I’ve seen my fair share of unique New York City Starbucks since starting this blog. Adding to that list — and possibly being one of the most interesting Starbucks in the city — is the Starbucks inside the Sony building on the corner of 55th & Madison in Midtown.
This Starbucks is literally inside of the Sony electronics store, blended perfectly in with the speakers and televisions. Most Starbucks within other buildings (e.g. Target and The NHL Store) are clearly separated by either half walls, glass panels or simply different tiles. But here the barista station is directly across from electronics displays and entertainment centers. Signing for the latest Sony speaker is placed directly above Starbucks’ newest blend. One wouldn’t think that coffee and electronics go so well together, but something about this co-branding just works.
The Starbucks is clearly visible from the 55th street as well, so it’s not like you need to be in the market for a new TV to swing by and grab yourself a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Also, there is an expansive indoor public seating area that connects this Starbucks to the street. Here you’ll find a public restroom (enter if you dare), tons of seats and a few other small shops and studios that enter into this lobby. Not to mention natural sun light from the glass paneled ceiling.
So for all you techie-coffee enthusiasts out there, this one is must-see when you come to New York.
The Good:
The Seating… So obviously there’s no table seating in the Sony/Starbucks itself, but luckily there is a large indoor public seating area attached to the Starbucks. There’s tons of metals chairs and tables and the AT&T WiFi even works in the corner nearest the Starbucks.
The Decor… And by ‘decor’ I mean low hanging spotlights on the various Sony TVs, headsets, cameras and other electronics.
The Location… Midtown, a few blocks from Central Park and the high scale Fifth Avenue shopping options.
The Bad:
The Crowd… Lots of people looking to drop some big bucks on Sony entertainment systems while getting their caffeine kick simultaneously.
The Hours… Only open until 7pm each night and 6pm on Sundays.
Barista Friendliness:
Drink of Choice:
Grande Iced Coffee.
Overall Starbucks Rating:
Coffee meets home entertainment at this Midtown Starbucks.
Starbucks and the City 
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