The Best Cookies in New York Amidst the City's Bakery Boom
In a city with enough food options to feed you for many lifetimes, it’s important to narrow down the must-visits. Cookies, in particular, have been the talk of the town recently, with a slew of (really good) new NYC bakeries popping up left and right—but the oldies are just as good as the newbies, and shouldn’t be forgotten about either. Enter: our list of the best cookies NYC has to offer, from tried-and-true classics from Levain to Radio Bakery and other buzzy newcomers. Some spots on this list will have you waiting in a long line with fellow hungry cookie monsters, while others are less crowded or have perfected their churn. No matter which route you go, you’re destined to be satisfied with whatever chocolatey warm delight you’re able to get your hands on. Without further ado, find our list below of the best of the best in New York City.
Read our complete New York City travel guide here, which includes:
- The Best Hotels in NYC
- The Best Day Trips from NYC
- The Best Restaurants in NYC
- The Best New Restaurants in NYC
- The Best Things to Do in NYC
- The Best Jewish Food in NYC
Courtesy Hani's BakeryHani’s Bakery
First thing’s first: It’s pronounced “honey’s!” Don’t be deterred by the line outside this Astor Place bakery; it moves quickly, and you’ll be delighted to find ample seating inside, including a line of stools alongside a counter looking into the kitchen, where you can watch bakers swirl frosting over cakes and slice up the Cosmic Brownie–lookalike creation on the menu. I was here to try the cookie, which did not disappoint—big enough to share, with thick slabs of gooey chocolate throughout and a salty finish. While you’re here, scoop up a few other treats too: cookie butter monkey bread, black and white donuts, and halva rice crispy bars are just some of the latest sweet treats on the menu. —Madison Flager
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Courtesy From LucieFrom Lucie
Tucked away in the East Village like a sweet little secret, From Lucie has been enchanting dessert lovers since it opened its doors, offering whimsical floral cakes that are as much a work of art as they are a treat. But don’t let the cakes steal all the attention—this cozy bakery is also home to a chocolate chip cookie that might just steal your heart. Made with a rich blend of dark and milk chocolate, kissed with a touch of sea salt, and baked to that perfect crisp-meets-chewy texture, it’s the kind of treat that feels like it came straight from a fairy tale oven. The bakery’s founder, Lucie, pours her French-inspired love for baking into every creation, and this cookie is no exception. Simple, yet elevated, it’s a small indulgence that’s worth a detour. Don’t be surprised if you leave with a few tucked under your arm—one bite and you’ll want more. —Paris Wilson
Courtesy Red Gate BakeryRed Gate Bakery
There are tons of cookies to be had at Red Gate, where a sign outside beckons, “Be gay, eat cookies.” Inside the shoebox-sized space, there’s no interior seating and hardly enough room for a line, but you can see the bakers at work in the expansive rear. Marvel, dear cookie monster, at the diversity of cookies on display. There are handmade Oreos, double-fudge ditties, and a confetti cookie that the person behind the register tells me is their favorite and that, when I try it, brings the best parts of cake into the equation. But the chocolate toffee cookie is the pinnacle of the form, with crisp outer edges offset by an ooey gooey center. Flakey salt, applied sparingly, is the icing. —Charlie Hobbs
Courtesy Radio BakeryRadio Bakery
To say that Radio Bakery (Greenpoint; Prospect Heights) has a cult following for anything they put out on a tray is by now the stuff of Brooklyn lore. To say that its chocolate chip cookie has its very own fan club is just as true. Lovers of their version cite the perfect ratio of crisp to chew; others celebrate the excellent quality of semi-sweet chocolate chunks. I love its rough-hewn texture, its perfect thickness (not too plump, not crispy-thin either) and the fact the sea salt is neither sparing nor does it fall off the minute you pull the cookie out from the bag. Which is all to say: Kelly Mencin, Radio’s chef-owner, just gets it. Radio Bakery goods are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan your outing accordingly (which is to say, prepare for long lines). —Arati Menon
Courtesy Seven Grams CafférestaurantSeven Grams Caffé
Seven Grams Caffé has a delectable, unique cookie for just about everyone. Their standouts are their classic chocolate chip cookie, matcha white chocolate cookie, and peanut butter chocolate chip cookie, but they also have amazing vegan options and even a gluten free cookie—a good one, too. Be sure not to miss their seasonal flavors that come around every once in a while, like their Umami Cookie with white miso, white chocolate, and walnuts. Most importantly, their cookies are generally served warm and always served gooey, with the perfect ratio of cookie to chocolate.
Michelle Giang/Courtesy Gramercy TavernrestaurantGramercy Tavern
$$$I personally believe that the best way to judge a restaurant is by their desserts, and beloved Gramercy Tavern deserves high praise for theirs. Their large list of desserts includes apple cider donuts, banana split sundae, chocolate pudding cake, and an unassuming Chocolate Chunk Cookie served alongside malted chocolate milk. Served warm and fresh, the cookie is filled with milk, dark, and white chocolate chunks in the perfect ratio. This cookie exceeds all expectations, and the mini drink it comes with is a surprising, nostalgic treat. In a city with a laundry list of social-media hyped dishes, sometimes it’s refreshing to find a hidden gem.
Mark Weinberg/Courtesy Levain BakeryrestaurantLevain Bakery
“Old reliable,” “OG,” and “classic” are all appropriate classifications for iconic Levain Bakery cookies. Real New Yorkers will tell you how they remember when Levain had a single location on the Upper West Side with lines around the block, and how those lines were worth waiting in for that consistently decadent, famously crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside chocolate chip walnut (their original, but still can’t-miss, flavor.) The oatmeal raisin cookie is an underrated favorite amongst cookie lovers, as well. Levain now has 14 bakeries across the country (with new ones frequently popping up) and also offers nationwide shipping. If you’re in need of the quickest, easiest, and most thoughtful birthday gift in a pinch, a box of six of these hefty treats will always fit the bill.
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Courtesy La Mercerie/Robert WrightrestaurantLa Mercerie
$$$When the social media craze around this spot took over TikTok in Summer 2023, cookie addicts knew it was time to get their hands on one of these highly coveted cookies capped at 100 sold each day (though this number has seemed to increase over the months, as their popularity has too). This cookie has so many flavors layered throughout—ones you can literally see as you crack open the confection. On top you’ll find the perfect amount of flaky sea salt, and inside you’ll taste flavors of chocolate, hazelnut, and caramel, all hand-crafted quality. You can order the La Mercerie cookie (if they’re not sold out) as a post-meal dessert at the restaurant—or, if you’re anything like me, just get there when they open and snag some cookie takeout.
Emily Schindler/Courtesy Chip CityrestaurantChip City Cookies
Chip City bakery was born in Astoria, Queens back in 2017, and has since expanded to key neighborhoods across the city and country. Chip City’s Instagram announces their weekly menu every Friday from all-time favorite flavors to new seasonal flavors. Their s’mores cookie topped with browned marshmallows, and a confetti flavor reminiscent of the best vanilla birthday cake you’ve ever had, often appear on weekly rotation. Chip City also offers local delivery, nationwide shipping, and even catering for corporate events or weddings.
Courtesy Culture Espresso BarrestaurantCulture Espresso Bar
It’s not so often that a New Yorker will suggest that anyone should willingly head to Midtown, but Culture Espresso’s three locations, all within a few blocks of one another, are a great choice if you’re out and about touring in NYC. Cookies and coffees are what they’re good at; plenty of flavors to choose from include their Zebra flavor, filled with chocolate and white chocolate chips, their oatmeal cranberry cookie, and even a corn flavored cookie. These are the quintessential ooey-gooey cookies, served warm (eat in-store!) in their messy delight.
restaurantPetit Chou
Every time I walk into Petit Chou bakery with an idea of “just one thing I want to get,” I end up leaving with an entire box of assorted pastries. My loot typically contains the chocolate croissant, a cinnamon bun, and two buttery fresh cookie options: chocolate chip, and white chocolate chip & cranberry. A favorite is the latter for its refreshingly different, balanced flavors that stand out from so many of the rich options around the city; there’s something special about the combination of white chocolate with berries.
Courtesy Dominque AnselDominique Ansel
The bakery that gained much of its popularity for its famous cronut also has plenty of other incredible treats. Among them is a glorious chocolate chip cookie, not to be confused with the also-famous chocolate chip cookie shots filled with milk. While they don’t serve their cookie warm, it’s a notable contender for its flavors, chewy texture, and hefty size. Next time you’re impatiently waiting in their line around the block, don’t forget about the cronut’s less-famous cookie sibling—it’s equally delicious.
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Courtesy Flutter Butter BakeryFlutter Butter Bakery
Sabrina, the baker behind Flutter Butter Bakery, started experimenting with gluten free flours following a celiac diagnosis in her 20s, and now she churns out one of the best cookies I know to exist—their brown butter chocolate chip cookie only coincidentally happens to be gluten free, though anyone without that information wouldn’t have a clue. While Flutter Butter currently does not have a storefront, they sell to Butterfield Market on the Upper East Side, and are often available at different pop-up events (follow @flutterbutterbakery on Instagram for the latest). Keep your eye out for their ice cream pint collaborations with Caffe Panna, too—they sell out fast and are absolutely divine.
Courtesy Funny Face BakeryFunny Face Bakery
When you walk into Funny Face Bakery, a small purple storefront shop off the corner of Lafayette and Houston streets, you’re greeted by creative and hilariously decorated sugar cookies depicting everything from the iconic Kim Kardashian crying face to hand-crafted NYC memorabilia (think a Metrocard, or a rat holding a slice of pizza). But the most surprising treat is waiting in a display case right under the register: soft-baked cookies of so many flavors; Crumbfetti, oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip just to name a few which are taken right off the oven rack upon ordering. Make no mistake, these creations are not an afterthought of an otherwise looks-focused bakery—they’re unbelievably delicious.
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