Buunni Coffee - Inwood

"Distance from the start: 0.3 miles  Bathroom: Yes  As the age-old saying goes “but first, coffee.” For you, that'll happen at Buunni, an Ethiopian coffee shop about an 8-minute walk from the 215 Street 1 train in Inwood. The light-wood, plant-filled space has a lot of tables where it might seem like you should sit back and relax for a while. Don't do that. Order whatever gets you going in the morning, and then make a beeline for breakfast.  " - willa moore

"If you live in Inwood and you’ve always dreamed of being on a first-name basis with your barista, try Buunni, an Ethiopian coffee shop where the person behind the counter will treat you like a regular, even on your first visit. Once you walk into the calm, plant-filled space, you’ll finally understand how people actually get work done in coffee shops—it's also great for an espresso-fueled catch-up with a friend. They have a small menu with vegan and non-vegan options (like croissants, and injera wraps), but the real draw is the coffee. The beans are grown in Ethiopia and roasted in New York, and the resulting cup is rich enough to wake you up and keep you up. Buunni’s Inwood location also hosts a lot of events—keep an eye on their Instagram, and then attend a community open mic. photo credit: Maribel Acosta" - Willa Moore

"Wow, it smells good here. With hot chai tea and warm cheddar biscuits for days, Darling Coffee is no ordinary establishment. Opening in 2012, Darling Coffee quickly become a neighborhood standard. They excel in baked good, sandwiches, seasonal soups, and a warm environment that prefers books to computers, engaging conversation to superficial niceties. Nichole, the owner, is there on most days blending in with the rest of the friendly staff. Pull up, sit down. Enjoy a cup of tea. Enjoy a satisfying lunch. Meet a friend. Write the next Great American Novel, crank out your thesis paper. Darling Coffee is something of a community space and is known for supporting local artists on their walls and generally just being nice. Don't you like inviting places? Don't you like coffee and yummy baked goods? Don't worry, you're only human. Nobody will judge you. Inwood residents love it here." - Jeanne Henry

"Buunni is a coffee shop that specializes in small-batch coffee beans from Ethiopia (where the owners are from). They have several locations in Washington Heights and Inwood: the one in Pinehurst has a communal table and a few counter seats inside, but the Inwood location is the largest. So if you’re looking for a calming space with plenty of seating and lots of natural light, come here. The coffee is truly special, and they have snacks, including Ethiopian wraps. They also often host evening events, in case you need to unwind after a long day. " - neha talreja, nikko duren, carina finn koeppicus, sonal shah

"The largest of this uptown coffee spot’s locations, this Broadway cafe has enough tables for you to meet with friends over a coffee, or even a light lunch or dinner. Place your order at the long counter, where you’ll find a large selection of drinks featuring the shop’s small-batch Ethiopian coffee, as well as things like smoothies, sandwiches, salads, and Ethiopian dishes including ful (fava beans prepared with berbere spice). And yes, there’s beer, wine, and cocktails, too." - Willa Moore, Nikko Duren, Matt Tervooren, The Curious Uptowner