Seven Best Italian Bakeries in New York City
Looking for the best Italian pastries and desserts in New York City?
Few things bring us more joy than delicious cannoli or a buttery Italian cookie. Luckily, New York City is home to some of the oldest and most iconic Italian bakeries in the United States. We narrowed down the best of the best and here are our picks for the seven best Italian bakeries in New York City.
Ferrara’s Bakery and Cafe – 195 Grand St
Ferrara’s has been in the heart of Little Italy since 1892. Every time we are in the neighborhood we always pick up a sweet treat from here. They are probably best known for their cannoli, but they make a top-notch rainbow cookie and lobster tail too. You can learn more about the history and food from Ferrara’s and other family- owned small businesses in the area on our Chinatown and Little Italy Food Fest tour!
Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe – 342 E 11th St
P.C.: Veniero’s
Walking into Veniero’s is like taking a step back in time, the rows and rows of pastries in their showcase are quite the sight to behold. Veniero’s opened their doors in the East Village in 1894 and are almost as old as the iconic Ferrara’s in Little Italy. We love to enjoy their Italian butter cookies, fresh fruit tarts and creamy Italian cheesecakes while admiring their stained-glass ceilings and historic location. Veniero’s can get crowded at times, especially during the holidays but it is well worth the wait.
Pasticceria Rocco – 243 Bleecker St & 9402 4th Ave, Brooklyn
P.C.: yelp, Jason M.
Pasticceria Rocco may not have the history as some of the other bakeries on this list, but it has become a dependable, go-to bakery for authentic, traditional Italian treats in the Greenwich Village. We love their cannoli and Napoleons, but they are also our pick for the best black and white cookie in New York City.
Angelina Bakery – 1675 Broadway & Other Locations
P.C.: yelp, Paul M.
You can find light, fluffy Italian doughnuts called bomboloni at Angelina Bakery. The word bomboloni comes from the Italian word for bomb and we can confirm that they are in fact the bomb! You can have them stuffed with Chantilly cream, Nutella, strawberry cream and more. Looking for something a little different and very pretty? Check out their round wheel croissants aka rolling croissants. They have locations across New York City including one near Times Square.
Artuso Pastry Shop – 670 E 187th St, Bronx
P.C.: yelp, Natalia C.
You can find great Italian bakeries outside of Manhattan too. Arthur Avenue is often called Bronx’s Little Italy and Artuso is easily the best Italian bakery in the neighborhood. It is packed with tempting choices to choose from like cookies, biscotti and towering cakes and there are no wrong choices here! But for us, their sfogliatelle is an absolute must. It is a flaky pastry with a sweet cream filling and shaped like a shell.
Villabate Alba – 7001 18th Ave, Brooklyn
P.C.: yelp, Lucia D.
Villabate Alba is worth the trip to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn alone for their floor to ceiling selections of Sicilian treats, pastries and gelati. We tried their lemon drop cookies and fruit tarts the last time around and we are already planning our trip back. If you are looking for a savory snack, we highly recommend their Sicilian deep fried rice balls (arancini).
La Guli Pastry Shop – 29-15 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria
P.C.: yelp, Eloy Y.
Finally, La Guli is another family- owned, historic Italian bakery in New York City. With their eclairs, cannoli, Napoleons and more, it is a favorite for locals and visitors to Astoria alike. It is a great option if you need a scrumptious, eye- catching cake for a special event like a birthday, graduation or wedding. They are truly masters of their craft. Also in the summer, their Italian ices really hit the spot on the hottest of days.