Drop Anchor and Drink Coffee in the West Village

The only thing missing from The Grey Dog’s Coffee is the smell of salty sea air and a few squawking gulls. The front window is lined with buoys, and the tabletop art features marine memorabilia with nods to Cape Cod, the Great Lakes, and the Pacific Ocean. The walls are plastered with solemn tokens of seaside cottages and weather-beaten ships. But despite this nostalgia, the old sailor’s spirit in The Grey Dog’s Coffee seems to have adjusted well to its hip Greenwich Village location, and has become a popular spot for neighborhood residents and visitors since opening his doors in 1996.

In the shop, there’s a sense that the desire for adventure on the high seas has given way to more domestic concerns—namely, dogs and coffee. As testimony to this, above the entrance is a painting of a dog carrying a bag of coffee beans in its mouth above the words “morning’s best friend.” The place is even named after the owner’s two Labradors, Moose and Goose.

Rum, hard tack, and other sailor favorites are, unfortunately, not on the menu. After all, this is New York, and New Yorkers need their caffeine fix just as much as mariners need their liquor. The Grey Dog features its very own house blend, which inspires loyal customers to stand patiently in long lines. For the health-conscious, smoothies made with low-fat yogurt are offered. And if alcohol is in order after a long day of swabbing the deck, The Grey Dog carries the standard selection of beers and wines as well.

None of the archetypical seafarer foods, like deep-fried sea bass and shrimp gumbo, made it on to the menu either. Instead, it’s all about the New York-style deli sandwich. The menu may advertise a “Michigan sandwich,” but items such as the grilled tofu hero resemble more cosmopolitan fare. The café endorses The Grey Dog Club, a hearty combination of turkey or chicken with melted Swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and honey mayo. The tuna salad sandwich, a personal recommendation, comes with inch-thick, spongy slices of fresh bread, and a more unique ingredient: relish. And if you’re patient enough to spend your Sunday morning waiting, breakfast includes more New York staples like challah-bread French toast and a bagel and lox platter.

Whoever said that a sailor’s heart only belonged to the sea? At Grey Dog’s Coffee, maritime meets metropolitan.