Magnolia Bakery-
I happen to love this commonly insulted "tourist place" that was only made famous by Sex & the City. I did not know that when I tried Magnolia, all I knew was I had heard alot about it, and they looked pretty. Well, you hipsters are WRONG. I could let loose on my rant about the hipsters that think a place is only cool if it has no line, no hype, and coffee and chairs always free so they can sit in their urban outfitters clothes and wine to each other about their feelings...... but enough about stupid hipsters.... magnolia bakery is just GOOD. People say it's "to sweet" but , come on, it's a southern bakery, the south lives for butter and sugar. They don't go overboard unlike some (that means you buttercup bake shop) with sugar....and the chocolate frosting is addictive. Maybe not the best cupcake in the world, but it's worth my $2.75 and the wait in line. The frosting colors are SO cute too. Pastels! Bonus points for everything baked good they sell being amazing, great customer service and really good coffee/tea/hot chocolate, and YES, apple cider :)
Oh Buttercup bakeshop, please go out of business. It's the worst cupcake I've ever had (not including places like hot & crusty or wal-mart type bakeries). Even if I didnt know what a good cupcake should taste like, I'd know enough to realize this cupcake SUCKS. This cupcake is the definition of too sweet. Very dry, and more frosting than cupcake. Crappy service, lame inside, and overpriced. Eating it actually made my tummy hate me..
Butter Lane
(what is with the word butter ??)
The one I got with apple spice frosting is the best cupcake I've ever had. Maybe not bc the cake itself, but b/c of the frosting. I can't even explain it, just know that if you go to butterlane, get the apple spice frosting. Don't do pumpkin (blah) . I want to go back soon, they had alot of crazy frosting choices, and you can mix and match cakes & frostings. They bake there, and frost to order which can make for long waits with only one counter person, but it's worth it. And the staff was super helpful and nice.
Crumbs Bake Shop
MEHHHHH. I wanted to try these for so long, and my bf surprised me with a box of assorted cupcakes on my bday. The raspberry swirled cream cheese frosting one was outstanding. The pb and chocolate was pretty good. The rest, MEH. The cake is reallllly dry and crumbles bad. The tirimusu one is awful :/ To much frosting on a cupcake that is to big to eat by yourself. They do not bake at the store, they get them shipped from LI. They sit overnight to be sold the next day (the frosting gets dry and hard that way, who wants dry & hard frosting?) and the rest of their stuff is really....MEH. I KNOW the flavors sound cool, but trust me....skip it. Theres most likely a better cupcake shop down the street.
Baked by Melissa
I love these mini cupcakes! Super cute (i wish they were bigger...there extremely small even for a mini) but it allows you to eat more and get different flavors. There soft, moist, and the flavors pop. The PB&J was my favorite, followed by the mint chocolate. Smores didnt do it for me...but alot of ppl like it. Cute decorations, trendy decor is great but there a bit overpriced and the staff at all locations I've been too seem like there to good to serve you and want to be elsewhere. However, I met Melissa and she is geniunely nice and down to earth. Oh, and Snoop Dog loves these haha
Juniors
(brooklyn bakery/restaurant famous for their cheesecake)
Their famous for cheesecake, not cupcakes so my low opinion of them is not well justified. Stick to the cheesecake here...
Eleni's in Chelsea Market
Favorite cupcake I've had here. I like Butterlanes frosting the best, but not the cake as much so elenis is my fav b/c both the cake and frosting were amazing. Frosting to cake ratio is perfect.I got a reeses cupcake. Chocolate cake with a reeses stuffed under the frosting, with a peanut butter frosting and a reeses cup on top. The frosting literally tastes like the PB inside a reeses cup and the chocolate cake is moist, and very chocolatey. Afraid of a cavity? You should be. But don't worry, it's worth it. Just go to the dentist :) The store is sooooo cute, really friendly ppl working there and the selection of cupcakes is better than your basic vanilla, chocolate, red velvet. The mini pumpkin one I had around halloween is probably the only reason I could enjoy cold weather in nyc.
