(Photo: The Selby)

Unlike most cafés, the Smile doubles as a boutique of sorts, selling hipsterish things (yarn, tea, logger boots) that serve as much as décor as they do as a source of revenue. The real draw, though, is a tavernesque room that has got to be the most serenely elegant place to get a caffeine fix—and a toothsome sandwich—south of Café Sabarsky (26 Bond St., nr. Lafayette St.; no phone).

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• Archive: “Restaurant Openings & Buzz”
• Articles by Robin Raisfeld | Rob Patronite
• Table of Contents: Apr 13, 2009 issue of New York | Subscribe!