The Best Bakeries & Cupcakes Shops in NYC

New York is full of pastry shops and all, or almost all, offer cupcakes ... moist, creamy, colorful, decorated mini-cakes with a thousand different flavors! You can find sweets including the famous Cupcakes in most bakeries and coffee-shops ... but do you know when cupcakes actually appeared in the United States for the very first time??

The Cupcake History

We are going back in history to approx. 1796 when cupcakes were first mentioned in America. These small pastries became increasingly popular from the beginning of the 19th century, and already in the early 1800s, several cupcakes recipes appeared in cookbooks. They are, therefore, "older" than the classic muffin which is still one of the most eaten breakfast items in the country. Cupcakes are served especially during birthday parties, weddings, and celebrations and the success is due to the relatively small size (compared to normal cakes) as well as the colorful and inventive decorations they display. The actual name seems to derive both from the old way of cooking them -- in tin cups, as well as from the way you measure all the ingredients -- in volumes cups

But let's go back to our Bakeries :-), in New York there are so many, each neighborhood has different ones, the most interesting are usually small and family-run. The origins as always range from Italian, French, South American, Mexican or Argentinian, Greek, Polish, Eastern European,Middle Eastern, Indian, Thai, Asian ... in short, you will have so many options you won't know what to do with yourself. Some old bakeries are found only in "Neighborhoods" that are known to be populated by these minorities.

Neighborhood by Neighborhood, we are going to come up with our special "Map of Pastry Shops & Bakeries" trying to keep it updated, adding new ones, eliminating those that closed down, unfortunately, it often happens in New York, and adding those suggested by you! Let's see what we have!

Harlem Pastry Shops & Bakeries

Lee Lee's Bakery -  283 W. 118TH STREET BTW. ST. NICHOLAS & FREDERICK DOUGLASS BLVD. Certainly among the best Homemade Rugelach in all New York City. It remains my favorite destination on a Sunday morning when Harlem dresses up for Church, or some other function, beautiful and elegant ladies wearing amazing hats, men in suits ... it is true in Harlem you can still breathe a "different air" ... even if the neighborhood has changed a lot during the last 2 decades, Harlem still showcases a "je ne sais quoi" vibe.

Upper West Side Pastry Shops & Bakeries

Silver Moon Bakery - Broadway and 105th St. This is a classic Bakery where you'll fall in love with basically everything .. from breads like their classic crunchy French baguette and homemade multigrain loaves to breakfast pastries (croissant, danishes, muffins etc.) cupcakes, and some special cookies for your 4-legged friend!! :-)
Levain Bakery  167 West 74th St (but also the one up in Harlem at 2167 by Frederick Douglass Blvd and the one in the Upper East Side on 3rd Avenue)- I love the original Levain Store, you are in the heart of the Upper West Side from Amsterdam Avenue walking on the north side of 74th Street and heading East, you will notice a small blue awning ...The place is definitely a "hole in the wall" kind of bakery but there you will find the best "chocolate chip cookies" in all New York!