As a long-time local, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring some of the best bakeries on the Upper East Side. Excelling at most things, this upscale neighborhood brims with elegant brownstones, chic boutiques, fine dining, and great cafes. It’s no surprise that the area would be home to irresistible bakeries too. With that said, let’s dive in!
You might enjoy: 15+ Great Things to Do in the Upper East Side
A quick word about health scores
Ever noticed that bold, colored letter in the window of restaurants? That’s the establishment’s official letter grade issued by New York City’s Health Department that correlates with their sanitary inspection. When a restaurant is inspected they are given points for each violation that adds up to their overall inspection score.
I don’t know about you, but I take sanitation seriously and will not eat at a restaurant with a letter score of less than an “A”. To that end, we only recommend restaurants with an “A” letter grade. If you ever notice a health score less than an “A” on a restaurant we’ve recommended please let us know and we will drop it from the list until its score improves.
Best Bakeries Upper East Side
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Breads Bakery
- Website: Breads Bakery
- Address: 1294 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021
Breads Bakery is easily one of the best bakeries in Upper East Side (also one of the best bakeries in New York City).
With 6+ locations, the bakery has grown like wildfire mostly thanks to their award-winning chocolate babka (a traditional Jewish pastry made from yeast dough and garnished with cinnamon or chocolate). It’s delicious, you can’t regret ordering an entire loaf to go.
But the chocolate babka isn’t the only thing this Upper East Side bakery has mastered, quite the contrary. Anything you order at Breads is bound to impress, especially the croissants and seasonal delights.
When the Upper East Side (UES) location opened, the owner of the bakery decided to create a special treat exclusive to the UES bakery. The winner? The most unique black-and-white cookie in NYC! Half-croissant, half-traditional cookie, I happily trek a mile for it most Sundays.
Orwashers
- Website: Orwashers
- Address: 308 E 78th St, New York, NY 10075
Originally founded in 1916, Orwashers is one of the oldest bakeries on the Upper East Side. Serving New Yorkers for more than 105 years, their success can be attributed to traditional baking methods perfected over time.
I suggest showing up early for the best selection because the most popular items sell out quickly. It’s not uncommon to see lines stretching outside, especially during weekends. The croissants are delicious and the black and white cookies are some of the best in NYC.
My favorite items on the menu at this Upper East Side bakery are the following: sticky-bun babka, bagels, turnovers, jelly donuts and the black-and-white cookies. Try to visit before noon for the freshest selection.
Ladurée
- Website: Ladurée
- Address: 864 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10021
The decor at Ladurée is perfectly Parisian, which makes it a great pit stop for any Francophile. This famous international bakery specializes in delicious sweet treats, namely the macaroons.
I have a friend who loves macaroons (who doesn’t) and so I try pick up a box from here to share each time we get together to catch up.
There’s a handful of tables indoor and out, but snatching one might be a challenge because this Upper East Side bakery is quite popular. Oh, but those those macaroons are worth the wait!
They serve coffee as well making it a great spot to relax on an easy Saturday morning.
William Greenberg Desserts
- Website: William Greenberg Desserts
- Address: 1100 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028
Serving New Yorkers since 1946, William Greenberg Desserts is one of the best bakeries on the Upper East Side. Their iconic black-and-white cookies consistently grace the top of award lists every year, so ordering one is non-negotiable.
What sets this Upper East Side bakery apart is their commitment to traditional baking techniques and high-quality ingredients, resulting in delicious and nostalgic treats. Their assortment of cookies, cakes, pastries, and holiday-specific treats keep locals coming back for more.
Padoca Bakery
- Website: Padoca Bakery
- Address: 210 E 67th St, New York, NY 10065
Padoca translates to “neighborhood bakery” in Portuguese. Aptly named, this small Brazilian bakery on the Upper East Side makes everything to order, a nice touch!
The star of the show is the famous Brazilian cheese bread (little doughy cheese bites, so good!). It’s not uncommon for baked goods to be sold out by noon, so get there early if you can!
For me, the pasteis de nata are my go-to. Each bite of this delicious Portuguese treat reminds me of past (and future!) trips to Portugal. So nice to have access to this bakery in the UES!
Levain
- Website: Levain
- Address: 1484 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10028
Chances are good that you’ve heard of Levain’s massive cookies, some of the most famous and best cookies in New York City, if not the world. Their gooey chocolate chip walnut cookies have amassed a cult-like following that only sounds surprising until you try them for yourself.
How lucky are Upper East Siders to have access to this renowned bakery right in the hood! Very.
The line typically stretches well out the door most hours of the day and can be up to an hour long during the weekend. Have I waited in line for 1+ hours for a cookie? Yes. Did I regret it? Absolutely not.
Best Gluten-Free Bakeries in the Upper East Side
By the Way Bakery
- Website: By the Way Bakery
- Address: 1236 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10028
By The Way Bakery is a great option for those in search of the best gluten free bakeries in the Upper East Side. The entire selection of toothsome baked goods is gluten-free, dairy free, certified kosher and so dang delicious.
Started by a lawyer-turned-baker, By The Way Bakery bills itself as an old-fashioned bakery where everything is homemade made from scratch in small batches. Their passion and effort shines through!
My friend is gluten-free and I make it a point to pick her up a treat from this beloved gluten-free UES bakery whenever she’s in town.
Noglu
- Website: Noglu
- Address: 1260 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128
Noglu is a gluten-free bakery in the Upper East Side that opened in 2015 by French pastry chef, Frédérique Jules. This is the perfect spot to get a mid-day pick me up. This Upper East Side bakery focuses on local and organic ingredients and let me tell you, you can taste the difference.
Long gone are the days when gluten free treats felt more like a punishment. This gluten-free bakery in the UES puts those distant memories to shame. The tarts and muffins are especially good but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
Best Upper East Side Bakeries (Post Overview)
In summary, here’s a quick roundup of the best bakeries in the Upper East Side.
- Orwashers
- Ladurée
- Maman
- Lady M Cake Boutique
- Levain
- Breads Bakery
- William Greenberg Desserts
- Sprinkles Upper East Side
- By the Way Bakery
- Noglu
Map of the Best Bakeries on the UES
More Delicious NYC Bakeries
Best Bakeries NYC: 10 Delightful New York City Bakeries You Should Try
Williamsburg Bakeries: 15 Wonderful Williamsburg Bakeries
Best Bakeries East Village: 10 Delicious East Village Bakeries
Best Bakeries Chelsea: 12 Cheerful Chelsea Bakeries to Indulge
DUMBO Bakeries: 10 Delicious DUMBO Bakeries to Try
Best Bakeries Brooklyn: 10 Balling Brooklyn Bakeries to Taste
Best Bakeries in the West Village: 10 Worthwhile West Village Bakeries
Lower East Side Bakeries: 10 Lower East Side Bakeries You Have to Try
Gluten Free Bakeries NYC: 10 Glutenous Gluten Free Bakeries in NYC
Bakeries in Tribeca: 10 Tantalizing Tribeca Bakeries to Try
Cheers!
Orwashers and William Greenberg have not been the original owners for at least 10 years! They both sold the family name to other people. Neither one is the quality of the original
Do you know what happened to Two Red Hen, is it ever coming back, excellent pla e to go to for a sweet tooth.
Hi LaVerne,
I’m wondering the same thing! I checked their website/instagram and there’s no updates yet. I’m still hopeful that they’ll open a second location in the UES and will update this post when/if they open.
On the nNW corner of 2 nd ave and 85 th st
Coming maybe fall
There is a new French bakery called Les Gateaux de Marie at 1582 1st Ave. between 82nd and 83rd St. Absolutely the best bakery on the UES.
Please go there.
Everything in this bakery is of extreme high quality and absolutely delicious.
Little Red Hen, I await your return!
Miss Madeleine is the most popular French bakery in the UES. For me, they are the number 1. Everyday there is a line.
As a bakery enthusiast, I’m grateful for this post! I’m always on the lookout for new bakeries to try out, and the Upper East Side seems like a great place to start. I’ve heard a lot about Orwashers, but I haven’t had the chance to try it out yet. I’m curious to know what kind of baked goods they specialize in. Do they have a signature pastry that they’re known for? Also, have you tried any of the other bakeries on your list? I’m particularly intrigued by Two Little Red Hens and Lady M Cake Boutique. Thank you for sharing your recommendations – I can’t wait to plan my next bakery-hopping adventure!