The 5 Best Places To Get A Sweet Treat in Manhattan: A Travel Guide

For any foodie, having a little something sweet can add an extra bit of magic to a normal day. Whether you’re looking for something more filling, like a warm cookie skillet topped with vanilla ice cream or just a plain hot chocolate to go, New York has it all. With so many restaurants in Manhattan, choosing where to eat can feel overwhelming - especially if you are new to the ever-growing city. There’s an extremely wide variety of restaurants and cafes, many of which do not offer the best quality that they should. So, after thorough research and many taste tests, we present to you—in no particular order—the five best New York City restaurants to get a dessert and brighten up your day. 

Max Brenner

Located in both Times Square and Union Square, Max Brenner, winner of the 2014 Webby Awards, has it all. It can multitask too, with the Times Square venue dedicated to to-go orders and the one in Union Square to a sit-down experience. The restaurant’s menu is one of a kind, specializing in chocolate treats while including some regular menu items. Take their burrata pizza, for example. Their hot chocolate is highly rated all over social media and is available in both locations. The more unique items on their menu are chocolate cocktails, baked cookie skillets, and their famous Mess Party (chocolate mud cake topped with a chocolate ganache), to name a few. This restaurant is a must-see whether you’re in a rush or ready to sit down and indulge.

Levain Bakery

This staple bakery can be found all over the city—from Harlem to Brooklyn and every street in between. Their large, melt-in-your-mouth cookies baked with simple ingredients have been getting a lot of attention on social media for a reason. Their menu has variety, offering vegan and gluten-free cookies that are well-known for being stuffed with chocolate chips. Lemon, caramel coconut, dark chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, and classic chocolate chip cookies all reside on their menu in every location. This bakery cannot be missed, and if you’re not in the New York City area, don’t worry because they have locations in D.C., Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Chicago, LA, and more.

Glace

If you’re looking for a spin on the classic hot chocolate, come to their location on the Upper East Side or their ice cream truck at Rockefeller Plaza. It was described as “mouth-watering” by the New York Times, which is an understatement. Their unique take on hot chocolate features toasted marshmallow around the rim of the cup, with whipped cream on top. They take it to the next level with their white chocolate creme brûlée and tiramisu S’mores hot chocolates, among many other fabulous creations. If you’re not a hot chocolate person, never fear—this eatery offers several ice cream sundaes, soft serves, ice cream by the pint, and even  macaron ice cream sandwiches. If you want a little bit of both, then you’ve come to the right place and can order their hot chocolate sundae. 

Serendipity

With locations on both the Upper East Side and in Times Square, this restaurant is an experience for your inner child. Both venues are filled with pop art, bright colors, and wonky decor, like purple chandeliers or a distorting mirror (which can only be found on the Upper East Side). This eatery has delicious items on their menu that span farther than just desserts. From chips and guac to mac and cheese, with footlong hotdogs in between, they have everything. They offer more sophisticated meals too, like their avocado toast, salad, or lemon salmon (which is only available in Times Square). As for their dessert menu, their huge frozen hot chocolates have flavors ranging from peanut butter to salted caramel. Additionally, they serve chocolate cake, apple pie, cheesecake, and banana splits to name a few. This experience truly has it all, so be sure to come with an empty stomach.

Van Leeuwen

Scooping ice cream all over the country, including venues in SoHo, Brooklyn, the Upper West Side, and Grand Central Terminal (among many others), this store is highly recommended. This eatery is well-known for its diverse ice cream flavors, as well as vegan ice cream, making it available for everyone to enjoy. With creative flavors ranging from dulce de leche brownie and malted cookie dough to marionberry cheesecake and Sicilian pistachio. They additionally offer vegan alternatives made with cashew and/or oat. These delicious flavors include chocolate cookie dough honeycomb and churros and fudge, to name a few. They even serve ice cream bars and sandwiches, which also have vegan options. If you can’t make it to the city, it’s okay! This New York Times best rated ice cream shop has shipping available and can even be found in many supermarkets.

These places have every kind of dessert you could possibly be in the mood for, whether you want a sit-down experience or not, and provide a little bit of happiness during stressful times. 

All photos by Isabella Pfaff