These family-friendly towns are packed with places to get your caffeine fix
If you’re exploring Long Island’s North Shore (or thinking about making the move), coffee is one of the easiest ways to get a real feel for a town. A great café tells you a lot: who’s out early, where parents linger after drop-off, where commuters grab-and-go, and where locals actually hang out on weekends.
Below is a town-by-town coffee tour of North Shore favorites, from Manhasset to Huntington, with specific spots worth building into a Saturday or Sunday drive.
Manhasset
Manhasset is classic North Shore: polished, walkable, and commuter-friendly. The downtown is compact, which makes it easy to do a “coffee + errands + quick stroll” loop fast.
Coffee spots to know:
- For Five Coffee (Manhasset) – One of the most consistent espresso stops in town, and a popular place for coffee meetings and commuter pickups. This is a key commuter stop for quick coffee right near the station (easy grab-and-go, especially on weekday mornings).
- Buttercooky Bakery & Café – A longtime local staple where you can pair coffee with baked goods (and where you’ll often see families and regulars). With their pop-up at the Ryder Cup in 2025, Buttercooky is getting plenty of attention – and has spots in Floral Park and Huntington, if you’re expanding your search. Plus, the Manhasset cafe serves up breakfast, brunch, and lunch favorites, all worth a bite.
- Ralph’s Coffee – A city favorite, this stylish café recently opened in the Ralph Lauren at luxury shopping go-to, Americana. This is the perfect spot if you want to make coffee part of a bigger “town day” (shopping + lunch + browsing).
- Youngs Farm Cafe – Also tucked away in Americana, this casual café/bakery-style stop that works well for a quick breakfast run. An offshoot of the popular Youngs Farm in Glen Head, this intimate cafe is great for a pre-work coffee or weekend java and bite between stores.
Port Washington
Port Washington has the rare combination of a true downtown, waterfront energy, and strong commuting infrastructure. It’s a town where you can genuinely build routines around local spots.
Coffee spots to know:
- Fora Cafe – A standout for coffee plus food, this is one of the most popular sit-down café options in Port Washington and feels like a real neighborhood anchor. Plus, check out their extensive menu of “fresh, clean, intentional food,” including family dinners – think salmon, shrimp, chicken, and skirt steak – perfect for busy weeknights.
- Lifestyle Cafe – A casual café option that works well for a lighter breakfast or quick coffee stop while you’re exploring town. Also popular: their weekly specials and “diet” menu packed with healthy, high-protein, and Whole30-friendly options.
- Four Five (Port Washington) – Another strong option for commuters and locals who want reliable coffee without the fuss. Like the Manhasset location, Four Five is likely a familiar face for NYC residents – and the suburban coffee and food menus deliver.
- Saint Honore Pastry Shop – A longtime bakery favorite for coffee and pastries (great if you want something sweet and classic). Their epic holiday menu is another standout, as are their college cookies, perfect for a post-admission celebration.
Glen Cove
Glen Cove is a great suburb to include on a North Shore tour because it offers a different feel than some of the smaller villages, and its coffee scene has grown.
Coffee spots to know:
- Southdown Coffee (Glen Cove) – Reliable espresso drinks and a strong local following. This is one of the best-known coffee options in town. On weekdays, remote workers hunker down – and in warm weather, there’s ample outdoor seating. Recently, Southdown added a performance space and, now, there’s an adjacent wine bar – bonus.
- St. Rocco’s – A great addition for anyone who wants an Italian bakery/café-style stop while exploring Glen Cove. With their recent renovation, St. Rocco’s added lots of outdoor seating and a full cafe serving up breakfast and lunch favorites. Dinner specials are published daily and sell out fast.
Sea Cliff / Glen Head
Sea Cliff and Glen Head are worth treating as a combined stop — they’re close, and together they offer a surprising amount of café variety. This is also one of the best areas to see what “local” really looks like (especially on weekends).
Coffee spots to know:
- Daily Grind (Sea Cliff) – A true local favorite, Daily Grind is owned by a local entrepreneur and serves up NYC’s Kobrick Coffee, a legacy brand of single-origin beans and blends, plus seasonal coffee specials (we loved the spicy and sweet Ginger Snap latte). The food menu is equally creative – daily scone specials, cookies, and muffins like apple cinnamon, corn, and French toast.
- Karmic Grind – Great name recognition and a strong add for your coffee tour list. This “farm to cup to friend” cafe roasts its beans in Brooklyn and offers a pastry list, all homemade. A major supporter of the arts and the community, this is a popular hub for locals and visitors.
- Dessertino and The Crafty Spoon – A great stop if you want coffee plus dessert energy (especially good for families doing an afternoon town walk). The Crafty Spoon side offers a more café/food-forward experience, but a solid stop for a cozy coffee-and-breakfast or coffee-and-lunch moment.
- Cliffside Cafe (Sea Cliff Beach – summer) – A seasonal must – and you don’t need a beach pass to hang out at the cafe. This is a very “North Shore summer” experience: coffee near the water, casual, and community-heavy.
Cold Spring Harbor
Cold Spring Harbor is small but scenic — and it’s a great “walk Main Street, grab coffee, then go explore” kind of town. It’s also ideal for families pairing a café stop with parks, the waterfront, or museums.
Coffee spots to know:
- Cold Spring Harbor Cafe – A popular option right in town. Grab your favorite go-to or check out their creative coffee options like the Vanilla latte topped with strawberry cold foam or the French Toast Dalgona.
- Sweetie Pies on Main – Coffee and baked goods are the star of the show here, but their savory menu – including salads, sandwiches, quiche, and frittatas are also must-tries. In the summer, grab an iced favorite and hang on the outdoor patio.
Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay is one of the best North Shore towns for a coffee crawl because it’s walkable and has multiple stops worth hitting. It’s also the kind of town where coffee shops double as community hubs.
Coffee spots to know:
- Southdown Coffee (Oyster Bay) – Southdown is also a popular go-to in Oyster Bay, attracting remote workers and a solid breakfast, lunch, and after-school crowd.
- Karmic Grind (Oyster Bay) – Like its Sea Cliff and Locust Valley sister locations, Karmic Grind is a relaxed coffee shop focused on the community. One stop at this local favorite and you’ll no doubt feel the “good karma” behind its name.
- Stellina Bakery Cafe – Ideal for coffee, baked goods, breakfast, and lunch, this is a great spot in downtown Oyster Bay, perfect for hanging out and people watching. Part of Stellina Hospitality, the famed group behind Stellina Ristorante (also in Oyster Bay), this elevated cafe is perfect for remote work, meeting up with friends, or brunch with the family.
Huntington
Huntington is the busiest “town center” on this list — and for many families, that’s the appeal. It’s lively year-round, and the coffee scene matches that energy.
Coffee spots to know:
- Southdown Coffee (Huntington) – A key downtown staple and one of the best-known coffee spots in the area, this Southdown location is ideal for a quick stopover while touring, or for grabbing a bite – and with plenty of kid-friendly options on the menu, this is a perfect spot for the whole family.
- The Special Cup – Right in Huntington Village, The Special Cup serves a classic-meets-modern menu of hot and iced coffees and epic desserts. Stop by and be sure to try the almond torte and flourless chocolate cake, or snag breakfast or lunch to-go to keep you fueled for your entire town tour.
- Beehive Espresso Bar – Espresso plus gelato…what could be better? This spot is also known for its creative coffee options including the pumpkin cheesecake latte, holiday hot chocolate, and beehive chai latte.
For more insights, visit Suburban Jungles’s New York City suburbs section and the New York City blog page on our website.
Your next step? Work with your Suburban Jungle Strategist to plan the perfect North Shore coffee (and town) tour. Because in the suburbs, lifestyle isn’t only schools and commute, it’s also, can I grab a great latte right now? Schedule your free initial strategy call now.
