This time last week, it was snowing in New York City. Today it’s 70 degrees and I’m sitting at Starbucks drinking iced coffee. But never fear! Apparently this odd warm spell will be short lived, and we’ll all be forced to drink hot coffee by Christmas morning. Or maybe even some hot cocoa.
The Starbucks that I’m sitting at is an Upper West Side location that initially escaped my research. According to the baristas it underwent a remodel earlier this year, so there’s a chance it was closed down and unlisted for a while. I can’t say for sure what it looked like before, but I can say with certainty that it is a well designed Starbucks now. The decor is definitely its best attribute. On the walls hang a few framed photographs that portray people in metro areas enjoying Starbucks in various fashions. I’ve only ever seen these at one other Starbucks before, and they’re definitely more attractive than pictures of coffee beans and the roasting process. There’s also some pretty nifty looking lighting throughout. Above you can see the lighting ornament that hangs directly above the milk cart.
Apart from the decor, this Starbucks is average sized; it has a good amount of seating, one restroom, a consistently crowded lobby and a location that makes it convenient for a quick pick-me-up while Christmas shopping. Speaking of — that’s my mission for the rest of the day. Wish me luck!
The Good:
The Decor… A very well put together Starbucks. I’m particularly fond of the the large wire lighting both on the walls and over the seating.
The Location… Lots of shopping off Broadway in this neighborhood and very close to the 1/2/3 trains.
The Seating… For an average sized Starbucks, they sure did cram a good amount of seating in here. There’s seating lining all the exterior walls, a giant communal table and even some high tops at the barista bar.
The Bad:
The Crowd…Wowza! The crowd in this Starbucks was intense.
The Line… Consistently long and wrapping around the entire lobby.
The Restroom… Just the one.
Barista Friendliness:
Drink of Choice:
Grande Iced Coffee… Maybe I’ll even go tanning later?
Overall Starbucks Rating:
A crowded corner Starbucks off Broadway in the Upper West Side.
Starbucks and the City 
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