Best Bakery Restaurants in Soho (10012)
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Dominique Ansel Bakery
World-famous French pastry counter where the Cronut and DKA were born.
Essential Picks
9.0
James Beard Award–winning pastry chef Dominique Ansel’s Soho flagship is still one of the city’s busiest destinations for inventive French pastries, from the Cronut to DKAs and Cookie Shots. Lines form early for limited-run creations, but regulars also lean on it for coffee, savory bites, and a small patio break from Spring Street crowds.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cronut, DKA (Dominique’s Kouign Amann), Frozen S’more
What makes it special: World-famous French pastry counter where the Cronut and DKA were born.
Notable Picks
8.9
Opened in 1997 by restaurateur Keith McNally, Balthazar is a benchmark SoHo brasserie for towering seafood platters, textbook steak frites, and one of the city’s most copied onion soups. Locals and visitors use it for everything from power breakfasts to late-night suppers in a room that still feels like old downtown New York.
Must-Try Dishes:
French onion soup gratinée, Steak frites, Seafood plateau
What makes it special: Classic SoHo French brasserie with serious seafood, steak frites, and buzz.
8.5
Ladurée’s Soho flagship pairs its jewel-box macarons and classic French pastries with a full tea salon and tree-shaded back garden. It’s a go-to for leisurely brunches, afternoon tea, and special-occasion sweets in a setting that feels more Paris townhouse than downtown café.
Must-Try Dishes:
Assorted macarons, Ispahan pastry, French toast or brunch eggs
What makes it special: Macaron-focused French patisserie with a hidden garden for brunch and tea.
8.1
This small, family-run French bakery just off Washington Square Park turns out pistachio and almond croissants, mille-feuille slices, and macarons at friendlier prices than many downtown peers. It’s a quieter option for a coffee and pastry break, with enough savory items to anchor a light breakfast or lunch.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pistachio or almond croissant, Classic mille-feuille slice, Assorted macarons
What makes it special: Low-key French bakery near Washington Square known for croissants, mille-feuille, and macarons at relatively gentle prices.