10 Best Dessert Spots In Manhattan, New York City

1. Spot Dessert Bar

Located at St. Mark’s Place, East Village, Spot was the first dessert bar to come up with the innovative concept of “dessert tapas”. Now, Spot uses seasonal fruits for dessert tapas that sell like hotcakes. The menu, thus, changes to coincide with the four seasons, summer, fall, winter, and spring. Instagrammable, rich in looks and taste, Spot’s desserts are some of the most sought-after in NYC. Most days, patrons queue outside for a taste of Matcha Lava, a warm, dark chocolate cake filled with matcha ganache, which is then served with matcha green tea ice cream. Another hot contender includes Golden Honey Toast, warm honey toast served with fresh strawberries, and milk ice cream. In the mood for something interactive? Enter The Harvest, which is a multilayered cake built into a tiny planter. Basically, it’s a cake in the form of a tiny potted plant.

Spot Dessert Bar

Address: 13 St Marks Pl

Website: Spot Dessert Bar

Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 12pm - 12am; Thu - Fri: 12pm - 1am; Sat: 1pm - 1am

2. Two Little Red Hens

Love baked goods? Then you will feel right at home in this cute hole-in-the-wall authentic New York bakery, located right on 2nd Ave. Go after 10 am to try their world-famous cupcakes. An assortment of cupcakes should include the famous red velvet along with banana, key lime torte, yellow cake with vanilla frosting, chocolate frosting, chocolate, and carrot. Perfect in size with just the right amount of frosting, moist and gently sweet, these cupcakes are the talk of the town. There is always a small queue outside this custom bakery and seating is limited. But what it lacks in ambiance, it makes up with its perfect fluffy cakes and cheesecakes.

Two Little Red Hens

Address: 1652 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States

Website: Two Little Red Hens

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 7:30am - 9pm; Fri: 7:30am - 10pm; Sat: 8am - 10pm; Sun: 8am - 8pm

3. Veniero's Pasticceria & Caffe

Think Italian desserts, think Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe. This family-owned establishment is the oldest Italian pastry business in NYC. Specializing in Italian butter cookies, pastries, including their famous cannoli, cheesecake, and biscotti, this classic Italian pasticceria started off as a coffee place. Eventually, Antonio Veniero, the owner, also started serving pastries and cakes because patrons wanted something sweet to go along with their coffee. Word spread, the business grew. Right now, the business is owned by the fourth-generation owner, Robert Zerilli. Walk into history as you walk through the store’s 80-year old neon store sign. Order a hot cup of espresso and a fresh batch of cannoli as you reminisce about the history of this diverse town. It’s a trip in every bite.

Veniero's Pasticceria & Caffe

Address: 342 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003, United States

Website: Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 8am - 11:45pm; Fri - Sat: 8am - 12:45am

4. Rice to Riches

Spring St’s Rice to Riches serves only rice puddings, with a variety of toppings. An NYC Mecca, your trip is futile if you haven’t paid this sweet holy site a visit. Handmade daily, the show-stealers include heavyweights like the Graham Cracker, Chocolate Crumble, Oven-roasted fresh fruit, and the Coast-to-Coast cheesecake with toasted coconut. Some quirky puddings include the Death, Taxes, and Espresso with Chocolate Chips and the “Oreo"gasm. Yes, these guys are breaking boundaries in rice pudding AND puns! Do sample a selection before making a purchase.

Rice To Riches

Address: 37 Spring St, New York, NY 10012, United States

Website: Rice To Riches

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 1am

5. Levain Bakery

A little bakery on Amsterdam Ave, Levain Bakery has perfected the art of the cookie, so much so that it is now synonymous with cookies. Cookies that are like mini cakes, cookies that are big and gooey and delicious, Levain has turned its customers into poets. Perhaps, this explains why Levain’s customer testimonials are just pages of odes to the cookie. Take a bite of their immensely popular oatmeal raisin cookie and the dark chocolate chocolate chip cookie. Alternatively, you can taste a bit of each flavor; there’s the smooth chocolate peanut butter chip, thick chocolate chip walnut, and more! They also have an array of European bread, pizzas, and wholewheat sandwiches that go perfectly with their delicious coffee.

Levain Bakery - Amsterdam Avenue

Address: 351 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024, United States

Website: Levain Bakery - Amsterdam Avenue

Opening hours: 7am - 8:30pm (daily)

6. Angelina Bakery

If you thought we were done with Italian bakeries, you were wrong! We are just getting started. Located on 8th Avenue, Angelina Bakery offers a delicious bouquet of Italian baked goods. Right from the city favorite Cheese Focaccia (which the New York Times rightly headlined, “So Nice, You’ll Eat It Twice”) to the Calzoncini and Arancini, their Italian savories have gained word of mouth through taste. But those with a sweet tooth are in good hands too, with the signature Bomboloni (with cream or Nutella), tarts, and cornetti.

Angelina Bakery

Address: 575 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States

Website: Angelina Bakery

Opening hours: 7am - 8pm (daily)

7. Magnolia Bakery

Remember the small bench outside a nondescript bakery where Carrie told Miranda about Aiden? As Miranda applauded Carrie for having a crush after a long time, the two ladies munched on some of the most gorgeous cupcakes ever seen on television. Thus began the rise of Magnolia Bakery, which had hitherto been a small cupcake chain in NYC. Now, the bakery has multiple stores in eight countries, including the Middle East and India. A visit to Manhattan is really incomplete without a homage to the bakery that started it all. Go for the hummingbird cake, banana pudding, and their world-famous cupcakes. Don’t forget to try the delectable cheesecake that comes in various flavors, from pumpkin to blueberries.

Magnolia Bakery

Address: 1240 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020, United States

Website: Magnolia Bakery

Opening hours: 10am - 9pm (daily)

8. Fat Witch Bakery

If brownies are your poison, then you have to find your way to this cute little shop at Chelsea Market. True to their name, they really are like a delicious witch’s house selling brownies in assorted flavors. You can buy prepackaged Witch Babies, which come in different flavors like caramel, chocolate, and walnut. Their Baby Boxes make delicious gifts for loved ones. Not sure what to pick? Try their taster tray and have your ‘aha moment’.

Fat Witch Bakery

Address: 75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011, United States

Website: Fat Witch Bakery

Opening hours: 9am - 8pm (daily)

9. Alice's Tea Cup

“New York City’s most whimsical tea house”, the website of Alice’s Tea Cup reads. If you don’t mind diving down deep into a rabbit hole of magical scones, crepes, delicious cookies, and cakes, then you should pay this store a visit. In addition to baked goods, sandwiches, eggs and sausages, they have a delightful assortment of over 100 varieties of teas! Furthermore, this magic potion is served in royal pots and cups, often transporting the drinker to Victorian England. If you would like to get into a time machine, walk through the doors of this quaint tea room. A fairy tale awaits.

Alice's Tea Cup

Address: 156 E 64th St, New York, NY 10065, United States

Website: Alice’s Tea Cup

Opening hours: 8am - 8pm (daily)

10. Ferrara Bakery & Cafe

Established in 1892, Ferrara has been captivating dessert lovers with over 200 varieties of Italian delights. Napoleon, gelato, cannoli, pretzel, tiramisu, the list goes on. This cute bakery is a heaven for those who cannot have enough sweetness in their lives. Want something to drink? Enjoy the relaxing warm cocoa and hot coffees. And when you are done, don’t forget to take a pack of cookies home.

Ferrara Bakery & Cafe

Address: 195 Grand St, New York, NY 10013, United States

Website: Ferrara Bakery & Cafe

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 9am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 9am - 12am

Complete your NYC trip at Manhattan's dessert bars

The rich diversity of Manhattan has made it a treasure trove of the best dessert spots in the city. Whether you are in the mood for classic milk and cookies or frozen hot chocolate or gelato, Manhattan offers a wide array of hole-in-the-wall shops, family bakeries, and fine-dining restaurants to satiate your sweet tooth. What are your recommendations for the best dessert spots in Manhattan, New York City? Start exploring today.