Cardoon

This Chinese and German-influenced coffee shop defies the laws of physics. They use the same brand of oat milk as the rest of the planet, but their lattes somehow still come out like liquid velvet. The foam has a sudsy thickness, Kuma espresso pulls are smoother than a Gibson electric guitar, and salty licorice caramel adds a subtle anise bite. The drink is even better as a dunk tank for Cardoon’s meltaway cardamom rose cookies. While the cafe is quite teeny-weeny, it still feels bright. A ton of natural light washes in, tight corner seats are as comfy as a sectional sofa, and you may even find a couple sitting outside enjoying espresso with their backpack-bound pet rats. (Yes, we saw them—and they’re real.)