If drinking espresso in an Italian coffee bar is in your travel bucket list and you can’t get to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean then Zibetto Espresso Bar in New York City may be the place to try first.
Located on Sixth Avenue corner of 56th Street this tiny shop is sandwiched between a European Ladies Boutique and a souvenir shop, in front of a subway station stairs. Zibetto Espresso Bar is hardly seven feet wide with standing room only. Expect to drink coffee standing like most Italian coffee bars.
Décor and ambience
This is a place for a quick coffee stop. Don’t expect tables and chairs or beautiful tablecloth and table service. As you enter on the right is the workstation that includes coffee machines, a small enclosed see-through cabinet for desserts and space for coffee drinkers to place their coffee.
It was crowded on a Friday afternoon. The service was fast and efficient with two baristas working and dressed smartly in light blue shirts, dark blue ties and pants.
Small marble counters are mounted on the opposite side of the workstation. You can place your coffee and dessert there. Stand and enjoy your coffee and dessert.
Coffee: Type, price and taste
The marocchino was $4 served in a marocchino glass with a stainless steel handle. According to ItalyMagazine.com the three best Italian espressos are corretto, marocchino and caffe latte.
When asked, “what is marocchino?” the barista said caffe latte with less milk. From ItalyMagazine.com we learned that marocchino is a blend of espresso, frothed milk and cocoa powder originally invented in Turin and is popular in Northern Italy. The name means Moroccan in Italian because the color looks like Moroccan leather used for making Italian hats.
It is not as bitter as some of the espresso served in coffee shops in New York City. It’s perfect with a torta de frutta (fruit tartlet) or cannoli. The small sized torta de frutta was $2. This is a hazelnut tartlet.
Highly recommended for its Italian coffee drinking experience and exceptional marocchino.
How to get there
The F train is the closest to Zibetto. Get off at 57th Street station and exit from the 56th Street exit. Here is a map from Business Insider.
Nearest tourist/fascinating attractions
It is close to Carnegie Hall, Central Park, Museum of Modern Art and Times Square.
Our ratings
Marocchino 5/5
Ambience, concept décor 4.5/5
Information: Zibetto Espresso Bar
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