Best bakeries in NYC

Fresh loaves, chocolate-chip cookies and more.

By Time Out editors Fri Apr 23 2010

Almondine Bakery
Pastry chef--owner Herv Poussot specializes in French-style breads and pastries, including croissants, baguettes and madeleines. Complement the carbs with coffee or espresso brewed from La Colombe beans and rich hot cocoa made with Valrhona chocolate. 442 9th St at Seventh Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-797-5026, almondinebakery.com) * 85 Water St between Main and Old Dock Sts, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-797-5026). Average pastry: $4.

Amy's Bread
Amy Scherber is the beloved baker behind this chainlet's famous loaves, including that addictive raisin semolina, studded with golden raisins and fennel seeds, coated in cornmeal. Worth noting: The West Village location is right next to Murray's Cheese. 75 Ninth Ave between 15th and 16th Sts (212-462-4338, amysbread.com) * 250 Bleecker St between Carmine and Leroy Sts (212-675-7802) * Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave between 15th and 16th Sts (212-462-4338). Average sandwich: $5.

Balthazar Bakery
This box-size boulangerie—attached to the iconic and ever-trendy Balthazar bistro—does a roaring trade with locals and tourists alike. It's flaky croissants, heavenly pastries and sturdy loaves are deployed as a mark of quality at cafs and restaurants around the city. 80 Spring St between Broadway and Crosby St (212-965-1785, balthazarbakery.com). Average croissant: $2.75.

Blue Ribbon Bakery Market
Located across the street from the Blue Ribbon flagship (home of the restaurant chain's infernal bread-baking oven), this wood-paneled shop carries a worthy selection of the crusty loaves, from white pullmans to eggy challah. That's not all. Choose from a voluminous selection of sandwiches, toasts with multiple toppings—such as Blue Ribbon's proprietary Mexican honey—and picnic baskets stuffed with goodies such as the signature fried chicken (a 24-hour advance order is required). 14 Bedford St between Sixth Ave and Downing St (212-647-0408, blueribbonrestaurants.com)

City Bakery
Pastry genius Maury Rubin's loft-size City Bakery is jammed with Chelsea shoppers, and for good reason. The thick, incredibly rich hot chocolate with fat, house-made marshmallows is heaven in a cup (replaced by fruit-infused lemonade in the summer), and the moist "melted" chocolate-chip cookies are better than a marked-down pair of Prada pumps. 3 W 18th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-366-1414, thecitybakery.com). Average sandwich: $12.

Grandaisy Bakery
Monica Von Thun Caldern, a longtime partner in Sullivan Street Bakery, acquired sole ownership of the original space and renamed it after her grandmother. She still produces Sullivan's signature baked goods, now available at two other locations. 176 W 72nd St at Amsterdam Ave (212-334-9435, grandaisybakery.com) * 250 West Broadway between Beach and North Moore Sts * 73 Sullivan St between Broome and Spring Sts. Average loaf of bread: $5.

Levain Bakery
Lunchtime means cookietime. At Levain Bakery, the cookies are so huge, they might as well be lunch. These massive mounds stay underdone in the middle, making them a boon to dough lovers. Don't miss the lush, brownielike double-chocolate number. 167 W 74th St between Columbus and Amsterdam Aves (212-874-6080, levainbakery.com). Average cookie: $3.75.

Mansoura
Patriarch Isaac Mansoura started this bakery with recipes that migrated with his family for generations, from Syria to Egypt to Paris, and finally to Brooklyn in 1961. Here the baklava, filled with fresh walnuts or moist pistachios, is sticky yet crisp, each layer of phyllo miraculously distinct. 515 Kings Hwy between 2nd and 3rd Sts, Gravesend, Brooklyn (718-645-7977). Baklava: $20/lb.
See also: The best unsung food shops

Silver Moon Bakery
Through its large picture windows, anyone passing by Silver Moon Bakery gets a glimpse of the day's golden loaves and pretty pastries. Trust your eyes—everything is as good as it looks, from the fruit tarts and to the baguettes and loaves of mocha-raisin bread. 2740 Broadway at 105th St (212-866-4717, silvermoonbakery.com). Average pastry: $6.

Sullivan Street Bakery
Jim Lahey has made his name selling some of New York's best breads, sold at this essential bakery and other gourmet stores around the city. A toothsome white-and-rye-flour flute gets an extra dose of goodness from hazelnuts and dried apricots. 533 W 47th St between Tenth and Eleventh Aves (212-265-5580, sullivanstreetbakery.com). Average loaf: $4.