| Lower East Side | Description |
|---|---|
Cookies  | |
| 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. |
| Gooey on The Inside | Kafi Dublin started Gooey on the Inside in her tiny Manhattan apartment with the goal to make the classic American cookie crispy on the outside and ultra gooey on the inside. The final product is spot on. These thick mountainous cookies are bubbly on the outside and full of warm, mind-blowing cookie dough on the inside. At Gooey on the Inside you'll have a several delicious options to choose from. These massive six ounce cookies come in Chocolate Chunk, Dunkaroo, Birthday Cake, S'Mores, Red Velvet and Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk to name a few. If you're in the mood for a king-sized cookie loaded with gooey flavor then this is the place to be. As a side note, don't be turned off with the raw appearance inside the cookie. That's the "gooey" and the way it's supposed to be. Bon appétit. |
| Erin McKenna’s Bakery | Erin McKenna opened her vegan bakery in 2005 under the name Babycakes. However, in 2015 she rebranded under her own name. Their focus is to offer the gift of indulgence to people with gluten, dairy, egg, and soy sensitivities in addition to offering elite vegan options to the masses. If you trek into any vegan bakery you first need to understand that your cupcakes, doughnuts, etc. aren't going to taste like anything you grew up on. But Erin McKenna's Bakery does a great job of offering tasty options across the board. If you're looking for cookies then their chocolate chip cookies, lemon shortbreads and thin mints are all worthy. But if it's fulfillment that you're aiming for then grab a cookie sandwich. These sandwiches are made with two chewy chocolate chip cookies center-filled with creamy frosting and made to please. Erin McKenna is a strong destination for everyone including vegans or people with food allergies. |
Cupcakes  | Description |
| Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery | Sugar Sweet Sunshine is one of the original players of the cupcake boom in early 2000's along with Magnolia, Billy's and Buttercup. Peg and Deb opened Sugar Sweet Sunshine back in 2003 and are still creating delicious treats today. Sugar Sweet Sunshine with its 1960's and 1970's vibe was created out of love for baking and sharing delicious sweets. They offer a wide variety of cupcakes including Sunshine (yellow cake with vanilla buttercream), Bob (yellow cake with chocolate almond buttercream), Pistachio, Pumpkin, Strawberry, Sassy Red Velvet, Sexy Red Velvet and Oreo Cookie to name a few. Some favorites are a banana cupcake called Holla Back Girl, Ooey Gooey and Lemon Yummy. Vegan options are also available. While their cupcakes are delectable they offer the best pudding you'll ever eat. |
| Erin McKenna’s Bakery | Erin McKenna opened her vegan bakery in 2005 under the name Babycakes. However, in 2015 she rebranded under her own name. Their focus is to offer the gift of indulgence to people with gluten, dairy, egg, and soy sensitivities in addition to offering elite vegan options to the masses. If you trek into any vegan bakery you first need to understand that your cupcakes, doughnuts, etc. aren't going to taste like anything you grew up on. But Erin McKenna's Bakery does a great job of offering tasty options across the board. |
Cakes and Pies  | Description |
| Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery | Sugar Sweet Sunshine is one of the original players of the cupcake boom in early 2000's along with Magnolia, Billy's and Buttercup. Peg and Deb opened Sugar Sweet Sunshine back in 2003 and are still creating delicious treats today. Sugar Sweet Sunshine with its 1960's and 1970's vibe was created out of love for baking and sharing delicious sweets. They offer a variety of cakes ranging from 4" to 16" with fillings optional, single, double or triple layered with a variety of flavor options. Some tasty cakes to try are the Strawberry Shortcake, Tres Leches, Apple Cake and Coffee Cake. They also offer vegan cake options. As for pies, they have them, too. Sink your teeth into Apple, Strawberry Rhubarb, Pecan, Pumpkin and Blueberry Crispy Crumble. |
| Rawsome Treats | Rawsome Treats was started by Watt Sriboonruang, a former Muay Thai fighter, who wanted to create delicious vegan and raw food to satisfy her dessert cravings without sacrificing her health. She uses high-quality ingredients full of nutritious foods to create tasty and visually stunning pies and desserts. Some of their top options include Red Velvet, Tirawmisu, Choco Mango, Strawberry Shortcake, Banana Cream and Matchamisu. The core principles behind Rawsome Treats is that you can still maintain great health and sustainable energy while giving into your sweet tooth. |
| Petee’s Pie Company | Petra "Petee" Paredez, a former special ed teacher and sculpting major, opened Petee's Pie Company in 2014. Paredez, whose family owns Mom's Apple Pie Company in Leesburg, Va, inherited some fantastic pie-baking skills and puts them to use in the Big Apple. At Petee's Pie you'll find some of the best pies you'll ever eat. Some of their most popular pies are Chocolate Chess, Brown Butter Honey Pecan, Banana Cream, Key Lime Meringue and Apple Pie. If you're craving some fresh baked pie or just need something to take to your holiday dinner Petee's pies is a fantastic option that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. |
| Erin McKenna’s Bakery | Erin McKenna opened her vegan bakery in 2005 under the name Babycakes. However, in 2015 she rebranded under her own name. Their focus is to offer the gift of indulgence to people with gluten, dairy, egg, and soy sensitivities in addition to offering elite vegan options to the masses. If you trek into any vegan bakery you first need to understand that your cupcakes, doughnuts, etc. aren't going to taste like anything you grew up on. But Erin McKenna's Bakery does a great job of offering tasty options across the board. |
| Stax Ice Cream | Stax Ice Cream is owned by the female duo of Sophie Gao and Vida Feng. Stax was created with the idea that we eat with our phones first. People love great food but they also love taking pictures of what they're eating. Stax harnessed the idea of ice cream and food photography by offering incredibly photogenic sweets that will make your pet goldfish Rita jealous. In addition to lots of colorful picturesque ice cream options you'll find their signature Unicorn ice cream cakes, as well as a Cookie Monster ice cream cake and a Rainbow ice cream cake. Each cake is creatively decorated and a perfect substitute to your traditional cake options. |
| il laboratorio del gelato | il laboratorio del gelato or "The Lab" was established in 2002 by former Wall Street professional Jon Snyder. The Lab has over 300 flavors of gelato including Egg Nogg, Graham Cracker, Guinness and Root Beer to name a few. There are savory options like Cheddar Cheese, Ricotta and Olive Oil flavor or spice options such as Cardamom, Ginger or Nutmeg. You'll also find many different flavors of chocolate, liqueur flavors, fruit flavors and sweet flavors. Your options are endless. If you're in need of an ice cream cake The Lab has that, too. You'll find some amazing Gelato Cakes such as Il Lab (layers of cherry, mascarpone, dark chocolate, whole cherries, and meringue, covered in vanilla) or Le Noci (layers of hazelnut, vanilla, pistachio, and hazelnuts, covered in dark chocolate). Or they'll create your own custom cake if that's your slice. Head to The Lab if you're ready to get adventurous and want to try countless amounts of ice cream flavors. |
Doughnuts  | Description |
| Erin McKenna’s Bakery | Erin McKenna opened her vegan bakery in 2005 under the name Babycakes. However, in 2015 she rebranded under her own name. Their focus is to offer the gift of indulgence to people with gluten, dairy, egg, and soy sensitivities in addition to offering elite vegan options to the masses. If you trek into any vegan bakery you first need to understand that your cupcakes, doughnuts, etc. aren't going to taste like anything you grew up on. But Erin McKenna's Bakery does a great job of offering tasty options across the board. |
| 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. |
| Supermoon Bakehouse | Australian native Ry Stephen is the owner and mastermind behind Supermoon Bakehouse. The pastries at Supermoon are traditionally based with jolts of creativity and excitement. The croissant is their cornerstone pastry that is offered in a variety of flavors -- both sweet and savory. They create their pastries using the finest ingredients (as the best usually do) and even import their butter from France. Because of the complexities of their croissants it takes days to prepare these pastries before being devoured within minutes by hungry consumers. Supermoon offers up many delectable delights including the traditional croissant, chocolate croissants and -- the world's best pasty -- the kouign-amann. You'll also want to sink your teeth into any of their core-filled Cruffins if you're into mind blowing experiences. You'll also find tasty center-filled croissants in sweet and savory flavors including Raspberry Cheesecake, London Fig, Artichoke and Feta and Croque Monsieur. And if that's not your cup of tea then grab any one of their brioche doughnuts and let your taste buds run wild. Supermoon Bakehouse's pastries are a social media dream so have your phone at the ready. And not to be overlooked, the holographic box that your treats come in is pretty photogenic, too. |
| The Dough Club | Opening in 2019, The Dough Club offers up Japanese doughnuts called Mochi Doughnuts popularized in Japan with its Pon de Ring shape. They come in six different flavors which include: Purple Pebble Donut, Cruncha Matcha Donut, Berry Lovely Donut, Cookies and Dreams Donut, Bacon Miso Happy Donut and Go Nuts Donut. Each order of doughnuts is served is a classy white box that will act as your dinner plate. The doughnuts look like a pearl necklace without the elegance. Each little bead is soft, light and chewy with a little pull and a lot of flavor. The Dough Club is a great spot to try mochi doughnuts and get your fix of Japanese treats. |
Pudding  | Description |
| Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery | Sugar Sweet Sunshine is one of the original players of the cupcake boom in early 2000's along with Magnolia, Billy's and Buttercup. Peg and Deb opened Sugar Sweet Sunshine back in 2003 and are still creating delicious treats today. Sugar Sweet Sunshine with its 1960's and 1970's vibe was created out of love for baking and sharing delicious sweets. While you'll find their baked goods to be delicious, the treat that really sets them apart is their pudding. Move over, Magnolia, Sugar Sweet Sunshine's banana pudding will change your life. Addictive, smooth, thick and perfectly balanced flavors will have you telling grandma she needs a new hobby. If you're not into banana pudding then try any one of their variety of flavors. Some of our favorites include: The Nog, Strawberry Lemon Trifle and Chocolate Chip Deliciousness. |
Ice Cream  | Description |
| Wowfulls | Friends David Chan, Leanne Wong and Peter Li started Wowfulls in 2015 and opened their LES location in 2017. Wowfulls sells Hong Kong egg waffles (called Gai Dàn Jai) that can be served with ice cream. These waffle-like creations are served in a variety of options including creations like Home Sweet Home, Velvet Love and Island Breeze. Each flavor is made to order, loaded with toppings and served inside a paper cone. The Wowfull creations are crunchy on the outside but soft and sweet on the inside. These treats were inspired by childhood classics from Hong Kong and are a delightful option on your cheat day. |
| New Territories | New Territories, a nod to a region within Hong Kong, is a creation by Peter Mei and George Tang. These bubble waffles are served with hand-crafted ice cream in a few signature flavors: Prince Edward, U-Be Trippin', Dark and Snowy and B With the Rose. Although they are all good and great for photos, Prince Edward is the one to try if you're into vanilla ice cream, Nutella and nuts. However, U-Be Trippin' with its ube ice cream, animal crackers and Fruit Pebbles dust is a great alternative. You'll also find some incredibly lavished milk shakes that appeal to both your taste buds and camera lens. If you want to make your friends jealous, send them a picture of the Unicorn Parade or Mr. Grumpy and then dig in. These shakes are served in a mason jar and then tricked out with the most delicious and attractive toppings for you to devour. If tasty ice cream treats and photo ops are your thing then head to New Territories for a cheater's haven. |
| Melt Bakery | Julian Plyter and Kareem Hamady opened Melt Bakery in 2010. What they created was an ice cream sandwich mecca. Melt Bakery offers a variety of ice cream sandwiches including the Classic (chocolate chip walnut cookies with vanilla ice cream), Lovelet (red velvet meltcakes and cream cheese ice cream), Morticia (crackly chocolate cookies with malted chocolate ice cream), Cinnamax (snickerdoodles with cinnamon ice cream), Thick Mint (double chocolate cookies with peppermint ice cream), Seduction (double chocolate cookies with Espresso ice cream) and S'Most (graham cracker cookies with chocolate marshmallow ice cream). The sandwiches come in two different sizes: Regular and Mini. |
| The Little One | Pastry chefs Eddie Zheng and Olivia Leung opened The Little One in 2017. They serve Japanese-inspired ice cream treats that look as good as they taste. You'll find Dorayaki, which is basically a fluffy pancake sandwich with variety of tasty fillings. You'll also find ice cream sandwiches made with monaka (crispy rice sandwich) that comes in flavors such as Corn with Toasted Coconut and Lime Zest, White Sesame and Buckwheat with Chocolate Fudge and Cashew. The most glorious of all their treats is the kakigori (Japanese shaved ice). These beauts are ripe for photographs. They come in an assortment of flavors including Matcha, Cookies N Cream, Strawberry and Mango Coconut. The Little One is a nice place to snag a creative treat and get your Japanese sweets fix. |
| Stax Ice Cream | Stax Ice Cream is owned by the female duo of Sophie Gao and Vida Feng. Stax was created with the idea that we eat with our phones first. People love great food but they also love taking pictures of what they're eating. Stax harnessed the idea of ice cream and food photography by offering incredibly photogenic sweets that will make your pet goldfish Rita jealous. In addition to lots of colorful and picturesque ice cream you'll find the Cremella -- a hot doughnut ice cream sandwich. Cremellas were inspired by Korean hotteoks (filled pancakes) and come in a variety of flavors. They are beautifully crafted ice cream sandwiches with flavor to boot. Their ice cream flavors include Matcha, Earl Grey, Ube, Jasmine Tea, Strawberry, and Cornflake Bourbon to name a few. Stax is stacked (pun intended) with delicious ice cream options and photo ops. |
| Ice & Vice | Ice & Vice was founded by Kendrick Lo and Paul Kim in 2013. It's an experimental ice cream shop with whacky flavors and creative ideas. Aside from their ice cream options they are also open to creating whatever crazy concoction you can think of. Their signature flavor is Milk Money but other tasty options include: Love and Hate (root beer ice cream), American Beauty (creme fraiche, rose petal jam), Tea Cake (molasses cake, bergamot chocolate flakes), Opium Den (white sesame, toasted poppy seeds, lemon bread croutons) to name a few. They also offer ice cream pie and ice cream sandwiches if you're ready to indulge. Everything is in play at Ice & Vice so bring your palate and your creativity to the counter. |
| il laboratorio del gelato | il laboratorio del gelato or "The Lab" was established in 2002 by former Wall Street professional Jon Snyder. The Lab has over 300 flavors of gelato including Egg Nogg, Graham Cracker, Guinness and Root Beer to name a few. There are savory options like Cheddar Cheese, Ricotta and Olive Oil flavor or spice options such as Cardamom, Ginger or Nutmeg. You'll also find many different flavors of chocolate, liqueur flavors, fruit flavors and sweet flavors. Your options are endless. Head to The Lab if you're ready to get adventurous and want to try countless amounts of ice cream flavors. |
| Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream | Nicholas Morgenstern is the owner of Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream. Opening in 2014, Morgenstern's pure focus is quality of flavor and the ice cream experience. Their flavors include Burnt Honey, Rockiest Road, Durian Banana and Rhubarb Crisp but it doesn't stop there. Morgenstern's has 88 flavors in addition to delicious toppings that include peanut butter whipped cream. You'll also find a variety of ice cream creations that are borderline ridiculous. Their flavor line and ice cream options make Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream one of the top parlors in NYC. If you want a little delivery service they offer shipping to 48 states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). |
| Milk & Cream Cereal Bar | Milk and Cream Bar is a creative cereal and ice cream dessert shop by co-founder Cory Ng. It was an idea that sprung from his two favorite nostalgic treats. When you walk into Milk and Cream Bar you'll feel like a kid again. The white and pastel green exterior take you back to the good ol' days while the inside is ladened with mini TV's playing cartoons and classic childhood treats. You will have many soft-serve flavors to choose from including the popular Banana Cream (Honey Bunches of Oats, bananas and Teddy Grahams, topped with bananas, Teddy Grahams and honey drizzle) and Froot Berry Bliss (Froot Loops, strawberries and blueberries, topped with Fruity Pebbles and gummy bears). You'll also find other creations including Cocoa Dough and Cookie Crisp Carnival. If you're not feeling conventional ice cream then look no further then their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ice cream pizza. These "pizzas" look the part and taste great ... not to mention they are incredibly photogenic. If you love cereal and ice cream and want to take a trip down memory lane head to Milk and Cream Bar for a cheat-day delight. |
| Soft Swerve | Jason Liu and Michael Tsang opened Soft Swerve in 2016. Inspired by their love for halo-halo (a filipino ice cream), Liu and Tsang created Soft Swerve and its signature flavors: Purple Yam, Green Tea, Coconut and Sesame ice cream. Whether in a cone or cup, choose your signature flavor of ice cream and then load it up with endless amounts of cereals and fruit toppings. Soft Swerve ice cream is smooth and delicious. Their Purple Yam ice cream is worth its weight in calories and deserves your cheat-day attention. |
| Whipped - Urban Dessert Lab | Whipped, who is based out of Boston, opened up the first oat milk ice cream shop in New York City. This woman-owned company is the creation of trio Courtney Rumala, Zan Rumala and Lucero Leon-chi. Their signature sweet creme is made from oat milk, and is the base for all of their creations. The sweet creme -- which is dairy free, egg free, nut free, soy free, and gluten free -- comes in vanilla, chocolate or both (The Whipped Twist). Your choice of ice cream gets put into a cup or cone and loaded with toppings from their Natural Crumb Coats which include: Pretzels, Waffle Cone Pieces, Salted Pecans, Cinnamon Spice and Strawberry Crumble to name a few. If you're undecided on what to try, order up the Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel or Strawberry Shortcake for a taste of joy. Urban Dessert Lab is a favorite among vegans or those who prefer to keep their cheats on the more natural side. |
Bagels  | Description |
| Kossar's | Kossar's is a New York City establishment that opened in 1936. It is the oldest bialy bakery in the United States. Bialy is a bread brought over by Jewish immigrants from Bialystok, Poland in the 19th century. Bialy's are similar to bagels but they are not boiled, but simply baked, and instead of a hole they have a depression that is filled with various fillings. Now that you know what a bialy is get your buns to Kossar's and grab yourself a tasty bialy. Their bagels are also pleasing to the palate. They are fresh with the right chewy pull that is a standard to any terrific NYC bagel. |
| Russ and Daughters | Joel Russ started his business in 1907 by peddling and selling herring from a pushcart. He opened Russ & Daughter on East Houston St in 1920 where it stands today on its fourth generation of ownership. Having no sons, Russ aptly named his store Russ & Daughters after his three girls Hattie, Ida, and Anne, who helped run the business. Russ & Daughters has been an historic NYC deli ever since. They are known for exceptional bagels and lox which are famously adored by celebrity chef Bobby Flay. Their lox bagels are loaded. The ratio of lox to bagel is the best in the city. At Russ & Daughters it's all about the fish and they make that known in their lox and cream cheese bagels. If you're searching for the best bagels and spreads in NYC you have found yourself one of the top contenders. Bon appétit. |
Coffee & Hot Chocolate  | Description |
| 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. |
| Roni-Sue's Chocolates | Rhonda Kave is the owner and chocolatier at Roni-Sue. She creates amazing truffles while using Valrhona chocolate. Roni-Sue's also has a selection of baked goods, including her famous Pig Candy (crispy fried bacon dipped in milk or dark chocolate). Other signature treats are the buttercrunch toffee and, of course, hot chocolate. Their hot chocolate has been voted best in NYC by the Village Voice. As described on their website: "Built on the backbone of organic Belizean beans harvested in the Moho River Valley, the beverage hits the palate with a mild sweetness, which gives way to deep cocoa notes, slightly fruity from registering at 60 percent cocoa content." If chocolate is on your cheat-day menu, head to Roni-Sue's Chocolates for some sweet creations. |
Other  | Description |
| Roni-Sue's Chocolates | Rhonda Kave is the owner and chocolatier at Roni-Sue. She creates amazing truffles while using Valrhona chocolate. Roni-Sue's also has a selection of baked goods, including her famous Pig Candy (crispy fried bacon dipped in milk or dark chocolate). Who doesn't like bacon on everything? The popular candy tastes better with dark chocolate but either option is a good choice. |
| Moon Man | Moon Man was founded by Nigel Sielegar. Sielegar is an award-winning designer who created Moon Man from a mixture of nostalgia and design. After finding it hard to find Indonesian foods, Sielegar decided to cook some up himself with some help from cousin Wenny Purnomo. The crown jewel of Moon Man is the Kue Pancong (coconut pancakes) made with a batter of freshly grated coconut, rice flour and coconut milk. These babies appeal to both your savory and sweet craving. They are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. You'll also find the baked Cassava Cake. These little guys are sweet, chewy cakes topped with sugar and shredded coconut. If you're into trying new things then head to Moon Man and try some pretty tasty Indonesian treats. |
| Russ and Daughters | Joel Russ started his business in 1907 by peddling and selling herring from a pushcart. He opened Russ & Daughter on East Houston St in 1920 where it stands today on its fourth generation of ownership. Having no sons, Russ aptly named his store Russ & Daughters after his three girls Hattie, Ida, and Anne, who helped run the business. Russ & Daughters has been an historic NYC deli ever since. They are known for exceptional bagels and lox which are famously adored by celebrity chef Bobby Flay. However, they also sell some of NYC's top-rated babka. Russ & Daughters babka is ripe for chocolate lovers. It carries the right balance of sweet cake and rich chocolate filling. It also passes the eye test with its chocolatey swirls throughout each slice. Whether you're here for babka or bagels, Russ & Daughters makes for a great cheat-day destination. |