There are people for whom dessert is an afterthought, and people for whom it’s not only the point of their meal, but is also, perhaps, the point of their existence. Whichever camp you fall into—perhaps it’s somewhere in the middle—New York has a sweet for you, preferably smothered in chocolate and drizzled in caramel. As our second grade teacher taught us in spelling class, "dessert has two esses because you always want seconds." Read on for the best spots for dessert in New York City.
Best Desserts NYC: Upper West Side
Yes, it was featured in You’ve Got Mail, but that isn’t the best reason to stop by this Upper West Side institution. The best reason is the Vienna-by-way-of-Columbus-Avenue ambience, and the staggering array of desserts—you’ll probably be in a sugar coma the second you view the vast arrays of offerings in the glass case. (There’s almost always a vast array of people, as well.) You’ll want a cappuccino or a latte, and then probably a tart, or a piece of cake—the mousse cakes are popular, as is the Mississippi Mud Cake, and the cheesecake. The dessert menu is, to put it mildly, extensive, and includes pies, cannolis, and even gluten- and dairy-free treats. Specialties include the Chocolate Raspberry Delight (one of our favorites); it’s chocolate and raspberry mouse in a cookie crust with raspberry sauce, berries, and whipped cream. Get a little something for home before you go. (Note: Tom Hanks sighting not guaranteed.) 201 W. 83rd St., 212-496-6031, cafelalo.com
Best Desserts NYC: East Village
One of the elder statesmen of the all-dessert realm, ChikaLicious (founded in 2003) serves its patrons around an open kitchen (it only has 20 seats), so you can see your dessert being prepared and plated. It features a three-course prix fix menu, which includes an “amuse,” a dessert (yes, it's all technically dessert), and petit fours. You can have coffee, or wine pairings are suggested. Dessert choices might include warm chocolate tarte with pink peppercorn ice cream and red wine sauce, or perhaps pomegranate-chai tea genoise cake trifle, with toasted hazelnut and a Cointreau chantilly? Fans especially recommend the butternut squash ice cream and the humble—or here, not so humble—marshmallows. 203 E. 10th St., 212-475-0929, chikalicious.com
Best Desserts NYC: Union Square
Chocolate. In every form. That pretty much sums up Max Brenner, which gets points for sheer fun. You could do worse than a cup of hot chocolate—maybe with the peanut butter infusion? The milkshakes are very good: try the salted caramel (vanilla ice cream, chocolate ganache, sea salt, milk, and whipped cream) or the cookie shake (white chocolate with Oreos and ice). Crepes are also good, maybe the banana hazelnut, or go for one of their sugar waffles (perhaps topped with cherries and melted dark chocolate). This is a great place for parties and groups. Whimsy is in full display with some of their signature offerings—they’ve even got the notorious dessert pizza (yes, you can think of it as an entrée) with a choice of toppings, and a build-your-own cake. 841 Broadway, 646-467-8803, maxbrenner.com
Best Desserts NYC: Upper East Side
There’s no point in pretending you're at Serendipity 3 for something else—you're going to order the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, and there’s really no way around it. You can find a recipe online or buy one of the starter packets and try making it at home, but truthfully, it’s just better there. The mix of icy, slushy, crystalized chocolate and whipped cream can't be beat, especially on a hot summer day. The dessert is impressive-looking, too, and try as you may not to, you're gong to eat pretty much the entire thing. If you insist on branching out at Serendipity, the outrageous banana split is worth sharing (among five or even six of you); you’re also good with one of the drugstore sundaes, perhaps with caramel. (Note: this is in addition to the frozen hot chocolate, not instead of it.) 225 E. 60th St., 212-838-3531, serendipity3.com
Best Desserts NYC: East Village
Spot Dessert Bar's Green Tea Lava Cake
“Confections with an Asian flair” is how Spot touts its desserts, but that fails to take into account the sheer quirkiness of the offerings. The seasonal dessert tapas come in quantities from three on up to the omakase (chef’s selection), which includes seven tapas plus four macaroons. Try the Golden Toast: honey-buttered bread with strawberries, whipped cream, and condensed milk ice cream; it’s like the world’s greatest brunch food. Try also the Chocolate Green Tea Lava Cake, with green tea two ways, in the ganache and in the ice cream. The Village Voice voted Spot's Chocolate Forest the best dessert a couple of years back: it’s a pistachio and apricot crumb-covered chocolate-mousse cake with a chocolate filling and pistachio ice cream. (We’ll take three.) Macaroons come in tantalizing flavors like strawberry yuzu and salted caramel. But for sheer whimsy, it’s hard to beat the Harvest, which comes in a little flower pot with an accompanying pitcher of black-rose milk tea that you can use to “water” your layered cheesecake, berries, meringues, and sorbet. 13 St. Marks Pl., spotdessertbar.com
Sweet tooth still aching? We've got a rundown of New York's best cannolis.
