5 Sit-down Dessert Cafes in Manhattan
When a casual chain restaurant doughnut won’t do, these are 5 great sit-down dessert cafes in Manhattan.
Grace Street Cafe
Casual late-night pick-me-up, any time of the week
About: Grace Street is a sit-down dessert café in K-Town, open late all week. The interior is lively any time of night and isn’t a spot for quiet conversation or an intimate dessert for two. Come here for a mid-week pick me up or when you need to fun spot in a pinch.
How to do it right: Grace Street is a great spot to end off a night with sit-down dessert. There’s almost always a line, but you can usually find a spot quickly. The drinks are average, but the dessert stands out. Portions are large, perfect for sharing with a date or group of friends. The milk tea boba toast is both instagrammable and delicious, as are the mountainous heaps of shaved snow. Don’t leave without getting the basque burnt cheesecake – get one to go if you can’t manage to eat another bite.
Lysée
Indulgent “gallery” of sweets where the desserts are almost too beautiful to eat
About: Upon walking into Lysée, you’ll think you entered a minimalist art gallery – and in many ways, you wouldn’t be wrong. Instead of a menu, Lysée displays “collections” of pastries. Lysée only serves dessert, but has the gravitas of a full-service restaurant (and prices like one too). This isn’t a spot to split a casual slice of cake with coffee – Lysée’s pastries demand attention. Come here to savor.
How to do it right: With limited hours and supply, there is a perpetual line outside Lysée. Reserve a spot ahead or risk waiting an hour or more. Most of the pastries are mousse or cream based, but the cookies, croissants and loaf cakes are equally phenomenal (we loved the Yuja cake). You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the Corn Mousse Cake is a showstopper and the seasonal fruit tarts are not to be missed, even if you’re a chocolate lover. Lysée is expensive (a mid-day dessert here will get you a full meal in NYC), but it’s a worthwhile indulgence.
Cha-an Teahouse
Quaint Japanese café with stunning parfaits
About: Cha-an is a cozy, second-floor Japanese café, serving up creative matcha-based drinks, a wide tea selection and tasty Japanese bites. There’s a short savory menu, but the focus is dessert. The space is small (so may not be right for lively catch-ups) but otherwise is a versatile spot, great for solo diners, small groups or couples on a date.
How to do it right: Cha-an doesn’t take reservations, so come early and plan to wait. Service can be slow and the beautifully-presented desserts take some time to assemble, so be patient. The desserts are lovely – subtly flavored and not overly sweet. Dive into the parfaits, served in tall glasses, consisting of layers of ice cream, chewy mochi, refreshing jelly and crispy cornflakes. The black sesame crème brulee is also a triumph, with a strong, yet balanced sesame flavor. On Saturdays, Cha-an offers a reservations-only set-price afternoon tea with a curated selection of bento-box style desserts.
Serendipity 3
A whimsical staple of NYC, for the sweetest sweet tooths
About: The interior of Serendipity 3 is a celebration of kitsch, while the menu pays homage to classic American soda shops. Open for around 70 years, the café was beloved by Hollywood stars Marilyn Monroe and Andy Warhol. Now it is a whimsical dessert café with over-the-top sundaes, holding a Guiness world record for the world’s most expensive milkshake. Serendipity 3 has all the markers of a tourist trap – it’s been featured in movies and has commercialized its hot chocolate mix – but there’s something genuine about it. It’s the type of place that convinces you to let loose and have a good time.
How to do it right: Serendipity 3 takes reservations, so book ahead. The café offers a dizzyingly disjointed and overpriced savory menu (burgers and footlong hot dogs are found next to lemongrass dumplings, tex mex chili and Greek salad) – skip it. Instead, stick to the frozen desserts. Serendipity 3’s hallmark Frrrozen Hot Chocolate is not to be skipped and comes in an array of flavors. You’ll also need a sundae. This is not a place to hold back with a classic “drug store Sunday” – go big with one of the specialty items and optimize your order by getting a pie or cake based sundae. Serendipity is a universal pleaser for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Bibble and Sip
Adorable pastries and thick cream puffs in Hell’s Kitchen
About: Bibble and Sip is an Asian-inspired dessert café in Hell’s Kitchen, known for cute animal-themed desserts, perfectly jiggly egg tarts, and thickly-filled cream puffs. Bibble & Sip feels more like a casual coffee shop than a sit-down desert café, but the impressive array of options and artistry required to produce each item are worth stopping to savor.
How to do it right: The café is open until 7pm on weekdays and 8pm on weekends, but the delightful desserts will put a smile on your face any time of day. Upon walking in, you’ll see a display case of gorgeous mini tarts and macarons. Plan to take a box home – you won’t be able to pick just one. The macarons, which come in fun shapes, are perfectly crisp and chewy. The cream puffs, which are less visually intriguing than the llama themed tarts, are also outstanding. Go on a weekend to get matcha egg tarts with boba. Despite the eye-catching presentation, the flavors are subtle and may not satisfy every sweet tooth.
