Looking for a solid NYC bakery or pastry shop? After countless croissants, macarons, and endless sweet delights...these are my top picks for the BEST bakeries in Manhattan!
Manhattan has long held the title of being a culinary capital. The restaurant and celebrity chef scene make this a top destination for foodies looking to try the latest trends and attend the most anticipated restaurant openings.
Did you also know that the New York patisserie scene is also quite strong with a reputation of its own? Manhattan bakeries are supplying locals and tourists alike with stellar baked goods. From traditional items like croissants to unique offerings like the cronut, there is no craving that can't be satisfied in the city that never sleeps.
With all the amazing bakery and pastry shops to choose from it was quite the task to pick my favorites. After countless croissants, macarons, and endless sweet delights, I have decided upon the 5 best bakeries in NYC!
See my top picks for the best bakeries in Manhattan in Google Maps. Click the icon in the very top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Click the top right button to enlarge the map. Click the star to save to your own Google Maps account. To access this map once saved (after clicking the star), open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the menu button, go to "your places", select "maps", and you will see this map listed.
- Blue - TOP 5 bakeries in Manhattan
- Red - honorable mentions
1. Supermoon Bakehouse
ONE OF THE BEST BAKERIES IN Manhattan FOR UNIQUE FLAVOR COMBINATIONS AND INSTAWORTHY DESIGNS
Supermoon Bakehouse entered the Manhattan bakery scene in late 2017 and offers trippy and unique treats. They're known for their cruffin (a croissant-muffin hybrid) with fillings like vanilla cream and rhubarb, strawberry, and basil.
Their menu changes and includes a mix of flavors. Traditional items like the ham and cheese croissant, spinach pie croissant, and salted caramel donut are offered alongside more unique flavor combinations.
The menu changes weekly, but you'll find items like a rosemary blueberry croissant, s'mores croissant, rose jelly pistachio cream donut, curry mango donut, and banana split croissant.
Arrive early because they can sell out on busy days and weekends.
A menu mainstay is the Croque Monsieur; a ham and cheese croissant made with thick slices of ham and the perfect blend of gouda, cheddar, and béchamel. Probably my favorite ham and cheese croissant on the planet.
I might even venture to say that Supermoon offers the most delicious croissants in NYC with their traditional and unique offerings. This is absolutely one of the best bakeries in NYC and one I make a point to visit every time I find myself in the city.
2. Dominique Ansel Bakery
One of the best bakeries in Manhattan to try the "cronut"
Chef Dominique Ansel has quite the reputation in the pastry world. He was named the "World’s Best Pastry Chef" by the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards in 2017 and listed as one of Business Insider’s “Most Innovative People Under 40”.
Chef Dominique is the youngest and the only U.S. based chef to be awarded the World’s Best Pastry Chef title. His signature creation is the cronut (a croissant-donut hybrid), which Time Magazine named one of the 25 best inventions in 2013.
Though, his other signature pastry the DKA, outsells the cronut 2 to 1. It's a caramelized croissant-type treat with a gooey center and the perfect combination of sweet and buttery.
This is one of the best bakeries in Manhattan if you want a variety of options. From almost too pretty to eat delicacies, plain, sweet, or savory croissants, and rotating specials like the chocolate chip cookie shot glass with Tahitian vanilla milk, everyone is sure to find something to keep them happy.
Go on weekdays as the weekends can bring insanely long lines.
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3. Laduree
One of the best bakeries in Manhattan for macarons in a posh setting
French based Laduree has two bakeries in Manhattan. One in Soho and one on the Upper East Side.
The Madison Avenue location (on the UES) is tiny and best for pastries to go. It does have a claim to fame as this was Laduree's first North America location.
The Soho location is the better of the two with a full restaurant, tea room, and retail bakery. The interior of this New York patisserie is a series of “salons” decorated in full Parisian flare and makes for a relaxing stop.
Ask for a table on the adorable patio if the weather is nice. Be sure to get a few macarons to go and try the chocolat chaud Laduree (a thick and creamy hot chocolate).
If you want an experience, go for the full afternoon tea!
Laduree is one of the best bakeries in NYC if you want to spoil yourself and glam atmosphere.
4. Mille-Feuille Bakery
One of the best bakeries in Manhattan to try the Mille-Feuille
Owner and executive pastry chef Olivier Dessyn trained at the Ritz Cooking School in Paris and offers authentic French pastries using only the finest ingredients with no additives or preservatives.
You can taste the commitment to quality in each pastry!
My favorite item is the signature Mille-Feuille. The puff pastry is perfectly laminated with paper-thin layers. The vanilla cream is thick and smooth with just a hint of sweetness. The salted caramel macarons are pretty awesome too.
This Manhattan bakery is perfect if you want something casual and quick as there usually isn't a line.
5. Petit Chou
ONE OF THE BEST BAKERIES IN MANHATTAN for...chou pastries and croissants
Being the avid Great British Baking Show fan that I am, when I found a Manhattan bakery with the name "chou" in it, I just had to investigate. Chou pastries are featured all the time on the GBBS, yet, I rarely find these pastries in the US.
Petit Chou exceeded all expectations. Not only were the chou pastries insanely good...and when I say good I mean you'll think about buying a second pastry for "later" after you've finished your first...the croissants and other baked goods were delicious as well. The almond croissant was a stand out.
If you're looking for chou pastries, this NYC bakery is the place to go.
Honorable mention: Abraco
While Abraco may be a coffee shop first and foremost, it deserves an honorable mention for NYC bakeries. Unlike most coffee shops that outsource their baked goods, Abraco makes its pastries and other food items in-house.
A staple is the olive oil cake. Everything else in the display case seems to change based on what ingredients can be currently found at the farmer’s market.
There's plenty of space to hang for a while and the friendly atmosphere is filled with locals. If you want to hang with the locals, Abraco is where you want to go.
Honorable mention: Breads Bakery
While the croissants may not be my favorite, the bread is top-notch. Breads Bakery has, after all, won best baguette in NYC. They bake their bread in small batches throughout the day to ensure freshness. If you're looking for a NYC bakery for fresh baked loaves and baguettes, this is your spot.
Photos: Levain Bakery
Honorable mention: Levain Bakery
You've probably been debating my opinion/ranking skills since I've waited until now to mention the ultra-famous Levain Bakery. Known for their thick, gooey cookies, Levain is where cookie fanatics will want to go. I don't include them in the TOP 5 because it's really just cookies that they're known for.
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Best Bakeries in Manhattan | NYC TOP 5
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