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    Ground Central

    4.4 (54 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    The main coffee shop on the side entrance.
    Elisabeth R.

    I work in the same building as the coffee shop, so I get the option to either place my order in the kiosk, or coffee shop. Love the cold brew, balanced flavors without that bitter taste. My favorite pastries to order are the rosemary buttermilk biscuit and the Ham and cheese croissant. Very filling for the price range. I like to sometimes just go to the coffee shop, even though the kiosk is exclusive to the building. The staff are always friendly and I love the music playlists they play.

    Melissa S.

    Fast service with great coffee!! We was in from out of town needed a coffee fix! Ground central hit the spot!!

    Cappuccino
    Astha W.

    A nice chic and quiet cafe. Just wishes the cappuccino was slightly larger than the size they gave considering it was over $5. They have some bakery goods as snacks but can provide more savory options for sure.

    The coffee is delicious, I just opt for drip coffee when I travel to find good local roasters and this place got my business every morning of a 10 day work trip. If you're near Times Square area and don't want Starbucks check this place out!

    Cappuccino

    Just happened to find this hidden spot. Not really a huge fan of coffee until I found this shop. Staff were patient with me, even though I felt like I took a while. I finally made my choice a chai with oat. One of the most delicious drinks I have ever had. Even though a little pricey. (A once in a while treat) Good WiFi Cleanest bathroom

    Andreas K.

    The main mission was to buy some coffee beans for a breakfast/brunch. And it was not as easy as I would have thought to find such in NYC on a Sunday morning. But I found what I needed at the Ground Central Coffee - which has a few locations throughout the city, but fortunately one not too far from my hotel. I also took a latte to go which was excellent, and a croissant which was good but not top. The beans proved to be excellent.

    Dirty chai
    Izzy T.

    Love the look of this cafe, there's a few high top tables with seats as well as an adorable little couch. Friendly staff and yummy drinks! Dirty chai was very strong :)

    Iced latte

    I ordered a small decaf iced latte. The server didn't ask about the type of milk. I ended up getting a large decaf iced latte with skim milk. They didn't ask for my name and didn't call me when the coffee was ready, so it sat for a while with the ice melting. I hope they do the basics well, without making any assumptions about a customer's preference.

    Hell's Kitchen Hall of fame art wall
    Liz C.

    The decor alone was enough to make me happy. Retro underground vibe with plenty of seating. I got a great drip coffee with oat milk - simple order but exceptional coffee. They had a very well stocked station with drink addition essentials like sugar, cinnamon, and simple syrup.

    Puja D.

    Was walking around the neighborhood thinking, "wow I could really use a cup of coffee", when I conveniently stumbled upon Ground central coffee. Stopped in and was politely greeted. Got a brief overview of the menu and ordered a latte. Was a solid latte and would go again if I was in the area.

    a man behind the counter of a donut shop
    Sean Y.

    Friendly staff and great tasting coffee. I visited around Halloween and the decor was so cute as well! There are many students / workers keeping spots for hours, though, so it may be difficult for you to find a seat.

    Ham + Cheese Croissant and Dirty Chai

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    I had a bad experience with the extremely rude female staff member, her customer service is sub par.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    This was a really good place to work for the day, with dope customer service. I'll be back!

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Great tasting coffee, very curteotous staff and a relaxed atmosphere. Just what you need in the morning!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Best coffee in the neighborhood, great baristas (L&L) - flat white, cortado, good pastries

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    got an iced latte it had the perfect milk ratio to coffee. service was super friendly

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    The manager Lauren is amazing and great at costumer service....!

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    Barnes & Noble Booksellers

    Barnes & Noble Booksellers

    3.3
    (182 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I never realized this Barnes and Nobles was here. It's right on the corner and it's pretty big…read more Three floors of books and toys! The cashier is on the main floor with escalators taking you to the basement or the 2nd floor. It's set up like most B & N's where everything is broken up into sections with very clear signage. I still love having copies of physical books once in a while.

    I went there yesterday to look at many books, and all of the employees were as wonderful as…read morepreviously; incredibly friendly and helpful. However; the reason why I'm writing this update is because there are some changes at the store. Firstly; the large "Information Desk" at the rear of the first floor is no longer there. Instead, there's a small one on the right side of that floor (and it's almost hidden). Secondly; the huge first floor display of beautiful photo books of NYC and environs is now much smaller (although it seemed like there were more of them on the lower level than previously). There's also another change; the restrooms are now only accessible with a code, and a code can only be obtained via a receipt - so if you don't buy anything, you can't use the restroom (I ordered some books online later, since I didn't want to lug them home from the store). Further; employees don't have access to a bathroom code (obviously they have some other way to access the restrooms). I was there for a few hours - and if it wasn't for the fact that I had a dental appointment nearby afterwards, it would have been problematic. Having said that, I do realize that the restroom situation is an issue; at the Union Square store in particular, there used to be a big problem with homeless people and undoubtedly a corporate decision was made. I'm still keeping a five-star rating because of the employees and because the store has a great selection.

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    Bookoff - New York

    Bookoff - New York

    3.9
    (461 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $

    Amazing staff and lots of selection for manag,figures and videos games! Definitely recommend coming…read moreand checking this place out :)

    Buying and Selling at Book Off What a cool store. So much to…read moresee. Unfortunately, it is lousy to sell at and expensive to buy at. First, Selling. I brought in three statue items unopened in the original packaging. I checked on ebay for what the items sold for (not asking price but sold price) and it added up to about $600, I lugged the items over there and had to leave them there because they wouldn't get to them right away. The people/kids working there were very nice. I went to have lunch and got the text to return, and they are offering $150. So I picked up the items and turned down the offer. Again, they were very nice, it's just I wasn't willing to accept 25% of the value. I figured at worst it would be 50%. But I am better off getting closer to the actual price on ebay. Now, Buying. Lots of very expensive and exiting things to get, and I didn't have time to price check things so much, but my son is into the Nintendo switch and i spotted a used Marvel VS Capcom game he might like. It was $34.95. But just in case, I pulled up Amazon and looked the game up. A brand new one costs $21.79. So it would have been a terrible idea for me to buy it there. I guess if you are leaving work and need a quick gift, you might stop in and pay too much for an item. If you are in real trouble and don't have time to wait for an Ebay sale, you might consider selling your collectables for 25% the value, this place might come in handy.

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    Kinokuniya Bookstore

    Kinokuniya Bookstore

    4.3
    (813 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I seriously need to stop coming here but I just can't. I love a good bookstore, and this one has…read morealways been special to me. Located right across from Bryant Park, it's almost impossible to walk by without going in. It's usually crowded, but that's part of its charm. The store has three levels, each worth exploring. The main floor features an impressive selection of books, including bestsellers and new releases right as you walk in. The lower level is where you'll find collectibles, specialty pens, beautiful notebooks and stationery, unique gifts, even more books, and plenty of cute items that will tempt you to spend more than you planned. The book selection is excellent, although I have to admit the prices can be a bit on the higher side. The staff are always friendly, and checkout is surprisingly quick, so don't let the long lines discourage you. One thing to note: drinks aren't allowed inside, so you'll need to leave them with security before entering. If you're visiting the area or spending time around Bryant Park, I highly recommend stopping by. Whether you're a book lover or just enjoy browsing, this bookstore is absolutely worth a visit.

    Hubs: How'd you find this?…read more Ghost in the shell is his fav anime. I knew this was a must have. I was able to score a Ghost in the Shell special archive edition (see pics). This bookstore is one of the coolest spots in midtown. I used to work in the offices next store and would go upstairs to the cafe for lunches or snacks when I needed a break. It was a time way back in the day. Cut back to our Mom's day out... On Mom's day out we made our way toward our lunch reservation, bustling through the glow of the Knicks recent championship win. The city was a vibe and we were living for it. We also were on a mission for finding possible Father's Day gifts and being that 2 out of the three Hubs was into anime, I suggested making a stop here. Not only don't have great stuff for the manga/anime mega fans, it's also a pretty cool book store. One like back in the olden days. Check out was quick and easy and we really did enjoy just looking at all the great stuff. Can't say anything about the food because we saved our appetite for our lunch rez. But all in all, it was great to be back and to show off one of my spots in my old stomping grounds.

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    Interior
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    McNally Jackson

    McNally Jackson

    4.5
    (19 reviews)
    0.7 mi
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    I stopped by this McNally Jackson location when I was in the area a couple of weeks ago. McNally…read moreJackson operates five stores in the city, in addition to three stationary stores (Goods for the Study), and it's been around since 2004. The store isn't huge, but it's incredibly well-stocked and, being on the street level of a Rockefeller Center building, gets incredible light through their windows. The staff were friendly and I had practically picked out a book while window shopping (their inventory is incredible). Since 2021, McNally Jackson is also a publisher, publishing a paperback reprint series devoted to "hidden gems." I had to pick up one of their titles. Great shop for bibliophiles.

    This was another bookstore that my wife and I came across randomly during our travels. If you are…read moreunaware of McNally Jackson they are an independent bookstore with 5 locations in New York. My wife and I enjoyed our time browsing here. It's a multi-level store that is separated like most bookstores into genres as expected. They had lots of newer books but still plenty of classics as well. My wife even happened to come across a book she has been looking for and wanting to read for a long while so big win there. Staff were friendly and we did not have a long wait to buy the book, no line. Prices felt quite standard for a book store. This was a fantastic independent book store and one definitely worth visiting for book lovers or those seeking gifts for a book lover in their life.

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    Koryo Bookstore

    Koryo Bookstore

    4.1
    (160 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    This is a great little shop full of K-pop gifts! They don't have a wide selection of every K-pop…read moregroup, just the popular ones. However, of the merch they have it is abundant. It's not a big store size wise but they do pack a lot of punch. Service is kind and friendly, often times they can get busy due to the demand but they manage. Items are priced slightly above par, but that's pretty common when it comes to K-pop memorabilia.

    Koryo Books is a Korean bookstore and K pop merchandise shop in Koreatown on 32nd Street, and it…read moreoccupies a small footprint that gets crowded quickly once a few people are inside at the same time. I walked into a store that is essentially one large room, and the density of product on display meant navigating it during a busy period required some patience, but the selection within that compact space was broader than the size suggested. The Korean literature section covers both Korean language and English language editions across a range of genres, which makes it genuinely useful for anyone studying the language or looking for titles that are difficult to find at general bookstores in the city. I saw children's books in Korean, well stocked. The K pop side of the store covers albums, photocards, posters, keychains, stickers, and merchandise across a wide range of artists, with BTS having a particularly strong presence historically alongside newer groups. Pricing runs higher than what I would pay ordering online or finding the same items at a larger retailer, which is the standard trade off for a specialty shop in Manhattan. Album prices in particular can be steep, though sale events bring them down to more competitive territory. Individual accessory items like stickers and bookmarks are priced at a premium relative to their size, so going in with a sense of what I am willing to spend helps avoid sticker shock at the register. The store is a reliable stop for anyone looking for Korean books or K pop merchandise in a physical retail setting in New York, with the caveat that the pricing and the crowd level are both factors worth knowing about before I go.

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    B & B Rare Books

    B & B Rare Books

    5.0
    (3 reviews)
    0.5 mi
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    On an annual trip to NYC, I decided I would visit bookstores and take in all I could. B&B was right…read moreby my hotel, and I was delighted to find a comfortable room full of baseball memorabilia and a great variety. They specialize in 19th and 20th century English and American literature, which means you're going to see a lot of titles you're familiar with. I stopped in late in their day, so I wasn't surprised to be the only one there, but the team gave me space, answered very basic questions I had, and - gasp - LET ME TOUCH THE BOOKS. This is far from a stuffy environment, and when I finally convince my partner that I need that very expensive piece that has F. Scott Fitzgerald's music for Princeton, I know exactly where I'll go.

    5 minutes before B&B books was closing, I buzzed the room located on the third floor to see if they…read morewould let me in "just to look." Well, 45 minutes later, I was still oohing and awing at the marvelous selection of first edition books they have to offer. This is the largest selection (aside from corporate-owned Bauman's) of rare books I've seen that include the dust jacket- a collectors actual dream. It's the biggest breath of fresh air to find a rare book store owned by a woman, and to be treated like a human being. I normally get side-eyed from rare bookstore owners and some of the conversations I've had sound like: "May I see the Portrait of a Lady in the case?" "All of these books are at least $100.00 and up." ".....I know." "Do you have any Wilde?" "The book about the woman hiking alone? That's too new to be in our shop, Barnes & Noble would have it." "I'm talking about the 1800s poet." "Oh." I take it personally because while I look like a millennial who doesn't know what she's talking about, I treasure my rare books like they're my children. Sunday stayed AN EXTRA HOUR at her store while I looked and answered all of my questions that I had, never making me feel rushed or unwelcome. After selecting a first edition Fitzgerald, she wrapped it in bubble wrap for my travels back home and gave me an updated book with all of the rare book sellers in the country.

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    Ground Central - coffee - Updated July 2026

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