As a sweet lover, one of my favorite destinations in the world is New York City and it is quite obvious why. I have been to quite a lot of places and from experience, New York City has some of the best desserts in the world.
To be honest, there are so many delicious and mouth-watering places that it’s hard to pick just one. However, there are some places that stand out from the rest and are definitely worth trying.
I listed down below some of the best dessert places in NYC so you can have a little cheat sheet of which places to visit the next time you go there.
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Best Dessert Spots You Don’t Want to Miss in NYC
New York City Dessert Places in Manhattan
Levain Bakery
Imagine sweet gooey cookies that are so huge they can fit the size of your palm. Levain Bakery is a shop in New York City that specializes in exactly that!
They are known for their huge and thick chocolate chip walnut cookies that are truly delicious and oozing with filling. They also offer chocolate peanut butter, double chocolate, and oatmeal raisin cookies.
Their baked goods are simply excellent and will satisfy your sweet tooth cravings, especially if you are a chocolate lover like me!
In fact, many people would argue that their cookies are the best in NYC and you know what? I share the same sentiment! Just the smell itself can make your mouth water from anticipation. In my opinion, the best way to enjoy these cookies is to eat them fresh and hot from the oven.
Ferrara Bakery and Cafe
The list of best desserts in New York will not be complete without the mention of tiramisu and Ferrara Bakery and Cafe is just my favorite. 
Treat yourself to this lovely Italian pastry shop in Little Italy that has been around in New York City since 1892. Their specialty tiramisu cake layered with mascarpone is perfect to pair with a hot cup of coffee or green tea.
They also have an assortment of cakes, cookies, and more that are all worth trying. The pastries are all made in-house and with the freshest ingredients daily.
Davey’s Ice Cream (1st Avenue)
I am simply not running out of places to recommend because New York is an ice cream haven!
Just across the street from one of the bus stops at 1st Avenue in East Village is a little gem called Davey’s Ice Cream. They serve sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, brownies, and milkshakes.
Davey’s sells some of the best and most unique ice cream flavors you will find in New York City. The most popular ones are chocolate chip, pistachio, strawberry, and salted caramel. If you are feeling more adventurous, you can try their apricot ginger sorbet or black pepper strawberry sorbet.
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Mandarin Oriental
If you are looking for a late night-dessert, NYC restaurants can satisfy your cravings! For one, the MO Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is open up to 11 PM from Sunday through Wednesday, and up until midnight from Thursday through Saturday – down for some late night sweets? They got you.
I must say that the view from the restaurant is fantastic! The ambiance is great and you get to see the lovely Central Park from the window.
The place is fancy so it is also perfect for date nights. Just take note that their dessert menu might change seasonally.
The little cannoli stand in Little Italy
If you are not familiar with cannoli, then you need to immediately try one! Cannolis are Italian pastries filled with sweetened ricotta cheese that comes in many flavors such as chocolate chip, lemon, or pistachio nut.
Little Italy is home to some of the best dessert places in Manhattan and it is where you can find the best cannolis in town.
And just to be clear, I am not talking of a particular cannoli stand. What I’m saying is that almost every stand or bakery that sells cannoli in Little Italy will give you that distinct Italian taste and quality.
Visit Little Italy’s neighborhood for a fun food trip and try as many Italian pastries as you can. That experience will surely be one for the books.
Dreamy Dessert Places in NYC – Brooklyn
Petee’s Pie Company
If you are looking for the best-tasting baked pies in New York City, then I know just the place for you. Petee’s Pie Company is a dessert place in New York that offers a large selection of pies made from locally-produced real ingredients.
Upon entering the shop, a delicious aroma of freshly baked pies will greet you. Try our personal favorite key lime pie or the famous almond chess pie. The crust is to die for and the fillings are just great. You can buy by the slice or order the pie as a whole.
The place is not that big but their branches on the Lower East Side and Brooklyn are open daily.
Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
One of the best ways to spend an afternoon in New York is by getting a scoop or two of your favorite dessert at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. The location is amazing as it is so close to the river and parks, plus it also gives you a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, butter pecan, and strawberry are always available. Personally, I love my peaches and cream served in a tasty ice cream cone. Sundaes and milkshakes are a hit too.
Why You Can’t Skip NYC Desserts – Chelsea
Magnolia Bakery – a must among all New York City Desserts
You’ve probably heard of the must-try Magnolia Bakery in New York. It has been featured on various television shows like Sex and the City, Saturday Night Live, and more. No wonder they serve some of the most famous New York desserts.
This bakery and cafe offers a wide variety of delicious desserts, cookies, icebox cakes, and bread. Cupcakes remain to be their most popular items which are available in different flavors such as chocolate or lemon with vanilla frosting. Their banana bread pudding is divine and probably the best dessert in Chelsea!
Magnolia Bakery has several branches in New York but if you want to visit their original location, you can find them at Bleecker Street in the West Village.
The Sweetest Reasons To Visit New York City
If you are on the constant lookout for tasty and unique desserts, NYC is definitely the best place to visit and explore.
Whether you’re looking for a sweet treat to eat-in or to take home, I hope that my list of must-try New York City desserts will help you find your favorite sweet places.
Bookmark this page so you don’t have to google for the “best dessert near me” next time. Have fun as you eat your way through New York City’s delicious dessert scene!
XO,
Anna
Anna is a traveler, blogger, and entrepreneur who can’t keep herself still. She’s always on the move, whether working hard on a new passion project or exploring a new city as a part-time digital nomad. Dare to keep up? Check out The Tatted Nomad for everything digital nomad, social media marketing, mental health, and travel (and to see her latest addition, Novah, her service dog and travel companion). As a psychotherapist (to be) she also offers insights about your mental health related questions – anything you see that isn’t covered but you have questions about? Let her know!
