I’ll be the first one to admit that I don’t have a HUGE sweet tooth. However, I do love rolling up to some of the best bakeries in NYC and getting a nice flakey croissant or a wonderfully crusty loaf of sourdough.
I also really can’t say no to an amazing pastry, especially when it is homemade, served warm, and brimming over with epic flavors.
But the best part? You do NOT have to go broke when visiting some of the best bakeries in New York City.
After all, a pastry from many of these bakeries will probably cost $6.00 – $10.00 if you go to a fancier place.
As a local, I just can’t afford to spend $100+ on a meal every time I go out. So, bakeries are a great way to discover new places to eat without going totally broke.
And since I have lived in the city for 30+ years I know A LOT about the coolest bakeries in the city. So, have a look at this epic guide and see which places appeal to you the most.
You can also use the Too Good To Go app to save even more money on baked goods. Just download the app and pay between $4.00 and $6.00 for a surprise bag of baked goods.
We have enjoyed some really great deals at local bagel shops and bakeries since you’re buying whatever is left over at the end of the day. You also pay less because you don’t choose what you get.
Sure, the app can be hit or miss. However, more often than not, it is a great deal, and you pay way less for some amazing baked goods.
So, without further adieu, have a look at this epic guide and get ready to enjoy some of the best pastries in NYC.
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Table of Contents
1. Levain Bakery
You’ve probably heard of Levain Bakery since they are known for serving up one of the best chocolate chip cookies in NYC.
However, contrary to popular belief, they do have other amazing things on the menu besides their classic chocolate chip walnut cookie.
I mean, if you are new to town then you absolutely MUST try this cookie since it is what made them famous and is why there are now locations all over the city.
Yes, this cookie costs a steep $5.50. But, it is HUGE (split one with someone else), served warm out of the oven, and is wonderfully ooey and gooey on the inside.
Yes, that is a technical term. But, we have stopped by multiple times and have had their chocolate chip banana bread as well as some of their tradtional breads.
All the items have been really good and the staff are ALWAYS helpful. So, if you are looking for a great bakery then you can’t beat this place.
2. Maman
We have been to Maman so many times that I have lost count. That is mainly because the pastries are heaven.
No really. You cannot go wrong with pretty much anything you order here. Personally, we like to save money and use Too Good To Go to pick up a variety of different pastries at the end of the day.
Our faves include the savory Everything Croissant, the divine Chocolate Pistachio Croissant (our personal fave), their world-famous chocolate chip cookies (Oprah made them famous), and their epic chocolate almond croissant.
If you want, you can even enjoy a sit down meal here and enjoy one of the best brunch spots in NYC.
I also just love the ambiance of this bakery and cafe. It’s a place you want to sit down and relax in as you sip on a nice cup of coffee.
3. Dominique Ansel
Even if you’re not from NYC, you’ve probably heard of Dominique Ansel Bakery. They rose to fame when they created the legendary cronut (a cross between a croissant and a donut).
Basically, no one could get enough of this light and delicious dessert in NYC. So, people would wait upwards of 2 hours just to try one.
Today, the cronut is still delicious, but the lines are a bit less intense since you can pre-order them online.
Additionally, a lot of other NYC bakeries also make their own cronuts now. So, the concept isn’t as novel as it once was.
I recently visited again after a LONG time and ordered the salted pretzel and cinnamon cronut. It was filled with salted pretzel ganache and cinnamon ganache and was sweet but not overly so.
Definitely one of the better cronut flavors I’ve had. Just remember that they change their signature cronut flavor each month and never repeat a flavor.
So, you can usually try something new when you stop by. However, I have definitely be left unimpressed by some of their weirder cronut creations.
Now, if their current cronut flavor leaved you feeling uninspired, try their cookie and milk shots.
They taste amazing and are cool because they make chocolate chip cookies into shot glasses that you eat/drink vanilla-infused milk out of.
TBH, they are one of my fave creations here. However, I have heard good things about just about almost everything you order here.
Local Tip: There is also a Dominique Ansel Worksop that sells amazing baked goods.
Just be aware that they have a totally different menu than the original location. So, no cronuts or cookie/milk shots are sold here.
4. Tall Poppy
This place is SUPER under the radar and you probably won’t find it on any other “best of” list.
However, when we stopped by I was super impressed by their pistachio croissant and their chocolate cruffin (a cross between a croissant and muffin).
No joke, the cream inside the pistachio croissant contained WHOLE pistachios for added flavor. You also definitely did not run out of cream filling like you do with many other pastries.
Both items were really well-baked, had me licking my fingers, and left me wanting more. TBH, I could eat their chocolate cruffin every day and be totally happy.
The staff are also super helpful and I love that this is basically just a small, local bakery that serves really good food.
It’s also a great place to go if you are more of a savory person since they serve epic items like an everything cruffin, a potato leek croissant, and a prosciutto gruyere croissant.
The one downside of coming here is that they don’t have seating. So, I would get your pastries to go and then eat them while walking along the High Line.
5. Supermoon Bakehouse
Everyone is obsessed with this bakery and I am not 100% sure why. The last time we visited we ordered a couple of different things.
First of all, the donut was good but not amazing. TBH, I didn’t like that I ordered a carrot cake donut, and it 100% tasted nothing like carrot cake.
I also ordered a Ferrier Roche-flavored Cruffin that was out of this world, while my partner had an okay fruit-flavored croissant.
Overall, I thought this place was good but not as amazing as everyone says.
However, definitely give it a shot since the menu changes regularly and we might have jut ordered the wrong stuff.
I will say though that the staff are really helpful and that everything we had was well-baked.
There is also no seating in the store and you should arrive EARLY since this place is massively popular and they will run out of things.
And FYI, I did not take a pic because we ordered our pastries to go and ate them at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was pouring rain, and I was not about a photo shoot at that moment.
6. Lady Wong’s
I recently visited Lady Wong’s for the first time, and, needless to say, I left very impressed. Yeah, I had to eat something before my neverending hair appointment and decided to stop by.
The first thing you need to know though is that this is primarily a cake place. So, stop by if you’re jonesing for a piece of cake.
They also don’t do “tradtional” desserts. Instead, they have modernized their desserts with unique Asian-inspired flavor profiles.
When I stopped by, I tried the Black Sesame Passionfruit Dessert since it was voted a top 25 dish by the New York Times.
Overall, I thought the dessert was good but it didn’t blow my mind. I liked that the flavor profile was unique with black sesame and passionfruit.
However, I found the frosting to have a somewhat artificial taste to it.
I also thought the cookie on the bottom tasted like a bit of an after thought. Don’t get me wrong, I ate the whole thing and would gladly return to try something else.
But, I had really high expectations of this cake and felt like it missed the mark. I also thought it was a bit weird you couldn’t get a plate to eat at the bakery.
That being said, lots of other people LOVE this place and I would 100% come back to try the Mont Blanc Chestnut Mille since it looks epic.
7. Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery
When we first walked into Lafayette Grand Cafe and Bakery, I was VERY skeptical.
That’s because this place was Insta-famous in NYC and had these super photogenic croissants that no one could get enough of.
However, I personally don’t care how something looks. I am more about the taste, and I just wasn’t sure how these croissants measured up when it came to flavor.
I also almost cried when they told me that a single croissant cost $10.00+. Yikes! That’s expensive even for NYC.
Well, when I bit into this God-like pastry, I understood why everyone was obsessed with this place. These giant, round croissants are BURSTING with beautifully rich and flavorful cream filling.
You will absolutely NOT run out of filling since it oozes out every time you bite into the croissant. No, really. I almost made a mess like three times. But, I didn’t care since this croissant was THAT good.
They also have other things on their menu, as well as a nice sitting area inside the cafe. However, I would stick with their signature croissants. I could eat here every morning and die a happy woman.
Their croissant flavors also change to reflect the season. So, you can always find something new to eat when you stop by.
8. Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery
Alright, Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery is one of those places that I heard a lot about since they first opened in 2014.
Sure, they serve excellent cheesecakes, brioche morning buns, brownies, and fruit tarts. However, the reason why everyone was raving about this place was because of their brioche doughnuts.
Basically, this is their signature dish and you 100% have to try it when you visit.
Essentially, it’s a traditional doughnut with sugar on the outside. It also comes with a doughnut hole on top. Not sure why, but I never met a doughnut I didn’t like.
Then, once you bite into the doughnut you’ll taste a rich, white cream that is like heaven on Earth.
My one complaint is that the cream in my doughnut wasn’t evenly distributed. So, half the doughnut had cream and the other half didn’t.
Other than that it was really good. A bit pricey at $6.25, but worth it.
Just try to visit early in the morning. We stopped by in the evening and they were totally sold out. We then came back around 10:30 am on a Monday and we had no problem getting a doughnut.
So, if you really want to try this donut, I would stop by first thing in the morning since they do run out.
Additionally, there are maybe four tables in the front and five or six seats at a counter in the back. It was packed when we visited, so we had to wait for a table.
Therefore, don’t be surprised if you can’t find a seat. If it were me I would probably grab a donut and eat it in nearby Washington Square Park.
9. Peter Pan Donut and Pastry Shop
This place is legendary and serves up some of the best donuts in NYC. So, be sure to head out to Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and try any one of their 20+ flavors.
They are all good and are served hot/fresh daily. TBH, I love that this bakery is no frills and just serves delicious donuts that I dare you not to love.
TBH, I am not into their coffee. However, I do love their Churro, milk and cookies, and hot chocolate-flavored donuts.
They are all light and fluffy, packed with flavor, and are never ever greasy. Just get here early since they can and will run out.
10. Unregular Bakery
What I like about this bakery is that they serve amazing, totally unique baked goods that you won’t find anywhere else.
And while everything here is top-notch, you have to try their signature BombaSprtiz.
It’s a delicious, sweet, bread-like pastry with sweet vanilla frosting on the outside and lots of orange pastry cream on the inside.
I loved that there was a lot of cream on the inside and that it wasn’t super sweet. So, you could eat the entire pastry and not feel like you’ve had an overload of sugar.
It’s a great place to stop after you visit Strand (the bookstore). I also like that they have plenty of seating, even if the customer service was a bit lacking the last time I was here.
But, overall, a great bakery in New York City if you love to try unique pastries that you have never seen before.
11. Breads Bakery
There are a couple of things I love about Breads Bakery. First of all, everything is good. So, regardless of whether you order soup, bread, sandwiches, or desserts, it’s all gonna be EPIC.
The second thing I love is that they have locations all across the city. Personally, I visit their location on the Upper East Side.
This is the ONLY place in the city that you can get their famous Black and White Cookie. It is unique because it is made with croissant dough and is absolutely next-level awesome.
I also ADORE their chocolate babka. It is this sweet, braided, chocolate-flavored bread that I can never get enough of.
If given a whole loaf I would definitely eat it in one sitting. I just love their babka because it is well-baked and sweet but not super-rich. So, you can eat a lot without going into sugar shock.
Yup, just an all-around great New York City bakery that you can find anywhere in the city.
12. Hani’s Bakery
Hani’s Bakery recently opened up this year and is a must-visit if you love amazing, high-end pastries.
Even though this place is new, the word has gotten out. So, get here early if you want a wide selection of baked goods to choose from.
Arriving early is also helpful because this is the only way you’ll be able to sang a seat.
When ordering, you can’t go wrong with their chocolate chip cookies (made with three types of chocolate) or their brownies.
I also saw some brown butter carrot cake that I need to devour the next time I am here. Overall, we loved this place and will definitely be back since everything we ordered was moist and packed with flavor.
13. Daily Provisions
Alright, I have no idea why I took a photo of my avocado toast and not the amazing Cruller donut I had, but here we are.
TBH, the last time I was here it was PACKED and raining. But, I was hungry and wanted to try the epic Cruller everyone was talking about.
Not gonna lie, it blew me out of the water and I have been dreaming about that Cruller ever since.
I like that is homemade, moist, and not greasy at all. I also love that you can choose from epic flavors like cinnamon sugar, maple, and glazed.
When we were here, we ordered a lemon-flavored Cruller that was very fresh and light. I also thought the fresh bread used to make my avo toast was epic.
So, all in all, I can heartily recommend a trip to Daily Provisions. And if you only get one thing let it be the Cruller.
14. Bourke Street Bakery
Any time I am in Grand Central I beeline it on over to Bourke Street Bakery. Not only are there plenty of delish items to choose from, but the prices are pretty reasonable.
The very first time I visited, I stopped by and ordered an okay croissant. Yeah, I wanted to check it out because I heard this bakery was an amazing import from Sydney.
Well, I have since gone back a BUNCH of times and have tried a bunch of amazing desserts that include lemon tarts, carrot cake, ginger creme brûlée, and PB and J rolls.
Order any of those items and you will walk away a happy camper. I also LOVE that they do more savory pastries too, like the eggplant, chickpea, feta and mint roll.
My partner loves that savory roll and gets it every time we visit.
15. Milk Bar
Back in the day, Milk Bar used to be all the rage since they made these quirky, out-of-the-box style desserts that no one had ever seen before.
TBH, I kind of feel like they were a victim of their own success since everyone today seems to kind fo be “over” Milk Bar.
However, their desserts are still epic and well worth trying if you’re in NYC for the first time – minus the cereal and milk soft serve since I thought that was super gross.
Instead, I would get the Birthday Cake truffles, the Compost Cookies, and the Crack Pie. All are extremely well-baked and have unique flavors that pop.
Order any of those items and I guarantee that you will be asking for seconds, or maybe even thirds.
16. Librae Bakery
Librae is another one of those local bakeries in NYC that you probably won’t find on any other “best of lists”.
Generally, I love coming here for the croissants. They are exceptionally well-baked and include fun flavors like rose pistachio croissant and espresso pain au chocolate.
Technically, their croissants are perfectly baked and feel like they were flown directly here from France. My only gripe was that I wanted a little more filling in my espresso pain au chocolate.
Therefore, I prefered the rose pistachio croissant since I found the filling to be a bit better and more prevalent.
But, this is a great place to go if you like your croissant to be the star of the show and you want the filling to just be there in the background.
I also love that they have a giant gold croissant dangling from the ceiling. It’s a cool accent piece to look at as you wait for a table since this place will be packed.
17. Magnolia’s Bakery
I love Magnolia Bakery so much that we literally stop by ALL the time. It’s easy to do since they have an outpost in Grand Central and serve the best banana pudding I have ever tasted.
It’s light and fluffy and made with fresh bananas as well as beautiful chunks of homemade vanilla cake. I have also had it with vanilla wafers instead of cake, but prefer the cake inside.
I also LOVE that it is so light and fluffy that you could eat a giant container and still not feel feel.
Oh and if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, they also make a unique specialty flavor of banana pudding every month.
The last time we had the apple crisp-flavored banana pudding, and it was really nice. However, I personally always prefer the original.
Local Tip: TBH, I once ordered a blondie, and it was really dry and not good. Therefore, I always stick with the banana pudding.
Just try and stop by early since they can run out of banana pudding as the day goes on.
18. Elbow Bread
Welcome to this amazing hidden gem in Chinatown! Once the beloved location of Mel The Bakery, this spot has transformed into an epic bakery with a wide array of delectable savory and sweet treats.
Indulge in an airy bialy topped with caramelized onions or satisfy your sweet tooth with some pecan rugelach or a crisp coconut danish.
However, if you only get one thing, let it be their famous sweet potato pretzel. I had it the last time I was here and thought the pretzel was exceptionally well-made with the right amount of salt.
It’s a classic pretzel but the use of sweet potato adds a unique touch. It’s also fairly light and not a super dense dough.
I also like that they have a nice jalapeno cheese sauce that you can dip your pretzel in. Yup, super yum.
19. ACQ Bread Co.
Located in Carroll Gardens, this place is TINY. However, they make amazing sourdough milk bread. I know it sounds kind of weird, but I promise it’s really good.
It has this awesome slightly sweet flavor and a really good, chewy texture that is out of this world. My only complaint is that I wish I lived closer so that i could pick up a loaf every week.
I also wish they were open more. Yeah, the hours are a bit limited. Therefore, be sure to plan ahead and time your visit for a Friday or Saturday afternoon.
You can also get come awesome ginger miso cookies and homemade jam to accompany your bread while you’re here.
20. Orwashers
Orwashers has been around FOREVER (aka 100+ years) and is known for selling amazing Jewish rye. TBH, I am not a huge rye bread person.
Therefore, the last time I was here I sampled some tri-color cookies, rugelach, and black and white cookies.
All of the cookies I ordered were fresh and delicious. As a result, I would happily come back, even though this place is basically the anti-thesis of innovative.
Overall, this NYC bakery is great if you are searching for Jewish-inspired baked goods and just want high-quality versions of very tradtional pastries.
21. Radio Bakery
Head to Radio Bakery in Greenpoint, and you’ll definitely find a line out the door on the weekends.
However, the staff are awesome and do a great job of processing orders quickly.
Therefore, this place is definitely worth a stop since their twice-baked pistachio croissants and chocolate croissants are out of this world.
As you probably already guessed, I like the pistachio croissant. I enjoy munching on it while sitting at a street-side table and watching the people go by.
22. Balthazar
This tiny little bakery is attached to the world-famous restaurant of the same name. It’s definitely not a hidden gem in NYC, but they do sell a wide variety of high-quality baked goods.
Personally, this place is a little too famous for me since it is usually packed with heaps of tourists. However, I can’t fault them since everything I’ve had here has been awesome.
Personally, I would order a loaf of bread or a croissant to go since the space is small and is always filled with people, especially since a lot of people want to celebrity spot in NYC at Balthazar.
23. Otway Bakery
Fun fact: Otway restaurant (known for their epic fried chicken sammie) also owns a bakery of the same name.
It’s super close to the restaurant and makes an amazing cardamom bun that I am still dreaming about. The croissants dogs are also a must-try if they have any left.
The only bummer is that there is basically no seating available. However, you can always just eat at their restaurant and then order a cardamom bun while you’re there.
Seriously, I travel like 45+ minutes here just to eat this cardamom bun. It is THAT good.
Map of the Best Bakeries in NYC
Conclusion
That wraps up this massive local guide to all of the best bakeries in New York City right now. I hope you found my tips useful and know where to find some of the best food in NYC.
Honestly, I have a really hard time picking a fave from this list. These bakeries are all different and amazing in their own ways.
But, if you are short on time and want to visit iconic NYC bakeries then be sure to visit Breads Bakery, Magnolia Bakery, Levain Bakery, and Dominique Ansel Bakery.
They are probably the most iconic bakeries in the city and you should visit all of them at least once.
