30 Instagram Worthy Desserts In New York City

On the hunt for the most Instagrammable places in NYC?
Check out this guide to the most Instagram worthy dessert spots in town!

New York City is known for being a foodie destination, with new restaurants and dessert shops popping up what feels like every other day. Even as a New Yorker, I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the delicious food and treats this city has to offer.

After lots of exploring and taste-testing, I have compiled a list of the most Instagram worthy desserts in NYC that are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. Note: I have not eaten every single one of these treats – pretty sure I’d be passed out if I had – but I’ve tried the majority of them, and can vouch for their ultimate deliciousness!

Enjoy!

Looking for delicious bites on a budget? Check out my guide to the 20 best cheap eats in NYC!

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1. Dominique Ansel Kitchen

World-famous for their cronuts (which you still have to pre-order or wait hours in line for!), Dominique Ansel Kitchen comes up with some truly fascinating, inventive desserts – like their latest craze, the What-A-Melon soft serve! Watermelon soft serve in the perfect little vessel – a fresh, cool watermelon slice. Great treat for hot summer days in the city.

Note that Dominique Ansel’s ice cream window is only open from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sundays at their West Village location, so be sure to plan ahead. Also, go in the side door, not the main entrance, if you’re on the hunt for the ice cream counter!

What to order: The What-A-Melon in the summer, the cronut in every other season. They also have a Burrata Soft Serve topped with balsamic caramel, micro basil, and a confit strawberry filing inside a honey tuile cone, which sounds awfully fancy and delicious, for the more adventurous.

More info: Website |ย Instagram


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2. Eggloo

60 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013

Eggloo serves up Hong Kong-style egg waffles with extra pretty ice cream, and New Yorkers can’t seem to get enough! Lines are generally long here, so aim to get there early if you want to try and avoid a wait.

These special egg waffles are called Gai Dan Jaiย which translates to “little eggs.” Unlike traditional waffles, Hong Kong egg waffles use a sweet egg-based batter to create a crispy exterior and a soft and cake-like interior. YUM.

Note that they do have vegan options for waffles, ice cream and drinks, but only at their East Village location!

What to order: The Blue Earl Grey ice cream in an Original waffle “cone” for maximum ‘grammability.

More info: Website |ย Instagram


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3. Milk Bar

9 Locations in NYC

Milk Bar is a New York legend, and well worth a visit (or three). Part of David Chang’s Momofuku restaurant group, its owner/mastermind Christina Tosi has come up with some of the most delectable, rich, inventive desserts ever made.

If you haven’t seen the Desserts season of Chef’s Table, I highly recommend watching the episode about Christina and Milk Bar. It’s a beautifully shot, magical glimpse into Christina’s mind and Milk Bar’s story. Feel-good bonus: gratuitous shots of birthday cake being made.

Milk Bar also has locations in Washington DC, Las Vegas and Toronto, and they’re opening in Los Angeles soon! They ship worldwide, if you just can’t get enough while you’re in NYC. Milk Bar offers classes as well, if you want to see some behind-the-scenes magic and learn to make your own treats!

What to order: Birthday Cake Truffles (or the full Birthday Cake, pictured above, which is insane), Compost Cookies (whichย  includeย pretzels, potato chips, coffee, oats, graham cracker, butterscotch, chocolate chips, HELLO), Crack Pie (it really is), or their famous Cereal Milk Ice Cream. You really can’t go wrong. Pro tip: go with a group so you can try a little bit of everything!

More info: Website | Instagram


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4. Taiyaki NYC

119 Baxter St, New York, NY 10013 (Manhattan) or 294 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 (Brooklyn)

Is there anything cuter than a unicorn ice cream poking out of a fish-shaped ice cream cone? I think not.

This is Taiyaki’s specialty, and locals and tourists alike flock to grab one of their delicious frozen desserts! What’s extra cool about Taiyaki is their commitment to using high-quality ingredients while leaving a minimal footprint.

Their ice cream and taiyaki waffles are made from high quality ingredients from socially responsible vendors and distributors. Each waffle is made fresh on-site, and their soft serve ice cream is produced and churned in small batches to preserve its integrity and taste.

What to order: The Unicorn Taiyaki, obvs!

More info: Website | Instagram


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5. DลŒ Cookie Dough Confections

550 LaGuardia Pl, New York, NY 10012

DลŒ opened in NYC in 2017 and has had lines around the block ever since – through wind, rain and snow. People are hardcore about their cookie dough! They sell cookie dough by the pint, in a colorful cone (just like ice cream!) with optional toppings, as well as cookie dough mixed into other delicious desserts. It’s every childhood dream come true.

DลŒ offers gluten-free, vegan and grain-free options, for those of you with special considerations.

If you want to avoid a line, go early and on a weekday! It’s a super popular place. Check out their line and closing policy here.

DลŒ’s cookie dough is completely safe to consume just as is โ€“ unbaked. They use heat treated flour and a pasteurized egg product, so there’s no potentially harmful bacteria in their goodies. Hooray!

What to order: The signature Chocolate Chip cookie dough, Sugar Cookie or the Brookie Dough (cookie dough and brownie batter mixed together, hi, welcome to heaven). In a cup or a cone. Split with a friend – it’s sweet as heck and you probably won’t make it through a full serving alone!

More info: Website | Instagram


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6. Levain Bakery

Multiple Locations (click to view)

Levain Bakery is a New York favorite, and for good reason. Their cookies are exceptionally chunky and gooey, with the perfect balance of sweet and salty every single time. They really know what they’re doing.

Other favorites include Chip, City Cakes, Jacques Torres Chocolate, City Bakery, Gooey On The Inside, Schmackery’s, and Insomnia Cookies. There are so many good cookie joints in NYC, y’all. Try as many cookies as you can get your hands on!

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect classic Black & White cookie (an NYC specialty!) check this guide out.

Having a midnight craving? Insomnia Cookies lives up to its name, serving up freshly baked cookies that they deliver straight to your door up until 3 a.m. every day. Does it get any better? I think not. (You can also pick fresh cookies up in store, if you wish!)

What to order: I encourage you to try the classic Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie – it’s huge! Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, this is a truly unique New York City treat you won’t find anywhere else.

More info: Website | Instagram


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7. Soft Swerve

85 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Soft Swerve (best name ever, for the record!) is a small soft serve shop on the Lower East Side of Manhattan known for flavors like ube (purple yam – pictured above), green matcha, Macapuno coconut, and black sesame.

They have lots of topping options to choose from if you decide to create your own, and plenty of yummy “Swerve Specials” on the menu too. Pictured above is the Broadway, which is what I got last time I went – it’s their famous purple yam ice cream, Fruity Pebbles, and marshmallows (I didn’t opt for marshmallows and it was still delightful).

What to order: The ube purple yam ice cream really is something special – super creamy, sweet but not overwhelming, and like nothing you’ve ever tasted!

More info: Website | Instagram


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8. Dana’s Bakery

1011 Third Ave, New York, NY 10065 or 103 N 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Dana’s Bakery has their HQ in New Jersey, but luckily, they have two “Mac Bars” located in Manhattan and Brooklyn for you to visit when in New York City! The Manhattan location can be found on the lower level of Dylan’s Candy Bar, and the Brooklyn one is located in the North 3rd Street Market in Williamsburg.

Established in 2012, Dana’s Bakery is the creative brainchild of Dana Pollack. They offer delicious macarons in flavors ranging from Red Velvet to S’mores, Fruity Cereal to Thin Mint, and many more! Their macarons are created in flavors inspired by classic all-American desserts and candy, and they add a new flavor to the collection every month.

What to order: The Rainbow Black & White cookies are a crowd pleaser, for obvious reasons! An unassuming Black & White on the outside, a color explosion on the inside. They’re even gluten free and kosher! Who wouldn’t want one?!

More info: Website | Instagram


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9. Emack & Bolio’s

Emack & Bolio’s makes the most wild looking ice cream cones (and delectable ice cream) you’ll find in New York City. They apparently invented the flavored cone back in 1980 and have been going strong ever since!

These cones piled high with stacks of dripping ice cream are especially ‘grammable.

What to order: Trippin’ On Espresso in an Oreo-covered cone. Yep.

More info: Website | Instagram


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10. Sweet Moment NYC

Sweet Moment has a variety of yummy, photogenic desserts to choose from, including their Bingsoos, which are a Korean shaved ice treat, and their iconic, adorable “Creamart” lattes. You can have anything from matcha to red velvet to taro!

Who wouldn’t want to sip on a latte and see cute little face staring back at them?!

What to order: The Creamart Taro is a beautiful purple latte that is particularly Instagram worthy.

More info: Website | Instagram


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11. Bar Pa Tea

85 Kenmare Street, store #2, New York, NY 10012

Bar Pa Tea says they make “bubble tea re-imagined,” which is the perfect way to put it! They offer bright, colorful vegan and gluten free boba tea concoctions that are sure to wow the ‘gram.

You can get a traditional bubble tea or ask for a float with a scoop of ice cream! They offer a variety of tea flavors, including traditional matcha and salted caramel oolong. The amount of sugar in your drink is also customizable, which is awesome for those of us who don’t enjoy super sweet drinks!

What to order: A pink latte float for maximum ‘grammability.

More info: Website | Instagram


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12. Matcha ‘n More

Matcha green tea soft serve ice cream twisted into a rich, black cone and covered with gold. Does it get fancier than this? I’m not sure.

Matcha ‘n More ensures that their matcha is high quality by importing it personally from Japan Uji, the place where matcha was first introduced.ย All of their purees and syrups are house made and include no artificial ingredients or food coloring. All of their ingredients are fresh and organic from reliable sources as well!

What to order: The 24K Gold Matcha, duh.

More info: Website | Instagram


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13. Stuffed

139 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10003

Stuffed is known for two things: their “Cruffs,” which are donut ice cream sandwiches loaded with toppings, and their colorful, super extra ice cream bouquets. Stuffed prepares their donuts and ice cream in house, and currently has twelve fun ice cream flavors that include black sesame, mint mojito and chocolate lavender.

The white-walled interior of Stuffed is just as Instagram-ready as their desserts and is practically begging for a photo op.

What to order: The 7 Scoop Ice Cream Bouquet (or the 21 Scoop Bouquet if you’re feeling absolutely nuts!)

More info: Website | Instagram


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14. Black Tap

529 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

Black Tap is a modern diner joint serving up delicious craft beer, juicy burgers and most notably, Instagram-famous milkshakes. There is typically a long line for shakes, so get there early!

Some of their crazy shake options include the Sweet ‘n Salty, which is a peanut butter shake with a chocolate frosted rim, chocolate gems & peanut butter cups topped with a sugar daddy, pretzel rods, chocolate covered pretzel, whipped cream & chocolate drizzle (are you in a sugar coma yet?) and the Bam Bam, which is a fruity pebbles shake with a vanilla frosted rim, fruity pebbles topped with a fruity pebbles rice krispy treat, strawberry pop tart, laffy taffy, whipped cream & a cherry.

Order wisely.

What to order: The Cake Shake is their most absurd-looking treat – a milkshake with an entire slice of cake on top! All of their shakes are extremely ‘grammable, however.

More info: Website | Instagram


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15. Bibble & Sip

253 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

Bibble & Sip is a bakery and coffeehouse serving high quality coffee, tea and a great selection of fresh, housemade baked goods. Some notable items: the Everything Bagel Croissant and their diverse menu of fluffy cream puffs!

What to order: The Matcha White Chocolate Cream Puff is one of the most vibrant items on the menu and super satisfying to break open!

More info: Website | Instagram


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16. Wowfulls

Wowfull’s mission is to create authentic 1950โ€™s-style Hong Kong egg waffles and bring this popular Asian street food to the people of New York City – and they have definitely achieved that mission! With consistent crowds and happy customers, Wowfulls is an ever-popular spot.

They began by selling their waffles at Brooklyn’s weekend food truck festival, Smorgasburg, and quickly realized they needed to expand to fulfill the demand they were creating!

What to order: Anything on the menu – it’s all delicious and offerings change frequently.

More info: Website | Instagram


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17. Ice & Vice

221 E Broadway, New York, NY 10002

Ice & Vice is an “experimental ice cream shop” on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, serving up quirky options such as “Opium Den,” an ice cream made of white sesame, toasted poppy seed and lemon bread croutons, and an “Everything Bagel Sammie,” which is their Basic B, black & white cookies, and everything bagel seasoning. Weird? Maybe. Delicious? Yes.

They also have some ridiculous and delicious ice cream cone concoctions topped with pie and cake if you’re feeling like going the extra mile.

What to order: The “9 AM,” which is ice cream made with Vietnamese coffee and donut truffles!

More info: Website | Instagram


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18. Magnolia Bakery

401 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014 (More Locations)

Okay, so maybe Magnolia Bakery’s banana pudding may not be the most colorful, Instagrammable dessert ever, but dang it, it’s SO GOOD. I personally think that the best thing at Magnolia is their banana pudding, not their cupcakes. (I much prefer Sprinkles Cupcakes, sorry Magnolia.) But no one does banana pudding better than they do!

Well worth a stop in to one of their charming locations to grab some of this deliciousness. My personal favorite is their West Village location.

What to order: Their housemade banana pudding. It’s to die for!

More info: Website | Instagram


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19. Stax Ice Cream

279 Grand St, New York, NY 10002

Stax is dessert shop hybrid, selling both donuts and ice cream! You can order one or the other, or get a Cremella, which is a freaking donut ice cream sandwich. Yeah, you read that right. It’s sweet as heck, as you might imagine, but a delicious combo!

What to order: A Cremella with Cornflake Bourbon ice cream.

More info: Website | Instagram

Looking for delicious bites on a budget? Check out my guide to the 20 best cheap eats in NYC!

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20. Tipsy Scoop

Tipsy Scoop’s shtick is boozy ice cream – to be more specific, artisanal, hand-crafted ice cream that packs the punch of a perfectly mixed cocktail. Intrigued yet? Their offerings include everything from Raspberry Limoncello Sorbet to Chocolate Stout & Pretzel. Full menu of flavors available here.

You must be 21 or older to go to Tipsy Scoop, for obvious reasons! Their scoops are up to 5% ABV.

What to order: The Dark Chocolate Whiskey Salted Caramel. Yummers.

More info: Website | Instagram


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21. Doughnut Plant

Multiple Locations (click here)

There are lots of great donut shops in New York City, but Doughnut Plant is one of my top contenders. They have a wide variety of styles of donuts, creative flavors, and are consistently high quality and delicious!

They have a new location inside Grand Central too!

What to order: Their Peanut Butter & Blackberry Jam filled square donuts are my absolute fave.

More info: Website | Instagram


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22. Milk & Cream Cereal Bar

159 Mott St, New York, NY 1001

Milk & Cream is a mecca for the cereal fans amongst us. You get to choose either vanilla or cookie dough ice cream, and then pick a cereal of your choice, which is mixed in and blended into creamy soft serve. You can also add toppings!

What to order: The Banana Cream, which is a blend of crispy granola, bananas, and Teddy Grahams topped with bananas, Teddy Grahams and a honey drizzle.

More info: Website | Instagram


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23. Supermoon Bakehouse

120 Rivington Street, New York, NY, 10002

Former San Franciso-based Mr. Holmes chef Ry Stephen is the creative mastermind behind Supermoon Bakehouse. They offer up inventive treats such as their Rosemary Blueberry croissant, which is a blue bi-color croissant filled with a rosemary cream patissiere with a house-made blueberry jam folded throughout. Sign me up.

What to order: The Chocolate Ganache Croissant, Classic Cruffin (croissant/muffin hybrid), or brand new Croissant Butter soft serve.

More info: Website | Instagram


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24. Jacob’s Pickles

Jacob’s Pickles serves up delicious Southern comfort food with a wide selection of craft beers, and still manages to pull off this ‘grammable treat, the Cookies ‘n Cream Biscuit Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream. Hi, table for one please?

What to order: Either the biscuit bread pudding or the fried oreos with homemade cream, if you’re feeling brave.

More info: Website | Instagram


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25. Amorino

162 Eighth Ave, NY 10011

Amorino is an artisanal, authentic Italian gelato company that knows how to do gelato up right. Having studied gelato intensely one summer in Italy (AKA eating 3 gelatos a day for a month), I can vouch for the authenticity of this stuff. It’s dang good.

They create beautiful “floral” gelato arrangements which are 100% Instagrammable!

What to order: The Amarena cream and black cherry gelato is my absolute fave.

More info: Website | Instagram


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26. Sprinkles Cupcakes

780 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10065

Sprinkles Cupcakes are my favorite cupcakes (ever), hands down. They are perfectly fluffy, moist and flavorful, with just the right amount of icing, and always fresh!

The really fun thing about visiting Sprinkles in New York City is that they have a CUPCAKE ATM (yeah, you read that right!) where you can literally select any cupcake or cookie you wish and receive it immediately, 24/7.

They also have a store at beautiful Brookfield Place, which is a great spot to stop for lunch (and a cupcake after, of course).

What to order: My all-time favorite is a seasonal offering at Sprinkles, the gingerbread cupcake which comes out around the holiday season every year. It is legitimately one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.

More info: Website | Instagram


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27. Popbar

5 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

Popbar is brilliant because they’ve combined two delicious treats to create their genius gelato on a stick! They offer 26 different flavors and lots of yummy combinations of gelato and toppings, from chocolate covered strawberry to coffee half-dipped in dark chocolate to blood orange.

They make three varieties: popgelato, popsorbetto and yogurtpop. Their bars are all gluten-free and kosher, with some vegan and lactose-free options as well.

What to order: The chocolate and caramel covered popcorn Popbar (or anything on the menu, for that matter).

More info: Website | Instagram


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28. ChikaLicious Dessert Club

203 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003

Three words: S’mores. Churro. Cone.

Yeah, I know. It’s a lot to take in. I haven’t gotten my hands on one of these bad boys yet, but I fully intend to at some point. They look insanely delicious!

What to order: Do I even need to say it? Obviously that delicious-looking S’mores Churro Cone, hello!

More info: Website | Instagram


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29. New Territories

190 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

If you’re looking for some seriously extra milkshakes, egg waffles and other crazy treats, New Territories is the one for you! An example of their inventive menu: the Dark and Snowy, which is a black ash waffle with earl grey ice cream, banana chips, and hot fudge.

Vegan and gluten-free options available!

What to order: The Mr. Grumpy milkshake, which comes with a peanut-rimmed cup, artisan chocolate ice cream, Rice Krispy treat, Pocky, torched marshmallow and whipped cream.

More info: Website | Instagram


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30. Creamistry

129 Walker Street, New York,ย NYย 10013

Hot off the presses! Creamistry is a brand new ice cream shop in New York that hand crafts fresh, delicious scoops of ice cream right in front of you using high quality ingredients.

They offer a ton of different flavors and mix-ins (check the menu here!), and make gloriously indulgent cereal ice cream sandwiches with Fruity Pebbles, Captain Crunch, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, They can also do a brownie sandwich, which sounds amazing.

Creamistry uses premium, organic ingredients and has vegan, non-dairy options!

What to order: The Cinnamon Toast Crunch ice cream sandwich is high on my personal to eat list. YUM.

More info: Website | Instagram


And there you have it folks, the most Instagram worthy desserts in NYC!

I hope you enjoyed this sugary trip through the best bakeries, ice cream shops and other special treat stops. There are always new places opening (it’s New York, after all!) so I’ll continue to update this post with any important additions and must-eat spots as they pop up.

Check out the map below to see where all of the places mentioned in this post are located, along with many others that didn’t get a full write-up.

Looking for delicious bites on a budget? Check out my guide to the 20 best cheap eats in NYC!

Wondering where all these places are? Here you go!

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33 thoughts on “30 Instagram Worthy Desserts In New York City”

  1. These options look incredible !! Thank you for ruining my diet with guilty thoughts !! ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคฃ

  2. OMG drool! My favorite is the taiyaki ice cream! This is an amazing curation! I can’t wait to refer to this list when i visit nyc in September!

  3. My mouth is watering just from the photos. I think Iโ€™ll have to make a trip back to NY just for these ๐Ÿ˜‹

  4. I’m drooling over all of these photos… I’d love to get back to NYC, mainly for eating purposes haha. The hardest thing to figure out would be where I’d go first with so many options!

  5. This list is so good, Sierra, it’s insane! Had I read this post prior to travelling to New York I don’t think I would have left the city. Gorgeous, simply gorgeous.

  6. Okay, I need to go to NYC right now. My bank balance… ๐Ÿ™ But in seriousness, these look AMAZING!! I want all of them! And your photos really show them at their best; it’s given me a lot of photo inspiration – thank you for sharing!

  7. OH YUMMY!! I tried some but I’ve missed plenty too haha. Sooo sad you haven’t made this one before. And I hope I can go soon back to NYC! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  8. Oh my God I think I just gained 10lbs reading this! They all look amazing!!!!! I think we need a NYC trip to pig out a bit lol!

  9. Um… Yummy!!!!!! These treats make me want to take a trip to NYC and forget my diet at home! Black Tap is my fav!!! I have learned to go later in the day (like 9PM!) and there isn’ t a line. I tried opening time and there was a long line even 30 minutes before it opened!

  10. Oh wow. I’m about to wipe my bucket list clean and just replace it with this. These look outrageously beautiful and delicious!

  11. OMG, these treats alone would be worth heading to NYC!! All the attractions in the Big Apple are great but the BEST part of NYC for me is the food! It’s hard to go anywhere else in the world where you can access the variety of international cuisine in one block radius!

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