany
90 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002