On a recent Saturday night, when the Upper West Side yuppie contingent made up a majority of the patrons, there were strollers parked beside the white marble tables, and a waitress cheerfully accommodated a party that wanted to crowd in extra seats.

NEWYORKER: Caff�� Storico

The typical Viennese coffee house -- an elegant institution with high ceilings, marble-top tables and a stack of newspapers to make one linger over an impeccable black brew with a customary glass of water -- may be more famously known than its Ukrainian cousin, but to trace back the origin of the communal coffee space, you have to go to Lviv, a Medieval city in western Ukraine.

BBC: Tracing the coffee house revolution to its Ukrainian roots

All accommodations are spacious and modern, with air-conditioning, marble bathrooms, full dining tables, and a peaceful setting.

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The Fireplace Room, showcasing an antique marble hearth imported from France, is cozy and intimate with just six tables.

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