Magnolia Bakery- what do you think?!

Hello!

Only a week before I arrive and I cant wait... one of the things I really want to do is go to the Magnolia bakery.. but have heard mixed reviews - a friend says its great, but reading the reviews on here- im slightly undecided now... is it worth it? whens the best time to go to avoid the crowds? or is there somewhere better?

thanks again for your advice!

Sarah x

Magnolia Bakery- what do you think?!

I went on a mid-week morning. There were no queues at all.

It was nice to see the range of cakes, but they were just too sweet for me.

If it%26#39;s on your list, then just go - there%26#39;s nothing worse than coming home and having regrets that you didn%26#39;t see certain places all because of other people%26#39;s opinions.

Magnolia Bakery- what do you think?!

We popped in as we were passing one day, failed to see the attraction (although we%26#39;re not big cake %26amp; confectionery eaters).

I went mid-week around 3-4pm and there were only a couple of people in front of me.

It was ok, nothing really special though, and the icing on the cakes was way too sweet for me.

Looks like i%26#39;ll be in NY around the same time as you, we leave next week too!

ahh thanks for your words of wisdom- dont think im gonna have a problem with them being too sweet... :)

we leave next weds... look out for 2 essex girls stuffing their faces with cup cakes :D

x

Sarah,

I like Magnolia%26#39;s cakes, but then I like sweet things.

Personally though I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s worth waiting on a line for. So I would try to find a time of day when there are few people.

Magnolia is an old fashioned bakery in that the cakes and such look like something your grandmother would have baked 50 years ago.

Also try,

Billy%26#39;s Bakery on 9th ave between 21st and 22nd,

Butter Cup Bake shop on 2nd ave between 51st and 52nd.

I would have to second Billy%26#39; Bakery. Excellent!! Also, it%26#39;s very close to Chelsea Market Place, the home of Elena%26#39;s Cookie and Fat Witch Brownies. You could make an afternoon of sweet shopping!

Now youre talking!!!!

Magnolia is highly overrated, but lucky for them, the rest of Bleecker St is really nice, so I wouldn%26#39;t cross it off the list by any means.

As for cupcakes, my favorites are from Crumbs.

http://www.crumbsbakeshop.com/

I agree - overrated, but a great way to explore Bleecker Street and the West Village.

If you%26#39;re a true SATC fan, ignore the realism and go for it!

My husband and I were walking down Bleecker Street on Saturday (I cannot tell you how much I love being able to say that!) and we passed by a store with a line of people coming out the door. My husband asked me (the NYC research expert in the family) what they were all lined up for. I told him it was Magnolia Bakery and people were lined up to buy cupcakes. He said, ';You gotta be kidding me?'; LOL! We headed a little further and ended up at AOC where we had wine and a beautiful and tasty cheese and pate platter. Now that is my kind of cupcake!!

And Sarah0c, I agree with others...if you really want to stand in line for a cupcake, do it. Do whatever YOU want to do in NYC. You can%26#39;t do it all and it just gives you an excuse to come back!