Latest Best of NY

NYC’s 6 Best Bakeries

December 19, 2011 6:00 AM

(file photo credit: Clipart)

We know the holidays are stressful. Are you feeling unprepared for your family gathering or holiday shindig? Not to worry – there’s no shortage of bakeries in the Big Apple. These represent some of the city’s variety, and are the top of their field in their category. By Valerie Stivers.

Balthazar Bakery

Some of the specialties of Balthazar Bakery. (credit: balthazarbakery.com)

80 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 965-1785
balthazarbakery.com
Reviews & more info

This tiny storefront attached to Keith McNally’s unstoppable Soho bistro serves some of the best pastries and baked goods in New York. It’s the only place in the city to get a perfect cannelé—a fluted little fireplug of sweet, eggy dough with a smooth, dark caramelized exterior.

Billy’s Bakery

A patriotic tart from Billy's Bakery (credit: Billy's Bakery).

184 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212) 647-9956

75 Franklin Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 647-9958
billysbakerynyc.com
Reviews & more info

There are a dozens of white-washed, pastel-styled, quaint little bake shops in New York City, but we think Billy’s cakes are the best. The frosting has just the right ratio of butter to sugar, and the crumb is dense and moist without being dreary. Our favorite? The banana cake with cream cheese frosting.

City Bakery

The City Bakery pretzel croissant, which they liken to a unicorn. (credit: pretzelcroissant.com)

3 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 366-1414
thecitybakery.com

The City Bakery took the classic New York deli concept and elevated the ingredients. Its loft-like, balconied dining room in the Flatiron district has a great prepared salad bar, serve-yourself entrees, mac-and-cheese and organic yogurts. But the real centerpiece is the enormous horseshoe bakery counter serving cookies, muffins and a notorious, chewy, salty, stretchy pretzel croissant.

Fairway Market

(file photo credit: Clipart)

Multiple locations throughout the city, for more info check out their website:
fairwaymarket.com
Reviews & more info

Most of Fairway’s breads are good without being great, however its baguette is a thing of beauty. It belongs to the chewy-crust, soft (rather than fluffy) phylum of great baguette. Start ripping off hunks in the bag and you may just not get it home.

Veniero’s

The cookie tray from Venieros. (credit: venieropastry.com)

342 E ast 11th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 674-7070
venierospastry.com
Reviews & more info

Cupcakes are serious business in New York, with hot debate over whose are too sweet or not sweet enough or too gourmet or not gourmet enough, etc. Sugar Sweet Sunshine’s classic plain cupcake (pink, blue, yellow or green frosting) gets our vote for delivering a just-right blast of super-sweet icing on a dryish, crumbling cake. The best.

V&V Bakery

(file photo credit: Clipart)

61-19 Roosevelt Avenue
Queens, NY 11377
(718) 476-1669

The 61st and Woodside subway stop in Queens is known for the great taco and tamale carts under the overpass on Roosevelt Ave. A few doors further down is V&V bakery, a traditional Italian bakery short on atmosphere but beloved for its Irish soda bread, biscotti, mini-eclairs and Napoleons.

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brooklyn4ever

Sam S.

With all due respect between the ridiculous toll for the VZ and the cost of gas, it is just easier to get the goodies within walking distance.
robin g

ever had a mini-cupcake from baked by melissa?
march was upside down cheesecake.
it’s to die for!
Mike C.

As someone whom has lived outside New York (on business only) I can confirm that the three (3) things no other city compares to NY are as followed:
- Bakeries
- Pizza
- Bagels

In the next round of bakeries please try the Arthur Avenue in the Little Italy Section of the Bronx. They have some of the best bakeries in the Tri State Area.

CBS, another great story. keep them coming.

Thanks
Sam S.

How can you guys ignore 2 of Staten Island’s best?!!
Cake Chef and Alfonso’s are terrific and can give any Manhattan bakery a real run for their money. During holidays and Holydays, the lines are out the doors. Staten Islanders gladly wait for their treats!!