For my 100th Starbucks visit for this blog, I wanted to go somewhere special; a significant place in this city. In the end, I decided on Grand Central Terminal.
Not only is this one of the most beautiful and well-traveled locations in Manhattan, but it’s also celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. So I decided what better spot to make my 100th Starbucks than this 100 year old masterpiece.
There are actually two Starbucks located in Grand Central. The one I’m sitting in now is in the Biltmore Passage in the northwest corner of the station. The other is off to the east in the Lexington Passage. The reason I chose the Biltmore Starbucks for my 100th visit is because it’s completely embedded within Grand Central whereas the other has a street exit and pretty much resembles a normal Midtown Starbucks.
Of course, Grand Central contains much more than trains and Starbucks. Did you know there is actually an Apple Store in the Main Concourse? There’s also hundreds of other retail shops, coffee houses, restaurants, bakeries and novelty shops. This place is huge (grand, if you will) and although I’ve never had to catch a train out of here, I’d probably need to arrive extra early.
This Starbucks is both impressive and basic at the same time. I guess you can say it’s a product of its environment. No need for tons of seating or coffee decor in a Starbucks in a train terminal. Instead, this Starbucks has a barista bar twice the size of any other, with two areas to pay and pick up your drinks. The line never appears too long because this Starbucks is much more focused on efficiency than comfort. And it works.
With 100 Starbucks down in the midst of summer, I have hope that I can make it to all the Manhattan Starbucks before the year is up.
The Good:
The Location… Centrally located in Midtown Manhattan and the perfect pre-commute pick-me-up.
The Barista Bar… The size of two barista bars with two ordering stations and pick-up bars.
The Bad:
The Seating… Three tables, six chairs tucked into the corner.
The Size… Obviously the Starbucks seating area is small, but luckily it’s in the ‘grand’est of train stations.
The Restroom… None in the Starbucks itself.
Barista Friendliness:
Drink of Choice:
Grande Iced Vanilla Latte
Overall Starbucks Rating:
A conveniently located Starbucks in the historic Grand Central Station.
Starbucks and the City 
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