The Upper East Side’s coffee shop selection is very limited and quite underwhelming. There are very few desirable places to get your daily coffee fix. That is, until today. I’ve been anticipating the grand opening of Ralph’s Coffee on the Upper East Side, and it is finally here.

Ralph’s Coffee shop opened in celebration of the brand’s 50th anniversary. The grand opening was today, December 6th, located at 888 Madison Ave on the corner of 72nd and Madison Ave. Ralph’s Coffee is serving up hot and delicious drinks and baked goods in a cozy and inviting holiday setting that is not to be missed this season.

Ralph’s Coffee on Madison Ave is the first New York City location, following their Tokyo and Hong Kong Ralph Coffee shops. It is a pop-up shop in their Ralph Lauren women’s flagship store that plans to be open for at least 6 months but most likely longer. This location is the perfect place to sit down on a cold winter day and relax with a friend on the Upper East Side. After you’re done with your coffee, go ahead and do some shopping or at least look around a bit. If you don’t make it up to the Upper East Side very often, no worries. You can try Ralph’s Coffee in midtown as well. Go check out the new Ralph’s Coffee food truck at Rockefeller Center. It’s the perfect place for a quick grab and go before or after work.

UPDATE September 19, 2020 Ralph’s Coffee has done a great job with handling COVID and staying open. They have created a beautiful outdoor space with tables and chairs for their guests to use while they enjoy their coffee. Each customer orders one at a time from the entrance on 72nd St. and then waits outside for them to bring you your drink. It’s an inviting space when the weather is nice.

The Coffee

You’ll never see a cuter espresso machine than the one at Ralph’s Coffee. It is the first thing I noticed when I walked up to order. White and shiny with a vintage look– I love that they chose this machine for the heart of their coffee shop. Ralph’s Coffee beans are grown in Central America, South America, and Africa. They are partnered with La Colombe to roast their organic beans to perfection out of Philadelphia. They have special blends, including Ralph’s Roast, Decaf, and Espresso. I ordered the classic latté, extra hot, just how I like it. Jimmy got a hot chocolate. My latté was smooth and creamy with a bold coffee flavor, exactly what I was looking for. Jimmy loved his hot chocolate, especially the homemade marshmallow placed on top.

The Baked Goods

Ralph’s Coffee has a great variety of baked items for your enjoyment. There are cookies, chocolate brownies, chocolate cake, as well as some scones and croissants. Mah Ze Dahr, a local Greenwich Village bakery, makes some of their baked goods. The Polo Bar, Ralph Lauren’s restaurant located in north Midtown, also makes some in house baked goods for Ralph’s Coffee. Have a coffee lover or a Ralph Lauren lover on your holiday shopping list? You can grab some great gifts for them here. They sell Ralph Coffee mugs, shirts, coffee beans, and bags, among other things that would be sure to put a smile on a loved one’s face.

The Setting

The setting at Ralph’s Coffee can’t be beat. The Ralph Lauren women’s flagship store has really out done themselves for the 2018 holiday season. We live close by and have seen them the last few weeks diligently working hard each day to turn their store into a magical winter wonderland. There are giant decorated Christmas trees and life size teddy bears dressed in beautiful holiday clothes and tree skirts. There are massive chandeliers decked with pine branches and red ribbons and garlands draped across the entire store. It is something that all New Yorkers need to see. The coffee shop has the most comfortable seating areas with cute little green and white striped throw pillows. I love the dark green and white color scheme. It is perfect for the holidays.

News

Yesterday, Ralph’s Coffee launched their Instagram account @ralphscoffee as well as their website – www.ralphs-coffee.com/ Follow them for updates and to learn a little more about their products and upcoming events!

Let me know if you try Ralph’s Coffee and what you think. Please feel free to leave me a comment below!