Café Gitane is a timeless place, located for 29 years in the bucolic neighborhood of Nolita, that small square of blocks nested between Soho and the Lower East Side. Not much seems to have changed since its inception, giving the place a very French village spirit. The chair coverings intentionally show cracks. The coffee is served in a small glass, accompanied by a piece of chocolate wrapped in a cat paw design. They serve croissants, as well as some very simple and affordable dishes.

Perhaps because the place has managed to preserve its soul, it continues to be popular: sister cafes were opened in Tokyo in 2017, and in Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn in 2018; soon in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and Venice Beach, Los Angeles.