Today is the day. The Starbucks on 31st and 7th Avenue is the last Starbucks I’ve yet to visit in Manhattan. This is the 20th Starbucks I’ve rated in the month of December and the 208th I’ve rated in 2013. Whoa. It’s been quite a ride. But I’ll reflect more on that tomorrow. For now I still need to spill the T on this Midtown Starbucks.
Surprisingly, there’s not much dirt to dish. This is one of the few impressive Starbucks in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan. This Starbucks is neither cramped, narrow nor closet-like. It actually has a large downstairs lobby and plenty of additional seating in its upstairs seating loft. Besides the typical coffee pictures on the walls, there is plenty of unique decor such a mural of gears and NYC public transportation near the front entrance. There’s even giant coffee bags resting atop the shelves of Starbucks merchandise. One of the baristas informed me the Starbucks was remodeled just a few years ago, so I have to assume that is when all this nifty decor arrived.
On the negative side, this Starbucks does attract a pretty hefty crowd. I had a momentary wait before I could sit upstairs and some have come and left without finding a seat at all. Also, the once available upstairs power outlets have been covered up and the WiFi is a tad on the slow side. So if you’re coming to do some work on your laptop, you may want to bring a full battery and some patience — or possibly a screwdriver. The lighting is also slightly on the dim side, but I think that’s part of the design theme.
So there you have it. That’s the Starbucks on 31st and 7th in a nutshell. See more details below, and check back tomorrow for my final reflection on Starbucks, blogging and this great city called New York.
The Good:
The Size… A double-decker Starbucks. With a large downstairs lobby and a sizable seating area upstairs.
The Seating… There is some window seating downstairs and plenty of tables-for-two, benches and a communal table upstairs in the main seating area.
The Location… Directly south of Penn Station, Madison Square Garden and a short walk to any of the Manhattan trains.
The Decor… Giant bags of coffee, wood paneling and a distinct theme of gears and transportation represented in the hanging wall art and decor throughout.
The Bad:
The Crowd… Most great Starbucks attract a great crowd. It’s a shame really.
The Power Outlets… All power outlets in the upstairs seating areas have been covered up. Darn those squatters!
The Restroom… Just the one for both men and women.
Barista Friendliness:
Drink of Choice:
Venti Skinny Vanilla Latte… A small treat to celebrate the last Starbucks on my list.
Overall Starbucks Rating:
A large Midtown Starbucks with an upstairs seating loft and quite the crowd. And the last on my list.
Starbucks and the City 
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