NYC has become the it spot for everything sweet, all thanks to major TikTok crazes. It feels like every day there’s a new frozen yogurt shop with long social-inspired waits opening all across the city. (And, yes, we are counting down the days until the beloved Spanish fro-yo spot Myka opens its doors here!!) Froyo’s fad from the 2010s is back with insanely elevated toppings. So you know we had to get in on this trend.
This guide comes to you from three of us: Lindsey, who is from New York (and looking forward to moving back after graduation this spring). Aida and Stella are new NYC fans, loving and learning about the Big Apple’s best bites. It was hard, but we’ve picked out the five favorites that we agree everyone must try this summer.
Locally sourced ingredients with an Aussie spin lands Mimi’s on our list for frozen yogurt. You’ll always find several rotating flavors here, including Stella’s highly recommended “tart,” which is smooth and refreshing. But the real magic happens at the toppings bar, with fresh fruit, Biscoff cookie butter and wild fennel pollen, to name a few. Mimi’s currently has two locations: Soho (the original) and Greenwich Village. But be ready to wait and look in awe at the price when your cup is weighed.
Lindsey has made it to VIP “Candy Explorer” status at LST. She’s been going to this little candy shop since they opened two years ago. Here you’ll find globally-sourced candy and house-made specialities. The inventory is always changing, but Lindsey recs their classic fruity pear bubs and mini croissant gummies. But, you truly can’t go wrong with any bag of candy you curate at one of their four NYC locations (East Village, West Village, Rock Center, and UWS). If you aren’t in NYC, good news! They’ve just expanded to Boston, Chicago, Philly and DC. If none of those are close enough, you can order online! Keep up with their Instagram to see where they are opening up next!
With a constant line out the door, you can immediately tell this is the best place to get a matcha latte in NYC. 12 Matcha is matcha-only. The wait is always worth it, says Aida who waited half an hour to get in. The staff takes you to one of their stations so you can witness their unique matcha-making process for your highly specialized order. They incorporate Japanese charcoal water, alternating between hot and cold, to provide the cleanest, mineralized ingredients. The intimacy of each individual station demonstrates how they put thought and care into each customer’s order no matter how long it takes. The spectacle even comes complete with custom lighting, making it the perfect photo op for your feed. Recently going viral on platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram, many content creators have been bringing in more and more people who have to get a taste for it themselves, no matter the wait. Despite the show, it costs a pretty reasonable, standard seven bucks.
With locations in both Gramercy and Greenpoint, this ice cream spot serves up unique and creative flavors they produce in their on-site kitchen. Each day they post their daily menu on their Instagram, which has both their classic scoops, daily flavors, and a weekly “crazy” sundae. Lindsey has been dying to try their Levain bakery collab that uses pieces of Levain’s iconic desserts in the pints (truly her dream duo). Each scoop includes a topping of their fresh whipped panna, one drizzle, and one crunch. Pro tip – add their flaky sea salt to add the perfect extra dimension to your not so typical scoop and a very fair $6.50 for their smallest size. Where else are you getting this type of value in NYC? Even though Lindsey has loved their classics like Aud’s Dream (vanilla sweet cream, thick peanut butter swirl) and Cookies ‘N Panna (oreo infused ice cream, housemade Oreo brittle), she is still mourning not being able to try their key lime pie sundae and Passover special of matzah macaroon soft serve. This is a place that you have to react to and run. There’s no overthinking flavors. You know and you go.
If you’re looking for a sweet treat but can’t commit to just one, Spot Dessert Bar is the perfect place to go for Asian-inspired flavors blended with American classics, making a menu that’s as creative as it is crave-worthy. Stella first heard about Spot through TikTok, and after seeing one too many drool-worthy posts, she knew she had to try it herself on her last trip. They serve up everything from pastries to sorbets and boba. Stella personally recs the Strawberries and Creme cruffin (croissant and muffin combo). It was perfectly flaky on the outside, soft on the inside, and filled with a light cream and fresh strawberries. Each dessert feels thoughtfully crafted, both in flavor and presentation, making it just as much an experience as it is a treat. They have two locations, one in East Village and one in Flushing, Queens.
If your wallet and stomach are ready for the task, turn these 5 spots into your perfect East Side sweet treat crawl.
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