The Best Bakeries in NYC, From the East Village to Sunnyside

And you only need to wait in line at a couple of these picks.BirdeeWhen it comes to the best bakeries, NYC has quite a few. Never has there been a better time to eat pastry: We’re living in a worldwide bakery boom, all the way from the streets of Accra to Edinburgh to Manhattan. And one of the cities where this is most intensely felt is the Big Apple—if you’re visiting, it might seem that the New Yorker’s current favorite hobby is standing in line to get their hands on some signature croissant, cinnamon roll, or the newest hybrid pastry that’s been running rampant on social media. Of course, not all of those are worth the hype, but after tasting our way around town, we can confidently say that the below are highly delicious and—dare we say?—worth the wait. Whether you’re looking for a celebration cake, classic cannoli, or simply excellent chocolate chip cookies, you’ll find no shortage of options. There’s officially no need to head to Paris for your new favorite pain au chocolat: These are the best bakeries NYC has to offer.Read our complete New York City travel guide here, which includes:The Best Things to Do in NYCThe Best Hotels in NYCThe Best Restaurants in NYCHani's is housed in a former Dunkin' Donuts in the East Village and offers a rotating selection of cakes, cookies, and more. Mark Weinberg/Hani's BakeryHani’s67 Cooper Sq, East Village, New York, NYAs this bakery comes from the formidable (married) couple consisting of Gramercy Tavern alum Miro Uskokovic and Bon Appétit's Shilpa Uskokovic (editor's note: Bon Appétit is also a Condé Nast title), we knew this would be a bakery to watch. Housed in a former Dunkin’ Donuts near Astor Place in the East Village, it’s American in style with an ever-rotating selection. On any given day you’ll find cakes—Uskokovic's specialty—but also nostalgic classics like cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, and even a cosmic brownie. There’s no going wrong with any of those, but make sure to try a cake: PB&J is a favorite variation, and the artfully square-cut carrot is also a standout. For gluten-free and vegan friends, there are always a few options at your disposal that are far from afterthoughts. It's also worth noting that they serve soft-serve ice cream in the summer.Elbow Bread1 Ludlow Street, Chinatown, New York, NYThis is a bakery that knows its history: It’s from the brains of pastry wizard Zoë Kanan and the team behind two other beloved New York spots, S&P Lunch and Court Street Grocers. Kanan is bringing a new school slant to classic Ashkenazi Jewish baked goods that were, not too long ago, more widely available on the Lower East Side. She’s known for her iconic sweet-potato soft pretzel, but don’t overlook the rest of the pastry case. Her bread skills shine best when she's making glossy challah (available every Friday). Pullman loaves (sandwich bread) and other varieties are made daily, and be sure to try a bialy, the rugelach, and the seasonal kolach, a sweet bread that has become ubiquitous throughout Kanan’s native Texas after being imported from the Czech Republic. There are many savory options and sandwiches, too, for those who are in more of a lunch state of mind—plus the benches out front are some of the best places to perch and people watch the Dimes Square scene.Focaccia galore at Radio Bakery, where flavors include shakshuka and everything spice. Alexander Stein / Radio BakerySandwiches, like the cult-favorite roast turkey sandwich seen here, are also on offer at Radio. Alexander Stein / Radio BakeryRadio Bakery135 India Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY; 186 Underhill Avenue, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NYPerennially popular since opening their original Greenpoint location in 2023, they have since gone on to open a second in Prospect Heights—and there are at least two more in the works in Manhattan. Expect lines to last for over an hour on weekends, and they often sell out of their popular items—so get there early. The menu might look like your run-of-the-mill pastry shop, but Radio’s versions of croissants, breakfast sandwiches, and focaccia are anything but, with flavors like mango lassi, key lime pie, and pandan cheesecake that satisfies both the indulgent breakfast and dessert categories. They are also known for their sandwiches, drawing fans from other boroughs to get their hands on a cult-favorite roast turkey on pesto-topped focaccia, or spicy tofu with chili crisp.From Lucie263 East 10th Street, East Village, New York, NYIf you’re looking for a bespoke cake, From Lucie is one of the best options in the city, coming from French baker Lucie Franc de Ferriere, who burst onto the scene in 2020 with her layer cakes topped with fresh flowers. She’s baked many a famous cake, counting the likes of Lorde, Harry Styles, and AnnaSophia Robb as customers. She’s always experimenting, but on a recent visit, there were flavors like lemon, olive oil, and lavender, as well as chocolate with salted dark chocolate Espresso buttercream. Let it be known you can get three to four by-the-slice cake options on any given day, and there are always additional non-cake offerings—one of the city’s best chocolate chip cookies, for example, and a rich hot chocolate.Librae's rosemary sugar squiggle, a seasonal offering filled with salted pastry cream. Courtesy Librae BakeryThe iconic soft pretzels stay warm at Elbow Bread. Meredith Truax/Elbow BreadLibrae35 Cooper Square, East Village, New York, NYPerhaps the most fragrant spot on the list, you can smell the butter and za’atar wafting from this East Village bakery from blocks away. The flavors here may lean Middle Eastern, but the techniques are more Danish, using concepts like fermentation, lamination, and seasonal flavors. The all-female team is led by founder Dona Murad and culinary director Rebecca Newman Gargiulo, who creates innovative spins on classics: The pastry case is filled with rose pistachio croissants, tahini chocolate chip cookies, and labne rhubarb danishes. They also have a host of savory and lunch options, like sandwiches and breads. Since it’s been open a few years now, it also doesn’t typically have a line out the door—but that doesn’t make it any less delicious.Veniero’s342 E 11th St, East Village, New York, NY 10003Every list needs a classic institution, and Veniero's is our pick. It’s been owned and operated by the namesake family since 1894 for canonical Italian hits like cannoli, rainbow cookies, and tiramisu exactly as nonna makes them. The experience leans classic: Walk in, take a number, and place your order at the counter only when you’re called. Some offerings are by the piece, others by the pound, plus some large-format pre-made cheesecakes and black forest cakes that make great birthday treats. A little known fact is that there's table seating at the back, so pull up a chair and linger over a morning cappuccino and lobster tail, just like the ancestors did.Cakes from Lady Wong can be ordered in advance, with smaller tarts and slices available à la carte. Courtesy Lady WongLady Wong332 East 9th St, East Village, New York, NYYet another East Village gem, this bakery differs from other neighborhood spots because of its use of Malaysian flavors by way of French techniques. Coming from pastry chefs who were trained in Michelin-starred kitchens, the treats here might be some of the city's most eye-catching thanks to colorful flavors including pandan, black sesame, ube, and calamansi. The cakes that can be ordered in advance are show-stopping, but if you’re just popping in there's always a selection of smaller tarts, slices, and single-serve items a la carte, too. The shop has now expanded to locations in Midtown and in Greenwich, Connecticut. We can’t get enough of their black sesame passionfruit cake or the rotating selection of rainbow colored kuih—tiny treats popular in Southeast Asian cuisine that are often made with glutinous rice flour.Supermoon Bakehouse120 Rivington St, Lower East Side, New York, NYIf maximalism is the name of your game, this is the bakery for you. If it's the latest Frankenpastry mash-up you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. (Don’t go in here looking for a muffin, scone, or bagel, as you’ll come up empty-handed.) The menu changes monthly and we’ve seen everything from a corn-on-the-cob cruffin to bright-purple ube eclairs and crab rangoon danish. The inventions are bright, fun, and made with serious pastry skill, and the team doesn’t take themselves too seriously. It’s one of the few places on this list open late—until 10:00 p.m.—for a perfect post-dinner dessert stop. Supermoon also happens to make some of the wildest gelato in the five boroughs, with pints of pandan & kaya jam, Thai iced tea, and strawberry yuzu matcha.Masa Madre47-55 46th St, Woodside, NYIt’s more than worth the trek out to Sunnyside, Queens, to sample the conchas at this Latin American bakery. RestJoséteur Jose Luis Flores opened Masa Madre in 2024 to bring quality baking to the neighborhood in the form of danishes, doughnuts, and loaves, but also regional Mexican, Colombian, and Guatemalan specialties. You’ll find items that are rarely seen stateside, like piedras, an icing-topped shortbread cookie; pandebono, a Colombian cheese bread; and Pan de Cristal, a soft sourdough loaf. The cream-filled conchas are a must, as are the tamales and cornbread, but don’t overlook the French classics either. The almond croissant and cinnamon roll stand up to those you'll find at many other places on this list.Danish import La Cabra has two Manhattan locations—be sure to hit the East Village location if it's pastries you seek. Brennan Goldstein/Courtesy La CabraThe best approach at La Cabra is to grab a croissant for immediate satisfaction and then a loaf for the next morning. Brennan Goldstein/ Courtesy La CabraLa Cabra152 2nd Ave, East Village, New York, NY; 284 Lafayette St, SoHo, New York, NY; 1329 Willoughby Ave Unit 161, Bushwick Brooklyn, NYThis Danish import has three New York locations: the first in the East Village, another in Soho, and its newest in Bushwick. There’s nothing over the top here, but some of the best iterations of classics: cardamom buns, seasonal choux pastries filled with flavors like lemon, pineapple, and miso, and what may be the city’s best loaf of sourdough. La Cabra also has a strong coffee program with many single-origin pour-overs and an expertly made cortado. The best strategy at La Cabra is to get something for now and something to take away for later, like an almond croissant for immediate satisfaction and one of those crusty loaves for the next morning.Sixteen Mill552 Union St, Gowanus, Brooklyn, NYIt’s always nice to include an option that caters to those with restrictive diets, and this Gowanus bakery is for more than just our vegan and gluten-free friends. It comes from the mind of self-taught baker Natalia “Talia” Tutak. After some health issues made her switch up her eating habits, she adapted her baking to be 100% free of gluten and animal products. It's also extremely delicious. She’s known for having an exceptionally deft hand with breads like sourdough, buckwheat, and rosemary focaccia. While most gluten-free options elsewhere are crumbly, dense, and dry, hers are spongy and flavor-packed. For those with a sweet tooth, she always has doughnuts, cookies, brownies, and loaf cakes. Be sure to grab a chocolate babka muffin and a slice of whatever the cake of the week is, as well as anything else that catches your eye.Pastries at Kora Bakery incorporate Southeast Asian flavors like ube, pandan, and coconut. Kora BakeryKora Bakery45-12 Greenpoint Ave, Sunnyside, NYThis Queens bakery comes from two restaurant-industry veterans and proud Filipinos Kimberly Camara and Kevin Borja, who started a pop-up back in 2020 and quickly developed a cult following that demanded a brick-and-mortar. Known for doughnuts that incorporate Southeast Asian flavors like ube, calamansi, and coconut, their bright colors and artful toppings make them as visually alluring as they are delicious. Of course, go for the mango float brioche or salted egg babka if they're available, but don’t forget about the cookies or pies either, which can also be ordered ahead for special holidays like Thanksgiving and are a showstopping addition to any table. We highly recommend ordering one of their lattes to go along with your pastry—ube or salted cocojam would be our choice.Miolin Bakery422 7th Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NYWhere many on this list lean over-the-top, this Park Slope spot is the exact opposite. It’s simple, tasteful, and classic—but certainly not boring. It comes from the (partnered) team of Claudio Miolin and Pamela Chew, the former a baker who, in 2020, brought his skills to his home kitchen and began to bake sourdough to sell to the community through his apartment window. In 2024, the pair opened a brick-and-mortar that immediately drew lines. The bread, in every form, is pitch perfect: Baguettes and sourdough are available daily, and other rotating specials. On the sweet side of things, it’s the French classics—croissants, pain au chocolat, and kouign-amanns perhaps (dare we say) better than what you'll find in Paris. There’s also a whole roster of lunch sandwiches to round things out if you’re looking for more than a snack.Saison's refined interior Kate S JordanCakes at Saison can be custom-ordered for any occasion. Kate S JordanSaison434 Hancock St, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NYThe newest bakery on the list comes from home baker and longtime Brooklynite Sammy Rees. After working as an editor at Vogue, she made a pandemic-era pivot to cooking and baking. At her Bed-Stuy shop, you’ll find a refined, seasonally inspired American pastry selection as well as a selection of pantry items and home goods. On a recent visit, we sampled a mixed stonefruit frangipane cake, a blueberry lavender cornmeal muffin, and a cherry-flavored brownie. Don’t expect crazy flavors or fussy, over-the-top presentation; just excellent home-style baking where taste supersedes everything else. If you need a custom wedding or birthday cake, Rees will happily bake one.Strawberry elderflower danishes from Birdee, where the berries hide a healthy heaping of cream. A bit of artfully burnt meringue tops this cake from Birdee. Birdee316 Kent Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYThis bakery is the first solo venture from acclaimed pastry chef Renata Ameni, who worked at restaurants like the Michelin-starred Financial District restaurant Crown Shy. In 2025, she opened her own place on the Williamsburg waterfront with a large menu of pastries like burnt honey cake, churro croissants, and brown butter espresso blondies. Ameni is Brazilian, so look for nods to the country too, like decadent chocolate truffles known as brigadeiros. Birdee also has many breakfast and lunch options, like sandwiches, avocado toasts, and yogurt bowls if you come hungry for more than pastry. A fun bonus is that, from Thursday to Sunday evenings, they are open late and transform into Birdee Botequim, a wine bar serving Brazilian bites.A major spread from Lysee—spot the corn cake, their most famous option. LyseeLysee44 E 21st St, Flatiron, New York, NYThere’s no denying that the display case at Lysee is show-stopping. You’re likely to find a few items that look like other things…a bit of trompe d'oeil pastry. The corn cake, made from corn mousse, sable cookie, and grilled corn cream, is the most famous, but you might also find a strawberry tart disguised as a flower or a giant gummy bear that’s really a chocolate madeleine. They are works of art born from the mind of Chef Eunji Lee, who trained in France under masters like Alain Ducasse and Cédric Grolet and was the pastry chef at Michelin-starred Junsik. Grabbing a pastry or tart to go is one way of experiencing the bakery. But true aficionados should make a reservation for The Journey, a tasting menu experience of just desserts that takes place every Thursday night.Welcome Home's Bed-Stuy storefront is full of light thanks to its corner locations. Welcome HomeWelcome Home's signature cinnamon rolls are enormous and served with a dollop of cream cheese frosting. Welcome HomeWelcome Home1047 Bedford Ave, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NYThis Bed-Stuy bakery is all about community. Yes, it’s a great place to pop in for a morning glory muffin or a chocolate croissant, but you’re just as likely to find it hosting a pop-up evening BBQ, puzzle-making night, or book club. Founded by long-time friends, Isa Steyer and Billy Wright, who worked together at another great bakery, L'Appartement 4F, Steyer front of house, Wright as head baker. In 2024, they decided to go out on their own to open Welcome Home. The cinnamon rolls are a favorite, but the atypical Kouign-amann, which comes baked as a whole cake and is served in slices, might be the menu’s best-kept secret. Be sure to look out for seasonal cakes by the slice; banana and piña colada are recent hits.This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.Why Everyone Will Be Going to Osaka in 2025All of our best hotel, restaurant, and activity recommendations in one place.