| Bakery | Description |
|---|---|
Cookies  | |
| 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 cookies include black and white cookies, kitchen sink, chocolate chip, sugar cookies and peanut butter to name a few. |
| Angelina Bakery | Italian Bakery located in Midtown that opened in |
| 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. The Midtown location is located at the Plaza Food Hall. |
| Carlo's Bakery | Carlo's Bakery is a bakery owned by Buddy Valastro, AKA Cake Boss. The hit reality TV show launched Buddy and his original New Jersey location into reality-TV stardom. Because the popularity of the show, Carlo's has expanded to 22 locations across different states with one in Brazil. You'll find a variety of cookies at Carlo's from black and whites, to chocolate chip, sugar and peanut butter. But reality of this bakery is a tourist spot. You're paying for the name and the flavors are underwhelming. Check out this bakery and enjoy Buddy's creation but you can find better baked goods elsewhere. |
| Culture Espresso | A coffee-first cafe with delectable coffee, Culture Espresso changed the cafe game with their signature chocolate chip cookies. These beauts are made in house and baked over the course of the day. They do go fast, however, so don't wait too long. |
| Donna Bell's Bake Shop | Donna Bell's is the bakery of former NCIS star Pauley Perrette. Pauley named the bakery after her late mom Donna Bell. It's a small location but not tiny. They make everything homemade and handmade in house. You'll find both sweet and savory options -- all of which are tasty and delicious. For cookies you'll find chocolate chip and sugar cookies, among several others. |
| 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. |
| Milk Bar | Soft serve, milkshakes, milk quakes, cake truffles, cake, coffee, crack pie, all their great cookie options, savory breads, etc. Store location with a great staff. The Midtown location does not take cash. Credit card only. It's a small location with a bit of a hidden entrance. |
| Magnolia Bakery | The one that started it all. The concept of six degrees of separation holds true with this cupcake establishment that opened 1996 by Jennifer Appel and Allysa Torey. Other bakeries including Billy's Bakery, Buttercup Cake Shop (opened by Appel after splitting from Magnolia) and Sprinkles -- to name a few -- were all created and inspired by Magnolia. This New York chain is one of the original bakeries credited with starting the cupcakes craze. Known for cakes and pudding, Magnolia also sells a variety of cookies. |
| Huascar & Co Bakeshop | Huascar & Co Bakeshop is the bakery of Food Network's Cupcake War's champion Huascar Aquino. It's a tiny location but they carry a variety of desserts including marshmallow chocolate cookie, chocolate chunk cookie, oatmeal raisin cookie, etc. |
| 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. |
| Zaro's | The Zaro family came to America through Ellis Island and established one of New York City's strongest family-owned bakeries. Since its inception in 1927, Zaro's has been passed down through generations while making solid food for New York commuters in the process. If you're here for a cookie then you'll be choosing from black and whites, sugar, butter cookies, chocolate chips, among others. |
| 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. |
| Sprinkles | 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 in Beverly Hills, CA 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! All of their cupcakes are Topped with Sprinkles trademark modern dot. But if you're here for cookies then you'll be choosing from Salted Oatmeal Cornflake, Chocolate Chip and Double Chocolate. |
| Jacques Torres | A New York City staple, Jacques Torres makes fantastic chocolate, which leads to his infamous chocolate chip cookie. Also try purchasing the cookie mix and package of chocolate discs to make your own. You'll impress even the pickiest cookie snobs. |
| Ovenly | Owners Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin left their college degrees and 9-5 jobs behind to follow their passion for baking. They met at a food-focused book club and the rest is history. Their recipes come from Erin's grandmother's rich baking history and Agatha's upbringing. Combined you're getting rich, historic recipes that have been passed down and perfected. Two fantastic cookies that you'll find at Ovenly are the Salted Peanut Butter and the Salted Chocolate Chip (secretly vegan). |
| Trademark Taste & Grind | A restaurant in Midtown, Trademark Taste + Grind is a restaurant but does have a small bakery counter as you walk through the door. You can indulge at the baked-goods counter or order up some tasty treats with your meal. These treats include a cookie skillet that is hot and fresh and topped with vanilla ice cream or some yummy cookies and milk if you wanted to scale it back a notch. Their sweets don't stop there, however, try their doughnuts or banana pudding if that's your jam. |
| Unna Bakery | Unna (meaning indulge in Swedish) Bakery is a female-owned Swedish bakery by Ulrika Pettersson who was inspired by her grandmother Rut's treasured recipes. These small, tasty cookies come in seven flavors. Seven because in Sweden in the mid-18th century, women gathered at kaffereps, to enjoy cookies, coffee and company. For a hostess to serve less than seven cookies was considered stingy, and anything more was viewed as boastful. Seven was just right. These seven flavors are: Lemon Lime, Vanilla Dream, Coconut Oat, Ginger Snaps, Raspberry Cave Thumbprints, Brown Butter and Cardamom. You can find these cookies in markets around the city. |
| William Greenberg Desserts | Opening in 1946, William Greenberg was known for several fantastic desserts: butter cookies, dark chocolate cake, rich brownies and schnecken (sticky buns). Their apple pie and cheesecake also turned some heads. The ownership and recipes have changed over the years but today this New York City staple still sells classic treats, in addition to many other American and eastern European pastries. If it's cookies you seek then the butter cookies are a must try. The three classic are thumbprints, orange and pecan. Their black and whites are also worth cheating on. |
| Bouchon Bakery | Bouchon Bakery is the product of famed chef Thomas Keller, an 11-time James Beard award winner and chef of two three-Michelin-Star-rated restaurants. Keller is the master of American and French classics. He, like other chefs, have revitalized classics from his youth to a more modern and grown-up version. Keller, whose restaurants Per se and The French Laundry are focused on fine dining and speak only to a fraction of the population, opened Bouchon Bakery because he feels pastries and breads are universal and should be shared by the masses. Learning the craft of bread and pastry making in France, Keller has brought the techniques to America in an incredibly tasty and satisfying way. The Michelin-starred Bouchon Bakery offers both savory and sweet options. From a cookie prospective Bouchon makes some tasty creations. Their TKO (Oreo) and Better Nutter (Nutter Butters) are fantastic and their chocolate chip cookie is pretty satisfying, too. |
Cupcakes  | |
| Huascar & Co Bakeshop | Huascar & Co Bakeshop is the bakery of Food Network's Cupcake War's champion Huascar Aquino. It's a tiny location but they carry a variety of desserts including... |
| 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. |
| Magnolia Bakery | The one that started it all. The concept of six degrees of separation holds true with this cupcake establishment that opened 1996 by Jennifer Appel and Allysa Torey. Other bakeries including Billy's Bakery, Buttercup Cake Shop (opened by Appel after splitting from Magnolia) and Sprinkles -- to name a few -- were all created and inspired by Magnolia. This New York chain is one of the original bakeries credited with starting the cupcakes craze. Known for cakes and pudding, Magnolia also sells a variety of... |
| 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. The Midtown location is located at the Plaza Food Hall. |
| Carlo's Bakery | Carlo's Bakery is a bakery owned by Buddy Valastro, AKA Cake Boss. The hit reality TV show launched Buddy and his original New Jersey location into reality-TV stardom. Because the popularity of the show, Carlo's has expanded to 22 locations across different states with one in Brazil. You'll find a variety of cookies at Carlo's from black and whites, to chocolate chip, sugar and peanut butter. But reality of this bakery is a tourist spot. You're paying for the name and the flavors are underwhelming. Check out this bakery and enjoy Buddy's creation but you can find better baked goods elsewhere. |
| 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. |
| Donna Bell's Bake Shop | Donna Bell's is the bakery of former NCIS star Pauley Perrette. Pauley named the bakery after her late mom Donna Bell. It's a small location but not tiny. They make everything homemade and handmade in house. You'll find both sweet and savory options -- all of which are tasty and delicious. For cookies you'll find chocolate chip and sugar cookies, among several others. |
| Sprinkles | 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! |
Cakes and Pies  | |
| 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. |
| 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. Milk Bar's cakes are fantastic. Their birthday cakes are delicious and are extremely popular among locals. Other cakes include German Chocolate, Chocolate Malt, Apple Pie Cake, Ducle De Leche, Strawberry Lemon and Chocolate Chip to name a few. Their cakes truly are fantastic. I've never met a person who didn't love them. |
| Magnolia Bakery | The one that started it all. The concept of six degrees of separation holds true with this cupcake establishment that opened 1996 by Jennifer Appel and Allysa Torey. Other bakeries including Billy's Bakery, Buttercup Cake Shop (opened by Appel after splitting from Magnolia) and Sprinkles -- to name a few -- were all created and inspired by Magnolia. This New York chain is one of the original bakeries credited with starting the cupcakes craze. Known for cupcakes, cakes and pudding, Magnolia sells many of your classic cakes including Chocolate, Vanilla, Carrot, Devil's Food, Hummingbird and Red Velvet. You can buy them by the slice or the entire 2 or 3 level cake. |
| Huascar & Co Bakeshop | Huascar & Co Bakeshop is the bakery of Food Network's Cupcake War's champion Huascar Aquino. It's a tiny location but they carry a variety of desserts. Their cakes, from artsy prospective, are amazing. If you need to order a cake in the shape of a suitcase, gaming console, etc. then check out Huascar's work. |
| 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. |
| Carlo's Bakery | Carlo's Bakery is a bakery owned by Buddy Valastro, AKA Cake Boss. The hit reality TV show launched Buddy and his original New Jersey location into reality-TV stardom. Because the popularity of the show, Carlo's has expanded to 22 locations across different states with one in Brazil. If you're going to buy something from Carlo's it's going to be the cakes. From classic vanilla and chocolate to fruity or seasonal, Carlo's sells a variety of options. What you'll likely find, however, is their are better tasting cakes elsewhere. |
| Little Pie Company | Arnold Wilkerson, a former actor, created the Little Pie Company in 1985. Like most successful bakers, Wilkerson adapted his love of baking from childhood memories and his grandmothers pie-making prowess. Most of their pies aren't too sweet, have a delicious crust and the appropriate amount of filling. Their best pies are the Sour Cream Apple Pie, Mississippi Mud Pie and the Florida Key Lime Pie. Their cakes include Applesauce Carrot, Chocolate, Red Velvet and New York Cheesecake. |
| Bon Vivant | Maya Hormis work 17 years in the financial industry before taking the leap into pastry world and opening Bon Vivant. Armed with a certification from Le Cordon Bleu, Hormis creates petit cakes and bite-size petit fours. These cakes are both elegant and delicious. Her knack for quality and presentation is proof by her impressive clientele which include Louis Vuitton, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and Tiffany & Co to name a few. Bon Vivant cakes have a soft spongy center covered with a not-too-sweet icing. They make a impressive first impression. The flavors include: Vanilla, Lavender, Lemon Zest, Coffee Cream and Rose Petal. |
| Donna Bell's Bake Shop | Donna Bell's is the bakery of former NCIS star Pauley Perrette. Pauley named the bakery after her late mom Donna Bell. It's a small location but not tiny. They make everything homemade and handmade in house. You'll find both sweet and savory options -- all of which are tasty and delicious. For cookies you'll find chocolate chip and sugar cookies, among several others. |
| Strip House | A delicious steakhouse in its own right, Strip House lands on the list because of their chocolate cake. This 24-layer colossus is a chocolate lover's dream. I've had it on multiple occasions because it's just that yummy. |
| 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. The Midtown location is located at the Plaza Food Hall. |
| William Greenberg Desserts | Opening in 1946, William Greenberg was known for several fantastic desserts: butter cookies, dark chocolate cake, rich brownies and schnecken (sticky buns). Their apple pie and cheesecake also turned some heads. The ownership and recipes have changed over the years but today this New York City staple still sells classic treats, in addition to many other American and eastern European pastries. If you're on the hunt for cakes or pies then check out... |
| Keki Modern Cakes | In 2017 founders Moul Kim and Lawrence Wai opened Keki Modern Cakes after traveling Asia and tasting all the cakes and tarts. Along with former Per Se chef Kevin Kim, Keki has created a unique cake that comes in one jiggly style and several different flavors. Keki is also home of New York's only bouncy cheesecake and the Jiggly Castella (a bouncy spongecake). Other cakes include the Cookies and Cream Fancy, Green Tea Fancy, Strawberry Fancy and the Original Fancy (New York City Cheesecake style). |
| 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 cake flavors include Apple Walnut Cake, Golden Vanilla, Classic Chocolate, Carrot, German Chocolate, Hummingbird, Lemon, Color Blast and Red Velvet. |
| Angelina Bakery | Italian Bakery located in Midtown that opened in |
Doughnuts  | |
| 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. |
| Underwest Donuts | For convenience sake! Scott Levine wanted to start a food business. His father-in-law owns the West Side Highway Car Wash and had a little extra space. So in 2014 Levine opened Underwest Donuts. It's a small space, but big enough. The setting itself is unique and if you needed a little extra convincing, one of the doughnuts, called "Car Wash," has a vanilla glaze to represent the soap and multi-colored strips that represent the wax. Oh, and it tastes good too. Other great flavors are the Maple Waffle, S'more, Halva, Banana Milk and Dark Chocolate. |
| Dough Doughnuts | Fany Gerson is the owner, pastry chef and genius behind Dough Doughnuts. Founded in 2010, Gerson's inspiration behind one of New York City's best doughnuts is her Mexican heritage and European influences. These doughnuts are massive, but what makes them great isn't just the flavor, her yeast doughnuts are the most pillowy, soft, fluffy doughnut you'll ever have. Her brioche-type dough is perfect and fit for doughnut Gods. Some of her flavors include: Glazed, Blood Orange, Dulce De Leche, Hibiscus, Lemon Poppy, Mocha-Almond Crunch and Chocolate-Cocoa Nibs. |
| Krispy Kreme | This large American doughnut and coffee chain has one location in New York City. One. It's tucked away inside Penn Station. There isn't much to say about a company that's been around since 1937 and has 1000 stores to its name. You're not eating here for mind-blowing doughnuts. You're eating here because you grew up on Krispy Kreme and they aren't just consistent but extremely nostalgic. |
| 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. |
| Angelina Bakery | Italian Bakery located in Midtown that opened in |
Pudding  | |
| Magnolia Bakery | The one that started it all. The concept of six degrees of separation holds true with this cupcake establishment that opened 1996 by Jennifer Appel and Allysa Torey. Other bakeries including Billy's Bakery, Buttercup Cake Shop (opened by Appel after splitting from Magnolia) and Sprinkles -- to name a few -- were all created and inspired by Magnolia. This New York chain is one of the original bakeries credited with starting the cupcakes craze. Known for cakes and pudding, Magnolia also sells a variety of flavors including their famous Banana, Chocolate with Oreo or a seasonal flavor. The sizes come in small, medium and large single servings or small, medium or large party size. |
| Huascar & Co Bakeshop | Huascar & Co Bakeshop is the bakery of Food Network's Cupcake War's champion Huascar Aquino. It's a tiny location but they carry a variety of desserts including pudding. Their pudding and cheesecakes are served in little Mason jars. |
| 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. |
| Tao | An Asian fusion restaurant, Tao makes a killer banana tempura pudding. It's banana pudding topped with crushed wafers topped with two fried bananas. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's all I can say. |
| Trademark Taste & Grind | A restaurant in Midtown, Trademark Taste + Grind is a restaurant but does have a small bakery counter as you walk through the door. You can indulge at the baked-goods counter or order up some tasty treats with your meal. These treats include a cookie skillet that is hot and fresh and topped with vanilla ice cream or some yummy cookies and milk if you wanted to scale it back a notch. Their sweets don't stop there, however, try their doughnuts or banana pudding if that's your jam. |
| Spoonfed NYC | Eat like you mean it, honey. That's Speedfed NYC's slogan and they aren't lying. This southern comfort-food restaurant dishes out some seriously tasty meals including fried chicken, shrimp and grits and deep-fried meatloaf. They also offer a banana pudding that is stuffed with Nilla Wafers. |
| 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. That menu includes banana pudding that you can get in either a 32 oz, 64 oz or 128 oz tub. The flavors are Banana, Chocolate or Oreo pudding. |
Ice Cream  | |
| Pinkberry | Starting in California in 2005, this large frozen yogurt chain offers up tasty and consistent cold treats throughout the country. Their smooth, tart froyo is perfected with fresh, hand-cut fruit toppings or sugary sweet confections. |
| 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. |
| Ben & Jerry's | Founded in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont, Ben & Jerry's has been in just about everyone's freezer a couple thousand times. There isn't much to say about a company that is served globally and sold for $326 million in 2017. If you're feeling Ben & Jerry's it's located at Rockefeller Center and 44th and 8th. |
| Holey Cream | You start with a doughnut. Pick your icing, choice of tasty toppings, flavor of ice cream. The ice cream gets sandwiched in between the warm, gooey doughnut and the end result is gigantic sticky conglomeration of yumminess and delight. Toppings include Cocoa Puffs, Fruit Loops, Gummy Bears, Chocolate Chips, Hot Fudge, Marshmallow and Heath Bar to name a few. |
| Ample Hills Creamery | Move over, Ben & Jerry's, Ample Hills has got your chunk-filled ice cream beat. Brian Smith opened Ample Hills in the spring of 2011. A former science-fiction screenwriter, Smith used his creative genius to make the world's next great ice cream. Inspired by Ben and Jerry's and knowing he was on to something big, Smith traveled to Vermont to meet the Jerry of Ben & Jerry's for advice on taking his ice cream to the next level. What's next for Ample Hills is going to be astronomical. Their signature ice cream flavors include Salted Crack'd Caramel, Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, The Munchies and Snap Mallow Pop! They have tons of amazing flavors, some seasonal, some limited edition, but all are amazing. Ample Hill's also teams up with local business, like Baked by Melissa (Summer of Love), and creates mind-blowing flavors. They've also teamed up with larger companies like Disney and created three amazing Star Wars flavors. That experiment was such a hit that Disney again worked with Ample hills to help celebrate the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. The Disney Mickey Mouse collection by Ample Hills features three original flavors: Triple Chocolate Surprise, Confetti Celebration and Peanut Butter Jamboree. If you've never had Ample Hills you are truly missing out on ice-cream perfection. |
| 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. |
| A La Mode | Marc and Sandy Roth opened up A La Mode in 2015 with the purpose to make delicious ice cream that is completely nut-free, egg-free and sesame-free ice. They wanted to create an ice cream that even people with most extreme food allergies could enjoy. They source their milk from local New York farms and get other ingredients shipped in to ensure it supports the company's core values. The shop is fantastic for kids, as it doubles as a kid's clothing boutique and also hosts birthday parties. In addition to their shop at 55th and 1st Ave, you can find their ice cream at select grocery stores around the country. Their most popular flavors are Party Cloudy (blue cotton candy ice cream with mini marshmallows) and Pink Sprinkles (pink ice cream with sprinkles). Other flavors include: Coffee, Chocolate, Speed Bump (chocolate and marshmallows), Cooks (vanilla ice cream with cookies and chocolate fudge) and Vanilla. |
| Jacques Torres | A New York City staple, Jacques Torres makes fantastic chocolate, which leads to his infamous chocolate chip cookies. In addition to delicious chocolates, Mr. Chocolate makes his own ice cream that is both rich and creamy. Their flavors include: Hazelnut, Coconut, Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Wicked (chocolate ice cream spiced with ancho and chipotle chili), Olive Oil, Tomato and Chocolate Raspberry to name a few. Here you'll also find one of the best ice cream sandwiches on the planet. Your choice of ice cream sandwiched between two glorious Jacques Torres cookies. |
| Red Mango | Red Mango, founded in 2003 by Daniel Kim, is best known for their all-natural frozen yogurt, fresh fruit smoothies, yogurt parfaits. Now with more than 200 location around the country, Red Mango can be found almost everywhere. In 2011 it was voted the #1 smoothie and frozen yogurt chain by Zagat. |
| Amorino Gelato | In 2002 Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi opened the first Amorino Gelato in Paris. The company has since expanded to over 100 locations worldwide. While their gelato is fresh and creamy, what makes Amorino so unique is their signature gelato scoop in the shape of a rose that has bloomed out of a waffle cone. Each petal on the flower can be your choice of gelato or sorbet then topped with a macaron. Their list of 23 core flavors include: Tiramisu, Pistachio, Walnut and Fig, Lemon, Chocolate, Vanilla, Cheesecake, Lime Basil and Chocolate Caramel to name a few. |
Bagels  | |
| Zaro's | The Zaro family came to America through Ellis Island and established one of New York City's strongest family-owned bakeries. Since its inception in 1927, Zaro's has been passed down through generations while making solid food for New York commuters in the process. They offer all your standard choices of bagels and spreads with solid flavors across the board. |
| Tal Bagels | Robert Weiner is the owner of Tal Bagels. He focuses on the bagel-making tradition of boiling bagels because that's how bagels were originally made (and they taste 100 times better that way). Tal Bagels don't get a lot of pub but they definitely make some really good bagels. Their bagels, like most great bagel companies, are made in-house. Their dough is made the previous day and then left to rest in the refrigerator for a day. They then boil the bagels, put on the toppings, then baked them at 550 degrees until they are nice and crispy. That's how you get the crispy exterior with a chewy, delicious interior. Throw on your preferred spreads and you have one tasty bagel. |
| Ess-a-Bagel | One of New York City's oldest and best bagel companies, Ess-a-Bagel was established in 1976 by Florence and Gene Wilpon and Florence's brother Aaron Wenzelberg. The art of baking the perfect bagel came natural to them as they grew up in an Austrian-baking family. Ess-a-Bagel -- "Ess" meaning "eat" in Yiddish, translating to Eat-a-Bagel -- is consistently rated among the top NYC bagel institutions. And like most of the these companies, lines will typically be long, depending on time of day. If you want to purchase just bagels then skip the line and head to he back. You'll find Ess-a-Bagels to be pretty damn good. They are a favorite among locals, delicious and worth waiting in line for. |
| Best Bagel & Coffee | Located near Penn Station, Best Bagel is about as convenient as it gets for those travels who want a legitimate NYC bagel. Hand rolled and kettle boiled in the store, Best Bagel creates some pretty amazing bagels that rank among the best in the city. |
| Zucker's Bagel & Smoked Fish | Owner Matt Pomerantz, who was born and raised in NYC and worked on Wall Street, open Zucker's in 1994 and named it after his mother, Roslyn Marilyn Zucker Pomerantz. Like all the good ones, Zucker's hand rolls and kettle boils their bagels. They offer a variety of smoked fish but also nail the classic cream cheese spreads. Zucker's is a nice standard as to what to expect when you eat a New York City bagel. One thing worth noting is that Yelp gives Zucker's mediocre reviews. Pomerantz's other bagel company, Murray's Bagels (named after his father), is a local favorite in the Chelsea area so don't let the amount of stars fool you. |
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. |
| 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. Aside from their gelato they also offer a tasty cup of hot chocolate that is made with whole milk and dark chocolate from Ecuador or Peru. |
| Dylan's Candy Bar | Inspired by Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Dylan Lauren, daughter of fashion designer Ralph Lauren, opened up Dylan's Candy Bar in 2001 with the purpose to merge fashion, art and pop candy culture. Dylan's is a bright, over-the-top confectionery store that will bring out the kid in just about everyone. It has been featured in a variety of films and TV series such as Hitch, Gossip Girls and Project Runway. Dylan's flagship store is located in New York City, but they also have locations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and East Hampton. If you're looking to warm up with a chocolaty beverage, get cozy with a cup of their tasty hot chocolate. |
| Trademark Taste & Grind | A restaurant in Midtown, Trademark Taste + Grind is a restaurant but does have a small bakery counter as you walk through the door. You can indulge at the baked-goods counter or order up some tasty treats with your meal. But if you want a unique hot chocolate then order up the Doffle Hot Chocolate. This decadent chocolate beverage is blanketed with torched meringue then topped with a doughnut waffle -- or Doffle. |
| Bibble and Sip | This alpaca-themed establishment is a neighborhood favorite to many. Owner Gary Chan left a career in design to become a pastry chef and opened Bibble and Sip. The name “Bibble” means to eat indulgently; “sip” implies cultured enjoyment. What makes this place terrific is their variety of tasty coffee options and the fact that all their baked goods are made in-house, including the simply things like granola and marshmallows for the hot chocolate. They are known for fantastic matcha drinks, including their famous matcha-jasmine lattes. Other popular drinks are their cappuccinos and lavender latte. And of course their hot chocolate is enjoyable. |
| 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. |
| Amorino Gelato | Amorino was born in France in 2002 by Italian founders Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi. They wanted to bring the magic of authentic traditional gelato from their native culture to the world with one goal in mind: to make the highest quality gelato as naturally as possible with no artificial colors or flavors. While their ice cream is good, they also offer a thick, delicious hot chocolate that will warm your soul. |
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. |
| Bouchon Bakery | Bouchon Bakery is the product of famed chef Thomas Keller, an 11-time James Beard award winner and chef of two three-Michelin-Star-rated restaurants. Keller is the master of American and French classics. He, like other chefs, have revitalized classics from his youth to a more modern and grown-up version. Keller, whose restaurants Per se and The French Laundry are focused on fine dining and speak only to a fraction of the population, opened Bouchon Bakery because he feels pastries and breads are universal and should be shared by the masses. Learning the craft of bread and pastry making in France, Keller has brought the techniques to America in an incredibly tasty and satisfying way. The Michelin-starred Bouchon Bakery offers both savory and sweet options. They make a solid cinnamon bun that hits the spot and a variety of macacrons that please the palate. A calorie-dense treat you must try is the kouign amann (pronounced queen a-mahn). It's all butter and sugar, and loads of it, but they are mind blowing. |
| Bibble and Sip | This alpaca-themed establishment is a neighborhood favorite to many. Owner Gary Chan left a career in design to become a pastry chef and opened Bibble and Sip. The name “Bibble” means to eat indulgently; “sip” implies cultured enjoyment. What makes this place terrific is their variety of tasty coffee options and the fact that all their baked goods are made in-house, including the simply things like granola and marshmallows for the hot chocolate. They are known for fantastic matcha drinks, including their famous matcha-jasmine lattes. If you're not a coffee person their baked goods are also fantastic. Depending on your mood, try any of the cream puffs or the Cinnamon Croissant Muffin, Black Sesame Mousse Chocolate Cake, Egg Tarts, Everything Bagel Croissant or the Spice Pear Scone. |
| Poseidon Bakery | Poseidon Bakery, opened in 1923, is a family-owned Greek bakery located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. When you walk in to Poseidon Bakery you'll likely be greeted by owner Lili Fable – who was once a guest on Martha Stewart’s show – with a warm pleasant welcome. If you don't know anything about Greek baked goods have no fear. Lili will graciously teach you anything you want to know. Everything here is fantastic. Everything. It truly is an authentic Greek bakery. The best in the city. They also make their own filo bread (a very thin unleavened dough used for making pastries) that is actually very hard to make and rare to find a company that makes their own. With so many options you can't go wrong, but two fantastic options are the Finikia (Melomakarona) or the Baklava. The Finikia are these little football-shaped cookies topped with crushed almonds. The flavor in these little guys will blow your mind. They are super addictive. The Baklava is this honey-soaked roll that is flaky, sticky and oh-so-amazing. |
| Angelina Bakery | Italian Bakery located in Midtown that opened in |