If there ever was a perfect donut, Caroline's is the place to find it. The dough is fried, but airy and light, not at all greasy. Filled donuts are bursting at the seams with custard that tastes like egg yolks, cream, sugar, vanilla and little else. The orange cream cheese donut is generously frosted with, I'd guess, a mixture of cream cheese, marmalade, powdered sugar, and cream. Based on what we've tried, the donuts at Caroline's are old fashioned, unadulterated and excellent. I recently picked up four donuts for the fambly: the aforementioned orange cream cheese, creme brulee, Boston cream, and raspberry glaze donuts. This was in the afternoon around 4 p.m. and all of them were perfectly, wondrously fresh. The person at the counter (the male proprietor, I think) assured me in his charming French accent that they freshly fry donuts several times a day. Creme brulee was the fan favorite with the hard, crisp, sugar shell on top cracking delicately under a knife to reveal a loose, rich, custardy filling. But across the board, donuts were beautifully made (both aesthetic and delicious!), and well frosted / glazed / filled. The raspberry glaze by itself was a touch too sweet for our tastes, but applied with restraint so the overall effect was balanced. We are not in the donut market very often, but have had this place bookmarked ever since my esteemed Yelp colleague, Alan S., reviewed it last year. Now that we've tried these beauties, I think we're going to find many excuses to be back (e.g. for Hannukah sufganiyot, anything round for Lunar New Year, anything fried for Diwali, anything that can support a candle for birthdays, etc...).We really like this place and we suspect you will, too. read more

For so long, the Upper East Side was in desperate need of a really good donut shop. I'm not talking about Dunkin, although there's a time and place for that. I'm talking about an establishment that makes high-quality gourmet treats. As you can imagine, I was thrilled to see this one opening in the neighborhood last year. I have been to Caroline's several times since it opened its doors to the public. I've tried a few of their items, including the glazed twist, Boston creme, coffee donut, and strawberry filled. The glaze twist is one of my favorites. It's wonderfully sweet while not cloying, and I especially enjoy topping it with the Bon Mama berry jam I have at home. The Boston creme is truly made with love. It's sufficiently stuffed with creme and topped with a thick layer of chocolate ganache - the expensive stuff! The coffee donut is also delicious. Of everything I've tried, the strawberry filled was my favorite. You can tell their strawberry compote is homemade and not too sweet. The dough is light and fluffy and generously coated with granulated sugar. What a treat! read more

See all

Another one bites the dust in the neighborhood. They are out of business. This small donut shop offered a selection of handcrafted donuts which were tasty, from plain glazed to filled of different flavors. Yet, at $5 a donut on average it was a bit pricey for this area. I went there a few times to try it out but I could not justify paying that much. read more

See all

Steps above Dunkin' and Krispy Kreme, but not as wonderful as the independent donut shop I patronized in Marietta, GA. The woman working the counter is awfully nice, explaining that all baked goods, including doggie treats, are made in house. While I wasn't bowled over by my donut -- we chose the one up front with the strawberry and cream -- I thought it was good, though maybe not $5-good. Because I like to support local business I'll be back, perhaps to try an oatmeal cookie or to buy my grand-dog a biscuit. read more

Caroline's Donuts - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

I was on my way to the gym when I stumbled on this little shop. Hungry, I decided to have a donut for breakfast. I was there at 9am, and I was alone with another person, but when I was leaving about half an hour later people started crowding the place. I was greeted by two people when I walked in. The drinks menu is small - very basic. Probably because they specialize in donuts not lattes. The selection of donuts impressed me. They had more or less a dozen of different ones available. My mouth was watering just looking at them. I chose the mango and raspberry donuts to try halfsies with a friend I ran into. Boy oh boy! The donuts were beet fresh and flavorful. Soft and inside in a good way. The particular donuts I chose didn't have anything inside - the icing gave it the flavor. The shop has a few stools inside on the side and some outdoor seating. My friend and I decided to sit outside because the weather was beautiful that day. Would definitely come back to try the crème brûlée and The Caroline's special croissant donut with a strawberry on top. read more

See all

Caroline's is a quaint donut shop on the Upper East side with an abundance of options! The donuts are beautiful and are certainly made with high quality ingredients. They're anywhere from $3.50-$4.50 each which I think is really reasonably priced for what they are. My friend and I split a raspberry and lemon donut. Both were quite good. They were fluffy and light. The lemon donut was too sweet for my taste so I preferred the raspberry, which was also very sweet, but felt more balanced flavor-wise. Good spot to take kids or for a quick treat! read more

Caroline's Donuts - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Caroline's Donuts was originally located in Bed-Stuy before moving to the Upper East Side relatively recently. As a result, I made an exception to my general rule - informed by years of disappointment - to never anticipate success in this land of gastronomical disappointment. The donuts here were quite good. My favorite was the sufganiyot, with a very flavorful strawberry jam used as a filling. You can tell the ingredients employed here are of excellent quality, such as the chocolate glaze. If I have one gripe, it's that the topping-to-base ratio is a bit low, so some bites can taste a bit doughy without sufficient sweetness. read more

Caroline's Donuts - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

Needed COFFEEEEE before my haircut.. if I didn't stop I would have literally fell asleep at Aveda. I had a little time to kill and noticed Caroline's was nearby. I took a chance and decided to try their coffee. I entered and two patrons ahead of me were deciding what donuts to try: braided? Meringue? Dough cro? Orange cream cheese? The owner looked up at me and I stated I just wanted a coffee. He asked my preference, hot or cold? Two minutes later I walked out with piping hot coffee. I sipped it as I walked to Aveda; pretty good not great. I can't speak to the doughnuts but the variety seems unique. Since Two Little Hens closed eons ago, I'm unsure what dessert stores exist on UES. However, if you have some time on your hands, stopping by here for a quick treat to go or to eat Al fresco isn't a bad idea. read more

Caroline's Donuts - Interior - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

See all

These donut flavors were good at every bite - glazed, sugar-coated, and the crème brûlée flavors A flavor we weren't wild over was the dulce de leche Service was amazing - from the moment we walked in we felt welcomed which is important to me. The space itself is small but you can see that it's a small business that's recently opened. read more

Caroline's Donuts - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

Picked up my dessert from Caroline's on my way to dinner. I didn't want anything too heavy/cream filled so I chose the sugar donut, a sufganiyot w/ raspberry cream, and the pistachio loaf. Relatively "basic" options so I didn't particularly fall in love based on what I chose. I think I would've enjoyed the sufganiyot more if I got it with strawberry filling. Unfortunately it was my dog who ate most of the pistachio loaf ‍ I spent $13.65, which I think is reasonable. They are sizable donuts. If I happen to be in the area again I'd be willing to try them again. read more

See all

I love coming here for a fresh doughnut. Nothing beats the light airy - ness of a well made doughnut. There isn't much seating inside - a few bar stools but there are a few tables outside. There is a large step to get in the door but there is a sign denoting they have a ramp. read more

Caroline's Donuts - Donut selection - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

Very yummy donuts! A work colleague brought two boxes of donuts, so my teammates and I got to taste a variety of Caroline's donuts. My first impression is each donut is large and ... PUFFY! Tried to find the best way to describe the dough, because they are different from cake donuts and from donuts like Krispy Kreme. But they are puffy, big, and honestly dough-y, in a great way! My favorites are the ones with cream in the middle. Since the donuts are so large, when you get a bite of a donut you only get a bit of frosting in one bite and the rest is the dough. So the doughnuts with cream or filling inside were the best because each bite is deliciousness! I enjoyed the Boston cream donut and the creme brûlée. That one had a great topping! read more

Brooklyn has arguably the best doughnut places with Fanfan& Undon in NYC . Caroline is the only (project doughnut gone....) one that can claim excellence doing the doughnut the right way in Manhattan! Great dough , right (not too big) size and fantastic flavors . It's the REAL thing ! Highly recommended!!!! Definitely a Destination!!!! read more

Ohhh...what a creme brulee donut!! And the flan...for the Gods!! I still dream about them when I'm not in NYC, but every time I go back, it's straight to Caroline's for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Wow!!! read more

Caroline's gets Four Stars. I had a very good experience but the employee did say one thing about Yelp that turned me off. He's got Five Stars on Yelp so why complain! I am pleased with the seating options both inside and outside. The place is clean and the prices are posted so there's no surprises. You can pay cash. If you want a treat for your dog it's $2! I like that! The donuts are mouthwatering. Next time maybe coconut or coffee flavor. I didn't have my friend to share it with today. He said his stomach was acting up! I've been here so this review is overdue. I'm not indulging today but I will be back after the holidays. I like the hours because Caroline's opens seven days a week at 9am. I have to eat sweets early in the day! I'm recommending if you're in the neighborhood. read more

See all

This is a cute donut shop and a great addition to the upper east side neighborhood. Very clean and smells wonderful. The donut I had was the coffee one. I could not decide on one between the cinnamon one and coffee. The guy said to me the coffee one is wayy better. So I went with his advice. I will deff be back ti try others. There was only one guy there helping l, luckily it was not crowded at all. read more

See all

Wavering between a 3 and 4. Some of their donuts are really good and some I am not so sure about. I have had most of them. Glazed - forgettable Strawberry filled - I really liked this one Key Lime - true to the name, but not sure if it is worth the price tag Bostom Cream - I liked this one, great flavor and dough Rasberry iced - I liked this except I don't like the Meringue on top Chocolate - I liked this classic I usually return because there are not many donut shops up here. read more

You have to try their flan--it's the best in the neighborhood! I can't help but keep coming back ever since they opened. It's just that good! read more

Caroline's Donuts - Yummy!!! - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

I recently ordered 2 dozen assorted donuts for a birthday celebration and they were a big hit with my group. I placed the order a week in advance and the donuts arrived right on time, as scheduled. They were neatly boxed as requested (fruit flavors in 1, other flavors in another). The donuts are fairly large but not too dense - more fluffy. They all looked really pretty. Top flavors were the orange cream cheese, lemon, blueberry cream cheese, regular glazed, Nutella, and crème Brule. The coffee flavor was good but the coffee taste was subtle. There wasn't a bad flavor in the bunch - I wish I could have sampled them all! I would order from here again - the pricing is similar to other donut shops in the city, maybe slightly cheaper. I'm a fan. read more

Caroline's Donuts - Top: Nutella, creme Brule Middle: Boston cream, glazed Bottom: coffee, cinnamon sugar, dark chocolate - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

See all

You'll always remember your 1st time eating Caroline's Donuts! I received four donuts as a thank you gift and couldn't wait to dive in. The four donuts were decadent and each one unique and memorable on its own. My favorites were the strawberry jam filled donut and the orange donut with cream cheese frosting. My son loved the chocolate donut. Caroline's Donuts gets two thumbs up from me! These donuts are a must-try if you get a chance to visit the actual store. Loved every bite! My taste buds are grateful for the sweet adventure of gourmet flavors Caroline's Donuts gave us. Caroline's Donuts get my Yummylicious Seal of Approval! read more

Caroline's Donuts - Clockwise from top left: Orange cream cheese donut, Strawberry Filled donut, chocolate donut, coconut donut - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

See all

My student brought donuts for his birthday and they were great! The Nutella filled was perfection! Must go try these for myself!

What a great addition to the UES! My boyfriend and I just had to try this spot. And it did not disappoint! I got the Boston Kreme while he got the Raspberry and Glazed donuts. There's some seats outside which was great and the place is clean and tidy. We will definitely be back! read more

Caroline's Donuts - Donuts! - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

See all

The donuts here are absolutely huge. Honestly just a really really solid donut. I love the texture of the donut and the icing here. Everyone who worked here was super friendly! read more

Caroline's Donuts - Coffee Donut - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

Small shop with very nice staff. There was a bit of seating outside. Donuts were really good. Especially the passion fruit doughclair and there was a nice selection of unique donuts. Would go here again! read more

See all

I really wanted to love these donuts, but I found them to be average. I pre-ordered 8 donuts for a family event on a Saturday evening. I picked them up around 12pm on Saturday. They are a little pricey ($43 for 8 donuts), but I figured it would be a fun dessert to bring to the family. I kept them in the box that they came in on the counter of my kitchen counter until it was time for dessert. Sadly, the donuts were dry and very bready. The powder on the top of sufganiyot donuts completely disappeared, maybe because the jelly soaked through the top and absorbed it. Either way, I was disappointed. I ordered 2 of their sufganiyots, the lemon, coffee, orange cream cheese, Boston cream and pistachio éclair and the cronut with chocolate ganache. My favorite was the boston cream. I did not like the jelly in the sufganiyot. The lemon and the coffee donuts tasted chemically (others mentioned this in their reviews and I decided to give them a try anyways; sadly they were correct). The pistachio eclair was smaller than pictures and not worth $7. Maybe the donuts are different if you eat them fresh immediately after you pick them up, but I would not recommend getting them for an event or to eat later. Even a day after, they were VERY dry and bread-like and I ended up throwing them out. read more

The ratio of dough to icing is way off here. We had 2 kinds ($4.50 each!) and we finished neither of them. The donuts are huge to not enough glaze, so they're just big, dry donuts. My friend cut hers in half HORIZONTALLY to get less donut to her glaze. Friendly service. read more

Caroline's Donuts - In the trash. Waste of money. - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Boston Cream - a perfect rendition of this classic donut with its light texture. I always order more than one of these. It is so aesthetically pleasing. Crème Brûlée - this is such a beautiful donut. The topping is actually hard, which makes the crunchy first bite so appetizing. Strawberry Filled - these are good but need more filling. It's inconsistent every time I order. Nutella Filled - I'm not even a huge fan of Nutella and I liked this donut. The combination of the chocolatey hazelnut spread paired well with the light, flakey dough reminded me of a chocolate croissant. This donut tastes like it is from a classic French patisserie. This is my FAVORITE donut place. I've tried an above average amount of donuts. I haven't found a place that can top Caroline's. My bias is my affinity with filled donuts. Caroline's menu is small, allowing them to focus on their quality. read more

I am 6 months pregnant and sent my black wife with a screenshot of my order as we were double parked across the street. My wife called me and stated this employee required her to show him the app and not a screenshot of the order despite being on the phone and telling him my name, order number and phone number. As any pregnant woman with cravings, I decided to switch spots with my wife to retrieve my order. However, upon entering, this employee did not even ask to look at my phone and instead tells me that Grubhub canceled my order. I attempted to show him my order on my phone app and said no it was canceled but if I want to buy donuts, I can just buy it now. But what's the sense of buying them if I still have a current order? Therefore, I said no thank you and as I was walking out this employee said " Nice try." I immediately called Grubhub who informed me my order was NEVER canceled and they would contact the shop. However, at this point I did not want the order and requested to cancel. Once Grubhub returned to my call, they informed me my order was NEVER canceled and only then did they cancel my order and I would receive my refund. I am writing this review because you are located on East 85th Street in NYC, where there is such a diverse environment. And yet you clearly discriminated against my wife because she's black and assumed she was trying to steal an order since she only had a screenshot. When I tried to reconcile the situation, you continued to dismiss me as well. You need to do better and I hope other customers never get treated this way. read more

Stopped by for this new addition in UES, the coffee donut was very airy with a delicious glaze, I really enjoyed that it's not too sweet. Paired perfectly with a hot coffee! A bit pricey around $5 but it's a nice lil treat once in a while. The staff were friendly and joyful saying it's so great to smell the donuts everyday. Excited to try other flavors! read more

Caroline's Donuts - Coffee Donut, really good not too sweet! - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

Have been looking forward to the opening ever since I saw the banner up. I got their creme brulee donut and a friend got a coffee and a nutella donut. Their yeast-raised dough keeps it light and fluffy. The creme brulee donut was good but I wouldn't get it again. I really enjoyed the vanilla-based creme inside (which I am assuming may be the same filling used for boston creme/bavarian creme donuts). Overall, great sugar-y sweet and fluffy donuts. Variety of flavors and options to choose from. Small little shop that will keep me coming back for more. Welcome to the neighborhood! read more

Caroline's Donuts - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

See all

You know pastries will be good when the cooks are French. This is a great example of high quality cuisine applied in a very popular product in America, the donuts. This small shop has a good variety of flavors and beverages to choose from. I ordered their raspberry donut and it was delicious, the raspberry glaze on top and the merengue bite melted in my mouth, absolutely delicious, the dough was just standard but good too. The owner at the counter welcomed every client with a smile. Lovely little place offering a unique product in the area, definitely worth trying, next time I'll order the donut-croissant. read more

Caroline's Donuts - Raspberry Donut - Donuts Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Walked into Caroline's and was immediately greeted by the chef/owner who couldn't have been any nicer. I ordered a creme brûlée donut which was perfectly perfect: the dough, the filling....oh the filling... I almost considered getting another one but decided against it this time around. Definitely coming back. This was a 10 experience for sure. I've now tried three different flavors: Nutella, creme brûlée, and orange cream cheese. I am a total Nutella girlie, can never get enough, can have it in large quantities.... surprisingly as amazing as the Nutella donut was, it was not my favorite of the three that I tried. The orange cream cheese and the creme brûlée were absolutely fantastic. I also love how pleasant every person at the register is, super friendly and personable. I'll definitely be trying more flavors. read more

See all

Service was great and the donuts looked beautiful, but they were extremely oily on the bottom while somehow being really dry throughout. I got the twist and the crème brûlée and was very disappointed--I had to throw them out after a few bites. Maybe I just got a bad batch or some that were old, but for $10 for 2 donuts I expect better quality read more

I couldn't stop thinking about the donut I had last time at Caroline's and went back for more. Did not disappoint! This time I tried the creme brûlée and the textured top had a nice crunch with caramel flavor. Dough, perfect. Filling, perfect. read more

Fancy donut store. There are 3 types of donut : Stuffed, glazed or Cronut-hybrid. We tried them all. Each around $5 although the cronuts more expensive. The stuffed with Nutella was probably our favorite. The glazed have many different flavors and colors, eg Dulce de leche and raspberry. The cronut hybrids were a bit of a disappointment. Didn't taste that special, neither croissant nor donut. The place smells nice and had some French staff, hopefully it does well. read more

See all

I absolutely recommend this donut shop. This is amazing. All the food is made right there and then it taste so good. I ordered it multiple times and not once have I been disappointed five stars! read more

Perfect spot if you love thick, dense, unique donuts! I have tried a few flavors and my favorite so far is the creme brulee donut! The cream is so good and pairs well with the hard sugar on the top of the donut read more

The donuts here were delicious! Me and my friend went and were absolutely blown away by the mango donut. Also, the people there were very friendly and even gave us each a second fresh mango donut. Quite the cozy cafe donut shop. Would definitely recommend! read more

Magnifique! These donuts are a work of art for the eye and the taste buds. The flavors are so unique or have a twist--how about a Crème Brûlée donut!!! The service is very friendly and there are cute little tables and chairs in case you can't wait to until you get home to try what you bought. read more

Would have loved to find a place with Williamsburg quality donuts on the UES but this is the kind of place that doesn't actually open on time, it'll be 15 minute past opening (8am for a DONUT shop is already late as F) - and when I tried to open the door, the workers just smirked at me? Like it's funny? No thanks, not bothering to come back. read more