8. Propeller Coffee, 984 Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint
Propeller is one of those great spaces where you can still see traces of the past–in this case, as a delicatessen. The owners have kept the Beata Delicatessen sign out front, and inside the cafe is like a tribute to midcentury modern design. The mismatched tables and chairs look like they might have come from your grandmother’s house (if your grandmother had very good taste, that is). Vintage photos of airplanes and a toy plane on the counter speak to the cafe’s name. Free wifi and a chill staff makes this a great place to work.