Jon Pepper had mentioned this place a while ago and I hadn’t had a chance to go by; when I happened on it last week, it was the perfect pit stop on a cold, windy day in the canyons of Fidi. Kind of a find.

What you should do is imagine the atmosphere at Starbucks. Now imagine the exact opposite. It’s simple but really charming inside — calming in fact — with the wood paneling and classic wood blinds on the one street-facing window. The space is narrow and double height — might be tough with a crowd unless you took over upstairs. There were folks working by themselves, hanging out in pairs; the stools come out at night for the bar crowd.

The server told me they are busier for cocktails than coffee, but they’re certainly working both angles. Cocktails are $18.

Add it to your holiday stroll.

Split Eights
40 Exchange Place at William
info@spliteightsnyc.com
646-799-9575
7 days a week
Coffee 8a to 3p weekdays; 9a weekends
Cocktails 4:30p to 2a

Photo by Liz Clayman