NOLITA, MANHATTAN

Café Habana

Grilled corn, Cubanos and frozen margaritas at a corner luncheonette on Prince Street since 1998.

On the corner of Prince and Elizabeth since 1998, in a room that still feels like the old diner it replaced: small tables, a counter, and a crowd spilling onto the sidewalk. The cooking is Cuban by way of Mexico, and it is cheap for the neighborhood.

Grilled corn with cheese and chili is what everyone orders, and it deserves it. Add a Cubano, huevos con chorizo at brunch, or the challah French toast, and a frozen margarita if it is that kind of afternoon. Expect a short wait and a tight squeeze.

Editor’s tip

Order the grilled corn for each person — nobody wants to share it.

Make an evening of it — beautiful stops nearby

SOHO, MANHATTAN

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe

SoHo's living room — a donated library, a mezzanine balcony, and a café where every dollar does good.

Shopping · Free

~4 min on foot

SOHO, MANHATTAN

Crosby Street

SoHo's working back lane — cobbles, fire escapes, and no performance.

Beautiful Street · Free

~5 min on foot

Also in the neighborhood

NOLITA, MANHATTAN

Thai Diner

Uncle Boons' all-day successor in Nolita — Thai tea babka French toast, khao soi and a coconut sundae.

Thai · Brunch · $$

NOLITA, MANHATTAN

Rubirosa

Nolita's thin-crust parlor — the Tie Dye pie, vodka sauce, and a room that hums all night.

Pizza · Date Night · $$

Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 13, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.