"This cafe sits a few doors down from its sister spot, Toast on Lenox. While it’s easy to assume it opened to accommodate the overflow from the perpetually busy brunch restaurant, Toast Noir is a solid coffee destination on its own. It almost feels wrong to plop down our stickered laptop on the faux marble table tops and settle our sweatpant-clad bottoms on plush, gold trimmed black chairs. But despite feeling like we’re on the set of an Architectural Digest feature story, the mood is chill—meaning we can take our time sipping our espresso. Plus, smile-inducing drinks like mocha lattes that have a cute ice bear on top are a good enough reason to switch up your usual coffee routine. " - juli horsford
Sarah Newman