Where To Find The Best Macarons In NYC
Macarons are not to be confused with macaroons, which are cookies loaded with shredded coconut and don't require too much effort or expertise to make to perfection if you're a confident home baker. Macarons — on the other hand — we would argue that they are probably best left to the professionals.
What are macarons, then? If we're being a bit reductive, macarons are basically cookie sandwiches with a creamy center. The difference between a macaron and a ho-hum store bought Oreo, though, would be the intense process that goes not only into the preparation and baking of the two soft yet crunchy shell casings of the macaron, but also ensuring a smooth texture for the ganache filling within. Pastry chefs who are serious about the craft of making top grade macarons will spend years taking notes from elders to ensure that theirs are up to snuff.
There's been a lot of creativity seen on social media with macarons — shaping them to look like pop culture characters or cute animals. And while modern day macarons are known for their Parisian roots, they're also quite popular across the pond — in particular, within New York City. Here's a list of our favorite spots to check out when you have a macaron hankering within the five boroughs.
Ladurée
Maison Ladurée has a history dating all the way back to 1862 in the Madeleine neighborhood of Paris. It thrived for decades and really had a moment at the turn of the century when the city hosted the World's Fair, and its tea room became the place to be.
But, 1930 proved to be a game changer when the patisserie developed a new spin on an old classic. Macarons had previously been a simple cookie — but what if it was two cookies with a layer of ganache in the middle? It was then that the modern macaron that we've come to know and love was born. The concept took hold, and today Maison Ladurée has outposts around the world — including several locations in New York City.
So if you're in New York and want to try out the offerings from the grande dame of macarons, one location is on Madison Avenue on the East Side, a block away from Central Park. Two more are on the West Side with one in SoHo as well as one within the sprawling mall shopping and restaurant complex Hudson Yards that opened in 2019 — so if you're splurging on a nice meal at one of the other elegant eateries there, you can skip the dessert menu and head straight to Ladurée for an after dinner delight.
La Maison du Chocolat
Since 1977, La Maison du Chocolat has been turning out noteworthy confections from Nantes in the western region of France. While the name gives away no secrets — its specialty is making chocolate — it's also committed to creating top quality macarons. And for those who can't decide if they want chocolate or macarons, it's got you covered. With shell flavors that include dark chocolate, milk chocolate, caramel chocolate, and passion chocolate, Augustus Gloop ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") would be in a state of pure bliss.
La Maison du Chocolat has locations conveniently spread throughout the New York City. For starters, maybe you don't have to dread your next voyage through Penn Station quite as much with the knowledge that you can get a great macaron there. There are also spots near Columbus Circle, in Midtown, as well as on the Upper East Side steps away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art — you'll have earned a sweet treat after the steps you put in walking around that impressive and gargantuan collection.
If you aren't in NYC and don't expect to be there anytime soon, you can order boxes of its macarons through La Maison du Chocolat's website. A 12 piece gift box is priced at $45 at the time of publication.
Patisserie Fouet
At Patisserie Fouet, chef Yoshie Shirakawa developed a vision for an eatery that's a pastry shop during the day and turns into a dessert bar after sunset. But the idea was that both menus would combine culinary styles and ingredients from France and Japan, and thus was the birth of Patisserie Fouet.
Situated in a location near Union Square, the shells of the macarons at Patisserie Fouet are made with mochi and include flavors such as yuzu, raspberry azuki, sesame, and green tea. They've also offered their macarons coated in chocolate — which they've named "Chocorons" — for special occasions.
You can indulge in those delicious macarons alongside an impressive array of other pastries along with caffeinated beverages, including a sesame latte, or oolong milk tea — hot, or iced — or non-caffeinated beverages like yuzu lemonade or house made ginger ale. We should note that at time of publication, Patisserie Fouet is closed on Mondays, so plan your schedule accordingly. Patisserie Fouet also offers online ordering and catering for special events.
Woops!
It all started in Bryant Park as a pop-up shop in 2012. A quartet of friends put their creative minds and elbow grease together to develop and produce a line of macarons and offer them up to the public. And over the course of two months — to use a trite expression — they sold like hot cakes.
Woops! offers a plethora of flavors that include many of the classics like vanilla, raspberry, and pistachio. But a few that stand out to us would be the ones that are specific to the Woops! brand — those would be blueberry cheesecake, peanut butter & jelly, birthday cake, and strawberry lemonade.
The company is also committed to using non-GMO ingredients, keeping its macarons gluten free, and with fewer calories compared to the competition. And while its macarons aren't quite whoopie pie sized, they're touted as being larger than what you've come to expect.
And if you've heard of Woops! before reading this, it's because the company has since gone national, so hopefully you have a location nearby. But, to get fresh macarons from Woops! when in the Big Apple, you can find locations near Columbus Circle as well as within the Port Authority.
Délice Macarons
Chef Pierre Chahine has been intensely focused on the art of French pastry for more than 20 years and trained in Paris. His collaboration with businesswoman Raja Iqdeimat led to co-ownership of Délice Macarons, which got its start in Cranford, New Jersey but has since opened a second location in Manhattan. You'll find it on the Upper West Side just off Broadway on Amsterdam Avenue between 75th and 76th — not a far walk from the Museum of Natural History.
Macarons are rather known for being just as sweet and delicious as they are visually appealing, but Délice Macarons takes both senses to the next level. While you might generally associate macarons with gentle pastel hues, there are intensely bold, vibrant, eye popping colors to be found in the offerings from Délice Macarons. Its strawberry, mango passion, lemon, pistachio, blueberry, and violet cassis macarons cover a wide spectrum of the rainbow and with impressive gusto. For those who like macarons without fruit or nut elements involved, you can count on Délice Macarons to come through with its salted caramel, Earl Grey tea, cappuccino, and Champagne varieties.
Macaron Parlour
Located on Hester Street between the Lower East Side and Chinatown, Macaron Parlour is committed to embracing the precise craft that goes into French pastry making and also adding artistic flourish. Chef Christina Ha trained at La Haute Pâtisserie Pierre Hermé in Paris in a program specifically focused on how to make the ideal macaron. Her friend and business partner Simon Tung had always wanted to open a food truck and had some recipe ideas for macarons as well as business strategies.
While there are some standard macaron flavors they offer such as pistachio, they also serve up s'mores, fig, passion fruit, matcha, and even carrot cake. Did we forget to mention they also make macarons with shells that are hand painted? So, if you're looking for an extra special gift for the macaron fan in your life, look no further than Macaron Parlour. But, do make a note that at time of publication, they're closed on Wednesdays.
Thierry Atlan
Chef Thierry Atlan has earned the designation of Meilleur Ouvrier de France Chocolatier – also known as a master chocolatier. So, you can feel confident purchasing the cocoa confections that come out of his kitchen. But, another option when you visit Thierry Atlan's location on Broadway in Soho happens to include an enticing selection of macarons.
When he was only 20 and still an apprentice in how to make French pastries, chef Thierry Atlan learned he had a serious gluten allergy. Rather than give up, he shifted gears toward chocolate to keep his passion for inspired dessert creations going. But, macarons came into the picture eventually because the soft and crispy pastry shell that sandwiches the ganache works well with almond flour — making this treat gluten free. Voilà!
The Thierry Atlan chocolaterie and patisserie in SoHo is run by chef Atlan alongside his daughter Julie Atlan. It's here you'll find a variety of macaron flavors, both familiar favorites, and house recipes that have recently included rose lychee, lemon yuzu, and lavender. And when hot weather comes in New York City, head straight there for an ice cream cone topped with one of their delicious macarons.
Mille-Feuille Bakery
Mille-Feuille Bakery is a beloved patisserie launched by Olivier Dessyn, a former software engineer. He took a turn away from computers and began his focus on kitchen science in order to learn the intricacies within the art of French pastry making. Dessyn wisely started this endeavor by attending the Ritz Cooking School in Paris, and later went under the tutelage of world-renowned French pastry chef Pierre Hermé, who has been credited for accelerating the popularity of the macaron in recent decades.
Chef Dessyn has since received accolades for nailing the execution of the bakery's namesake pastry — here in the United States we know a mille-feuille as a napoleon — and exceptional croissants and pains au chocolat as well. But Mille-Feuille is also worth seeking out for its macaron offerings.
Chef Dessyn's Mille-Feuille Bakery conveniently has several locations — one on the Upper West Side, one in Greenwich Village near Washington Square Park, and one in Brooklyn next to Prospect Park. You'll find classic Parisian macaron flavors, and can even order a tower of them for a special event, but be sure to place that order 24 hours in advance.
Dominique Ansel Bakery
Remember the Cronut? It was one of the hottest food trends of the mid 2010's with scores of people lining up around the blocks of Dominique Ansel Bakery in the heart of Soho to score this delectable combination of a flaky croissant pastry, deep fried and molded into the iconic shape of a donut and then topped off with a sweet glaze. But there's more to James Beard award winning pastry chef Dominique Ansel's line up of French pastries than this one clever creation.
If you find yourself heading to Dominique Ansel Bakery, don't sleep on the patisserie's macarons, which are out on display and available for purchase on a daily basis. You can expect to find all of the familiar macaron favorites from vanilla, chocolate, passion fruit, pistachio, and raspberry. We have not found that they offer seasonal variations, however, so don't expect any surprise flavors. While the other whimsical pastries available from Dominique Ansel might be best enjoyed hot and fresh, you can enjoy those now and snap up a few macarons to go and save them for later.
MarieBelle
When the quality of your macaron is just as important as the atmosphere, we recommend making a trip to MarieBelle in Soho. Once you settle in, you'll find yourself in a cafe that feels like it was scooped up from Paris and dropped into the middle of Manhattan. The dining area is a feast for the eyes, covered in dark wood, mirrors, and glass from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. There's gilded framed artwork and other bespoke decorations. Above all — literally — it features a very elegant chandelier top and center. This adds up to a cozy, glamorous, and welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city and a perfect environment to unwind and take in a sweet treat alongside a latte.
While it's primarily known for its "bean-to-bar" chocolates, MarieBelle also offers macarons. The flavors can change, but you can rely on a few commonly found varieties such as chocolate, pistachio, and caramel — we've also found rose lychee macarons there. It's conveniently open daily.
Mochiido
When you're in the borough of Queens and find yourself craving a macaron or two, you may want to seek out Mochiido. Tucked away in a location within Flushing on 40th Road, you'll find this new macaron spot that also offers mochi donuts so you can double up on your dessert.
Let's be clear that Mochiido does not make dainty, delicate macarons that would wow a French pastry snob. Instead, Mochiido is turning over the apple cart and serving up what they've dubbed "Fatcarons." These are XL-sized versions of the macaron and Mochiido make the most out of the shell casing. In addition to extra filling, there's a lot of razzle dazzle and thematic inspiration that goes into its "Fatcarons" — from the Lunar New Year to Hello Kitty to the Super Mario Brothers. It's even stretched its imagination toward fusion macaron recipes that were inspired by chocolate chip cannolis, Lucky Charms cereal, and marshmallow Peeps.
Confectionery!
Vegans with a sweet tooth in the New York City area, rejoice! Confectionery! has a bevvy of vegan friendly desserts for you, and we're happy to report that it's also offering macarons. This is a woman owned business founded in 2016 and came about through a bond forged at a farmer's market upstate in Rosendale, New York. There are two sides to the business — Lagusta's Luscious began with a focus on vegan chocolate truffles, and Sweet Maresa's is geared toward turning out top notch vegan macarons.
Not only does Confectionery! serve up sugary treats that contain no animal products, its macarons come in a wide variety of flavors, and they're ready to mix up the options depending on the season. During winter, you might expect to find egg nog, thin mint, and gingerbread macarons that would make an excellent holiday gift. Confectionary is also fond of adding some artistic pizzazz to the shells of its macarons with everything from a thinly shaved almond to dried edible flowers to Jackson Pollock-esque splatters of food dye. You'll find its brick and mortar location between Noho and Alphabet City on 9th Street.
Bibble & Sip
It's rather well known that making an exceptional macaron is no easy feat, and Bibble & Sip doesn't slip on neither eye appeal nor palate appeal. Between nailing the execution of the soft and crispy shell and the smooth consistency of the ganache filling, for pastry chefs, macarons are a tightrope act. To go the extra mile and add clean, crisp artistry to this delicate dessert demands herculean talent and effort.
Located in Midtown, appropriately only a 10 minute walk from The Museum of Modern Art, Bibble & Sip raises the bar when it comes to macaron creativity. Just going off flavors alone, one Lunar New Year selection included Thai tea, sweet potato, black sesame, and almond cookie. Were these macarons just delivered in the familiar circular shape? No, they were hand crafted — designed, glazed, decorated — and the results were absolutely adorable. Bibble & Sip has also offered winter holiday macarons featuring Santa Claus, reindeer, and ugly sweaters that had gingersnap, lotus, and matcha as key ingredients. So, if you love macarons but are a bit tired of the same old flavors, take a trip to Bibble & Sip.