I just found out this bakery and tried a few baked goods. I had the mediterranean quiche - eggplant, roasted pepper, big chunks of feta, pumpkin seeds, cherry tomato. A yummy combination of flavors and it would be even better warmed up. I bought a chocolate babka to bring to a party. Crispy on the top, buttery and chocolatey at the bottom. I wanted to eat it all by myself. Definitely recommended for chocolate lovers. read more

So...I'm slightly obsessed with this place. Even if I don't need bread, I'll come to this place. The rugelachs are tiny chocolate croissants bites that are heavenly. And I'm not even a sweet tooth so this love I have for breads is bizarre. I am however, a huge bread fan. Bread, anytime, any place. Fresh out of the oven is my favorite. Truly fantastic bread doesn't need anything with it. It's like a fine wine that way. Moving right along, I've gotten the rugelachs (scrumptious heaven), the festive challah bread (so yummy and fun) and the olive bread (soft, crunchy crust, and actual whole olives pieces). Nothing has disappointed me yet. read more

Oh Em Gee..... Where have you been all my life? Why are we just meeting for the first time now? Dear Chocolate Babka, Hey I just met you and this is crazy but here's my number, so call me maybe? It's hard to look right at you baby but here's my number, so call me maybe... On this past fateful Sunday, I wandered into Breads Bakery and turned to my right, this is when Babka and I first locked eyes. As luck would have it, a fresh batch was being rolled out and the nice employee offered me a taste as he was in shock after I notified him that I had never tried it before. It was love at first bite. After purchasing the 2 for $20 deal I walked to the back to grab a coffee. On my way out I noticed the wall full of awards for others that shared my love for Babka. I was heartbroken to find out that I was not the only one BUT I FORGIVE YOU BABKA. You are that good that I'm happy to share you with the world. I only hope that you will forever remember the special connection we shared, on that Sunday, April 17, 2016 @ 7:46 pm. read more

Breaks my heart to give this low rating to my all time favorite place I probably spent more than $1,000 on since years... but last Monday it just killed me. I decided to give a try to an overpriced cookie with poppy seeds (my all time favorite filling), girl gives me one and it looked like chocolate, so I asked her to swap to poppy seeds, she gives me the look like I am an idiot and difficult customer (if only you knew girl how much I gave breads...!) and again picks the smallest one that obviously is again chocolate and moves on. I thought she did it right this time but again, bites into it, leave in my bag for 4 days because I didn't want this ! And say nothing, well breads train your staff to remember that customers are always right! And in this case I was actually right twice! Will definitely avoid spending my hard earned $$$ here from now on! I can live a life with less carbs after all... read more

Breads Bakery - Union Square - Meh - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

See all

One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes involves Jerry trying (unsuccessfully) to procure a chocolate babka to bring to a dinner party. When I watched this as a child, I wondered, What's a babka? Fast forward to me in my 30s, feverishly researching Manhattan's best chocolate babka. At the top of several reputable lists? Breads Bakery, and one visit confirmed that it had earned its glowing reputation. Rows upon rows of fresh-from-the-oven babka are available on serve-yourself shelves. (Seriously, they're hot; I purchased a few so fresh, we couldn't close the packaging because the steam couldn't get out.) Along with plenty of handmade bread and pastries, there are trays of top-notch regional and seasonal treats, including hamentashen and rugelach. Snap up some items for now and later; the babka freezes beautifully...if you can wait that long. Eat This: Chocolate Babka, Rugelach, Seeded Challah read more

This bakery is fairly new, and I really liked the sample that I tried and the coffee, but the service and the chocolate croissant I had were definitely lacking. I was in serious need one sunday morning for a chocolatey breakfast pastry - I had heard their croissants were bomb, so I decided to trek down to this place on a cool, bright March morning! I couldn't find it at first (then I looked the fool in front of the people who were waiting across the street at Gramercy Tavern, cause I literally walked past it twice). Went in and tried something chocolately and delicious - I wish I had known what it was, but no labels mean I'm in limbo! There wasn't anyone actually THERE to tell me what it was either, so I was left guessing. I ordered the chocolate croissant without knowing what it was and also a large cup of coffee. The service was unimpressed with me, and likewise I to them. The coffee was ordered at the front, but it was in the back? They have a completely separate counter in the back that does essentially the same stuff as the front (drink, food orders), so I guess they expect a lot of business. They have seating which is a major plus, but it definitely filled up like crazy within 10 minutes of my being there. People were giving me the stinkeye for sitting by myself, which is annoying since I'd only been there for less than 15! Sheesh people. Redeeming quality: after said 15 minutes were up, the manger-like person walked around and gave everyone free butter shortbread cookies. Yay for freebies! Another redeeming quality: I was reading my NY Magazine and they had a best-of list - apparently the babka here is the BEST in NYC. Wish I had known that when I was ordering, cause that croissant was kind of gross! read more

Out of this world pastry!!! Tried chocolate babka and fell in love with it! Mouthwatering! Very fresh! They make decent coffee, too. The place is always busy but the staff is professional and fast, they know how to bake and how to handle it! Highly recommended!!! read more

Breads Bakery - Union Square - Must try CHOCOLATE BABKA! - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Time Out New York told me about this new bakery opening, so I was excited to drop in. Pros: one girl behind the counter was friendly and helpful, good amount of seating , liked the chocolate croissant Cons: the first staff member I came in contact with was handling out samples. When I stood in front of her, she just stared at me blankly, as if just waiting for her shift to be over. I had to ask, "Are these samples?". She finally said dully, "oh, yeah" and handed me a small piece of bread and didn't even tell me what it was. So that left me with a bad first impression. Secondly, where are the napkins and knives? I walked all around and couldn't find them. Also, descriptions and prices weren't all clearly marked, so it made me less interested because I didn't want to have to deal with potential dull service at this point by asking " what is that? " Overall OK. Not sure if I'll return. read more

This place was recommended when I wanted a babka so I gave their chocolate babka a try. It's pretty damn chocolatey! Next I gotta try the cinnamon babka to see if its pretty damn cinnamoney. Tl;dr - babka! read more

A wonderful addition to the neighborhood though it is not cheap. Breads gets super busy during lunch time but always remains comfortable. They offer a ton of options with the front and rear separation focusing on different items. The system works well though both lines still can get inconveniently long. The baked goods up-front are delectable and first-rate. I'll go to Ansel's for the kouign amoun but come here for everything else. The babka is amongst the best available. The rugelach, equally addicting. When you see something behind the counter and imagine how it tastes, it tastes like that and better. This is that place. In the back, freshly made sandwiches are laid-out and two cashiers usher through lines quickly and pretty efficiently. They're friendly enough but the highlight is the food. The tuna and the Turkish are my absolute favorites. Something as simple as a tuna sandwich one would think is relatively identical everywhere. No, the Breads version is wonderfully delicious in a fresh, unique way. If you're in the neighborhood, try Breads! But don't make a habit of it... :-) read more

In general, I really like the baked goods here. I have to criticize them for their customer service. The bakery is disorganized, too crowded and chaotic for COVID times. I called several times and went to the bakery 3 times to get Hanukah doughnuts. They ran out of online order slots. They kept running out of them in the bakery. They should know that they would be popular. The latkes were tiny and greasy, expensive too - the worst I've ever had. I know they can do better. read more

I come to Breads pretty frequently on weekend mornings to grab coffee and a baked good. I am a big fan of their plain croissants and their challah. The croissant is perfectly buttery and very flakey, and the challah is a fluffy cloud of pillowy eggy goodness with the right amount of bite. I've also had their gaspacho soup in the summer which I would highly recommend, and their quiches which are pretty tasty. Unfortunately, the prices at Breads are pretty ridiculous. In the past 8 months, a loaf of challah has gone from $7 (already $$$) to $7.75. I don't think the challah warrants that price tag even though it is very good. Also, a small quiche (4-5 inches wide) will run you $9 after tax. You can still get a croissant for under $3, but let's see how long that lasts. Breads is often packed with strollers which can make things very cramped and unpleasant, but there is seating in the back that can be comfortable if there is space. read more

Got to try their famous chocolate babka, and omg its pretty good! It's like dense bread thats mixed with chocolate hazelnut cinnamon and bread! Very yummy w/a coffee or tea. But what I love even MORE at this bakery is the small triangle pizzas--they're 2 for $5 and SO GOOD!!! its a super flaky pastry with some tomato sauce cheese and bite sized. Check this out for sure if you are a savory eater (like me!) I tried the apple version...and I didn't like it. Just stick to the pizza flavor and you won't be disappointed ;) loved that this place had some room for people to sit and enjoy their baked goods/coffee. I'd come back! I wanna try ALL of their baked goods... read more

My husband lives for the chocolate rugelach. I wish they would add a black and white cookie to their offerings. I usually don't get anything for myself here since I am more of the cupcake and cookie type. (My husband just read this review over my shoulder and told me he's now also a fan of the chocolate babka, which he got a sample of on the street last time he was walking by. ) read more

Crazy good. We got the croissant, chocolate croissant, poppy seed swirl/roll, cinnamon roll, cheese stick, almond croissant and a chocolate something or other. Fiance and i agreed croissant was the best we had both ever had. Going to paris this summer so we'll see how this one stacks up. I normally don't like poppy but it was subtle. Very good. Cinnamon roll was great - super soft. Least favorite was actually the cheese stick, just ok...fiance really liked it tho...I was very surprised...who doesn't like cheese on pastry...? read more

Step 1: purchase nutella chocolate babka. Step 2: consume entire loaf of nutella chocolate babka (option - warm it up in oven for maximum chocolate gooey-ness). Step 3: feel incredibly full (of regret) but also very happy because this is babka (albeit nontraditional) is absolutely fucking delicious. read more

I am not a big fan of baked desserts, but this place just made me fall in love with rughalics and babkas. When they say they have the best chocolate babka- THEY ARE NOT LYING! Baked to a perfection with a very distinct texture and rich chocolate flavor, this gigantic dessert took me two days to complete. Another one of their baked goods that I adored were the marzipan rughalics. Those were pure heaven. Incredible texture, with very soft inside and crusty outside makes your tongue experience true pleasure. I am definitely coming back here! read more

As a bread cuckoo, I always welcome a new bakery. This is one of the growing trend of expensive bakeries. The Festive Challah was not eggy enough and the North Sea Rye was denser than Sarah Palin. The cheese straws are absolutely fabulous. The walnut breads are very good maybe one shade below the originals Elis. The babka and the regelach were excellent but here is my problem. Twice I have asked if they serve babka by the slice. Once the kid behind the counter, "No, do you want some arugla?" (No kidding.) "Why are making salads back there?" "You know, arugula." "You mean rugelach?" "Yeah, regulach." At another time I asked the same question. This time another kid said, "Get the rugleach it has the same ingredients." Expensive and dumb are a bad combination. read more

The best babka in NYC. The best I ever had anywhere. The rye bread is warm, fresh, crispy and chewy on outside and perfectly soft inside. Their salads, sandwiches and dips are heaven. Their sales folk are super nice and helpful. It makes me happy every time I walk in, to smell the fresh breads and sweet treats coming hot out of the oven! read more

Great service, delectable fare, reasonable prices and a healthy selection of sweet and savory make this place a go-to destination for breakfast, lunch or pickup before a holiday party. Their Chocolate Babka is featured in Wikipedia when you conduct a Google search and that isn't because it's the only place in the world that sells it. That says all you need to know. read more

The chocolate babka is life (and belt size) changingly good. HOLY SHIT THIS IS GOOD! Like sell my car for it good. Sell my soul for it! This is crack. read more

One of my favorite bakeries in the city! Breads chocolate babka is literally the perfect dessert for any occasion - it's a mass of soft bread and chocolate, with a crispy crust on top that adds texture and flavor. It comes in cinnamon and chocolate, though for the month of May, they added a cheesecake flavor that was incredible! The babka freezes and reheats beautifully (though there's rarely much leftover!), and I love to bring it as a gift to my parents. Breads also does the best hamantaschen in March, with such interesting flavors! My favorite is the poppyseed, though the sweet chocolate and savory beet flavors were so so good as well. They sometimes give out samples as well, and I've only ever tried samples of their savory items - crackers, breads, all of which were really good and are worth coming for on their own! They do breakfast / lunch as well, with a decent size seating space at the back of the shop. read more

I'm sure you've heard it before, but Breads Bakery's chocolate babka is the best. Period. I could eat it every day, but I have to show some restraint so I try to save it for holiday brunches or special occasions. The olive loaf is my favorite bread, although the French sourdough comes in a close second. The multi-seeded rolls are exactly like the rolls I used to buy when I was living in Zurich so I love them. The only item that I've tried and wouldn't buy again is the brownie cake. It lacks that "something special" and they have better dessert options like the fruit tart or the millefeuille. Check out the sandwiches and salads in the back. The salads are slightly expensive for what you get, but this is New York so I suck it up and end up grabbing them for lunch pretty often. The cauliflower tahini is excellent. I like to buy that and bring it home as a side dish for dinners read more

That's some gooood chocolate babka, and some gooood bread... 'nuff said

Not a true fan of babkas but I've seen the light and that light was named Breads Bakery. I'd say it's pricey for my liking but still worth it. Wish we had gotten more. Highly recommend it. read more

Was shopping at Union Square Greenmarket n stumbled into this place...friendly environment, the best pain au raisin I've ever tried! Must go back for more! read more

See all

Love their stuff. Selection varies day to day but all of it seems good. Lots of choices. Can be overwhelming. And spending over $10 nets you a free loaf of bread (up to $7.50 value which I'd their most expensive loaf). Marzipan filled braided loaf with sliced almonds is golden, crispy, crunchy, sweet and addictive. (Bubka?) Chocolate twisty-loaf... massively addictive. Loaded with high quality chocolate. Friends lucky enough to try some are considering sending me back to NYC to retrieve more. Mushroom onion focaccia is awesome. If you need to reheat, a few minutes in a medium pan and then a hot broiler will do the trick. Will report back on the north rye loaf and cinnamon raisin twist loaf soon. Will go back often when I'm in the city. read more

This is now a permanent part of my NYC trip itinerary. They have some of the best chocolate rugelach you can get. To me there are two major categories of rugelach, one where it's made in long roll and then cut and one (like at Breads) where each is made individually. Both are great, though. The rugelach here is very light and moist. I bought a dozen to bring home with me, actually. I've also had their croissants, which are fantastic, especially the almond one. They have so many beautiful food items that I can't imagine getting bored. Also, their coffee is pretty good. So, you know, get thee to the bakery! read more

Not sure what I did with my life prior to Breads. Stopped by here on a rainy Saturday to grab some babka and coffee. I love how modern this old bakery looked and how there were babka samples. MMM. Ordered a couple of iced coffees and a creme brulee Danish. I told them black, but people never listen. But they let us keep the creamed and black iced coffees. No complaints there. I was very excited about the creme brulee danish. The bread was very flaky and had a lot personality. But the filling as a little on the skimpy side. I wish there were full bites of egg, like an egg tart. (Maybe I should've just gotten an egg tart). And the egg was very almondy. I didn't expect it to be as almondy as it was. I'm totes coming back here for lunch and a pastry. read more

This is my absolute favorite bakery in all of NYC. I have been and visited many bakeries searching for delicious artisan breads and I can honestly say this had me at hello. It's located on 16th street and as soon as you walk in, you're in a crowd of people searching for breads and other baked goods located on shelves along the one wall. Their almond croissants are super sweet and goes well with black coffee- which is superb and imported from Italy. Their coffee is Very strong in pungent in flavor and aroma. Their walnut bread and 9 grain multi is what I come for. It's just a hint of sweetness with a nutty touch. Moist and soft when you get it because they bake breads throughout the day. But after trying several breads including their sandwiches- they are on point! It reminds me of European bakeries from the artisan touch to it. I also recommend not buying their chocolate chip cookies- as a fanatic of chocolate chip cookies, I'm sorry folks, they still need to perfect that one. But as that one being their ONLY flaw, go there. read more

I ate a chocolate babka from Trader Joe's once and got really sad because it made me sick and I just could not eat any more of it after one bite -- too rich and hard. So I decided to come to Breads to get the real deal. Came on Saturday afternoon at about 5, and got really lucky because a whole batch of chocolate babkas came out fresh from the oven. It smelled SO GOOD. People immediately lined up to get their mitts on some babkas. For $12 a pop, I have to say it's well worth the money considering it takes such effort and SKILL to make such a delicious babka. Would also recommend getting the burekas, a crunchy puff pastry that comes with spinach, feta or potato filling. They sell for 1 for $3 or 2 for $5. Get two. So good. read more

5 stars for the chocolate babka. I'm surprised there aren't more reviews for this!!! Esp compared to the reviews for Levain: I'd say Breads babka is better! I've ordered the babka ($12 for a loaf, a tempting 2 for $20) probably 5 times since I first tasted it. Incredible - flaky, chocolatey, without feeling too heavy or nauseating as thick chocolate desserts may induce (unless you eat the whole roll in one seating...which is more tempting and easy than you expect. I saw some reviews about babka running out but that's never happened to me. They sometimes lay out little bite sized samples of the babka too! The chocolate croissant is also top notch - buttery, great texture, with a potent strip of dense chocolate sandwiched inside. It's a little noisy to sit and read or study, though it's a great place to meet people. I'll most definitely be back far too frequently for my own good. read more

This is a pastry shop that does almond croissants very well. It's a rich buttery crust (there is a LOT of butter) with a healthy portion of marzipan inside, topped with toasty almonds. Their pain au chocolat is heavy on the pain and light on the chocolat. The ratios are definitely off. We also tried a sesame cretzel (croissant + pretzel hybrid), which left a lot to be desired. It would've been better just to get a regular pretzel or a regular croissant. Not everything needs to be combined. The tea, while fine, did not need to be $3 for a bag (not even loose leaf) and hot water. Also, the servers appeared severely confused by the tea order. read more

I'm on the upper west side and I am a customer of Breads at least 3 times a week. I bought, for the first time, a little bag of the Palmiers. They look so plain but they were soooo delicious. They're crisp and buttery with a hint of cinnamon....perfect with a cup of coffee! Breads you did it again, a scrumptious cookie!! read more

Constantly satisfied with this place. If you are looking for a completely different vibe than your usual Starbucks, check out Breads. Not only are their breads, pastries and sandwiches good, but their coffee is top notch. A regular size latte keeps me going till 3pm and tastes absolutely wonderful at 9am. Their babka, almond croissant and soy latte are 3 of my favorite things but occasionally I will get a cookie, or a bread for dinner if I am cooking that night. The vibe is cool, the owner is friendly and the music is always pleasant! Great for a quick stop for coffee and go, or to sit down, listen to music and enjoy a bite. I will continue to come back frequently, and it is climbing to the top of my list for favorite bakeries/coffee spots. read more

Died and went to heaven. This place is amazing. You def. have to try the Babka bread of the tiny croissants that have a similar filling. Holy cow. This is why this place is so packed. Everything was fresh and moist but very rich so beware! I love that when you walk in you can serve yourself. In the back you can order coffee and healthy meal items to stay or to go. This place is amazing. Def. recommend going here for some baked good! Yum. Yum. read more

Came here with a friend to kill some time. There are plenty of tables here and the location is great -- right next to Union Square. We ordered a creme brûlée pastry, quiche and two lattes. Everything was delicious. In fact, there are so many delicious pastry options here you really can't go wrong! Most of the bread options are at the front of the shop. There's another register/section in the back for sandwiches, quiches, and coffee. read more

Breads Bakery - Union Square - Creme brûlée deliciousness - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Authentic Jewish/Israeli bakery that tastes just as good as its sister location in Tel Aviv. Breads Bakery never disappoints: take it from a Parsons student who practically lives at Breads during the school week (The New School has a building right next door). So many visits between classes (thank you for the student discounts!) and every penny was well worth it. The baked goods are always fresh, the service is the friendliest, and the selection is huge so you never get tired of eating here. Besides the obvious mouth-watering goodness of the chocolate babka (believe the hype), almond croissants, and burekas, head towards the back of the cafe to find excellent personal quiches, small salads, sandwiches (try the brie on a Jerusalem Baguette!), and a hearty vegetable soup that reminds me of the one my Israeli grandmother makes. Also, look out for krembo in the winter time! Breads, it is so good to have you in this neighborhood and on this continent. read more

Cronut, shmo-nut. The chocolate babka should be New York's pastry claim to fame! It's super buttery-flakey crust is sprinkled with melt-in-your-mouth pieces of milk chocolate that dance on your taste buds! It's heaven on earth! Don't really feel like something sweet? Breads also has fresh salads and sandwiches in the back all made with their freshly baked breads. There is ample seating for you to sit and enjoy your treats, and if there is a line it moves fast. A key place to stop if you find yourself in Union Sq. read more

What I had: Chocolate Babka Would I go back?: Meh maybe just at an earlier time of the day when everything's fresh Story: Tried this at the Bryant park locale but either way the chocolate babka is sourced from the legit bakery I'm assuming. I was expecting an out of this world babka and it was good but not that good maybe it's better when it's baked fresh in the morning but I had this around 6pm and it frankly tasted a little stale. I would eat the Dean and Deluca over this but maybe I just need to try it at a different time of day (aka Fresh from the oven) read more