Yes, two in one day — And if you’re judging me, so be it, because I know I’m not the only New Yorker out there who measures their days by the cups of coffee they drink. Also, I’m on a deadline!
In actuality, I simply found myself in the Starbucks located on 42nd & 6th and couldn’t resist writing and reviewing it tonight. This location is unique to me for several reasons. It is the smallest Starbucks I’ve ever entered. It has no seating. It has no restroom. And — for some reason — I can’t hold any of those things against it, because it is one of the fastest locations when it comes to service.
In all honesty, this Starbucks reminds me of my first NYC apartment in the Upper West Side. All there was to it was a small triangular living-room/kitchen combo that we were able to squeeze a futon and a table into. This Starbucks contains a barista bar and a station to fix your drinks at, and that is all. You exit where you entered, so the crowd shuffles in an acute circular motion before being thrust back into the streets.
The closest Starbucks in proximity to Bryant Park (and the B/D/F/M trains), this location receives quite the crowd. Very close-by are other landmarks such as Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and the New York Public Library. Also, here’s a piece of trivia for you: the icon of this blog is the Starbucks logo from this location, and the building in the background is the NYC headquarters to Bank of America.
I like this location because it gives no misconceptions. If this Starbucks could talk, it’d say the following: “No, you’re not sitting. No, you can’t use the restroom. Get your coffee, and go sit in the park or ice-skate or something. Oh, and have a nice day!”
The Good:
Fast Service… No thrills, no frills. Just quick coffee.
The Location… You can’t beat it — right across from Bryant Park and all the perks that come with that.
The Bad:
No Seating… Get in, get out, and that’s all there is to it.
No Restroom… Do not linger. Get the message?
Barista Friendliness:
The barista taking drink orders was not only friendly, but she attempted to personalize each interaction — not an easy feat with a never ending line.
Drink of Choice:
Grande-Iced Red-Eye — If you’re not “into coffee” a red-eye is a coffee (usually black) with a shot of espresso added to take it to the next level. Mhhhmm, delicious.
Overall Starbucks Rating:
Although it’s not much bigger than a food-truck, for what it’s able to deliver it does a grande job.
Starbucks and the City 
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