CafeWashington HeightsAudubon / W 165th St
The Plug
A warm, family-run neighborhood coffee bar a few blocks from the medical campus; great for a cup to go, less so for a long laptop session.
502 W 167th StW 167th St near Amsterdam Ave
What it is
The Plug is a mom-and-pop coffee shop at 502 W 167th St, just off Amsterdam Avenue. It was founded by Ben Stovall and Abbie Ortiz and opened in January 2022; the shop’s own site says Abbie grew up on 185th Street and Audubon Avenue and went to George Washington High School. Eater NY reported at the opening that the espresso beans came from Gotham Coffee Roasters and pastries from Colson Patisserie, and Patch noted the overhanging storefront sign that reads “Uptown Since 2022.”
Who it’s for
People who live or work around the NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia campus and want a well-made espresso drink or chai and a pastry on the way in, plus anyone who likes a coffee shop where the owners aim to know regulars by name.
Standout details
- The menu on the shop’s site lists espresso drinks along with a 12 oz dirty chai ($6.00) and 12 oz matcha ($5.50), and it sells bags of coffee beans ($20.00).
- It opens at 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends, and closes at 5pm every day.
- It’s on a quiet residential block rather than on Broadway, a short walk east of the 168th St subway station.
Honest verdict
A genuinely local, owner-run spot that’s worth the short detour off Broadway for a coffee. The room is small, and it closes at 5pm, so it isn’t the place for afternoon laptop work or late meetups. Bean and pastry suppliers may have changed since the 2022 opening reports, so ask what’s on the bar.