Seeking smoothies on the Upper West Side? As the weather heats up, we’re often looking for something to cool us down. Ice cream isn’t going to do us any favors when it comes to our health or looking good in our swimsuits. Smoothies are a refreshing way to celebrate summer and indulge in a creamy treat. Also, more and more people are learning about the benefits of juicing and are looking for a convenient way to get those greens. For the more extreme, juice cleanses have become all the rage. Many celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Blake Lively, and Nicole Richie have made public that they believe in the juice cleanse to reset their systems and drop a few pounds. For both ends of the spectrum, here are some of the top spots for juices and smoothies on the Upper West Side.
This Juice Truck
71st and Broadway (south west side)
This truck has almost forty smoothies and vegetable juices. Their 16 ounce juices are $5 and 24 ounces go for $6. And they’re just as good as the fancy stores!
Cool Fresh Juice Bar
2661 Broadway
This is a friendly-service, independently owned juice bar with great prices! A medium smoothie (16 oz) goes for $5, and a large (24 oz) for $6! Service is also quick and they have a full wall of options, with acai bowls, energy shots and bubble tea as well. They’re open weekdays from 7:30am to 9pm, and weekends from 8:30am to 9pm. Their reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and I would rate them # 1 when it comes to the best value juice bar on the Upper West Side.
Juice Generation
117 West 72nd St
2345 Broadway
Whether you’re a die hard juicer who likes to “Get Ur Green On”, “Daily Detox” or take in some “Supa Dupa Greens”, or if you have a sweet tooth and like to indulge in a “Peanut Butter Split”, Juice Generation has it all and is a great option for smoothies on the Upper West Side. They also offer delicious, good-for-you sandwiches, acai bowls, salads, soups, and gluten-free baked goods. For a healthy breakfast, mid-day snack, or post-workout treat, Juice Generation is the place to be.
My only gripe is that I wish you could get a smaller size, in case you just want a quick, lower calorie pick-me-up. The smallest smoothie size you can get is 24 ounces, so keep in mind that those fruit calories add up fast, if that matters to you. Many of their fruits and vegetables are organic, but not all, so be sure to ask, if that is a priority. And if you’re looking to clean up your diet, rest your digestive system, or just put your body on the right track towards healthy eating habits, check out their website for the details on Juice Generation’s several different juice cleanse programs.
c/o Yelp
Gary Null’s Uptown Whole Foods
2421 Broadway
Gary Null’s is a small health food mini-market that has ALL organic foods! The organic juice bar located at the front of the store is not to be missed. For the super healthy juicing folks, check out “Green Power Pleasure”, “King Of Chlorophyll”, or the no-frills “Green Juice”.
Juice Press
73 West 82nd Street
344 Amsterdam Avenue (Equinox)
350 Amsterdam Avenue
239 Columbus Avenue
2465 Broadway
Happy news for those seeking smoothies on the Upper West Side: Juice Press has FIVE Upper West Side locations! Juice Press offers 100% raw juices, smoothies, ready-to-go raw foods, and desserts. They have also designed what they call “the best juice cleanse system on the planet”. Check out their website for menus and plenty of information on why to eat raw foods, nutritional science, the details of juice cleansing, the evils of processed foods, and much more.
