Admittedly, Midtown is probably not the first place you think of when it comes to reading in coffeeshops, but this Maman location feels so disconnected from the craziness. Part of this feeling is there no-laptop rule: rather, they encourage reading with a sign on each table! While the front of the store is busy with people grabbing to-go orders, you can find a table and escape into a book without being bothered. What I love here is the variety! There are a lot of coffee, food, and pastry options. If you’re here midday, it's a perfect brunch and lunch spot and a welcome respite from the lunch spots that cater to the office and tourist crowd. Even after the kitchen closes at 4pm, there are plenty of baked goods to choose from, some of which are vegan! I also love their mugs and plates. I can’t get enough of the gorgeous blue and white designs. There are a few other Maman locations in the city, all of which are great, but I chose to mention this one because it’s nice to have this kind of setting in the Midtown area otherwise packed with Starbucks.