Cafe Gitane

If you happent to live in the neighborhood, this cozy Nolita cafe is a perfect place to grab your morning coffee or meet a friend for Sunday brunch. Just be prepared to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with your neighbors, since the tables are packed close together. That said, the shoulder next to you could well belong to photographer Terry Richardson or Fabrice Penot, co-founder of fashion label Le Labo. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere and the seriously delicious breakfast and brunch. Practically everything on the menu is organic.

We recommend: Organic eggs with basil, tomato sauce and cream; avocado on seven grain toast; herbed goat cheese with chili flakes and pomegranate syrup. Also, try the Moroccan couscous with red peppers, potatoes, raisins, toasted pine nuts, hummus and eggplant. Cafe Gitane is great for morning coffee and dessert, and the caramelized banana cream tarte will blow your socks off.

Cuisine: French, Moroccan

Atmosphere: friendly/relaxed

The crowd: designers, artists, photographers, creative directors

Key info: It's a real neighborhood cafe. Sadly, they don't accept credit cards or reservations.

Tags: Cafe Gitane,New York