| Financial District | 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 3AM. Flavors include: Chocolate Chip, S'mores, White Chocolate, Snickerdoodle, Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Mint, etc. |
| For Five Coffee Roasters | Stefanos Vouvoudakis and Tom Tsiplakos founded For Five in 2010 after wanting to introduce specialty coffee by New Yorkers to the world. As they put it "From the Five Boroughs. For the World." Outside of coffee you'll find some attractive center filled cookies that taste great and shine on social media. Their cookies come in Chocolate Chip, Fruity Pebbles, Chocolate Chunk, Red Velvet, Strawberry Cream and Rainbow. Make your way to For Five and enjoy some delicious cookies on your cheat day. |
Cupcakes  | |
| Baked by Melissa | Melissa Ben-Ishay started Baked by Melissa in 2008 after getting fired from her job. A 24-year-old Ben-Ishay showed up to work one day as an assistant media planner and got the ax. That defining moment in her life catapulted her into the mini-cupcake stratosphere. Her first store -- or pick-up window -- opened up in SoHo and now, more than a decade later, she has 14 stores in the NYC area and ships nationwide to all 50 states. These bite-sized treats are fantastic! Don't try and one-bite these little beauts -- they are made to dominate. One bite, melt in your mouth, swallow, cheesy grin, onto the next cupcake. They are small but extremely moist and full of flavor. Each one is like a little party in your mouth. With tons of flavors to choose from you won't have any trouble finding one you like. Popular flavors include: Tie Dye, Cookies & Cream, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Cookie Dough, Red Velvet and Chocolate Chip Pancake. There hasn't been a cupcake I didn't like from Baked by Melissa so cheat your heart out on these little nuggets. |
| Sprinkles Cupcakes | This California company is known as "the world's first cupcake bakery." I don't know if that's true or not but they opened in 2005 and have been a hit ever since. Their sophisticated and sleek cupcakes include: banana, carrot, strawberry, lemon, cinnamon sugar, cuban coffee, sprinkle, red velvet, etc. Oh yeah, and they have the Cupcake ATM. Cha ching! |
| Buttercup Bake Shop | If you like cupcake drama then here you go. Jennifer Appel was one of the original owners of Magnolia Bakery, which opened in 1996. Appel and co-owner Allysa Torey had become at odds over the expansion of the company. With tension building, Appel split in 1999 and opened Buttercup Bake Shop. Buttercup offers the same 1950's vibe as Magnolia with a similar menu. Buttercup's cupcake flavors include Apple Pie A-La-Mode, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookies n Cream, Lemon Cupcake, S'mores, Red Velvet and Spiced Carrot Cake to name a few. |
Cakes and Pies  | |
| Cafe Patoro | Cafe Patoro (meaning golden duck) is a Brazilian cafe that opened in 2016 by Brazilian baker Ah La Ko and her husband Oh. While their signature treat is the pão de queijo (cheesy bread balls), they offer a yummy chocolate brigadeiro cake that can make your toes curl. It's a chocolate lover's dream and one your taste buds will enjoy devouring on your cheat day. |
| 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. |
| Lady M Confections | French and Asian inspired creations, these crepe layered, pastry cream-and-whipped-cream filled cakes are tasty and unique. Their most popular dessert is the Mille Crepes cake, made from twenty paper-thin handmade crepes, layered with a crème filling and topped with a sugary glaze. They are pricey but delicious. |
Ice Cream  | |
| 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. |
| Grom | Founders Federico Grom and Guido Martinelli created Grom to reestablish what true gelato should taste like. They felt that too many gelato companies were using chemicals and preservatives so they went back to their roots. They started using the best raw ingredients and techniques of their grandparents. The result is a creamy gelato with good flavor. While Grom tastes good, it's not on the same level of anything you would find in Italy. Their flavors include: Stracciatella, Coffee, Pistachio, Yogurt, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate, etc. |
| 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! |
Bagels  | |
| Leo's Bagels | Adam Pomerantz, co-founder of Murray's Bagels, opened up Leo's Bagels in 2007. At Leo's you'll get the same hand-rolled bagels that are freshly baked and offered in a variety of tasty flavors. The spreads here are good and rarely disappoint. Leo's may not blow you away but they are a solid choice and easily satisfy your bagel fix. |
| Cafe Patoro | Cafe Patoro (meaning golden duck) is a Brazilian cafe that opened in 2016 by Brazilian baker Ah La Ko and her husband Oh. Their signature treat is the pão de queijo (cheesy bread balls). Although it's a cheesy bread ball, it's the Brazillian equivalent of the American bagel. You can get these jewels in a variety of flavors that include: Original, Jalapeño, Pepperoni, Maple Bacon and Pesto to name a few. Each PDQ is crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. If you've never had a PDQ then head to Cafe Patoro for a taste of Brazilian heaven. |
Coffee  | |
| 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. |
| Black Fox Coffee | The Australian duo of Daniel Murphy and Gary Hardwick own Black Fox Coffee. This spacious coffee location offers up delicious Flat Whites, Lattes, Matcha Lattes and cold brews. You'll also find Under West Doughnuts, croissants, house-baked cookies and savory food options. Black Fox is one of FiDI's top coffee spots. |
| Feed Your Soul Cafe | The café location of Feed Your Soul Bakery. Founded by a former Wall Street trader, you can get your fix of tasty coffee, espresso and tea along with FYS's signature baked goods. The best thing about it all isn't the products (even though they are good, too). They have a pay-it-forward approach means every dozen cookies purchased, Feed Your Soul donates a cookie to The Coalition for the Homeless. |
| For Five Coffee Roasters | Stefanos Vouvoudakis and Tom Tsiplakos founded For Five in 2010 after wanting to introduce specialty coffee by New Yorkers to the world. As they put it "From the Five Boroughs. For the World." Enjoy some delicious coffee, lattes and cold brews at For Five. And while you're at it, grab one of their center-filled cookies. |
| Boundless Plains Espresso | Michael Vona and Jo Black opened Boundless in 2017. The two Melbourne natives opened the Australian-inspired café to offer a boutique coffee experience while providing customers with a selection of fresher, healthier and lighter dishes. The coffee here is good. In addition, their Matcha Lattes, Cappuccinos, Flat Whites and cold brews are all enjoyable options. As an added bonus, they sells acai bowls which are personal favorite of ours. |
| Voyager Espresso | Australian entrepreneurs Prudence Reid and Aaron Barnard opened Voyager Espresso in 2016. Voyager integrates an artistic and scientific approach to coffee and offers a rotating menu featuring seasonal coffees from the best roasters in the United States. This space-like coffee shop sells plenty of out-of-this-world beverages including tasty Americanos and smooth Lattes. You'll also get your iced drinks served in a creative chemistry (conical) flask which is both unique and great for photos. Voyager Coffee is a futuristic coffee shop with tasty coffee options that should be in your orbit the next time you are craving caffeine. |
| 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, they do offer some tasty hot chocolate that is comparable to a cocoa hug on a cold winter day. |
Other  | |
| Pisillo Italian Panini | Pisillo Italian Panini makes Cheaterie because it's a downright must-try italian sub shop. It's a bit of an institution in FiDi and ranks as one of the best sandwich shops in the city. The most popular sub is #26 on the menu -- Pisillo. Enjoy! Cash only. |