New York City's ever-changing dining scene is more often revered for its savory options than its sweets—but in the Big Apple, there's always room for dessert. If you're looking for something to enjoy with a perfectly prepared cappuccino or double espresso, there's no shortage of options.
From iconic cookies, world-famous cannoli, and the best doughnuts we've ever tasted to chocolate pizza, viral croissants, 24-layer cakes, and deliciously wild milkshakes, these are the best desserts in NYC. Period.
Brioche Doughnut at Mah-ze-Dahr
We'll make any excuse to visit this bakery, whose name comes from the Urdu word that describes the magic or essence that makes something special. Everything we've tasted here is special indeed, but the standout menu item is this vanilla pastry cream-filled brioche doughnut topped with a cute little doughnut hole. The texture of the doughnut combined with the cream makes for several to-die-for bites. (FYI, if cream isn't your thing, try the old-fashioned doughnut that recently rejoined the menu after patrons requested its return.)
multiple locations, mahzedahrbakery.com
24-Layer Chocolate Cake at Maison Pickle
Maison Pickle is best known for riffs on classic American diner dishes—namely, French dip sandwiches. But with that heritage feel comes incredible desserts, like classic cakes and pies. The restaurant's most popular meal-finisher just might be the best chocolate dessert on the entire island of Manhattan. One bite of the 24-layer chocolate cake, and you'll understand why we don't recommend going halfsies. Chocolate not your thing? Try one of the other standout items, like the equally impressive 24-layer vanilla confetti cake or the black and white Oreo ice box pie.
2315 Broadway, maisonpickle.com
Cannoli at Ferrara Bakery
We hesitate to pick just one favorite at this historic Italian bakery in the heart of Little Italy (open since 1892), but if you have to choose, try sitting down in the café for a cannoli and espresso—an absolute must. Then, feel free to take home a massive tray of the bakery's world-famous cookies (everything from pignoli and tricolor rainbow cookies) and an Italian cheesecake.
195 Grand Street, ferraranyc.com
Crumb Cake at Crumbly
There's plenty you'll want try to when you visit this relatively new family-run bakery in the quaint Sutton Place neighborhood of Manhattan, but the crumb cake is the power move here. Baked in-house, the cake itself is incredibly moist and the dense crumbs are massive and unreal. (As you can see, they're literally half of the slice.) We have to give honorable mention to the Oreo pudding, too.
997 1st Avenue, crumblynyc.com
Chocolate Pizza at Max Brenner
A restaurant dedicated to nothing but chocolate, Max Brenner delivers the ultimate dessert experience. The menu is wild, and you'll have to visit several times to hit all the classics, but first-timers should start with the iconic chocolate pizza with melted milk and white chocolate chunks. There's simply nothing like it—especially with the roasted marshmallow topping.
multiple locations, maxbrenner.com
Banana Pudding at Magnolia Bakery
Best known for its famous cupcakes, Magnolia Bakery has long been baking buttercream-topped cakes for New York's (and now the country's) sweets lovers. But don't leave without ordering the signature banana pudding. Thick vanilla pudding, fresh bananas, and chunks of vanilla wafers are all folded together in a cup, creating one of the most delicious guilty pleasures the city has to offer. While excellent in any place and at any time, this treat is best served cold.
multiple locations, magnoliabakery.com
S'mores Cookie at Maman
This French bakery and café has some of our favorite coffee in the city, and the ever-changing seasonal pastry menu always has something worth getting—but if you visit in late summer or early fall, get the s'mores cookie. It is sublime.
multiple locations, mamannyc.com
Rainbow Explosion Cake at Flour Shop
For the most Instagrammable birthday cake there is, head to Flour Shop for its famous rainbow explosion cake, created by Amirah Kassem. When you cut into it, sprinkles come pouring out. Beyond that, the viral bakery makes cakes in a bunch of different realistic-looking shapes—like a bagel and lox, a burger, a stack of pancakes, and more. The best part is, these cakes don't just look good; they're delicious, too.
177 Lafayette Street, flourshop.com
Naked Tiered Cakes at Luckybird Bakery
If you're obsessed with naked cakes—that is, layer cakes with almost no frosting on the outside—then you're going to want to visit this Brooklyn bakery. It's best known for gorgeous tiered wedding cakes topped with fresh flowers, but we're partial to the petite semi-naked cakes for all sorts of occasions, especially in flavors like Meyer lemon and vanilla rose.
163 Montrose Avenue, luckybirdbakery.com
The Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery
Owned and operated by award-winning pastry chef Dominique Ansel, this bakery is home to some of the city's most innovative desserts. Its most famous creation, the Cronut, was introduced in May 2013 and still keeps New Yorkers lined up each morning to get a taste of the seasonal flavor. (There have been several hundred inventive flavors to date, like the lemon curd graham cracker one, pictured above.) Be warned, these croissant-doughnut hybrids are only made in limited batches each day—so get there early. If you miss the daily batch, head over in the afternoon for the bakery's latest novelty, a cookie shot glass filled with milk. If you're looking for more of a classic treat, try a DKA (Dominique's Kouign Amann)—a flaky, croissant-like pastry with a caramelized, crunchy crust. Or stop by the soft serve window to sample seasonal flavors like burrata or salt and pepper caramel.
189 Spring Street, dominiqueansel.com
Banana Nutella Cake at Little Cupcake Bakeshop
This storybook-like bakery, which started in Brooklyn, is best known for its Good Humor bar–inspired strawberry shortcake (even Taylor Swift loves it). But, personally, we can't get enough of the banana Nutella cake. Chocolate chip banana bread meets an irresistible Nutella frosting. Enough said.
multiple locations, littlecupcakebakeshop.com
6-Ounce Cookies at Levain Bakery
Imagine a chocolate chip cookie. Now double it in size, density, and weight, and make it infinitely more gooey, rich, and buttery. Oh, and picture it in five different flavor offerings (not including vegan and gluten-free options or the rotating list of limited flavors): chocolate chip walnut, two-chip chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, dark chocolate chocolate chip, and dark chocolate peanut butter chip. That's the Levain Bakery cookie, which is unequivocally beloved in the Big Apple. If you save any for later (very hard to do), warm it up and pair it with a cup of coffee. (We haven't not had one for breakfast...)
Birthday Cake Truffles at Milk Bar
It's hard to pinpoint our favorite menu item here, since Chef Christina Tosi is consistently crafting new mouthwatering baked goods—like the sticky, buttery, salty-sweet pie that put her on the map, or her famous ooey-gooey cornflake-chocolate-chip-marshmallow cookie. While Tosi's birthday cake is iconic, we can't get enough of the funfetti recipe in truffle form. Seriously, a dozen isn't enough.
multiple locations, milkbarstore.com
CrazyShakes at Black Tap
Some people go to Black Tap for the burgers (which, yes!), but we go for the CrazyShake milkshakes that have become internet-famous since they first debuted in 2015 (just look at them). An indulgent treat, for sure—but a milkshake topped with a big slice of birthday cake, cookies, cotton candy, or other deliciously wild add-ons? Don't mind if we do!
multiple locations, blacktap.com
One-of-a-Kind Doughnuts at Doughnut Plant
These guys reinvented the wheel when it comes to fried dough, creating traditional cake doughnuts, filled doughnuts, doughseeds (filled mini doughnuts), and doughpods (savory doughnut-sandwich hybrids that come in flavors like samosa and avocado toast). Doughnut Plant surprises and delights visitors with special seasonal flavors—along with their classics—daily, in shapes and sizes that are both exciting and unexpected (like square-shaped filled doughnuts).
multiple locations, doughnutplant.com
Layered Funfetti Cake at City Cakes
If you're in the market for the perfect birthday cake, here she is. With nine cake flavors and 15+ filling options, you can make a custom cake request that we have no doubts will be amazing, but the funfetti is our favorite classic. Don't sleep on the seasonal offers, either, like the gorgeous strawberry shortcake filled with strawberry compote and vanilla bean buttercream. And while the layered cakes take center stage, the cupcakes and cookies are just as good (salted double chocolate chip, anyone?). Pro tip: You can place online pickup and delivery orders here, which includes the option of buying cake by the slice to satisfy personal cravings.
155 West 18th Street, citycakes.com
Traditional Churros at Toloache
At one of the best Mexican restaurants in the city, leave room for the churros. Not all fried dough is created equal, and with their crispy exterior and soft (but not too doughy) interior, these are just perfect. Try at least one bite with the chocolate dipping sauce—though you might not even need it (they're that good on their own).
multiple locations, toloachenyc.com
Chocolate Babka at Breads Bakery
This go-to New York bakery covers all of your standard bread needs, naturally, and is perhaps best known for its croissant-like take on the black and white cookie—but you haven't lived until you've tried the chocolate babka. Made with Nutella and dark chocolate, it has a tendency to disappear much faster than you'd expect.
multiple locations, breadsbakery.com
Mille Crêpes Cake at Lady M
If mille-feuille and Parisian street crêpes had a baby, it would be Lady M's delicate, nine-inch mille crêpes cake. It's made of twenty paper-thin handmade crêpes layered with light pastry cream, and you'll be in heaven with every bite. These come in various irresistible flavors, like the chocolate you see here, green tea, pistachio, tiramisu, strawberry swirl, and more.
multiple locations, ladym.com
Cheesecake at Eileen's Cheesecake
Eileen's has been an NYC institution for cheesecake (made fresh daily) since 1974. The 12-slice sampler—including plain, chocolate banana, strawberry, blueberry, marble, cherry, pineapple, red velvet, Oreo, chocolate, dulce de leche, and raspberry flavors—is ideal for newbies, but we've been loving the mini cheesecakes for a personal treat when we know exactly what we want. (Yes, we're frequent visitors.)
17 Cleveland Place, eileenscheesecake.com
The Suprême at Lafayette Grand Café and Bakery
This cream-filled croissant (above is the pain au chocolat version) has gone viral for good reason, but you have to be willing to wait in line to try one. It's only available in person at the bakery (not on the restaurant menu) on a first-come, first-serve basis—and fresh batches drop at 8 a.m., 12 p.m., and 4 p.m. daily. (It's recommended to arrive about 45 minutes to an hour before to get a good spot in line.)
380 Lafayette Street, lafayetteny.com
Loop Churros at Sweet Churros
For a playful spin on a classic churro, head here. Served with various toppings, sprinkles, and even ice cream, Sweet Churros has absolutely mastered the art of turning long, crispy, handcrafted churros into fun shapes.
11 West 32nd Street, sweetchurros.com
Black and White Cookies at William Greenberg
You can find black and white cookies in most bakeries and grocery stores, but none are quite like those synonymous with the William Greenberg name. They're miniature versions of the classic massive black and white cookie—so you'll want a few—and baked and iced to utter perfection. Let's just say they've been voted no. 1 in New York for a reason. The bakery even customizes them for holidays (think pastels for Easter and green and white for St. Patrick's Day) or by request.
multiple locations, wmgreenbergdesserts.com
Olive Oil Cake at L'Artusi
It's not always worth saving room for dessert at Italian restaurants where you'd rather order every plate of pasta on the menu instead, but trust us when we say you need to try the olive oil cake at this West Village hotspot. It's made with high-quality extra virgin olive oil and just a little Madeira wine, and served with crème fraîche and raisin marmellata (raisin jam, essentially).
228 West 10th Street, lartusi.com
Nutella Sea Salt Cookie at Chip City
New Yorkers will endlessly debate where to find the best cookie in the city, but the rotating weekly menu at Chip City features some of the most innovative flavors we've ever come across. There's everything from classic chocolate chip (made with a brown sugar cookie) to a hot honey cornbread cookie—but our favorite has to be this Nutella-stuffed sea salt cookie that appears on the menu about once a month.
multiple locations, chipcitycookies.com
Lemon Cheesecake at Bad Roman
This playful restaurant in Columbus Circle is brand new, but the lemon cheesecake (in the actual shape of two lemons and served on a bed of crushed graham crackers) is already Instagram-famous—and rightfully so. Not only is it admittedly fun to crack the lemon to get to the creamy center, but the flavor also lives up to the hype.
10 Columbus Circle (3rd Floor), badromannyc.com
Taiyaki Ice Cream at Taiyaki NYC
How could you not want to eat (or Instagram) a colorful swirled ice cream in a Japanese fish-shaped waffle? If you're on your way to Baxter Street or Bedford Avenue, be prepared to wait in line. No matter what the weather is like, people are waiting to get their hands on this Japanese street-food-slash-sweet-treat. The warm waffle cones are filled with red bean, then you can choose from a variety of soft serve ice cream flavors and unique toppings (we suggest matcha).
multiple locations, taiyakinyc.com
Bomboloni at Angelina Bakery
These fluffy, cream-filled Italian doughnuts are melt-in-your-mouth good. With your choice of six fillings—Chantilly cream, Nutella, pistachio cream, strawberry cream, Boston cream, or a Nutella and Chantilly combo—there's no wrong answer here. While you're there, it would be silly not to also get a croissant, or a dozen. (Don't make us choose, but...almond.)
multiple locations, angelinabakery.com
Cristina Corvino is a senior editor for Hearst Magazines. A few of her favorite things include all things Christmas, cheese, coffee, and baseball. (Let’s go Mets!) She loves rewatching Gilmore Girls and Downton Abbey, and her favorite new(ish) shows are Ted Lasso and Trying. (Seriously, try it!)
Carrie Goldberg is HarpersBAZAAR.com’s Weddings & Travel Director. She oversees the site’s BAZAAR Bride channel, travel & dining content, and styles fashion and bridal editorials for BAZAAR.com. When she’s not traveling, she spends her free time in her hometown–New York City–where there is no shortage of new places to shop, eat, drink, see and explore.
