Swadesi Cafe in Chicago

The insta algorithm showed me Swadesi in Chicago conveniently right before a work trip so you know I had to make a stop here for some chai! Here you can find food and drinks with traditional Indian flavours mixed with a contemporary twist. I was so intrigued by their unique desserts including the poached pear cake, carrot halwa and dirty chai tiramisu! 

Their menu has lots of savory options as well such as the chicken tikka toastie, samosa chaat croissant and avocado toast but I opted for the breakfast sandwich. I got the masala chai for my walk back to the office but was so intrigued by their rose and orange latte as well as the sparkling tamarind lemonade. The space was pretty  big with plenty of seats and some high top counter space as well. I definitely want to come back here to try the butter chicken croissant and the mango ras malai jar! 

Pink Dot Nails

 

Rhythm Zero

Rhythm Zero is a cute coffee shop in Greenpoint located on Kent Street, conveniently close to the ferry stop. Their menu has every coffee drink you can think of, and more, including unique concoctions like the pear brown sugar latte and matcha drinks! They also serve affogatos for those hot summer days when you can't decide if you want ice cream or coffee (the right answer is both, always!)

Their pastry selection was also pretty impressive. As you can see, I caved and treated myself to an apricot cornetto with my cappuccino. The pastry was not as flaky as I was expecting but the filling was absolutely delicious and the coffee hit the spot.

What I loved most about this spot was the quaint neighbourhood feel. There were tons of people stopping in that were chatting with the baristas, and families settled in with their strollers and dogs in tow. This is a great little spot for a snack and coffee next time you're planning to take the ferry to or from Greenpoint.