Cafe Amrita

Sitting at the northwest corner of Central Park, this long-running neighborhood spot operates as a hybrid coffee shop and bar. By day, it draws Columbia students with laptops, readers pairing hot chocolate with muffins, and parents stopping for pre-dinner snacks. Later, the crowd shifts to patrons watching games on the big TV. The kitchen turns out specialty lunch sandwiches and weekend brunch pancakes. While the space captures the easygoing energy of a European or South American capital cafe, service speed and standards can be inconsistent.