Now here’s a café with a cause: Housing Works. Housing Works is actually a non-profit organization with twelve thrift shops and one bookstore cafe. Dedicated to the fight against AIDS and homelessness, the charity directly benefits New Yorkers living with these two conditions. On a typical Yelp search for touristy yet local coffee shops, I discovered this gem. It wasn’t until I sat at a table and checked my surroundings that I became aware of the story behind it. Luckily, there’s some explanatory text on a wall in the café section.

I’ve been to Housing Works twice and have enjoyed it each time. The first time I just had an iced latte and read for a little while. This past Friday, I frequented the bookstore café (my favorite hybrid, like ever) once more.

Name: Housing Works Bookstore Cafe

Location: 126 Crosby Street

Time: 11 am

Order: Iced latte with a blueberry danish

Price: $7

Review: Delicious! My favorite part (aside from the artsy ambiance complete with stacks of used books and She & Him music) is the customer service. The man who took not only my order, but also the time to make me smile. Unfortunately, that’s a customer service rarity that must be consistently noted and praised. Anyway, the latte was wonderful and the danish was yummy. Albeit a bit sugary, it packed a lot of flavor and achieved the ideal blueberry-custard balance. Props, Housing Works.

Rating: 4/5