| East Village | Description |
|---|---|
Cookies  | |
| 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. |
| 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. Their cookies are good and about what you'd expect. They are soft, buttery, with good size. They aren't the best cookie in the city but definitely one that will quench your cookie craving. |
| Sweet Generation | Amy Chasen, a former art teacher, started baking and selling baked goods in 2011. She opened Sweet Generation in 2015 and has been a staple in the community ever since. With a passion for teaching, Chasen has used her bakery as a way to teach youths (Offered to kids 16 to 24) the ins and outs of running a bakery through her internship programs. Youths learn everything from running a register to baking delicious treats, supporting her idea to simply "sweeten the future" for kids in the community and help them reach their potential as individuals. In addition she also donates a portion of the proceeds to different organizations. Sweet Generations compassion isn't the only thing great about it. Their baked goods are just as top notch. Their signature treat and favorite among everyone on the planet is their S'mores bar. Its incredible flavor and gooey, marshmallowy texture will put those camp fires to shame. But since you're here for cookies let's dive into the jars. You'll find smaller chocolate chip cookies called Salted Chocolate Chunk that are average in size but have good flavor and texture. You'll also find larger cookies of similar quality. Other cookie flavors include Triple Chocolate, Red Velvet and seasonal. Their cookies are slightly chewy with a nice buttery flavor. |
| Cupcake Market | "Have you been to the Cupcake Market? What's that? Oh! The cookie-face place!" Created as a bakery and popularized by their custom cookies created by owner Sarah Silverman. Opening in 2016, Silverman decided to make cookies with the presidential candidates faces on them ... they sold out every day. And ever since, Cupcake Market's custom cookies have been a hit. Silverman, who attended art school with the hopes to become a fashion designer, decided to open a bakery after finding a love for baking. After joining forces with her mom's antique store, Cupcakes Market had a home and the rest is history. Cupcake Market's celeb-faced cookies are as accurate and creative as they are tasty. It's not every day you get to take a bite of Kim Kardashian face, nibble on Jerry Seinfeld's hair or devour Donald Trump's whole face. Imagine the possibilities! If you aren't into these incredibly cool cookies than order any one of their Chocolate Chip, S'mores, Double Chocolate or Pretzel Chocolate Chip cookies. These beauts are large and loud. They are loaded with crushed pieces inside and out, making them almost as photogenic as their face-cookie counterparts. Soft, chewy, buttery, salty, delicious. Eat and enjoy these cookies until your heart's content. |
| Becky's Bites | Becky Rosenthal opened Becky's Bites in 2017 with the idea to give cream cheese a prominent role in the snack world. The business is based on flavored cream cheese dishes and other cheese inspired treats including bagels, parfaits, tiny tarts and cookie sandwiches. Depending on your mood, you'll find both savory and sweet options available. A favorite among visitors and Becky herself are the Chocolate Dipped Bites. It's your choice of flavored cream cheese hand-dipped in chocolate. You'll also find her Childhood Throwbacks that include Teddy Graham Cookies & funfetti dip called Beckaroos and salted PB cookie chips + strawberry jam dip called Peanut Butter Jelly Time. All of her treats are bite sized but their flavors are gigantic and sensational on the palate. If you're here seeking cookies then try their Cookie 'Wiches. They are Tiny Tate's Chocolate Chip Cookies filled with Classic, Red Velvet or Funfetti Birthday Cake cream cheese. The cookies themselves are Tates which have a terrific crunchy exterior, but when combined with the ice-creamy texture of the cream cheese it makes these 'Wiches incredibly enjoyable. |
| Confectionery | We don't need no stinkin' butter! This delectable Vegan bakery is a joint project from Lagusta’s Luscious (located in New Paltz, New York) and Sweet Maresa’s. It's a vegan sweet shop that has a deep commitment to social justice, environmentalism, and veganism with a love of bold flavor and obsessive commitment to artisan techniques. Here you'll find some mind-blowing vegan options that include macarons, shortbreads, chocolate, croissants and more. For cookies you'll find plenty of great options that include S'mores, Sugar, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Walnut. Confectionery is a great spot for vegan treats and appeals to every palate. |
| Spot Dessert Bar | Cousins Chai Huadwattana and Ace Watanasuparp opened Spot Dessert Bar in 2009. At Spot Dessert Bar they fuse Asian flavors with American treats and serve them up on tapas-style plates. Ian Kittichai, an award-winning from Thailand, is the mastermind behind the confections. He creates lavish desserts such as Golden Toast (crispy honey buttered toast, strawberries, served with condensed milk ice cream), Matcha Lava Cake, Milky Puff (puff pastry, brûlée bananas, white chocolate honey comb, corn flakes, served with condensed milk ice cream), The Harvest which looks like a potted plant but is really layers of berries, soft cheesecake, Oreo crumbs, earl grey milk tea served with raspberry sorbet, Coconut Monkey Bread and Miso Butterscotch Cake. But if you're craving a cookie then order yourself the Cookie Camp ... or three. It's a freshly baked marshmallow cookie, pretzels and cookie crumbs served in a skillet and topped with condensed milk ice cream, then doused with chocolate. The combination of a fresh-baked cookie, cold, creamy ice cream, gooey fudge and crunchy pretzels make this dessert an absolute dream. If you just want a basic cookie then check out their selection of tasty options that include Oreo Chocolate, Matcha Lava, Sesame Coconut, Nutella and Pumpkin Cinnamon. Gain yourself a pound and worry about it later. |
| Veniero's | Established in 1894 by Antonio Veniero, Veniero’s is a New York City staple and has been featured on Food Network, Good Morning America, among others. It has also appeared in Law and Order and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Veniero's, which is still family owned, is famous for their Italian desserts such as butter cookies, cannoli's, sfogliatella and, of course, NYC cheesecake. Their iconic sign was installed in the 1940's and has been part of the bakery's allure ever since. In addition, you'll notice the original glass ceiling and wood counters that have been maintained and preserved to add to Veniero's authentic atmosphere. One of New York City's oldest bakeries doesn't just look legit, it taste legit. Of the many, many desserts Veniero's sells you can easily be overwhelmed so let's start with cookies. Their butter cookies are easily a crowd pleaser. Small, buttery and full of yum you can't go wrong with these jewels. A favorite among locals are their Pignoli cookies. Rich in flavor and sweet with a taste of almond, the Pignoli cookies can be downright addictive. The Rainbow Cookie, an NYC staple, is fantastic. It is dense and moist on the inside, while its coating of chocolate on the outside seemingly melts in your mouth with the almond cake and raspberry preserves. It, too, is a favorite among visitors and locals. |
| Schmackary’s | Zachary Schmahl, known as “Schmackary” created his namesake bakery in 2012 out of his passion for baking and Broadway. Zach moved to NYC to pursue a dream in acting but, as luck would have it, created a cookie culture instead. Inspired by nostalgic childhood memories, Zach created a souped-up spin on cookie classics. These days Schmackary's has more than 75 flavors, some of which include Funfetti, Maple Bacon, Cookies and Cream, Oatmeal Scotchie, Schmackaroni and Cheese, Sch'mores and Lucky Charmed to name a few. |
Cupcakes | |
| Cupcake Market | "Have you been to the Cupcake Market? What's that? Oh! The cookie-face place!" Created as a bakery and popularized by their custom cookies created by owner Sarah Silverman. Opening in 2016, Silverman decided to make cookies with the presidential candidates faces on them ... they sold out every day. And ever since, Cupcake Market's custom cookies have been a hit. Silverman, who attended art school with the hopes to become a fashion designer, decided to open a bakery after finding a love for baking. After joining forces with her mom's antique store, Cupcakes Market had a home and the rest is history. Cupcake Market's celeb-faced cookies as accurate and creative as they are tasty. It's not every day you get to take a bite of Kim Kardashian face, nibble on Jerry Seinfeld's hair or devour Donald Trump's whole face. Imagine the possibilities! But if you're here for cupcakes then start with the Strawberry Banana. It's their best seller and for good reason. Another favorite is their Cookies & Cream frosting with the vanilla cake. All of Cupcake Market's cupcakes are extremely moist, soft, and the flavors are very simple and delicious. If you're looking for a tasty cupcake shop with a neighborhood feel then you've come to the right place. |
| Butter Lane | Pam Nelson had a career in finance until she got laid off during a financial crisis. In 2008 Nelson, along with friends Linda Lea (executive producer of Food Network‘s “Chopped") and Maria Baugh (managing editor of Food Network Magazine), opened Butter Lane and named it after a road near East Hampton. In 2010 they launched "Cupcake Classroom" where they teach people how to make the perfect cupcake. In 2014 the trio sold the Butter Lane East Village location to Lisa Liu, however they still retain ownership of the brand. Today you'll still find the same signature cupcake flavors of vanilla, chocolate or banana and choice of over 15 flavors of icing. Butter Lane's cupcakes walk the line between a moist and dry cake. The icing is their calling card, however. Not too sweet and ultra fluffy it can make any cake a winner. Favorites here include Caramel frosting on Vanilla cake, Strawberry frosting on Chocolate, Caramel frosting on Vanilla, Cookie and Cream on Vanilla, Cream Cheese on Banana and Peanut Butter on Banana (aka The Elvis). It's a small location but definitely worth trekking to. |
| Sweet Generation | Amy Chasen, a former art teacher, started baking and selling baked goods in 2011. She opened Sweet Generation in 2015 and has been a staple in the community ever since. With a passion for teaching, Chasen has used her bakery as a way to teach youths (Offered to kids 16 to 24) the ins and outs of running a bakery through her internship programs. Youths learn everything from running a register to baking delicious treats, supporting her idea to simply "sweeten the future" for kids in the community and help them reach their potential as individuals. In addition she also donates a portion of the proceeds to different organizations. Sweet Generations compassion isn't the only thing great about it. Their baked goods are just as top notch. Their signature treat and favorite among everyone on the planet is their S'mores bar. Its incredible flavor and gooey, marshmallowy texture will put those camp fires to shame. |
Cakes and Pies  | |
| Cupcake Market | "Have you been to the Cupcake Market? What's that? Oh! The cookie-face place!" Created as a bakery and popularized by their custom cookies created by owner Sarah Silverman. Opening in 2016, Silverman decided to make cookies with the presidential candidates faces on them ... they sold out every day. And ever since, Cupcake Market's custom cookies have been a hit. Silverman, who attended art school with the hopes to become a fashion designer, decided to open a bakery after finding a love for baking. After joining forces with her mom's antique store, Cupcakes Market had a home and the rest is history. Cupcake Market's celeb-faced cookies as accurate and creative as they are tasty. It's not every day you get to take a bite of Kim Kardashian face, nibble on Jerry Seinfeld's hair or devour Donald Trump's whole face. Imagine the possibilities! Just as the cupcakes here at Cupcake Market are delish, their cakes are, too. They come in 6" or 8" and are available in the same flavor options as their cupcakes. They cake flavors are Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, Banana. The frosting comes in Vanilla Bean, Chocolate, Strawberry, Nutella, Cookies & Cream. |
| Confectionery | We don't need no stinkin' butter! This delectable Vegan bakery is a joint project from Lagusta’s Luscious (located in New Paltz, New York) and Sweet Maresa’s. It's a vegan sweet shop that has a deep commitment to social justice, environmentalism, and veganism with a love of bold flavor and obsessive commitment to artisan techniques. Here you'll find some mind-blowing vegan options that include macarons, shortbreads, chocolate, croissants and more. If you're in need of a cake or pie then order a slice of Rose Cake or Chocolate Cake and enjoy their flavorful bliss. If you're here on the holidays then go here for the Sweet Potato and Marshmallow Pie. It's one impressive vegan treat you can impress your friends with. |
| Veniero's | Established in 1894 by Antonio Veniero, Veniero’s is a New York City staple and has been featured on Food Network, Good Morning America, among others. It has also appeared in Law and Order and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Veniero's, which is still family owned, is famous for their Italian desserts such as butter cookies, cannoli's, sfogliatella and, of course, NYC cheesecake. Their iconic sign was installed in the 1940's and has been part of the bakery's allure ever since. In addition, you'll notice the original glass ceiling and wood counters that have been maintained and preserved to add to Veniero's authentic atmosphere. One of New York City's oldest bakeries doesn't just look legit, it taste legit. Of the many, many desserts Veniero's sells you can easily be overwhelmed so to clear up some confusion let's dive into the cakes and pies. |
| Sweet Generation | Amy Chasen, a former art teacher, started baking and selling baked goods in 2011. She opened Sweet Generation in 2015 and has been a staple in the community ever since. With a passion for teaching, Chasen has used her bakery as a way to teach youths (Offered to kids 16 to 24) the ins and outs of running a bakery through her internship programs. Youths learn everything from running a register to baking delicious treats, supporting her idea to simply "sweeten the future" for kids in the community and help them reach their potential as individuals. In addition she also donates a portion of the proceeds to different organizations. Sweet Generations compassion isn't the only thing great about it. Their baked goods are just as top notch. Their signature treat and favorite among everyone on the planet is their S'mores bar. Its incredible flavor and gooey, marshmallowy texture will put those camp fires to shame. |
| 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. What you'll find here is one one of the best birthday cakes in the NYC. This layered dream is loaded with flavor and moist until the last bite. Other cakes worth devouring include Strawberry Lemon Cake and Chocolate Birthday Cake. These cakes with blow. Your. Mind. The birthday cake is also available in gluten free if that's your thing. |
| Butter Lane | Pam Nelson had a career in finance until she got laid off during a financial crisis. In 2008 Nelson, along with friends Linda Lea (executive producer of Food Network‘s “Chopped") and Maria Baugh (managing editor of Food Network Magazine), opened Butter Lane and named it after a road near East Hampton. In 2010 they launched "Cupcake Classroom" where they teach people how to make the perfect cupcake. In 2014 the trio sold the Butter Lane East Village location to Lisa Liu, however they still retain ownership of the brand. Today you'll still find the same signature cupcakes, but if you something a little more substantial then take a look at these Butter Lane cake options. |
Doughnuts  | |
| Dun-Well Doughnuts | An all-vegan doughnut shop, Dun-Well Doughnuts is a creation of Christopher Hollowell and Dan Dunbar. In 2011 Hollowell was having a hankering for vegan doughnuts after watching an episode of The Simpsons and couldn't find them. That's when the idea struck and Dunbar was onboard. Within the first three months of being open Dun-Well was named Best Doughnut in New York City by New York Daily News. They won Donut Showdown on Food Network with a doughnut called the Saki Bomb and took home a cool $10K. While all of their doughnuts are good, the most popular are the Peanut Butter and Jelly Doughnut, Strawberry Doughnut (homage to the doughnuts on The Simpsons), Butter Pecan, Chocolate Peanut, French Toast and Vanilla Chip. Their doughnuts are sweet but not over the top. The texture is chewy with a slight pull to it (not like the perfect pull you get from a yeast doughnut). If vegan sweets are your jam, or if you just like doughnuts, then Dun-Well Doughnuts is the place to be. |
Ice Cream  | |
| Big Gay Ice Cream Shop | Bryan Petroff and Douglas Quint -- a classical musician by trade -- started Big Gay Ice Cream in 2009 out of an ice cream truck. What was considered then to be a summer adventure turned into an East Village store in 2011 and a Greenwich Village location in 2012. Since then they have consistently ranked as one of the best ice creams in NYC in addition to being ranked the #5 ice cream parlor in the world by USA Today and The Daily Beast. The name of the company was created, not because the owners are gay -- they are -- but from a placeholder name that people loved on Facebook and it stuck. Big Gay Ice Cream is, in fact, awesome. If you're a soft serve kinda person like myself then you'll love their cool, creamy flavors. The Salty Pimp is a very popular and is ridiculously good. If you have one choice it's this. It's a vanilla soft serve ice cream in a cone, injected with Delce de Leche, sprinkled with sea salt, then dipped in chocolate. The end result is life changing. Other great options include American Globs that is similar to the Salty Pimp but with crushed pretzels. You'll also find delicious ice cream sandwiches and milkshakes if that's your flavor of the day. |
| Churro Cone | Formally Dessert Club, ChikaLicious, Churro Cone opened to showcase Dessert Club's best selling item: the churro cone (duh!). These frozen treats are an Instagram sensation and their flavors back up the hype. The churro cones are fried, loaded with soft serve and topped with a variety of tasty flavors. The best flavors include the S'mores which is topped with a toasted marshmallow and drizzled with chocolate. The ice cream itself is full of yummy s'more flavors, smothered with delicious gram crackers. The NY Cheesecake is a great choice in addition to Banana Pudding and Nutty Professor. The best thing about Churro Cone isn't that their cones make for a great photo opportunity but it's that the ice cream itself is superb. Creamy, flavorful and served in a warm, chewy churro ... what else could you possibly want? |
| Stuffed Ice Cream | Jackie Luu and Alan Yaung are the owners of Stuffed Ice Cream and the creators of the "Cruff." The Cruff is, by definition, a perfectly toasted, glazed donut stuffed with your ice cream flavor & toppings of choice. In addition to their staple "Cruffs" they also offer a Bouquet of ice cream scoops. You can get as many as 21 scoops of ice cream on one cone! This work of art is every definition of cool and will set Instagram ablaze. If you're not into an avalanche of ice cream then try any one of the Cruff flavors. Unicorn Poop and Cookie Road are great options but Cereal Killer and Tea Party aren't far behind. The best part about Stuffed Ice cream is the ice cream itself and the great photos you get from them. The homemade doughnut is a little dry which takes away from the overall Cruff experience. Nevertheless, the shop makes for a fun experience with good ice cream. |
| Mikey Likes It | Mikey Cole is the owner and founder of Mikey Likes it. This pop-culture-inspired ice cream shop names its ice cream creations after various artists and the flavors do not disappoint. As a kid, Mikey learned the art of cooking from his aunt. Her recipe is the base for all of their ice creams today. Mikey Likes It has been covered by The New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine, Essence and New York Magazine and featured on The Food Network’s The Kitchen. A favorite among locals, their ice cream is ultra creamy and brimming with flavor. What you're going after at Mikey Likes it is their Mac Daddy (half waffle ice cream sandwich) or the Daddy Mac (whole waffle ice cream sandwich) with your choice of ice cream and flavored waffle. These glorified ice cream sandwiches are a perfect combination of fresh-baked waffles and heavenly flavored ice cream. Texture, flavor and yummy are all working together in beautiful harmony. If you're just here for ice cream then dive right in. Dough Boy, which is chocolate brownie dough pieces combined with chocolate chip cookie dough is great. In addition, Brady Bunch -- banana pudding, Vienna Fingers, and crushed vanilla wafers -- is a sure bet for banana lovers like myself. Another popular flavor is the Truffle Shuffle with its party of chocolate chips and mini chocolate covered marshmallows. At Mikey Likes it, if it sounds good it is good. You can't go wrong. |
| Sundaes and Cones | Sundaes and Cones opened in East Village in 2006. Their premium quality, homemade ice cream has been pleasing palates ever since. While it is "Asian-inspired ice cream" it's not all Asian flavors. What you'll find at this NYC staple are American flavors such as Cookies and Cream, Vanilla, Chocolate, Red Velvet and Pistachio in addition to Asian flavors like Lavender, Wasabi, Corn and Black Sesame. The top Asian flavors are Taro, Thai Tea and Sesame where some top American flavors are Cookies and Cream and Cherry Vanilla. What makes Sundaes and Cones' ice cream so good is the rich flavor you'll find in all of their Asian or American options. The ice cream texture is silky smooth which really helps to showcase the pure quality of the ice cream itself. Head to Sundaes and Cones and enjoy some of the many different flavor varieties that will be at your fingertips. |
| OddFellows Ice Cream Co | Founded by star pastry chef Sam Mason and husband-and-wife duo Holiday and Mohan Kumar, OddFellows first opened in Williamsburg in 2013. In 2018 they expanded into Manhattan much to the delight of ice-cream craving New Yorkers. Known first and foremost for their tasty ice cream, OddFellows proudly produces quirky flavors that push the boundaries of ice cream while unveiling new customer favorites along the way. Some of these flavors include Cornbread, Chorizo Caramel, Honey Salted Sunflower, Peanut Butter Miso and Burnt Honey Rosemary to name a few. The list goes on, as does your ice cream imagination. Other than any of their tremendous flavors of deliciousness, something you must try is the OddPocket. The OddPocket is a classy ice cream sandwich created by filling an amazing brioche bun with your choice of creamy ice cream and toppings that get sandwiched together and placed in a Gelato Panini Press for 15 seconds to seal the pocket together and heat the brioche on the outside. The end result is an ice cream brioche sandwich that is warm on the outside, cool in the middle then sliced in half and slathered with more toppings before being handed off to the ice cream savages. OddFellows keeps a stable of core flavors on hand but what sets them apart is their constant rotation of "odd" flavors that keep their customers guessing. Open mind and open wide for these ice cream creations. |
| Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream | Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream is a Brooklyn-based ice cream shop that opened in 2008 by the trio of Ben Van Leeuwen, his then-wife, Laura O’Neill, and brother Pete Van Leeuwen. It all started with an ice cream truck that was purchased off of eBay, then refurbished. Over a decade later they are selling pints in over 350 stores across 15 states. In their first year their revenue was $400K. In 2018 it was $20M. Having zero experience making ice cream, the trio used cookbooks and created their ice cream using the best high-end ingredients -- some organic -- quality over efficiency, never compromising, and by doing this they developed artisanal flavors that delivered that homemade flavor to customers. You'll find their ice cream to be rich in flavor, smooth in texture and oh-so-tasty. Van Leeuwen's flavors include: Honeycomb, Vanilla, Chocolate Cake, Earl Grey Tea, Mint Chip and Salted Caramel to name a few. They also offer vegan flavors that include: Cookies and Cream Caramel Swirl, Peanut Butter Choc Chip, Cookie Crumble Strawberry Jam and Planet Earth. |
| Snowdays | A spin off the popular Asian treat shaved ice, Snowdays instead uses shaved cream to assemble their creations. Tony Quach brought this west coast treat to NYC's East Village in 2014 and has since expanded around the city. The shaved cream is created by putting blocks of frozen cream into a special machine. When it comes out it looks like elegant lace but with a creamy texture that is both light and fluffy. Popular flavors include the Original Combo that is sweet milk shaved cream topped with blueberries, cereal and peanut butter. The New York Combo is sweet milk combined with cream cheese and buttery graham cracker crumbs, then topped off with Nilla Wafers, strawberries and whipped cream. Yeti Food is another popular flavor that includes the sweet cream base with blueberry puree and Oreos, topped with bananas. The cream melts rather quickly so all treats are served in a bowl but they definitely make for a yummy frozen treat. |
| Davey's Ice Cream | David Yoo opened Davey's Ice Cream in 2013 after quitting his job as a graphic designer to start his own business. Yoo took a class at Penn State to understand the whole ice-cream-making process then, as most successful chefs do, used high-quality ingredients which were sourced locally when possible to create great ice cream. Yoo makes all of his ice cream from scratch. This allows him to use his creative side he spent years crafting to make some of the most delectable flavors you'll find. These flavors include Feta ice cream, Red Velvet Oreo, Toast and Jam, Fig and Honey, Strong Coffee and Peaches and Cream to name a few. A "boring" but great flavor is the Cookies and Cream. High-quality ice cream that is rich and smooth, combined with real Oreos is a game changer. Other popular options include Strong Coffee (if you like coffee ice cream), Roasted Pistachio and Nutella Chocolate Chunk. You'll also find seasonal flavors that will knock your socks off. If Davey can quit is job as a graphics designer for Versace to make ice cream then it's probably worth checking out on your coveted cheat day. |
Bagels  | |
| Tompkins Square Bagels | Christopher Pugliese opened East Village's Tompkins Square Bagels in 2011. TSB has been rolling out some of New York City's best bagels ever since. Their bagels are well balanced with a soft, chewy dough and a nice pull as you tear away your bite. The bagels -- naked -- are full of palate-pleasing flavors. Once you add one of their many flavors of spread you'll be taken to flavor nirvana. Some of their cream cheese flavors include: Scallion, Scallion w. Bacon, Wasabi, Walnut Raisin, Espresso, Strawberry, Blueberry, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Dill. If you're in the mood for a breakfast sandwich then sink your teeth into the Weezer, Kaitlyn or The Moo. Vegan options are also available with a variety of Tofu spread options including Scallion, Olive Pimento and Sun-dried Tomato. |
| Becky's Bites | Becky Rosenthal opened Becky's Bites in 2017 with the idea to give cream cheese a prominent role in the snack world. The business is based on flavored cream cheese dishes and other cheese inspired treats including bagels, parfaits, tiny tarts and cookie sandwiches. Depending on your mood, you'll find both savory and sweet options available. A favorite among visitors and Becky herself are the Chocolate Dipped Bites. It's your choice of flavored cream cheese hand-dipped in chocolate. You'll also find her Childhood Throwbacks that include Teddy Graham Cookies & funfetti dip called Beckaroos and salted PB cookie chips + strawberry jam dip called Peanut Butter Jelly Time. All of her treats are bite sized but their flavors are gigantic and sensational on the palate. What's cream cheese in NYC without a bagel? Becky's Bites offers up several bagel options that include Mini Bagels and Bagel Sticks. These New York City favorites are caked with a generous portion of cream cheese which flavors include Plain, Poppy, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, Sesame and Multigrain. These are your traditional mini bagels that are decent in size but made exceptional with the spreads. If you're in the mood for bagels, Becky's Bites is a good option but take some home because you'll be dreaming about that cream cheese later. |
Coffee & Hot Chocolate  | |
| City of Saints Coffee Roasters | City of Saints has three separate locations in and around Manhattan. Whether it's a hot cup of coffee, an espresso or an iced brew their coffee is always incredible consistent each and every time. The cafe is decent in size with a bright lively atmosphere. Bottom line -- enjoyably consistent coffee with friendly baristas. |
| Future You Café | Future You is a cafe that uplifts and inspires their customers. It starts with a bright, bold red cup that smiles and ends with a tasty caffeinated beverage. Whether it's coffee, lattes or hot chocolate, Future You Cafe serves up fresh beverages with friendly service. |
| 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. |
| Coffee Project New York | Opening in 2015, the Coffee Project was created with the idea to make great coffee and become a neighborhood staple ... mission accomplished. They offer great tasting lattes, coffee, cold brews, Nitro Flights and other drinks. One of their most popular drinks is the Deconstructed Latte. This drink experience is broken down into three-glass flights that allows you to taste each individual ingredient. You start with the espresso, then move onto the milk, and finish by sipping the completed latte. This allows you to experience each stage of the latte and appreciate all of its flavors. |
Other  | |
| Cupcake Market | "Have you been to the Cupcake Market? What's that? Oh! The cookie-face place!" Created as a bakery and popularized by their custom cookies created by owner Sarah Silverman. Opening in 2016, Silverman decided to make cookies with the presidential candidates faces on them ... they sold out every day. And ever since, Cupcake Market's custom cookies have been a hit. Silverman, who attended art school with the hopes to become a fashion designer, decided to open a bakery after finding a love for baking. After joining forces with her mom's antique store, Cupcakes Market had a home and the rest is history. Cupcake Market's celeb-faced cookies as accurate and creative as they are tasty. It's not every day you get to take a bite of Kim Kardashian face, nibble on Jerry Seinfeld's hair or devour Donald Trump's whole face. Imagine the possibilities! Another tasty option created by Cupcake market is their Banana Pudding. With its rich banana flavor and smooth texture you'll be scrapping the bottom of the cup in seconds. |
| Spot Dessert Bar | Cousins Chai Huadwattana and Ace Watanasuparp opened Spot Dessert Bar in 2009. At Spot Dessert Bar they fuse Asian flavors with American treats and serve them up on tapas-style plates. Ian Kittichai, an award-winning from Thailand, is the mastermind behind the confections. He creates lavish desserts such as Golden Toast (crispy honey buttered toast, strawberries, served with condensed milk ice cream), Matcha Lava Cake, Milky Puff (puff pastry, brûlée bananas, white chocolate honey comb, corn flakes, served with condensed milk ice cream), The Harvest which looks like a potted plant but is really layers of berries, soft cheesecake, Oreo crumbs, earl grey milk tea served with raspberry sorbet, Coconut Monkey Bread and Miso Butterscotch Cake. All of these desserts taste as good as they look and raise the bar on the rest of your cheat days. |
| Sweet Generation | Amy Chasen, a former art teacher, started baking and selling baked goods in 2011. She opened Sweet Generation in 2015 and has been a staple in the community ever since. With a passion for teaching, Chasen has used her bakery as a way to teach youths (Offered to kids 16 to 24) the ins and outs of running a bakery through her internship programs. Youths learn everything from running a register to baking delicious treats, supporting her idea to simply "sweeten the future" for kids in the community and help them reach their potential as individuals. In addition she also donates a portion of the proceeds to different organizations. Sweet Generations compassion isn't the only thing great about it. Their baked goods are just as top notch. Their signature treat and favorite among everyone on the planet is their S'mores bar. Its incredible flavor and gooey, marshmallowy texture will put those camp fires to shame. Other bars include Lemon Bar -- also fantastic -- Sea Salt Brownie, Nutella Blondie and Cookies + Cream. They also make homemade Poptarts in Strawberry, PBJ, Cherry Almond, Blueberry. These treats are fresh with good, not-too-crumby dough and filled with an average amount of filling. |
| Veniero's | Established in 1894 by Antonio Veniero, Veniero’s is a New York City staple and has been featured on Food Network, Good Morning America, among others. It has also appeared in Law and Order and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Veniero's, which is still family owned, is famous for their Italian desserts such as butter cookies, cannoli's, sfogliatella and, of course, NYC cheesecake. Their iconic sign was installed in the 1940's and has been part of the bakery's allure ever since. In addition, you'll notice the original glass ceiling and wood counters that have been maintained and preserved to add to Veniero's authentic atmosphere. One of New York City's oldest bakeries doesn't just look legit, it taste legit. Of the many, many desserts Veniero's sells you can easily be overwhelmed so let's start with |
| Butter Lane | Pam Nelson had a career in finance until she got laid off during a financial crisis. In 2008 Nelson, along with friends Linda Lea (executive producer of Food Network‘s “Chopped") and Maria Baugh (managing editor of Food Network Magazine), opened Butter Lane and named it after a road near East Hampton. In 2010 they launched "Cupcake Classroom" where they teach people how to make the perfect cupcake. In 2014 the trio sold the Butter Lane East Village location to Lisa Liu, however they still retain ownership of the brand. Today you'll still find the same signature cupcakes in addition to a sweet treat called Icing Shots. The shots come in several of their popular flavors including Chocolate Sea Salt, Peanut Butter, Coconut, Blueberry and Strawberry. These shots are not super sweet or overly rich. It's a creamy, well-balanced shot of icing you can easily polish off on your own. |