St Kilda Coffee — Restaurant in New York

This review is about sustainability only! 🙂

By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. And of the plastic we make and consume today, over 95% of it does not actually get recycled. Instead, it ends up in landfills and our oceans, gets burned in incinerators, and breaks down into micro plastics that we consume and get sick from.

I love that your coffee shop indeed has reusable mugs available, but I am saddened to see that the majority of people enjoying their coffee here are drinking from throwaway plastic cups.

I wonder if you could encourage or model more sustainable coffee options for your customers by asking them if they will be enjoying their coffee on the premises. Or perhaps you could put up a sign that encourages or reminds people that they have a reusable mug option available in the house. Or perhaps you could offer a slight discount to those who bring in their own mugs.

Communication is key, and I strongly believe that if more people knew they had the option to produce less waste, they would take it.

Sadly, we have accepted this current state of plastic consumption as normal, when it absolutely is not.

I hope you can help New Yorkers protect this waterfront city by the trash that goes into the city’s water, and waters around the world.

Thank you for your consideration! I appreciate your space and I love your coffee, and your service is wonderful. Would love to see some additional sustainability measures and communications to match what is otherwise a great...

It was later that same day, between meetings and the steady hum of Midtown, when a friend and I slipped into St Kilda Coffee. A quiet refuge tucked just off 9th Avenue, the space felt like a pause button—unassuming yet deeply comforting, with an interior that leaned into simplicity rather than spectacle. Pale wood, soft lighting, and a layout that favored ease over excess—it was a kind of honesty in design that immediately set the tone.

I ordered a flat white, and though straightforward, it carried a certain clarity—smooth, balanced, with just enough strength to hold its own without overwhelming. It was the kind of cup that reminded me why simplicity, when done right, can be its own kind of sophistication.

What made the visit linger, however, was the service. Katie, who prepared and served my drink, was genuinely kind and welcoming—an energy that elevated the space in ways design alone could not. Sometimes it isn’t the coffee or even the interior that makes a café worth remembering, but the warmth of those behind the counter.

St Kilda isn’t a place that tries to dazzle; it doesn’t need to. It’s a place to exhale, to share a moment with a friend, or to find a pocket of calm before the city’s pace resumes. A reminder that, every now and then, simplicity is the most beautiful form...

The general rule in NYC is the further away from Times Square you go, the better the coffee becomes. St. Kilda Coffee is the exception. On 44th St in between 9th and 10th Avenues, it's 1.5 blocks from Times Square (aka the tourist trap). As any good coffee shop should that close to Times Square, it's hidden in the basement of a building and very easy to miss. But don't. It's worth not missing.

It's a small espresso shop with two small tables at the window, four small tables to the right, and a medium sized table to the left when you walk in. The bar is at the back crafting a great cup of espresso or latte. Pastries are served all day and the corn flake blueberry muffin is one of the best muffins in NYC. Just outside the basement are a few black benches to enjoy the outside with your cup of coffee.

Surprisingly, it's a cozy place to work. Most people get their coffee to go so you're bound to find an open table. With plenty of outlets throughout the shop an strong free WIFI ( network name is "Cafedownunder" and password is "findusonyelp" as of April 30, 2018), it's a great spot to work.

Another thing to note is the barista is friendly. NYC AND coffee shops get a bad rap on friendliness so that says something! A NYC barista...