It's on 1 of my list. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Address128 Charles Street
- From my guide, updated March 2026.
128 Charles Street. Take the 1 to Christopher Street.
The Elk is the kind of coffee shop that makes you want to move to the West Village immediately. It’s tucked away on a quiet, tree-lined street. The interior is all warm wood and soft lighting. The coffee is excellent (they use Counter Culture beans) and the food menu is small but perfect. Their avocado toast is actually good, which I know is a cliche thing to say, but it’s true. The soft-boiled egg on top makes it.
I come here when I want to feel like I’m living in a movie about a writer who lives in a charming apartment in the West Village and writes in coffee shops all day. I am not that person. But for an hour at The Elk, I can pretend.