After conquering the coffee connoisseurs in Williamsburg, Australian company Toby's Estate takes on Manhattan with a new espresso bar on 5th Avenue in the Flatiron District. Unlike its giant predecessor in Brooklyn—which tripled as a roasting space and coffee school—the new bar operates inside the Club Monaco flagship store, so if you're in the market for $200 overalls, this is one-stop shopping.
The company sources beans from sustainable farms in Honduras, Ethiopia, Colombia and beyond, which they'll roast in Brooklyn to transport to the new outlet. Beverages are created using a specialty Strada coffee machine, customized to the exacting standards of the owners, who went so far as to disassemble the machine and rebuild it to their specifications. Visitors can order a variety of espresso drinks—made with their new custom "Flatiron Espresso Blend" and others—in addition to pour over coffees. If you're looking for a little more than a shot for the road, the bar also offers house-made sandwiches and bakery items from local establishments.
Inside the cafe, the loft-like Brooklyn vibe is replaced with a more neighborhood appropriate recreation of a Gilded Age shop, with lots of marble, tile and pressed tin. Still, they haven't left their roots behind completely: the space also features handmade glass pendant lighting, antique mirror tiles and even a "vintage trash can."
160 Fifth Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets; tobysestate. Open Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m..
