6 Delicious Under-The-Radar New York City Bakeries

In New York City, there are countless choices for those in search of a sweet treat. To help narrow the options, we asked seven in-the-know foodies to share their favorite NYC bakeries that are loved by locals but may be lesser-known to visitors.
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    Courtesy Arcade Bakery

    Arcade Bakery

    “The only hint that Arcade Bakery sits inside an otherwise nondescript office building in TriBeCa is the aroma of freshly baked rustic breads and flaky croissants,” says Bao Ong, a writer whose credits include The New York Times, Gotham, Serious Eats, and Zagat. “On every visit, I feel like I’ve discovered my own secret boulangerie.” (220 Church Street, 212-227-7895)

  • Polina Yamshchikov

    She Wolf Bakery

    A superb sourdough draws Sarah Sanneh, pastry chef and co-owner of fried chicken mecca Pies ‘n’ Thighs, to She Wolf Bakery. “She Wolf makes a sourdough with the most beautifully blistered, perfectly crisp crust,” she says. Scarlett Lindeman, the recipe editor at Diner Journal agrees. “I try to shy away from superlatives, but I have to say, it’s the best.”

    With baker Austin Hall at the helm, She Wolf provides bread for Brooklyn restaurants Marlow & Sons, Diner, Roman’s, and Reynard. Breads can also be found at the gourmet grocery Marlow & Daughters, and at several of the city’s greenmarkets.

    (718-486-3077)

  • Joe DiStefano

    Cannelle Patisserie

    Food writer Joe DiStefano, whose blog Chopsticks and Marrow puts a spotlight on culinary goings-on in Queens, recommends Cannelle Patisserie. Co-owned by two former pastry chefs at the Waldorf Astoria, Cannelle has two locations in Queens: one in East Elmhurst, and a months-old shop in Long Island City. First-time visitors should be sure to try the Paris-Brest, laden with praline cream, the macarons, the almond croissant. “I find myself here two or three times a month,” DiStefano says. “Good thing I don’t live any closer, or it would be more.” (75-59 31st Avenue, East Elmhurst, 718-565-6200 / 5-11 47th Avenue, Long Island City, 718-937-8500)

  • Aliza Eliazarov

    Bakeri

    Karen Mordechai is a Brooklyn-based photographer whose communal dinner series Sunday Suppers inspired a cookbook. “Bakeri is a local favorite,” she says. “Though it's known for sweets and pastries — my favorites are the mini croissants — lunch is pretty perfect there, as well.” (150 Wythe Avenue, 718-388-8037 / 105 Freeman Street, 718-349-1542)

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  • Andrea Gentl and Martin Hyers

    Saltie

    According to Conde Nast Traveler contributor Elizabeth Stark, Williamsburg sandwich shop Saltie serves up way more than just a stellar lunch. “There’s always an incredible lineup of seasonal baked goods, as well as great coffee,” she says. “Offerings change frequently — look for simple quick breads, brioche, cakes, pastries, and bread puddings done right.” (378 Metropolitan Avenue, 718-387-4777)

  • Courtesy La Boîte

    La Boîte

    “La Boîte in Hell’s Kitchen is not a traditional bakery,” says Conde Nast Traveler contributor, food writer, and tea specialist Kathy YL Chan. “It’s actually a spice shop that just so happens to make a memorable selection of delicate French-style biscuits. They hover somewhere between savory and sweet, and come in tin boxes that change with the season: A little bit of art, a little bit of dessert.” (724 11th Avenue, 212-247-4407)