If the Starbucks of NYC truly do reflect their respective neighborhoods, then this Starbucks wants you to know that the Upper East Side is clean, calm, and collected. It is without a doubt one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city, and with that comes a certain reservedness that the rest of NYC seems to lack. So don’t go acting a fool in the Upper East Side.
In my (limited BUT growing) experience, the further East you go from Central Park the less prudish the area becomes. The park exudes abundance, so way over here on 1st Avenue you can still grab a cup of coffee without your pearls.
Speaking of coffee…
This is the type Starbucks you bring a book to. Leave that friend or significant other at home; you’ve earned some time to yourself.
The lounge is partitioned away from the coffee-bar and is equipped with bar seating, a long study table, and a cushioned bench and tables for two. Although the space is not that big, it never seems to fill up. Those who occupy the seats are reading the New York Times, glued to laptops (like yours truly), or cracking open a textbook. A library-esque quietness resides here which, suffocating to some, can also provide the perfect work environment to others. The brewing of coffee and the light clitter-clatter of dishes provide the perfect amount of aroma and background noise for reading that trashy magazine or writing the greatest thesis the world has ever seen.
Starbucks and the City 