Whistle & Fizz is One-of-a-kind

Like many new NYU students, one of my first goals upon arriving on campus was finding a good coffee shop. Not merely a good one, but a go-to. Somewhere I can visit in-between classes for a quick pick-me-up, and preferably, without spending an egregious amount of money every time. That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised when I stumbled upon Whistle & Fizz. 

Courtesy of Gabby DiRusso

A mere 586 feet (according to Google Maps) from Silver Center, Whistle & Fizz is located on Greene St. between Waverly Place and Eighth St. They can be easily spotted from the bright yellow banner. If you don’t know where it is yet, once you find it, you’ll probably realize you’ve passed it a bunch of times. It’s one of those places that may not look like much from the outside, but when you walk in, the ambiance is serene and the drinks are top notch. 

Courtesy of Gabby DiRusso

My order is simple: a large iced coffee with almond milk (for which they don’t even charge extra). The price: $4.30. With the 10% NYU discount, after taxes, the total comes out to $4.13. That’s cheaper than Dunkin’ or Starbucks, and you’re supporting a small business! Plus, they have punch cards available at the register, so after purchasing 10 drinks, you get one free one. Be sure to tip your baristas, because at Whistle & Fizz, they’re kind and speedy.

Courtesy of Gabby DiRusso

Aside from their inexpensive yet delicious iced coffee, they have every drink one could possibly imagine and more. They have everything from a coconut black sesame matcha latte to a Nutella latte to Vietnamese cold brew. In their Viet cold brew, the combination of sweetened condensed milk and their robust cold brew makes for a decadent treat.

Courtesy of Gabby DiRusso

If the name didn’t give it away, they’re the home of the fizz. Their Cold Brew Lemonade was the original, but they’ve got a wide array of other flavors: peach Earl Grey, strawberry yuzu lemonade, and even a seasonal spiced apple. I recently tried this seasonal special, and though the color was slightly off-putting, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s refreshing, and you can definitely taste a nice spice that intermingles with a subtle, unartificial apple flavor.

Courtesy of Gabby DiRusso

In addition to their cornucopia of fizzes, Whistle & Fizz has multiple in-house nitro brews, pumping in nitrogen like there’s no tomorrow. Alongside their nitro cold brew, they’ve got taps of jasmine green tea and black tea. Each variety of nitro brew is accompanied by specialty menu items that add milk, mango, or honey. I’ve had their Nitro House Black Tea, and let me tell you– it was a foamy, smooth, nitrogenous wonderland. Definitely not like any other tea I’ve had before.

Courtesy of Gabby DiRusso

Also, if you’re looking to fully embrace fall in New York City, they’ve got an entire seasonal menu just for you. Other than the classic pumpkin spice latte, they also offer a maple latte with 100% Vermont Maple Syrup, a Choco Lantern Latte (bittersweet chocolate and pumpkin), and a Spiced Espresso Tonic.

Whistle & Fizz is also a great place to simply hang out with friends or study. Calming lofi music, lots of plants, stools by the windows, just-dim-enough lighting, and the perfect amount of background noise all create a cozy, intimate, and inviting setting.

So I’d recommend that you drop the Dunkin’ and Starbucks, and instead, pick up a classic or a one-of-a-kind creation from Whistle & Fizz. I’m telling you, it’ll be worth it.