#thepursuitofwork

Remedy Teas has over 150 teas and according to one man I met, is better than any tea place that he went to in NYC. The staff is friendly and it’s a lively atmosphere. If you are into tea, the tea list looks pretty extensive and I’m sure it’s impressive if you know something about tea (I don’t).

When I went: Sunday afternoon

The best part: There’s a bat with seats that have a back. Plenty of outlets. They also have light bits like tea sandwiches and soup in addition to a selection of tasty looking baked goods. 

The meh part: It’s really crowded. And really noisy. Lots of chatter going on, you can’t really hear the music. It’s pretty cramped - even the tables are cramped together. It’s also underground, so the windows are above eye level so no people watching.

The zomg part: They have matcha lattes! I would come back for this alone

Up the street from my go-to, Top Pot, is Joe bar. It has great natural light and they serve beer and wine as well. I spent most of Saturday day at Joe Bar. In the morning, there were lots of families. In the mid afternoon, young kids, and in the late afternoon, older couples. It was interesting to watch the clientele change.

When I went: Saturday morning

The best part: Food! Real, actual food. Great soup and I hear that the crepes are very good. I didn’t have the crepes yet, but Yelp tells me they are fantastic. The chicken soup I had was great. 

The meh part: It’s pretty loud. Kids come in on the weekends. People come in to chatThere is no bar for people watching, just two tables by the windows. 

The zomg part: There is an upstairs balcony area. One section is above the bar, the other is above the main room, which is where I was. I found a single table in a corner upstairs and camped out for an afternoon. It was a nice spot.

I started my journey close to home with Top Pot. Only a few block away on a quiet but active street is Top Pot Doughnuts. It’s a great space. It’s not cramped. Even when it’s crowded it’s never too loud. People are mostly working when they are there, it seems, or having quiet conversation during the weeknights 

When I went: The weekday

The best part: A bar along the windows so you can people watch. Plenty of outlets. This is probably my favorite go-to spot.

The meh part: The bar seats are a bit uncomfortable and for me, the heigh of the counter is a bit awkward. Oh, and the bar seats are actually up on a step, which I always forget about. I basically fell into this poor guys table once. Whooops.

The zomg part: Doughnuts. Who could resist?