Got a hankering for something sweet? Here's our list of the best bakeries in NYC for cakes, sweets, and everything in between!
Corey Fuller - Staff Writer•
New York City is a wonderland for people with a sweet tooth! We have the best cookies, croissants, cakes, and everything in between! No matter whether you’re looking to stop in for a quick snack, or want a custom item to celebrate something, there’s no shortage of places to head! If you’re looking for the best desserts, cakes, breads, and so much more, head to these bakeries in NYC today!
1. Magnolia Bakery, Multiple Locations
Magnolia Bakery is one of NYC’s most iconic bakery chains, boasting locations all over the city. They’re well known for all sorts of sweet treats including their delicious cakes (German Chocolate, Devil’s Food, and Red Velvet Cakes), their famous cupcakes, and of course their Banana Pudding. The bakery has been featured on many films and TV shows such as The Devil Wears Prada and Sex and the City, and has been serving up all sorts of treats ever since. It’s a no-frills spot that always hits the spot!
Where: Find your location here
2. Lloyd’s Carrot Cake, East Harlem
As its name suggests, the Carrot Cake at Lloyd’s Carrot Cake is the celebrity, and our sweet treat of choice here. It’s made with walnuts and raisins (which can also be ommited) and topped with their mouth-watering signature cream cheese frosting. There’s no reason they’ve been around for 40+ years…they’ve mastered the recipe! Don’t sleep on their other options too though, like the Pineapple Layer Cake and the Red Velvet Cake. Plus, they come in all different sizes (including slices).
Where: 1553 Lexington Ave
3. Levain Bakery, Multiple Locations
Levain Bakery is home to “New York’s Most Famous Cookies” and we have to heavily agree. Unless you live under a rock, you probably know about the iconic chocolate chip cookies that ooze greatness and crumble in your mouth. This bakery originated on the Upper West Side years and years ago before eventually expanding all over the city. The talks of the town are the Chocolate Chip Walnut and Two Chip Chocolate Chip cookies, but there are a few more options as well. If you’re looking for the best chocolate chip cookie you’ve ever had, go here.
Where: Find your location here
4. Breads Bakery, Multiple Locations
Instead of specializing on the desserts side, Breads Bakery takes mastery on the bread and pastry front. This Israeli bakery and café stemmed from Union Square and now boasts multiple locations around the city. It’s a perfect place to stop in for a fresh sandwich or even to pick up a loaf of bread that was just freshly made. What we suggest though is trying what we consider the best thing they offer, the Chocolate Babka (Best of New York Chocolate Babka with Nutella and dark chocolate).
Where: Find your location here
5. Dominique Ansel Bakery, SoHo
Dominique Ansel Bakery is another well-known bakery in NYC, with their genius creation the Cronut® Pastry stealing all of the headlines. It’s Chef Dominique Ansel’s signature “half croissant, half doughnut” pastry, and it’s truly unbelievable. We also suggest trying out their other best seller too, the DKA (“Dominique’s Kouign Amann”: similar to a caramelized croissant, with tender flaky layers inside and a caramelized crunchy crust outside). Their main location is in SoHo, with an additional “workshop” location in Flatiron!
Where:
SoHo (flagship) – 189 Spring St
Flatiron (workshop) – 17 E 27th St
6. Carlo’s Bakery, Times Square
Home to the one and only celebrity Cake Boss Buddy Valastro, this spot will have your head spinning with the amount of decorative cakes and colorful treats for you to choose from. Grab a slice of their stunning Strawberry Rainbow Cake (pictured above) or opt for a cookie, cannoli, or anything in between! Cakes can be ordered specifically for occasions, or you can stop in for premade cakes and slices. Every item here is so beautifully appealing it looks straight out of a catalogue.
Where: 625 8th Ave
7. Mille-Feuille Bakery, Multiple Locations
Pastry king Olivier Dessyn has spent years and years perfecting the craft of Parisian pastries, and across his NYC locations, you’ll definitely feel like you’re stepping foot into France. Ponder between classic snacks like the Rolled Almond Croissant (A traditional croissant with an almond paste (frangipane) filling) or sweet chewy Macarons served in all sorts of flavors and bundles. If you’re really up for it, try their signature Mille-feuille (three layers of crispy puff pastry alternating with two layers of pastry cream).
Where:
Greenwich Village – 552 Laguardia Pl
Upper West Side – 2175 Broadway
Prospect Heights – 622 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn
8. Lady M, Multiple Locations
Home to all sorts of confectionary is Lady M, a cute bakery most known for their lovely cakes! While we suggest going back to where they first started any trying out their Signature Mille Crêpes (20+ paper-thin handmade crêpes layered with ethereal light pastry cream). But if you want to stray from the norm (which can never go wrong), consider the pictured above Checkers cake which weaves together chocolate flavors into a spongecake.
Where: Find your location here
9. Lady Bird Bakery, Park Slope
Lady Bird Bakery is a small, yet inviting café and bakery in Park Slope that sells homemade cupcakes, cookies, sweets, and some of the best cakes in NYC. They’re famous for their Brooklyn Blackout cake, a chocolate cake with pudding in the center. Lady Bird Bakery has been in operation for over two decades (although they were formerly known as Two Little Red Hens), and they offer various decorating options, including seasonal cakes and wedding cakes!
Where: 1112 8th Ave, Brooklyn
10. Milk Bar, Multiple Locations
Milk Bar is a chain of bakeries owned by the Momof*cku restaurant group, which has locations all over NYC. They offer all kinds of sweets, but they’re most famous for their unique assortment of cakes made with three layers of frosting with exposed sides. In addition to classic cakes, they also offer cake truffles, pies, cookies, ice cream, and more. Plus, they manufacture their own cake mix and deliver cakes anywhere in the US, so you can enjoy their sweets no matter where you find yourself.
Where: Find your location here
11. Empire Cake, Chelsea
Empire Cake is a bakery in Chelsea serving all sorts of gourmet cakes and pastries. They offer 8″ cakes in various flavors and styles, including Raspberry Lemon, Brooklyn Blackout, and Strawberry Fields. They also offer multiple gluten-free options and different sizes ranging from 6″ round to an entire baking sheet. What we love though about this bakerty is the staff. They strive to use the best ingredients sourced from local producers, and master every custom cake to the wishes of the client.
Where: 112 8th Ave
12. Mazzola Bakery, Carroll Gardens
Flagshipped in Carroll Gardens is Mazzola Bakery, a neighborhood spot offering Italian cookies, treats, and cakes. Their claim to fame is their classic Italian-style lard bread that includes bits of ciabatta, salami, and provolone (yum). But they also offer classic pastries like cupcakes, bundt cakes, and loaf cakes. The family-owned bakery has been operating since 1928 and still offers the laidback vibe of an old-school New York City bakery.
Where: 529 Henry St, Brooklyn
13. Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery, Multiple Locations
Mah-Ze Dahr Bakery is a café with a few locations in New York City serving cakes, brownies, pastries, cookies, and more. The bakery’s name is Urdu for “the taste or essence of food,” and the bakers at Mah-Ze Dar go to great lengths to ensure their visitors get a one-of-a-kind experience. They offer a delectable assortment of sweets for any occasion, including birthdays, thank you gifts, dinner parties, and more and they’re famous for their heavenly cheesecake, which features hints of lemon zest and graham cracker crust.
Where:
West Village – 28 Greenwich Ave
Midtown – 601 Lexington Ave
Brookfield Place – 225 Liberty St
14. Ovenly, Multiple Locations
Ovenly is a Brooklyn-based bakery chain with multiple locations in the city. The award-winning bakery specializes in treats that blur the line between savory and sweet. The woman-owned business started as a modest shop in Park Slope but has grown into one of NYC’s best-known purveyors of baked goods. They offer unique flavors like pistachio cardamom cake with honey buttercream, which many consider the best cake in NYC.
Where: Find your location here
15. Gino’s Pastry Shop, The Bronx
Gino’s Pastry Shop is a classic Italian bakery on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx that sells cookies, cannolis, pastries, and custom cakes. The laidback eatery has been a New York City staple since the 1960s and features a no-frills atmosphere with photos of famous customers lining the walls. The quaint bakery sells custom birthday and wedding cakes in various styles and designs!
Where: 580 E 187th St, The Bronx
16. City Cakes, Chelsea
For those on a little higher budget, City Cakes in lower Manhattan offers world-famous cookies, gourmet cupcakes, and custom cakes for any ocassion. They offer an assortment of simple cakes with basic frosting and script, as well as intricate 3D cakes and architectural cakes shaped like famous buildings. Looking for an edible replica of the Roman Colosseum? City Cakes is the place to go. Or, if you want to design a custom cake from scratch, you can request a quote through their website.
Where: 155 W 18th St
17. Flour Shop, Lower East Side
Flour Shop is a bakery on the Lower East Side that is well known for its multicolored treats. Their rainbow-colored treats are perfect for birthday parties and other family-friendly events. They’re famous for their Explosion Cake which features six layers representing every color in the rainbow (except purple) with an interior that is stuffed with rainbow sprinkles. Other highlights include fun-themed cakes shaped like hamburgers, stacks of pancakes, or unicorns.
Where: 177 Lafayette St
18. Billy’s Bakery NYC, Multiple Locations
Last but not least on our list is Billy’s Bakery, a neighborhood bakery chain with multiple locations across NYC. The interior of the bakeries have a 1940’s-style aesthetic that feels like sitting in your grandmother’s kitchen. They offer a wide variety of cakes that range from classic chocolate and vanilla to old-school favorites like the pineapple upside-down cake!
Where:
Chelsea – 184 9th Ave
Tribeca – 75 Franklin St
Upper West Side – 410 Columbus Ave
See also: 14 Mouthwatering Spots To Find The Best Cookies In NYC
Tags:bread, cake, cookies, crepes, cupcake, pie
