"As long as you aren’t easily distracted by tourists speaking a bunch of different languages, the cafe at the base of the Standard Hotel in the East Village is one of the cooler spots for a coffee meeting downtown. They uncover the outdoor patio on Bowery in nicer weather, but it’s also a cozy option during the colder months. Food-wise, they have full menus starting at 7am every day, in case you want something to eat while you try and figure out if the group sitting next to you is speaking Russian or Czech." - Matt Tervooren