June was a travel (and wedding) heavy month, but I still managed to sneak in some excellent meals out. I visited a lot of coffee shops this month, as I’ve been working remotely more often and a change of scenery is most welcome. Read on for some of my favorite spots from the month of June!

Union Square Cafe – I finally made it to the new(ish) incarnation of this NYC institution, and it was even better than anticipated. The bar is fantastic, the service is on-point, and the food felt seasonal and local. Some highlights were the soft shell crab appetizer, classic bibb lettuce salad, and pork chop with rhubarb and dandelion greens.

Hesperios – This hybrid shop and cafe in NoLiTa is one of the more beautiful spaces I’ve encountered recently. Stop in for an incredible cup of artisanal tea and sit in the sprawling outdoor garden patio area.

Fields Good Chicken – The fast casual model shows no signs of slowing down, and this spot is all about delicious (and responsibly-sourced) chicken. Get it atop a salad or bowl, or walk out of there with a whole roasted chicken for your weekly meal prep.

Emack and Bolio – I finally had the pleasure of trying this made-for-summer-nights ice cream spot, and what I assumed would be a bit gimmicky was quite delicious. Their classic cookie dough and toasted s’mores flavors are out of this world, and the hand-dipped Rice Krispies treat ice cream cone was well worth it as well.

Gottino – A little, bright green storefront on Greenwich Ave with a simple menu and an adorable back garden. Go here for brunch and get the eggs with prosciutto and shaved Brussels sprouts salad.

Little Canal – This itty-bitty coffee shop ALL the way downtown is not short on good vibes. It’s a great place to post up and read and have an excellent coffee when you find yourself at that intersection of LES and Two Bridges without a clue where to grab that afternoon cortado.

Sushi of Gari – This is another “finally” moment for me, as I’ve been hearing about the sushi here for as long as I’ve lived in New York City. I went to the TriBeCa location and sampled the go-mae appetizers (spinach and asparagus), the sashimi special, and also had to do a little tuna tasting with the medium fatty tuna and fatty tuna sashimi. Each piece was fresher than the next, and the atmosphere felt pretty low-key for the quality they’re offering up.

Saltwater Coffee – Another day, another Aussie cafe in NYC. This little speck of a coffee shop is in the East Village near Tompkins Square Park, and was the perfect stop-off after a recent Switch Playground class. It wasn’t too crowded, and felt like a neighborhood gem.