| Chelsea | Description |
|---|---|
Cookies  | |
| Big Booty Bread Co | Inspired by his Latin-American culture and appetite for tasty treats, Jose Rojas founded Big Booty in 2005. Rojas, a former Wall Street trader, left the finance world to follow in his parent's footsteps (his parents own Don Ricky Bakery in New Jersey). What you'll find at Big Booty is a variety of tasty options from cupcakes and cookies to breads and cinnamon buns. Their aforementioned cookies are OK. They will please the palate but won't blow you away. You'll find flavors such as Chocolate Chip, S'mores, Peanut Butter and Red Velvet. |
| Milk Bar | Milk Bar is the creation of baking wizard Christina Tosi. She, along with Momofuku owner David Chang, combined forces to create one of NYC's most popular bakery in 2008. Milk Bar serves unique soft serve ice cream, milkshakes, milk quakes, cake truffles, cake, coffee, crack pie and much more. Their desserts are a favorite among locals and tourist alike. While their birthday cake is quite possibly the best thing on the menu, Tosi's cookies are creative and fun. You'll find such flavors as Compost, Confetti, Caramel Grapefruit Snap, Corn, Blueberry and Cream, Cornflake Marshmallow Chocolate Chip, Chocolate-Chocolate Cookie, Perfect 10 and Best Freaking Cookie. All of Milk Bar's cookies are innovative with a chewy texture and innovative flavors. While you won't be writing to aunt Helga in Australia, their cookies are still satisfying and memorable. |
| City Cakes | Enough can't be said about how great City Cakes actually is. Opening in 2007, chef's Benny Rivera (who has appeared on TLC, Food Network Channel and the Rachel Ray Show), Marc Coolrecht and Sarah Pleitez run the show at this small (OK, very small) bakery in Chelsea. The bakery is located down the stairs of a brownstone building. It's a bit of a hidden entrance and very easy to walk by, however, once you've located it head down the steps and dive right in. You'll find the quarters to be tight but the welcome is large and inviting. On the counter's you'll see City Cakes' famous half-pound cookies and delicious cupcakes covered under glass domes. The baked goods are fantastic but you'll find the chefs, especially Sarah Pleitez, to be equally amazing. If you are at City Cakes then you're buying cookies. They are the largest in NYC and the soft, chewy, delectable dough is terrific. Their flavors include Chocolate Chip, Red Velvet, Triple Chocolate, Sugardoodle, Reese's Peanut Butter and Ginger Spice to name a few. |
| Insomnia Cookies | Cookie chain in NYC that delivers cookies and milk to your doorstep until 3 AM. Flavors include: Chocolate Chip, S'mores, White Chocolate, Snickerdoodle, Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Mint, etc. |
| Billy's Bakery | Billy's Bakery was founded by Lauren Reece (formerly Billy Reece) in 2003 after leaving Magnolia Bakery to start of bakery of her own. What you'll find at Billy's is very similar to that of Magnolia but with its own twist. The bakery's setting is that of a retro 1940's kitchen. Their cookies range from chocolate chip, butterscotch gingerbread, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter and sugar to name a few. |
| Chip NYC | Chip NYC opened in 2017 in Astoria, Queens. Sine then they have gained a large following of cookie lovers and long lines have followed. You can also find their cookies at their second location in the Gansevoort Market. Known for large, gooey cookies, Chip NYC pleases the masses with delicious flavors that include S'mores, Chocolate Chip, Funfetti, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, White Chocolate Macadamia and Red Velvet and Apple Pie to name a few. Their cookies are packed with flavor and some center-filled with gooey delights. Also note that fresh-baked cookies of this size (like Levain) may appear raw. That is the way they are supposed to be. The people who complain about their cookies being "raw" are uninformed cookie rookies. |
| Seven Grams Caffe | Seven Grams, whose name is derived from an Italian espresso shot made out of exactly seven grams of ground premium coffee, opened as a high-end coffee and party shop in 2013. It offers high-quality coffee and high-quality baked goods all in one location. Everything is made fresh from scratch in-house and baked fresh every day. If you're at Seven Grams and craving a cookie then crave no longer. You'll find freshly baked Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin and Peanut Butter -- all big in size and taste. |
| Sullivan Street Bakery | When looking for a great NYC food staple look no further than Sullivan Street Bakery. Owner Jim Lahey learned about great bread from his travels to Rome, Italy. He mastered the art, wrote a couple books and now supplies bread to over 300 restaurants in NYC. It isn't just the food, but the experience and friendly-neighborhood vibe that is second to none. If you're coming here for cookies then you must bite into the shortbread cookies (they currently aren't making them since the remodel but I continue to bug them about bringing them back). They are small and slightly crispy but the best thing about them is the salty kick at the end of each bite. It's amazingly addictive. Sullivan's chocolate chip cookies are also delicious. Also try the smaller, crispy chocolate chip cookies known as Americani's. You'll find that the Chelsea location will offer slightly different food options. This is all by Lahey's design as he wants two different experiences at each location. |
Cupcakes  | |
| Big Booty Bread Co | Inspired by his Latin-American culture and appetite for tasty treats, Jose Rojas founded Big Booty in 2005. Rojas, a former Wall Street trader, left the finance world to follow in his parent's footsteps (his parents own Don Ricky Bakery in New Jersey). What you'll find at Big Booty is a variety of tasty options from cupcakes and cookies to breads and cinnamon buns. Their cupcakes are good but their icing is better. You'll find the cake to be soft, not too dry but not incredibly moist. Their icing is not overly sweet and makes the cupcake. The strawberry icing is the favorite but others include Funfetti, Salted Caramel, S'mores and Lemon. |
| Billy's Bakery | Billy's Bakery was founded by Lauren Reece (formerly Billy Reece) in 2003 after leaving Magnolia Bakery to start of bakery of her own. What you'll find at Billy's is very similar to that of Magnolia but with its own twist. The bakery's setting is that of a retro 1940's kitchen. Cupcake flavors include Banana, Banana Nutella, Carrot, Confetti, Crowd Pleaser, German Chocolate, Lemon and Red Velvet cupcakes. You'll also find cupcakes in a cup, gender reveal cupcakes, cupcake kits and mini cupcakes available to order. |
| City Cakes | Enough can't be said about how great City Cakes actually is. Opening in 2007, chef's Benny Rivera (who has appeared on TLC, Food Network Channel and the Rachel Ray Show), Marc Coolrecht and Sarah Pleitez run the show at this small (OK, very small) bakery in Chelsea. The bakery is located down the stairs of a brownstone building. It's a bit of a hidden entrance and very easy to walk by, however, once you've located it head down the steps and dive right in. You'll find the quarters to be tight but the welcome is large and inviting. On the counter's you'll see City Cakes' famous half-pound cookies and delicious cupcakes covered under glass domes. The baked goods are fantastic but you'll find the chefs, especially Sarah Pleitez, to be equally amazing. |
| Empire Cakes | Cupcakes, cakes, cookies, tasty creations -- Empire Cakes has plenty of tasty options. Known for their fantastic birthday and wedding cakes, Empire has made cakes for celebrities like Hugh Jackman and large companies like Google. But if you're here for cupcakes then you'll have plenty of scrumptious options to choose from. Their cupcakes have a soft, fluffy exterior that is topped with an appropriate amount of icing. |
Cakes and Pies  | |
| City Cakes | Enough can't be said about how great City Cakes actually is. Opening in 2007, chef's Benny Rivera (who has appeared on TLC, Food Network Channel and the Rachel Ray Show), Marc Coolrecht and Sarah Pleitez run the show at this small (OK, very small) bakery in Chelsea. The bakery is located down the stairs of a brownstone building. It's a bit of a hidden entrance and very easy to walk by, however, once you've located it head down the steps and dive right in. You'll find the quarters to be tight but the welcome is large and inviting. On the counter's you'll see City Cakes' famous half-pound cookies and delicious cupcakes covered under glass domes. The baked goods are fantastic but you'll find the chefs, especially Sarah Pleitez, to be equally amazing. Their cake are all custom made and are only limited by your imagination. They make cakes from 7 lbs to 700 lbs. If you can think it up they can create it. Another "cake" option that they have available at all times of the day is their cookie cake. It's your choice of half-pound cookies stacked together with icing and a message (if you prefer). It's a neat and tasty last-minute idea if you're in need of something fun. |
| Empire Cakes | Cupcakes, cakes, cookies, tasty creations -- Empire Cakes has plenty of tasty options. Known for their fantastic birthday and wedding cakes, Empire has made cakes for celebrities like Hugh Jackman and large companies like Google. But if you're here for cupcakes then you'll have plenty of scrumptious options to choose from. |
| Billy's Bakery | Billy's Bakery was founded by Lauren Reece (formerly Billy Reece) in 2003 after leaving Magnolia Bakery to start of bakery of her own. What you'll find at Billy's is very similar to that of Magnolia but with their own twist. The bakery's setting is that of a retro 1940's kitchen. Cake flavors include Banana, Bourbon Salted Caramel, Carrot, Coconut, Crowd Pleaser, Lemon Raspberry, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, German Chocolate and Lemon Cake to name a few. Whether it's a birthday, gender reveal or other special occasion, Billy's makes cakes that will appeal to any palate. Their pies include Key Lime, Banana Cream and Peanut Butter Chocolate. Their most popular pie among locals is the Banana Cream Pie. What's not to like about a buttery crust, creamy vanilla pudding, fluffy whipped cream and fresh bananas? It's a must try if bananas are your jams. |
| HARBS | HARBS, a derivative of the word "herbs," is a cafe chain from Japan. Its layered cakes are similar to that of Lady M's, but they have their own unique style and flavors. A favorite among locals, HARBS list of cakes include but are not limited to White Peach Cheesecake, Berry Berry Cake, Mille Crepes, Royal Milk Tea Cake, Strawberry Mille-Feuille and Banana Cream Pie. |
| Amy's Bread | Opening in 1992, Amy's Bread is a staple of NYC. Owner and founder Amy Scherber had a degree in economics before realizing her real passion was in baking. Twenty six years later she has seven locations in Manhattan and delivers to hundreds of wholesalers daily. Her cakes include Birthday Cake, Brooklyn Blackout, Coconut Cream, Definitely Devil's Food, Monkey, Red Velvet and Black and White Cake to name a few. |
| Milk Bar | Milk Bar is the creation of baking wizard Christina Tosi. She, along with Momofuku owner David Chang, combined forces to create one of NYC's most popular bakery in 2008. Milk Bar serves unique soft serve ice cream, milkshakes, milk quakes, cake truffles, cake, coffee, crack pie and much more. Their desserts are a favorite among locals and tourist alike. Their birthday cake is quite possibly the best thing on the menu. This layered beast looks and tastes the part. Tosi calls the signature look of this cake the "peekaboo moment," as you get to see the cake exposed and not covered with icing. It's by far the most popular birthday cake among locals and one that will come highly recommended. |
Doughnuts  | |
| Doughnut Plant | Mark Isreal started Doughnut Plant in 1994 using the recipes he inherited from his grandfather who was a baker in WWI. In 2000, Doughnut Plant opened its first storefront on Grand Street in the Lower East Side. Their philosophy is keeping it fresh. To use fresh ingredients whenever possible. The fresh philosophy is the reason Doughnut Plant's creations are some of the best you'll ever eat. They offer two types of doughnuts: caked based and yeast based. Their flavors range from Coconut Cream to Peanut Butter and Jelly. The Crème Brûlée doughnut is a game changer. You haven't lived until you've tried it. Their Tres Leches doughnut is phenomenal, as is the Brooklyn Blackout. At Doughnut Plant you'll also find square doughnuts. Isreal invented them because he wanted the doughnut's filling to be in every bite. You'll also find delicious seasonal flavor throughout the year. Do your cheat day a favor and indulge. |
| The Donut Pub | Former Wall Street broker Buzzy Geduld opened The Donut Pub in 1964. After selling his brokerage firm for nearly a billion dollars in 2000, Buzzy headed back to his true passion: doughnuts. Opened 24-7, The Donut Pub offers fresh coffee and doughnuts around the clock. This NYC doughnut staple has survived the test of time and has seen corporate competitors come and go. From the outside The Donut Pub gives off the look of a diner with its neon "Fresh" sign and freshly-baked doughnuts showcased in the window. Inside you'll find doughnuts on top of doughnuts, on top of doughnuts, topped with doughnuts. You'll discover all your standard doughnut flavors in addition to fun flavors like Maple Bacon, Cannoli, S'mores, seasonal flavors and much more. The doughnuts themselves are flavorful with a nostalgic taste about them. Some of the larger doughnuts are a bit chewier than you'd expect but otherwise palate pleasing. |
| Doughnuttery | Evan Feldman quit his finance job in 2008 to open up his doughnut concept: Doughnuttery. These miniature doughnuts were inspired by Feldman's memories of apple picking with his family and watching the fresh apple-cider doughnuts being made. He brought that made-to-order concept to New York City where customers are treated to fresh mini doughnuts and 15 tasty flavors to choose from. These flavors include: Pumpkin Pie Brulee, Spicy Rooster, Fruit Cereal, Lemon Pop, PB&J, Apple Cider, Cinnamon and Just Sugar to name a few. |
Pudding  | |
| Billy's Bakery | Billy's Bakery was founded by Lauren Reece (formerly Billy Reece) in 2003 after leaving Magnolia Bakery to start of bakery of her own. What you'll find at Billy's is very similar to that of Magnolia but with its own twist. The bakery's setting is that of a retro 1940's kitchen. Billy's offers banana pudding that rivals the best in the city. Its rich vanilla pudding layered between fresh bananas and vanilla wafers creates the type of bliss one can only dream about. |
Ice Cream  | |
| Milk Bar | Christina Tosi's Milk Bar serves up soft serve in Cereal Milk, Crack Pie and other flavors. Milkshake flavors include Crack Pie, Cereal Milk, coffee, birthday cake, among others. But if you're craving ice cream then sink your teeth into Milk Bar's Soft Serve ice cream. The ice cream is made with milk, cornflakes, brown sugar and a pinch of salt, and ... it tastes just like the milk at the bottom of a bowl of cornflakes. Dig in! |
| Gelato Giusto | Chef Lorenzo Franchetti opened Gelato Giusto in 2015. An insurance broker for 13 years, Franchetti ditched the corporate world and graduated from Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna, Italy. Dissatisfied with the quality of gelato in NYC (as most Italians are), Franchetti brought Milan, Italy's own Gelato Giusto to the States. Its location in Chelsea is charming with a bright, cozy feel to it. The gelato is very creamy and comes in flavors such as Vanilla, Pistachio, Chocolate, Espresso, Hazelnut, Stracciatella, Cherry, Salted Caramel and Ricotta Honey to name a few. Vegan options are also available. |
| Seed + Mill | Three friends, Lisa Mendelson, Monica Molenaar and Rachel Simons started Seed and Mill with the desire to create something healthy and unique. What they perfected are Middle Eastern treats called tahini (pronounced tuh-hee-nee) and halva. The ingredient in these tasty creations is none other than sesame seeds. Tahini (a main ingredient in humus) is a paste made from sesame seeds, and halva is a soft sesame candy that almost crumbles in your mouth. What you'll find at Seed and Mill is around 18 halva flavors and a tahini ice-cream made with a goat-milk base that is tasty and satisfying. And yes, they are kosher, vegan and gluten free. |
Bagels  | |
| Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Co | Owners Panos (Peter) Voyiatzis and John Rocchio opened Brooklyn Bagel Company in 2002. After working as civil engineers and owning a successful construction company, the pair traded in their hardhats for aprons and never looked back. Their hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels are top notch and easily one of the best in NYC. The exterior of their bagels has a little crunch to it but the inside is soft, chewy and delicious to the last bite. Brooklyn Bagel Co. offers all your typical bagel flavors but Plain, Cinnamon Raisin and the Everything bagel will win over your heart ... and taste buds. They offer a large variety of spreads which include Strawberry, Chive, Blueberry, Plain, Fig, Scallion and -- my favorite -- Lox cream cheese. |
| Murray's Bagels | Owner Matt Pomerantz was born and raised in NYC and worked on Wall Street for years. He left his lucrative job and opened Murray's Bagels (named after his father) in 1995. Murray's Bagels are hand rolled and boiled as all the best ones always are. You'll find all your standard flavors and spreads at Murray's. Their bagels are slightly smaller than some you would find at other top-rated bagel locations but are still full of flavor and satisfying. You'll find their bagel's exterior to be a little crispier than others and slightly chewier, however, they aren't as soft as some of our favorite bagels in NYC. Nowadays, most -- if not all -- bagel companies will toast your bagel if you ask. Although, to bagel purists and foodies alike, a toasted bagel is a ruined bagel. The argument is that toasting is for reviving stale or otherwise inferior bread, but toasting a great, freshly boiled bagel simply ruins its chewy texture and starchy taste. And for the record, I prefer mine plain more often than not. No spread, not toasted. Just fresh and warm and full of dough. |
Coffee & Hot Chocolate  | |
| Café Grumpy | In 2005 owner Caroline Bell opened up her first Cafe Grumpy location in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Known for their slow-drip coffee, cold brews and other coffee drinks, Grumpy is a local favorite. In their early years, Cafe Grumpy would buy coffee from roasters outside of New York. Realizing they could do it themselves, they bought a roaster and in 2009 started roasting their own beans. Nowadays everything they make comes from their own roastery, which used to be at the Greenpoint location but since moved to Diamond Street because of its growing business. Cafe Grumpy really grew in popularity when Broadway Stages -- located right up the street from them -- gave Cafe Grumpy a spot in their HBO series Girls where Lena Dunham stars as Hannah Horvath, a writer and Cafe Grumpy barista, tries to figure out her life in NYC. The company has expanded to eight locations in New York and one in Miami. |
| Blue Bottle Coffee | James Freeman is the creator of Blue Bottle Coffee. After years of chasing a musical dream Freeman decided to chase another passion: coffee. He built his brand with the idea that he will only sell coffee that's made to order within 48 hours of roasting the beans. He began selling his coffee at a farmer's market in Oakland, California in 2002. Soon after, he opened up a store in Oakland, quickly spread throughout the Bay Area, then eventually found it's way to New York City in 2010. In 2017, Nestle bought the majority stake (68%) of Blue Bottle for an estimated $425 million. If you're heading to Blue Bottle for a cup of java then you won't be disappointed. Their cold brews are great but it's their famous pour-over coffee that makes them so terrific. All their coffee is made to order to ensure it's the freshest and tastiest cup you'll ever have. And while you're there you can purchase the fantastically crafted Blue Bottle Coffee Dripper that took four engineers and 70 prototypes to create. |
| La Colombe Coffee | In 1994, Todd Carmichael, who worked at one of the original Starbucks, and JP Iberti opened the first La Colombe café in Philadelphia. After studying the art of coffee in Europe, Carmichael brought his passion to Philly and the rest is history. In 2015 La Colombe sold the majority share of the company to Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani yogurt, for an undisclosed amount. When making a trip to La Colombe try their excellent Draft Lattes, Pure Black and Tans, cold brews, lattes and espressos. Once you go there you'll see why Philadelphia loves them so much. |
| Bean & Bean | The New York based company opened shop in 2009. Their coffee beans are roasted in-store or at their roasting plant, and are 100% Arabica and organic when possible. |
| Seven Grams Caffe | Seven Grams, whose name is derived from an Italian espresso shot made out of exactly seven grams of ground premium coffee, opened as a high-end coffee and party shop in 2013. It offers high-quality coffee and high-quality baked goods all in one location. Everything is made fresh from scratch in-house and baked fresh every day. Seven Grams is well known for their Italian-style coffee, brewed coffee and tea. Their location is bright, spacious and very welcoming. |
| Bluestone Lane | Bluestone Lane, which launched in 2013, is a cafe that is inspired by the world renowned coffee culture found in Melbourne Australia. Melbourne is known for their combination of creative, tasty food, great coffee and friendly service in their cafes. Bluestone Lane uses 100% Arabica coffee at their locations and offer freshly prepared foods. You'll also find different lattes flavors including Turmeric lattes and beet lattes. |
| Intelligentsia Coffee | The Chicago-based company was founded in 1995 by Doug Zell and Emily Mange. Intelligentsia opened with the idea to "buy, roast, and serve the finest coffees available." In 2015 Intelligentsia was bought by Peet's Coffee (who also bought out Stumptown Coffee the same year) for an estimated $100 million. While they have over 10 locations across several cities, New York's sole location is located at a unique truck-based location outside the High Line Hotel. |
| Ninth Street Espresso | Ninth Street Espresso opened in 2001 in the East Village. This independent NYC business is proudly by New Yorkers for New Yorkers. With four location in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn, Ninth Street Espresso creates deliciously tasty coffee, espressos, cold brews and lattes. If you come across a Ninth Street Espresso location then you've come across some fine caffeinated beverages. |
Other  | |
| Sullivan Street Bakery | When looking for a great NYC food staple look no further than Sullivan Street Bakery. Owner Jim Lahey learned about great bread from his travels to Rome, Italy. He mastered the art, wrote a couple books and now supplies bread to over 300 restaurants in NYC. It isn't just the food, but the experience and friendly-neighborhood vibe that is second to none. There is basically nothing here that you won't like. Their bread creations are delicious and addictive. Strecci's are a 17" bread-stick-like creation that come in three flavors: olive, tomato (my fav) and plain. You can order them in full or half but they are amazing no matter how you cut it. Other fantastic options are Cauliflower Pizza, Zucchini Pizza, Olive Oil Bread and basically any of their other bread options. |
| Frankie Portugal | Frankie Portugal was established in 2017 by Artichoke Pizza's owner Francis Garcia. When you're at Frankie Portugal it's all about the pasteis de nata (egg tarts), but let's be real, everything there is Portuguese. From their coffee and pastries to their bread, it's all Portuguese. Now about those pasteis de nata. When you order them they are served fresh and sprinkled with powdered sugar. They are hot to the touch, but soft and slightly chewy. The texture is reminiscent of a funnel cake but with much better flavor. Grab a couple to go with a cup of Portuguese coffee and you'll be in pure bliss. |
| Big Booty Bread Co | Inspired by his Latin-American culture and appetite for tasty treats, Jose Rojas founded Big Booty in 2005. Rojas, a former Wall Street trader, left the finance world to follow in his parent's footsteps (his parents own Don Ricky Bakery in New Jersey). What you'll find at Big Booty is a variety of tasty options from cupcakes and cookies to breads and cinnamon buns. Something that is a bit unique to Big Booty is their Big Booty Buns. They come in Strawberry, Nutella, Apple, Caramel and Guava. If you get them fresh they are very good. They also have Paleo options available. |
| Seed + Mill | Three friends, Lisa Mendelson, Monica Molenaar and Rachel Simons started Seed and Mill with the desire to create something healthy and unique. What they perfected are Middle Eastern treats called tahini (pronounced tuh-hee-nee) and halva. The ingredient in these tasty creations is none other than sesame seeds. Tahini (a main ingredient in humus) is a paste made from sesame seeds, and halva is a soft sesame candy that almost crumbles in your mouth. What you'll find at Seed and Mill is around 18 halva flavors that include Cinnamon, Dark Chocolate, Pistachio, Coffee and Caramel Chocolate to name a few. It's a different texture than what most are used to but it is a rather enjoyable treat. |