Croissants, tarts, cannolis, cupcakes, sticky buns, gelato—whatever your preference, Manhattan has a bakery to satisfy every sweet tooth. Take a bite out of the Big Apple: whatever you’re seeking is on the menu, so select a fave dessert or a neighborhood and explore one of these great NYC bakeries.
NYC Bakeries: High Street on Hudson
This contemporary yet rustic café in the Meatpacking area serves an assortment of goodies from blueberry honey cake to its innovative strawberry pistachio linzer, Tahitian-fig oatcake, and more. Beyond the pastries, High Street offers also homemade breads, gourmet-style sandwiches, coffee, and some great cocktails. 917-388-3944, 637 Hudson St., highstreetonhudson.com
NYC Bakeries: Magnolia Bakery
In operation since 1996, Magnolia Bakery is renowned for its tantalizing menu of classic American baked goodies. With locations around the globe, it continues to serve a range of sweet treats crafted from scratch daily on the premises. Its selection of specialty cupcakes are switched up daily, but the menu includes some standout varieties such as Confetti—vanilla cake with confetti sprinkles stuffed inside and topped with chocolate or vanilla butter cream. Fans of pistachio should bite into the pistachio cupcake, which is made with pistachio meringue butter cream and topped with crunchy pistachios. Candy and chocolate enthusiasts can dive into the Sno-Cap cupcake—devil’s food cake with peaks of meringue icing. 212-462-2572, 401 Bleecker St., magnoliabakery.com
NYC Bakeries: Caffe Palermo
Looking for the best cannoli in Manhattan? Caffe Palermo, aka the “Cannoli King of Little Italy” is the best place to seek out. They've got some of the best desserts in the city. On top of cannoli, they have fantastic cheesecakes, tiramisu, and coffee as only Italians can do it—just ask fans like Danny DeVito, Ray Romano, and Ryan Seacrest. 148 Mulberry St., 212-431-4205, caffepalermo.com
NYC Bakeries: Padoca
Brazilian-born Marina Halpern and Pastry Chef Rachel Binder craft delicious multi-cultural baked goods with lots of Brazilian flair. Using natural, fresh, local ingredients, they churn out such delicacies as the Romeo and Juliet Babka—a fusion of guava and cheese, and the Coconut Cake—a Halpern family recipe that Binder refashioned using a Moroccan basbousa recipe as inspiration. A swing and a scattering of hanging teapots up the fun, as well as the coziness factor, at this chic Brazilian hideaway. 359 E. 68th St., 212-300 4543, padocabakery.com
NYC Bakeries: Sadelle's
Photo: Arthur Bovino
Located in the trendy and buzzing SoHo area, Sadelle's offers Jewish-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but also boasts a great bakery. Renowned for its hand-rolled bagels, as well as its tasty pastries and breads, the menu also offers some delish sticky buns. 212-776-4926, 463 W. Broadway, sadelles.com
NYC Bakeries: Ferrara Café
Iconic Italian bakery Ferrara Café has been a Manhattan landmark since 1892. With an ideal location in downtown’s Little Italy, Ferrara is renowned for its delicious Italian and French desserts. Its menu of must-haves includes cannoli, sfogliatella, and gelato, as well as several varieties of biscotti (chocolate, almond, anise, and more), French brioche, and beyond. While there, also indulge in Ferrara’s freshly ground continental coffees. 212-226-6150, 195 Grand St., ferraranyc.com
