The one person who loves cheesecake more than me is my mother-in-law. Finding great cheesecake in NYC can be tricky, but after years of eating my way through the city, I’ve found the spots worth your time. And with her coming to visit, I made the decision to thoroughly investigate which cheesecake shops in New York City offer the best cheesecake.
Having tasted them all, I’ve rated them according to their flavor, consistency, and my overall impression of the bakery. Instead of gate-keeping, I thought I’d write this short article to help any fellow connoisseurs out there!
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (10 Best Neighborhoods +3 to Avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s my favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Best Cheesecake in NYC
Table of Contents. New York City Cheesecake Spots
Table of Contents. Where to Find the Best Cheesecake in New York City
Posh Pop Bakeshop
Website— Posh Pop Bakeshop
Neighborhood. West Village
Location. 192 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
New York City is land for innovation, and Posh Pop Bakeshop is remaking all your favorite sweet treats but gluten-free. Committed to the belief that desserts should be inclusive for everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions, they have mastered the art of crafting some of the best cheesecakes in NYC.
The heavenly treats come in a variety of flavors including ube, peanut butter, and strawberry shortcake. As enticing as they are, the best flavor I’ve found is the Funfetti Cheesecake – a tried and true Posh Pop favorite.
You’d think it’s going to be too sweet, but the beloved NYC cheesecake is perfectly balanced. The richness of the cheesecake is adorned in a vibrant slew of colors and flavors, creating a dance party in your mouth with every bite.
Magnolia Bakery
Website. Magnolia Bakery
Location. Multiple locations in NYC
Since its opening in 1996, Magnolia Bakery has become an essential pit stop for any first-time visitor. While the bakery initially gained national. Offering a wide range of desserts, one of the most notable options is the outstanding cheesecakes.
The cheesecakes are celebrated for their exceptional quality, rich flavors, and luscious textures. The beloved dessert comes in five flavors. vanilla bean, red velvet, key-lime, caramel pecan, and (my favorite) blueberry.
Gallaghers Steakhouse
Website. Gallaghers Steakhouse
Neighborhood. Midtown
Location. 228 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019
I love savoring my steak. The still-dripping juicy bites of tender goodness are worth taking your time, but at Gallaghers Steakhouse I can’t help but stuff my face to get to dessert quicker.
The steakhouse makes some of the best cheesecake in NYC! They only offer a traditional New York slice to compliment your hearty meal. Only having one option makes sense, considering Gallaghers is a classic establishment impressing with the quality of food, not the quantity.
The ability to have a phenomenal dinner followed by a tasty treat makes Gallaghers Steakhouse a premier date-night destination, especially if you’re in search of the best cheesecake in NYC.
Little Cupcake Bakeshop
Website— Little Cupcake Bakeshop
Neighborhood. SoHo & Brooklyn
Location. Multiple locations in NYC
Since opening in Brooklyn in 2005 it’s been a shot to the top for Little Cupcake Bakeshop. Renowned for making the best cupcakes. With sweet treats this addicting it’s no wonder celebrities will brave the public eye for a bite.
The NYC cheesecake comes in tiramisu, cookies & cream, strawberry, and white chocolate raspberry flavors. If you’re lucky they’ll have a seasonal flavor that you can pair with a classic (you know, one for now one for later).
The shop has three locations, one in Bay Ridge, another in Prospect Heights, and a sole location in Manhattan in SoHo. The best cheesecake in NYC is always within reach thanks to the wide availability!
Martha’s Country Bakery
Website— Martha’s Country Bakery
Location. Multiple locations in NYC
Martha’s Country Bakery has become one of the best bakeries in Brooklyn thanks to good old-fashioned hard work. In a world where everyone is trying to create the next best thing, Martha’s is staying true to the classics but executing them extremely well. This includes some of the best cheesecake in NYC.
Made fresh and on-site using quality ingredients, the NYC cheesecake is consistently a home run. Part of being the best in reliability, and Martha’s Country Bakery is old faithful in the world of sweets. In fact, this year they’re celebrating their 50th anniversary in business. It’s safe to say Martha’s Country Bakery has a bit of experience making tasty treats.
Plus I’ll add that Martha’s Country Bakery also has a generous amount of different styles of cheesecakes. With 10 different flavors the hard part isn’t finding the best cheesecake in NYC, it’s deciding what to order.
Local tip. Here’s something most visitors don’t know. the best time to visit is right when they open.
Mah-Ze-Dahr
Website. Mah-Ze-Dahr
Neighborhood. West Village & Financial District
Location. WV.28 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011, FIDI.225 Liberty St, New York, NY 10281
Since opening in 2014, Mah-Ze-Dahr has risen to the top of most “best bakeries in NYC” lists within a mere seven years. No easy feat in a city chock-full of bakeries and steep competition. They make some of the best cheesecake in NYC, which is reason alone to visit.
The owner, Umber Ahmad is a James Beard Award semi-finalist (a huge deal in the food world) who left the lofty confines of the financial world to pursue her dream of baking. She’s lovingly called a banker-turned-baker, and let me tell you. we are all better for it, she’s incredibly talented.
The cheesecake is incredibly light (which has fooled me into eating more than I should have) and has a tasty, lemon zest with every bite. It’s refreshing, which can’t be said of most rich cheesecakes in NYC.
Unpopular opinion. Unpopular opinion. the best food in NYC is found at the places with zero Instagram presence.
Little Grace Bakery
Website— Little Grace Bakery
Neighborhood. Midtown
Location. 17 W 32nd St, New York, NY, 10001
Little Grace Bakery is a baking powerhouse, with more than 2,700 reviews on Google and a 4.5 star rating. I had to see what the hype was about and so I visited, shocked to learn that they make some of the best cheesecake in NYC.
The secret is in a blend of two cultures and two flavors. By combining New York cheesecake and Japanese soufflé cheesecake, Little Grace Bakery makes Basque Burnt Cheesecakes (they didn’t invent it, though). By cooking the cake at an insanely hot temperature they’re able to give it a caramelized, burnt exterior and a creamy interior. Each bite is a flavor bomb that sets off fireworks in your mouth.
The unique New York City cheesecake is a fan favorite, and now Little Grace Bakery even ships the cake through Goldbelly. If you’re shopping for the best cheesecake in NYC you can enjoy it anywhere in the country.
Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe
Website— Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe
Neighborhood. East Village
Location. 342 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003
Veniero’s Pasticceria has been around since 1894, (yes you read that correctly). They truly don’t make ’em like. This old-school Italian bakery is family-owned and operated, over 120 years later.
What originally started as a pool hall serving espresso and candy, eventually shifted from billiards to baked good. Using fresh ingredients, this East Village bakery has kept folks coming back for generations.
They make some of the best cheesecake in NYC, both in a classic New York slice and an Italian variation. If you order the Italian version you’ll enjoy a ricotta-based filling that will have you crawling over the counter for more. And if you need a full-sized cake for the party you’re having next week? Guess what, Veniero’s has you covered. They even ship nationwide, so you can enjoy the best cheesecake in NYC no matter where you are.
S & S Cheesecakes
Website— S & S Cheesecakes
Borough. Bronx
Location. 222 W 238th St, Bronx, NY 10463
If you take the 1 train north, all the way up to the second to last stop, you’ll be a stone’s throw away from some of the best cheesecake in NYC. S & S Cheesecakes has been a local favorite for more than 60 years.
Still, family owned and operated you’ll find a time-tested recipe has kept locals wrapped around their fingers. If I’m honest, the cheesecake doesn’t look like much. You wouldn’t assume it’s some of the best cheesecake in NYC solely based on looks, but it more than makes up for it with flavor.
Interesting tidbit. Fred Schuster, founder and owner of S & S Cheesecakes, was born in Nazi Germany in 1925 and moved to New York at 16 years old in 1941. He opened S & S Cheesecakes in 1960 and still works at the bakery.
Eileen’s Special Cheesecake
Website. Eileen’s Special Cheesecake
Neighborhood. SoHo
Location. 17 Cleveland Pl, New York, NY 10012
A fan favorite since 1974, Eileen’s Special Cheesecake is a beloved NYC institution. As the name suggests, they make some of the most popular cheesecake in NYC and I’m proud to say I’ve fallen under their spell.
Founded by a mom who now has help from her two daughters, Eileen’s is a woman-owned business we can all be proud of. And the work speaks for itself, they don’t only make some of the best cheesecake in NYC, Food & Wine ranked them as some of the best in America.
Unlike most New York cheesecakes that are dense and rich, Eileen’s is fluffy, airy and soft. Biting into a slice is such a joy, I bring all of my fellow cheesecake loving friends here to share the fun.
And when it comes to variety Eileen’s Special Cheesecake has mastered more than one recipe. Coconut, salted caramel and pineapple are some of my favorites but there’s more than 15 kinds.
The One Cheesecake in NYC to Avoid
Junior’s Cheesecake
Junior’s Cheesecake has been a New York City institution since 1950, but I can’t recommend it in good faith. True, its iconic flashing lights and various locations draw in a lot of tourists, but the cheesecake falls short.
It’s inconsistent, and more times than not dry and crumbly. I feel the company is riding the coattails of its former glory, and at the time of writing is one of the biggest tourist traps in New York City.
Best Cheesecake in New York City (Post Summary)
- Posh Pop Bakeshop
- Magnolia Bakery
- Gallaghers Steakhouse
- Little Cupcake Bakeshop
- Martha’s Country Bakery
- Keki Modern Cakes
- Junior’s Cheesecake
- Mah-Ze-Dahr
- Little Grace Bakery
- Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe
- S & S Cheesecakes
- Eileen’s Special Cheesecake
Further Reading for Desserts in New York City
Delicious Cookies in NYC. 10 Tantalizing New York City Cookies (Worth the Wait)
Chocolate Cake in NYC. 10 Top-Tier Chocolate Cakes in New York City (You Won’t Want to Miss)
Best Birthday Cakes in NYC. 10 Best Birthday Cakes in New York City (Local’s Discuss)
Donuts in NYC. 15+ Best Doughnuts in New York City (Worth the Calories)
Iconic Spots in NYC Everyone Needs to Try
Best Pizza in NYC. 15 Best Pizza Joints in New York City
Iconic Restaurants in NYC. 10 Iconic New York City Restaurants Every Local Needs to Try
Mouthwatering Bagels in NYC. 15 BEST Bagels in New York City
Unbelievable Brunch Spots in NYC. 18 Prime Brunch Spots in New York City Worth the (Inevitable) Wait
If it’s your first time, keep it simple. order the signature dish and maybe one side. You can always come back and explore the rest of the menu (and you will want to).
Best NYC Cheesecake (Helpful Map)
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“},{“id”:”266ac711-8869-4183-843f-a80e296e0df6″,”jsonQuestion”:”How were these Cheesecakes spots chosen?”,”question”:”How were these Cheesecakes spots chosen?”,”jsonAnswer”:”Every spot on this list was personally visited and reviewed by our team of NYC locals. “,”answer”:””}]} –>Based on our experience as NYC locals, Posh Pop Bakeshop tops our list for Cheesecakes in New York City. See our full ranked list above for all 10 recommendations.
Every spot on this list was personally visited and reviewed by our team of NYC locals. We evaluate based on quality, atmosphere, and value.
And there you have it, our list of the best Cheesecake in NYC. Cheers!
Still exploring? You should also see my 12 Best Bagels in Brooklyn (The Local Foodie). it’s a must-read for any NYC food lover.
The Bottom Line
Finding great 9+ Tantalizing Cheesecakes in New York City (& One Spot to Avoid) in New York City doesn’t have to be a gamble. Every spot on this list has earned its place through repeat visits and honest assessment. If you’re short on time, start with my top three picks above. you really can’t go wrong with any of them.
I want to hear from you. What’s the most underrated food spot in NYC that you think more people need to know about?
What would you add to this list?
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Hello
Quick question. I think that your article is very well done. You got me when you included Gallagher’s cheesecake, as I feel the same way when we dine there, and their cheesecake is so good, I have tried hard to convince them to ship me a few. Alas, to no avail.
With that said, Does Posh Pop stack up to that? I’m going to order two cheesecakes for two different dinners that I am making (I can cook, but I’m not a baker) – and I was leaning toward Posh Pop based on your thoughts. Can you lend me just a little more of your experience? Knowing my tastes (at least a bit) would you recommend another one instead? I am more a purist – plain cheesecake is my happy place, but I am entertaining others, so I can be flexible.
I sincerely appreciate it.
Hey Peter! Glad you feel the same way about Gallagher’s cheesecake as we do, you’ve got great taste ;). As far as Posh Pop goes in terms of cheesecake, the only thing to consider is Posh Pop is a gluten-free bakery. Taste will be slightly different than what you may be used to but still really delicious. If you’re really looking to wow your guests, you can’t go wrong with Eileen’s Special Cheesecake. Hope this is helpful, cheers!