263 E 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$; Walk-in friendly
77 Irving Pl (Manhattan)
Order: Aud’s Dream with Cookies & Panna — $$; Walk-in friendly
259 W 4th St (Manhattan)
Order: Princess Cake — $$$$; Res recommended
29 Avenue B (Manhattan)
Order: Blueberry Cinnamon — $; Walk-in friendly
448 Lafayette Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: White Coffee Donut — $; Walk-in friendly
The NYC dessert scene really does operate on an entirely different level. If you are tracking down a legendary, perfectly baked cookie, a refreshing scoop, or cake, this is your ultimate cheat sheet.
263 E 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$; Walk-in friendly
67 Cooper Sq (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
319 Lafayette St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
53 Howard St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$$; Res recommended
398 W Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Macarons — $$$; Walk-in friendly
42 E 20th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$$; Res recommended
174 E 82nd St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookies with Ice cream — $$$; Res recommended
1047 Bedford Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $$; Walk-in friendly
35 Cooper Sq (Manhattan)
Order: Tahini Chocolate Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
76 Madison Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
42-15 Crescent St (Queens)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
1484 3rd Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
415 Lafayette St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
5-65 Woodward Ave (Queens)
Order: Sugar Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
501 1/2 E 83rd St (Manhattan)
Order: Red Velvet & Nutella Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
77 Irving Pl (Manhattan)
Order: Aud’s Dream with Cookies & Panna — $$; Walk-in friendly
1141 Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Hazelnut Gelato — $; Walk-in friendly
231 Lafayette St (Manhattan)
Order: Signature Frozen Yogurt — $; Walk-in friendly
309 E 9th St (Manhattan)
Order: Nutella Chocolate Chip — $; Walk-in friendly
567 Union Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Gelato — $$$$; Res recommended
329 Kent Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Olive Oil Gelato — $$$$; Res recommended
200 Park Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Mousse — $$$; Res recommended
8-53 Onderdonk Ave (Queens)
Order: Ice Cream — $$$; Res recommended
80 Spring St (Manhattan)
Order: Profiteroles with Vanilla Ice Cream and Warm Chocolate — $$$; Res recommended
178 Broadway (Brooklyn)
Order: Holy Cow Hot Fudge Sundae — $$$$; Res recommended
60 W 8th St (Manhattan)
Order: Frozen Yogurt — $; Walk-in friendly
1150 Madison Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Plain Frozen Yogurt with Pistachio Syrup — $; Walk-in friendly
513 Henry St (Brooklyn)
Order: Hot Fudge Sundae — $$; Walk-in friendly
51 Spring St (Manhattan)
Order: The Riff— $; Walk-in friendly
85 Orchard St (Manhattan)
Order: Vanilla Soft Serve — $; Walk-in friendly
259 W 4th St (Manhattan)
Order: Princess Cake — $$$$; Res recommended
95 Avenue A (Manhattan)
Order: Date Cake — $$$; Res recommended
263 E 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Carrot Cake — $$; Walk-in friendly
324 5th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Boba Mille-Feuille Cake — $$; Walk-in friendly
1 Ludlow St (Manhattan)
Order: Carrot Cake — $$; Walk-in friendly
60 E 54th St (Manhattan)
Order: Carrot Cake — $$$$; Res recommended
4 Charles St (Manhattan)
Order: Coconut Cake — $$$$; Res recommended
181 Thompson St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Hazelnut Cake — $$$$; Res recommended
67 Cooper Sq (Manhattan)
Order: Carrot Cake — $; Walk-in friendly
90 E 10th St Ground Floor (Manhattan)
Order: Devil’s Food Cake — $$$; Res recommended
3rd floor, 10 Columbus Cir (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake — $$$; Res recommended
314 Bleecker St (Manhattan)
Order: Flourless Chocolate Cake — $$$$; Res recommended
178 Broadway (Brooklyn)
Order: Cheesecake — $$$$; Res recommended
5-65 Woodward Ave (Queens)
Order: Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache, Marzipan, Chocolate Frosting, and Candied Almonds— $; Walk-in friendly
329 Kent Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Olive Oil Cake — $$$$; Res recommended
263 Bedford Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Berry Napoleon Cake — $$; Walk-in friendly
30 Prince St (Manhattan)
Order: Brooklyn Blackout Cake — $; Walk-in friendly
105 W 13th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Cake — $$$; Res recommended
275 Mulberry St (Manhattan)
Order: Almond Cheesecake — $$$$; Res recommended
Here are additional dessert ideas focusing on gooey cinnamon rolls and iconic, crave-worthy sweets. These bakeries and restaurants offer the perfect excuse to treat yourself to the city’s absolute top must-go dessert destinations.
29 Avenue B (Manhattan)
Order: Blueberry Cinnamon — $; Walk-in friendly
137 1st Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Original Cinnamon Roll— $; Walk-in friendly
122 Christopher St (Manhattan)
Order: Original Glazed Cinnamon Roll — $; Walk-in friendly
119 W 10th St (Manhattan)
Order: Glazed Cinnamon Roll — $$; Walk-in friendly
156 W 20th St (Manhattan)
Order: Apple Crumble Cinnamon Bun — $$; Walk-in friendly
324 Lafayette St (Manhattan)
Order: Cinnamon Roll — $$$; Res recommended
34 E 32nd St (Manhattan)
Order: Pb&j Cinnamon Roll — $$; Walk-in friendly
743 Driggs Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Cinnamon Roll — $; Walk-in friendly
325 Lafayette St (Manhattan)
Order: Cinnamon Roll — $; Walk-in friendly
229 1st Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Cinnamon Roll — $$; Walk-in friendly
30 Vandam St (Manhattan)
Order: Cinnamon Roll — $; Walk-in friendly
448 Lafayette Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: White Coffee Donut — $; Walk-in friendly
432 Union Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Tiramisu — $$; Res recommended
164 Graham Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Donut — $$; Walk-in friendly
2315 Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Cake — $$; Res recommended
36 E 61st St (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu — $$$$; Res recommended
99 Prince St (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu — $$$; Res recommended
97 Wythe Ave (Brooklyn)
Order: Fries — $$$; Res recommended
42 Market St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
33 Main St (Brooklyn)
Order: Cupcakes — $; Walk-in friendly
90 E 10th St, 1st Floor (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Mousse — $$$; Walk-ins accepted at the counter
68 E 1st St (Manhattan)
Order: Choco-Toffee Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
84 E 10th St, Floor 2 (Manhattan)
Order: Oreo Tiramisu — $$; Walk-in friendly
55 E Houston St (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu — $$$; Walk-in friendly
647 E 11th St (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu — $$; Res recommended
10 Lincoln Center Plaza (Manhattan)
Order: Honeybun — $$$; Res recommended
119 Avenue A (Manhattan)
Order: Orange Flower Funnel Cake — $$; Walk-in friendly
236 E 13th St (Manhattan)
Order: Goma — $$; Walk-in friendly
188 Ludlow St (Manhattan)
Order: Stracciatella Gelato — $$; Walk-in friendly
35 Cooper Sq (Manhattan)
Order: Choco Marzipan — $$; Walk-in friendly
204 E 13th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chicken Khao Soi — $$; Res recommended
424 E 9th St (Manhattan)
Order: Popcorn Chicken — $$; Walk-in friendly
65 Bayard St (Manhattan)
Order: Ice Cream — $; Walk-in friendly
Let’s be honest, no city day is complete without a solid game plan for dessert while in the neighborhoods. If you find yourself dodging the hustle in Midtown, wandering the cozy streets of the Village, or exploring Chelsea, Flatiron, and Nomad these places deliver on desserts and sweets.
154 W 45th St (Manhattan)
Order: Strawberry Donut — $$; Walk-in friendly
72 W 38th St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie — $; Walk-in friendly
210 W 55th St (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu — $$; Res recommended
13 W 36th St (Manhattan)
Order: Banana Bread Pudding — $$; Res recommended
20 W 40th St (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu — $$$; Res recommended
60 E 54th St (Manhattan)
Order: Lemon Meringue Pie — $$$$; Res strongly recommended
50 Hudson Yards (Manhattan)
Order: Hazelnut Tart — $$$$; Res recommended
1601 Broadway (Manhattan)
Order: Classic Donut — $; Walk-in friendly
1 W 8th St (Manhattan)
Order: Greek Frozen Yogurt With Pistachio Cream — $$; Walk-in friendly
61 W 8th St (Manhattan)
Order: Tres Leches — $$$$; Res recommended
253 Bleecker St (Manhattan)
Order: Candy — $; Walk-in friendly (expect a line!)
103 Greenwich Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu — $$$$; Res recommended
43 8th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Vanilla & Chocolate Ice Cream — $$; Walk-in friendly
41 Carmine St (Manhattan)
Order: Sorbettos — $$; Walk-in friendly
189 Bleecker St (Manhattan)
Order: Chocolate Ice Cream — $$; Walk-in friendly
86 Bedford St (Manhattan)
Order: Malted Milk Chocolate Flying Saucers — $$$; Res recommended
156 W 20th St (Manhattan)
Order: Cacio E Pepe Cruffin — $; Walk-in friendly
220 Park Ave S (Manhattan)
Order: Girella — $$; Walk-in friendly
141 8th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Cookies and Cream Ice Cream — $; Walk-in friendly
324 5th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Tiramisu — $$; Walk-in friendly
46 W 22nd St (Manhattan)
Order: Cookie Skillet — $$$; Res recommended
318 Park Ave St (Manhattan)
Order: Pecan Joconde — $$$$; Res recommended
15 E 31st St (Manhattan)
Order: Misagaru Dalgona — $$; Res recommended
230 9th Ave (Manhattan)
Order: Halva Tahini Soft Serve with Pomegranate — $$$; Res recommended
Deciding exactly where to grab dessert in the city is all about matching it with an specific occasion. From lively group celebrations and effortlessly romantic dates to those moments when you just need a deeply comforting sugar fix and more, these handpicked destinations deliver the absolute perfect atmosphere.
200 Park Ave (Manhattan)
Giulietta takes the crown as the absolute best overall spot for a dessert date, blending an effortlessly romantic atmosphere with an irresistible menu of sweet treats.
60 E 54th St (Manhattan)
43 8th Ave (Manhattan)
97 Wythe Ave (Brooklyn)
145 W 53rd St (Manhattan)
67 Cooper Sq (Manhattan)
Hani’s Bakery claims the top spot because it flawlessly captures every single dessert vibe, starting with a deeply comforting interior. You can grab a seat outside while you do a street-level people watch and also leave with the dessert for on the go.
47 Bond St (Manhattan)
263 E 10th St (Manhattan)
33 Main St (Brooklyn)
85 Orchard St (Manhattan)
77 Irving Pl (Manhattan)
1150 Madison Ave (Manhattan)
A perfect New York City day simply requires a legendary sugar fix. These absolute essential spots are mandatory additions to your journey when tracking down the finest sweets in town.
Hani’s Bakery is undeniably the absolute best place for dessert in all of New York City. This stunning spot delivers the ultimate sugar fix that every local and visitor needs to experience.
67 Cooper Sq (Manhattan)
Their thick triple chocolate chunk cookie is easily among the top-tier best in the entire city. While the crown for absolute number one might still belong to From Lucie, the massive, gooey pools of melted chocolate make this an irresistible must-order!
This incredible strawberry passionfruit croissant tart is a true masterpiece with its perfectly flaky and buttery layers thats so beautiful and tasty. A must order.
Getting a table at this legendary, buzzing Midtown hotspot is notoriously difficult, but saving room for their over-the-top restaurant desserts makes the effort entirely worth it. The glamorous, old-school dining room is the perfect backdrop for having some of the most decadent sweets in the city.
60 E 54th St (Manhattan)
You absolutely cannot go wrong with their incredibly moist slice of classic carrot cake or the rich, velvety chocolate cream pie. Both of these desserts arrive beautifully plated and something you won’t forget.
If you want a true showstopper, their gorgeous lemon meringue pie features an high, perfectly toasted peak that looks absolutely stunning. It’s the perfect balance between a bright, tart citrus filling and sweet, fluffy meringue.
Tall Poppy is unequivocally the single best bakery in all of New York City, period. While it functions primarily as an exceptional morning pastry shop, these masterfully crafted creations easily rival and double as the absolute greatest desserts in town.
156 W 20th St (Manhattan)
Beyond the sweet, flaky sugar cookie croissant, the undisputed star of the menu is their wildly popular and high-demand cacio e pepe cruffin. You absolutely must arrive right at 8 AM to secure this before they sell out for the day!
Take a moment to admire the wall completely covered in colorful, candid snapshots left behind by devoted fans and daily regulars. This heavily decorated space perfectly captures the warm, welcoming community spirit that fuels this tiny neighborhood pastry shop.
Must-know basics so you’re not guessing on tipping, menu lingo, or how to book.
Pasticceria / Pastry Case — the glass display sweets; pick-and-go slices, tarts, cookies, cannoli.
Dolci / Desserts — the dessert section; plated sweets after a meal (often classics like tiramisù, panna cotta).
Gelato / Sorbetto — Italian ice cream / fruit sorbet; ordered by cup or cone.
Granita — semi-frozen fruit/coffee ice; light, spoonable (more icy than gelato).
Biscotti / Cookies — crunchy twice-baked cookies; also includes soft cookies/rainbow cookies depending on the shop.
Torta / Cake — whole cakes or slices; can include olive oil cake, chocolate cake, ricotta cake.
Babka / Rugelach — Eastern European/Jewish bakery staples; swirled loaf (babka) and filled crescent cookies (rugelach).
Buns / Rolls — sweet buns (cinnamon rolls, milk bread buns, pineapple buns); bakery-counter items.
Soft Serve — machine-spun ice cream; can be classic vanilla/chocolate or matcha/fruit flavors.
Seasonal / Specials — rotating items; limited-time flavors, chef features, holiday desserts.
In NYC, 18–22% of the pre-tax bill is considered normal for good service. 15% is low; 25%+ is very generous.
Servers and bartenders are paid a lower base wage because tips are expected here, so the tip is a big part of their income.
Some places (especially for large groups or trendy spots) add “gratuity” or “service charge” automatically. If you see that on the bill, you don’t need to add an additional tip unless you want to.
Social
Best Overall
Le Bar Penelope
14 E 60th St (Manhattan)
Le Bar Penelope is the absolute best overall dessert social spot, having a glamorous, Victorian-inspired lounge that transports you straight to old-world Europe. It is the ultimate social destination for any type of celebration where you can sink into velvet sofas, sip cocktails, and indulge in their incredible candy bar.
Women Day/Night Out
Men Day/Night Out
Birthday With Friends
Post Club
Women Day/Night Out
Little Ruby's Cafe
225 W 4th St (Manhattan)
Eat Pretty
501 1/2 E 83rd St (Manhattan)
Men Day/Night Out
Ha's Snack Bar
297 Broome St (Manhattan)
Go Greek Yogurt
683 Broadway (Manhattan)
Birthday With Friends
Cafe Commerce
964 Lexington Ave (Manhattan)
La Tête d'Or by Daniel
318 Park Ave S (Manhattan)
Post Club
Van Leeuwen
152 W 10th St (Manhattan)
Le Bar Penelope
14 E 60th St (Manhattan)