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Our 8 Favorite Cafes in Union Square

coffee brewing

Coffee shops and cannabis go together (think Amsterdam vibes), but you don’t need to board a plane to get the same experience. New York City’s Union Square has been a gathering place since the 17th century, so it’s no surprise a cluster of great cafes have cropped up around the park. After you visit The Travel Agency in Union Square, grab a regular or try something new and exciting at one of these local cafe favorites.

"No beans about it, coffee and cannabis are a perfect match"

1. Catch up on the latest at NewsBar Café

  • Address: 107 University Pl, New York, NY 10003
  • Distance from The Travel Agency: 2-minute walk (one block away)

The extensive menu at NewsBar will surely be a top destination for anyone’s taste buds, serving iconic dishes like an elevated yet classic grilled cheese, as well as classic coffee favorites such as a matcha latte. For a sweet tooth fix, fly non-stop to their Fat & Fluffy French Toast, available during weekend brunch. NewsBar has been around for over 30 years and is perfect for early birds, opening at 6:30 a.m. sharp (7 a.m. on Sundays) and staying open until early evening

2. Explore an ocean of flavor at Lucky Lucky Coffee

  • Address: 21 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003
  • Distance from The Travel Agency: 3-minute walk (one and a half blocks)

Lucky Lucky Coffee’s interior design reminds us of our four licensed NYC dispensary locations. Just like how our spaces inspire the mind with futuristic designs, Lucky Lucky frames its cafe seats with layers of curves that resemble ocean waves or an underwater cafe. The design is as dream-like as the coffee, with coconut cloud latte and Klein’s blue banana milk among Lucky Lucky’s signature drinks. Order up, then settle in for a front-row seat to the shore.

3. Experience a Union Square Classic at Le Café Coffee

  • Address: 7 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003
  • Distance from The Travel Agency: 4-minute walk (two and a half blocks away)

Put on your fancy pants and make your way to Le Café Coffee for an upscale experience. The space is designed beautifully and the stunning pastries and toasts are baked daily from all-organic ingredients. The shop has expanded across Manhattan, but the OG took off right here in Union Square in 2013. Our top 3 treats: Iced Matcha, Banana Toast (Nutella, anyone?), and the za’atar croissant.

4. Get lost and found at CupSoul Cafe

  • Address: 165 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003
  • Distance from The Travel Agency: 8-minute walk (five blocks away)

Now boarding your flight to a baked goods haven. This Greek family-run cafe pours its soul into the five-star croissants, fresh sandwiches, specialty beverages, donuts, muffins, cookies, and so, so much more. If you have the unnerving restraint to only pick one pairing for your stay at CupSoul Cafe, you can’t go wrong with a matcha latte and the olive oil bundt. If you’re arriving from a red-eye, the doors open at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends to welcome you home.

CupSoul Cafe is located at 165 3rd Ave., on the corner of E 16th St.

5. Sip a cup at Joe Coffee Company

  • Address: 29 Union Square W, New York, NY 10003
  • Distance from The Travel Agency: 5-minute walk (four blocks away)

Joe Coffee was born in Greenwich Village over 20 years ago and has become a staple across the boroughs since. If you want a straightforward yet exquisitely-brewed cup o’ Joe, this is your go-to. Bonus: If you’re more of a homebody, the shop also has you covered with to-go gear and beans to DIY your own cup of Joe Coffee. The Village coffee blend is a favorite pick-up; the flavor palette is a balance of rose, dates, and tangerine.

6. Try a different kind of high tea at Lady Mendl’s

  • Address: 56 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003
  • Distance from The Travel Agency: 8-minute walk (six blocks away)

The tea may not be infused, but you’ll indulge in a whole other kind of experience at Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon. Look for a small teacup engraved on a door at Irving Place and 17th Street, and you’ll know you’ve made it. Step inside to time travel back to the Victorian era for afternoon tea service.

At Lady Mendl’s, the Gilded Age meets its match with this 5-course prix fixe menu that serves up glamor in the form of seasonal soups or salads, traditional scones, and, of course, exquisite tea sandwiches. Reservations are highly recommended at this highly worthy stop for an afternoon adventure.

7. Get a taste of home at OCAFE

  • Address: 482 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011
  • Distance from The Travel Agency: 10-minute walk (four blocks away)

Nothing tastes as good as home, and the team behind OCAFE takes that to heart. Not only does the shop focus on ecologically responsible practices and fair trade, but the ingredients come from the neighboring Union Square market and the Finger Lakes region. Taste the difference in the whipped ricotta bowl, and while you’re at it, stir up a specialty latte with dark chocolate.

8. Enjoy dinner and (caffeinated) drinks at Sammy L Coffee

Pack your appetite and shopping bags: This place is more than just a cafe. Sammy Lin created a coffee shop that is part art museum, part clothing boutique, part Asian bodega, and wrapped it all up in an out-of-this-world international menu. Sushi meets tiramisu, bubble tea clinks with the whipped cream goodness of Vienna coffee, and freshly-made paninis and pastries span from day to night. Definitely consider becoming a frequent flyer here.

Quick tips for pairing cannabis and coffee

Union Square’s most flavorful, comforting coffees may be even more of a pick-me-up when paired with cannabis. For turbulence-free travels, follow these tips for making the most of cannabis and coffee together.

  • Know what to expect: Many people find that pairing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with caffeine sharpens their focus, boosts their creativity, and amps up their energy. That said, the higher your THC dose, the more that THC’s intoxicating effects may overpower coffee’s energizing potential.
  • Start low and go slow: Start with a microdose of THC when pairing cannabis with coffee. Then, consume more cannabis or coffee, but not both, so that you understand how each one affects you. Waiting for your cannabis product’s onset time to pass before consuming more helps your experience feel more blissful instead of overwhelming.
  • Try them separately first. Caffeine makes lots of folks jittery, and some people find that THC elevates their heart rate. If either of these sounds like you, then get to know THC separately from coffee before combining them. Only pair them if you feel at ease with each one individually.
  • Take note of how you feel. Keep a cannabis journal and write about how you feel with THC and coffee separately, then together. Note how much THC and caffeine you consume together and how you felt, then adjust accordingly next time.
  • Get help from a budtender. The budtenders at licensed New York dispensaries can help you understand more about how THC and caffeine interact. Just as importantly, they can recommend cannabis products that pair well with coffee. At The Travel Agency, our budtenders personalize their recommendations according to your exact wants and needs — tell us where you want to go, and we’ll find you a way there.

Where to next?

Whether you’ve met up with like-minded travelers or you’re venturing solo, we welcome you to The Travel Agency. Complete your local tour here and pick up the perfect pairing for your to-go cup of goodness — perhaps some edibles or a pre-roll with your coffee.

With coffee in hand and cannabis in your bag, the city is your oyster now, so here’s a guide on how to spend the rest of your day while high in NYC. As your adventures take you beyond Union Square, visit our Fifth Avenue, SoHo, and Downtown Brooklyn destinations as well.

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