What is the best neighborhood in New York City to open a Cafe?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the best neighborhood in New York City to open a Cafe is Riverdale, with 79% average survivability. 180 of 180 neighborhoods analyzed exceed the 70% two-year survival threshold.

How much more revenue can a Cafe make in the best vs. average New York City neighborhood?

In Riverdale, the best possible Cafe location in New York City offers approximately 5.3% more expected revenue than the average location. The worst-performing neighborhoods could yield approximately 6.6% less than average.

What is the city-wide average survivability for Cafe in New York City?

The city-wide average survivability for Cafe across New York City is 78% for surviving more than 2 years. Top neighborhoods like Riverdale substantially outperform this average, reaching 79%.

What are the worst neighborhoods for Cafe in New York City?

The most challenging neighborhoods in New York City for Cafe include Prospect Park South with 75% average survival chance, Bensonhurst, and Forest Hills Gardens. Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform.

How accurate are StreetSpring's Cafe survivability predictions?

StreetSpring publishes its accuracy on the methodology page, stated with its base rate: how often the model tells an open business from a closed one on cities held out of training, its precision on risk flags, and its discrimination. Each score draws on 100+ factors and is reported as the projected chance of lasting two or more years, never as a guarantee. Our tool delivers pinpoint accuracy down to the exact storefront location for any business category.

What should I consider when opening a Cafe in New York City?

Revenue Capture Score matters more than any other single metric when predicting business outcomes. StreetSpring computes Revenue Capture Score by projecting the business's market share based on competitor quality and quantity, mobility patterns, and forecasted consumer spending for the specific business type.

Survivability Rankings for Cafe in New York City

StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in New York City to open a Cafe, from Riverdale (79% survival) to Prospect Park Sout...

September 25, 2026•12 min read

By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: September 2026 | Methodology

Quick Summary

Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address

#1 Neighborhood: Riverdale: 79% average survivability for Cafe

Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 180 of 180 analyzed

City-wide average: 78% for Cafes

Most challenging area: Prospect Park South at 75%

Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~5.3% more expected revenue in Riverdale

Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →

Summary
10 Best Neighborhoods
Where Would a Cafe Make the Most Money?
What Should I Consider?
Where Should I Start?
FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
FAQ: Can a Cafe Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
FAQ: Is a Cafe a Good Tenant?
Landlord Survivability Data
Best Neighborhoods for Any Business

Summary

Opening a Cafe in New York City? Our 2026 analysis identifies Riverdale as the top location with 79% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 84% and the most challenging locations in Riverdale at 73%. The worst neighborhoods include Prospect Park South with 75% average chance. Even neighborhoods with modest average scores can harbor exceptional individual locations.

What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around New York City to Open a Cafe?

Riverdale ranks #1 of 180 neighborhoods analyzed in and around New York City for Cafe survivability, with a 79% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:

Rank	Neighborhood	At a good address	Average Locations	Best Locations	Challenging Locations
1	Riverdale	83.1%	77.0% to 82.0%	83.0% to 84.0%	73.0% to 75.0%
2	Old Town	82.2%	78.0% to 82.0%	83.0% to 84.0%	75.0% to 77.0%
3	Greenville	82.2%	77.0% to 82.0%	83.0% to 84.0%	71.0% to 73.0%
4	Eltingville	81.8%	78.0% to 83.0%	81.0% to 83.0%	76.0% to 78.0%
5	Boerum Hill	81.3%	78.0% to 82.0%	80.0% to 82.0%	77.0% to 79.0%
6	Tribeca	81.3%	78.0% to 82.0%	80.0% to 82.0%	77.0% to 79.0%
7	Flatlands	81.3%	77.0% to 81.0%	81.0% to 83.0%	71.0% to 73.0%
8	Grymes Hill	81.3%	77.0% to 81.0%	81.0% to 83.0%	74.0% to 75.0%
9	Marine Park	81.3%	77.0% to 81.0%	82.0% to 84.0%	75.0% to 76.0%
10	New Dorp	81.3%	77.0% to 81.0%	81.0% to 83.0%	74.0% to 76.0%

Neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation: always check your specific address. The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.

Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. See our full methodology →

Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.

Where in or Around New York City Would a Cafe Make the Most Money?

In Riverdale, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~5.3% more than the average location in or around New York City.

On the other hand, in Prospect Park South, the worst possible location could result in making ~6.6% less than the average location in the city.

The right location can make a business; the wrong one can break it. Opening a Cafe in New York City requires careful location choice. Across 180 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Cafe is 78% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. Each business category has unique customer behavior patterns that vary significantly by address.

What Should I Consider When Opening a Cafe in or Around New York City?

When selecting a location for a Cafe in or around New York City, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. Revenue Capture Score matters more than any other single metric when predicting business outcomes. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. Our platform incorporates data from thousands of neighborhoods nationwide. Some competition is beneficial to attract customers with similar intents to the same area. These forecasts are generated using StreetSpring's unique analytical framework. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

This can be summarized as:

Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. StreetSpring's Survivability Scores are updated regularly, so the most accurate prediction for your exact storefront is always available in the live tool.

Where in or Around New York City Should I Start a Cafe?

Based on our analysis, the leading neighborhoods are Riverdale, Old Town, and Greenville, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Prospect Park South, Bensonhurst, and Forest Hills Gardens. Neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation: always check your specific address. Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.

Related Articles:

Business Survivability Rankings: New York City
Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: New York City
National City Survivability: Cafe
National Neighborhood Survivability: Cafe

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in New York City to Open a Cafe?

Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Cafe in New York City is Riverdale with 79% average survivability, followed by Old Town and Greenville. 180 of 180 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.

The live platform incorporates the most recent competitor, vacancy, and spending data for your exact address.

Can a Cafe Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in New York City?

Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Market conditions are changing daily and it is best to use StreetSpring's most up-to-date data. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.

How Often Are Cafe Rankings in New York City Updated?

StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in New York City.

Is a Cafe a Good Tenant for New York City Landlords?

In Riverdale, StreetSpring forecasts a 77.0% to 82.0% average chance for a new Cafe to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.

Landlord Survivability Data for Cafe in New York City

The data tells a clear story for Cafe tenants across New York City's top neighborhoods. Riverdale leads with 77.0% to 82.0% average survivability, with best-case storefronts reaching 83.0% to 84.0%. Old Town averages 78.0% to 82.0%, and Greenville comes in at 77.0% to 82.0%. See which business types are most likely to succeed at your property address right now.

Each prediction is calibrated to the specific address, factoring in competition, vacancy, and consumer spending at that exact location.

What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around New York City for My Business Overall?

You can see the best neighborhoods in or around New York City to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: New York City.

Business Survivability Rankings: New York City: See how Cafe compares to all other business types in New York City
Best Cities to Open a Cafe in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Cafe
Business Survivability in Riverdale, New York City: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Old Town, New York City: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
Business Survivability in Greenville, New York City: All business types ranked in the #3 neighborhood

Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for New York City are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View technical data for New York City

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.

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