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Christopher St (1)
Christopher St (PATH)
14th St-8th Ave (A, C, E, L)
Mon. 12:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
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LaLALAALa La~Magnolia Bakery~ I love you!
Had cheesecakes and cupcakes. Perfection. No need to go further. Go get them and get them often.
There is nothing happier than a Saturday afternoon spent wandering around the WV shoving cupcakes in yo face. Funny how people will just stop you and comment, :"oh, see your Magnolia's, good huh?" "can I have some?" That little box is a conversation starter for sure.
What is not fun is that the store is really tough to navigate. The place is always packed with the pushiest bunch of pudgy SATC tourist women imaginable. Do I really want to fight over a cupcake? No. Magnolias needs to stop with the self serve and line up the cows at the counter and hand out the cuppys.
In a bizarre line of consumables that only American enjoy (i.e., carrot cake, water-like beer, fried sweets) cupcake has its well deserved place - it tastes bad, not good for u, but people here are loving it.
I have been blooking to try it for a many years, so when a friend offered to try the ones from Magnolia because "it is the best," I was on board. Luckily for both of us, she was pregnant and bitchy that morning, so she went ahead of the line telling agitators to shove it. We got 6 different kinds, splurged in with a big cap of starbucks coffeee and settled in on a nearby bench to enjoy this treat-USA.
What a disappointment: it is like a poor version of a muffin, cheap flour makes for unappetizing and tasteless base, and frostings taste like they have been scrapped from some inexpensive cake after it was on a shelf for a few days. I tried 5 different kinds and spit back everything single one feeling a taste of chemicaled sugar long after this weird experience.
Of course, my American friend finished every single one and was in "heaven," so if you like Bud and fried Twinkie, this is a treat for you.
2.5 stars
If I wanted to be shoved & elbowed, I would have joined the WWF. Magnolia has stirred up such a buzz because of the cupcake craze/Sex & the City mention, that women of all ages throwdown for this stuff. Approaching Magnolia, I see the line of people, which I expected. But once inside, the mob scene was so hectic, you'd think they were giving out free money.
Everything was so disorderly; where was the line? Where is the menu? I can't even see the display case. Ohhh, you're supposed to grab a box & fill it with cupcakes. But the cupcakes are running low. Oh, they're refilling it. I.am.so.confused. *pulls hair out*
Ten minutes later, I've paid for four cupcakes ($12ish dollars) & am spit out by the blue monster called Magnolia. Once on the sidewalk, I survey what I hastily threw in my box (2 for me, 2 for my cupcake partner) & am pleased. There is a heap of frosting covering a nice sized cupcake. I tried the vanilla (yellow cake with pretty pastel buttercream frosting) & enjoyed the moistness of the cake & overload of sweet green frosting.
I had the red velvet for a midnight snack & was sorely disappointed. The cake was very dense & dry & the frosting is a "whipped vanilla" instead of the traditional/my favorite, cream cheese frosting. This one was a waste of calories & money.
My experience at Magnolia was a pretty unpleasant one. At one point, I wanted to tell this woman who was jabbing me, "you're supposed to be a grown woman with manners, please act accordingly." I understand, cupcakes make women go bananas, but I will get my cupcake fix elsewhere, ya know, where people are civilized individuals & where the ordering process is not a riddle.
The products are amazing: peanut butter ice box pie, pumpkin cheese cake, red velvet cheesecake.
The location and store are adorable.
The staff is...not very competent. Nice, but apparently blind, because when ever I've come here, no one takes my order. Even when I ask them to--I'm either ignored, or promised to be helped, just to be ignored for another 5 minutes.
You sell a great product in a wonderful location, but your service needs work. Get it together, guys.
Add it to the list of the overhyped NYC experience. First, I went at the most off-peak time ever (it was like 9:30pm on a Tuesday night, and the place was pretty empty) and it was STILL confusing to figure out how to order, where to pay, etc. especially since the cupcakes are displayed in that not-so-exciting way in the front window. Not only that, but it seems the staff is paid to be unfriendly- no one seemed interested in answering any one's questions.
But that's all well and good. You can get by with rudeness if your product is mindblowingly amazing, but this cupcake just wasn't. I mean, it was fine - the cake was not as light and airy as I would have liked, and the icing was a bit too sweet. But it was just mediocre- I've had better cupcakes so many other places (my cupcake of choice is in Martha's Vineyard-- Main Street, Tisbury). All this to say, don't believe the hype.
There are 2 reasons to go to Magnolia's:
#1. BANANA PUDDING
#2. To check out where this cupcake craze started.
The cupcakes are good, but with all the commotion about Magnolia it has spawned some pretty good competition. Magnolia cupcakes are worth trying, but I wouldn't consider them the best cupcakes in the city. I would give the cupcakes 3 stars.
The banana pudding is on a different level altogether. It is pretty simple; banana pudding with fresh bananas and nilla wafers, yet SO delicious! I don't know what they're secret is, but it is to die for. The pudding is definitely 5 stars.
The location is cute and cozy, you walk in and place your own cupcakes in a box from the selection on the table. Its a small spot so if you're hitting it during prime time then you'll probably have to wait for a few minutes before entering the store.
I really, really, really, really want to hate Magnolia. I do. I want to make fun of the overweight Carrie Bradshaw wannabes from Minnesota bragging about being there. I want to taunt the people frivolously waiting in line for cupcakes. I want to be like the rest of my fellow jaded New Yorkers!!!
...but...
after some time, reconsideration and a broad sampling of baked goods - I actually *like* Magnolia Bakery.
I'm not really cupcake person - but the cakes and other sweets they have are pretty delicious. SORRY. I AM SORRY. I LOVE BILLY'S BAKERY TOO, AND AMY'S AND MOSTLY ANYONE OFFERING UP SOME SORT OF CONFECTIONS. I am a dessert whore. There, I said it. Bring it on, adult-onset obesity!
There isn't usually a dessert so rich I almost contemplate not finishing it. Magnolia's hummingbird cake ALMOST did me in. Dense fruity/spicy cake with thick cream cheese frosting in giant slice form is almost lethal. But damn good. The red velvet cake is wonderful light, fluffy and frosted with perfect sweet white icing. Yummm. Brownies and mini cheesecakes are also sickeningly sweet and delicious.
I did recently re-try their cupcakes and they taste better than I remembered them. Not as good as some other cupcake joints, but good. Let's ditch the cupcakes anyways. Cupcakes portray our desperate need for everything to be custom-tailored and individualized to you. Who the f are YOU? Put in your contribution to the world and take your slice of the world on head first - err your slice of cake mouth first. You'll get more out of it, I promise.*
*And by get more out of it I strictly mean volume of cake.
Admittedly I believe their cupcakes are overrated or maybe, nowadays, passe but their banana pudding is the best I've ever had.
Combine that with the fact that they do have a great variety of cakes, brownies/blondies, cheesecakes and cookies ( on top of the cupcakes ), this shop is still a place I'd recommend people to try.
Decide what YOU like here - there will be something which fancies your tastebuds.
I wanted dessert and this was in the vicinity. Since I was craving cake like desserts, I made my way here after stopping at Amy's Bread and not finding my red velvet.
I should've known better! Try it once, shame on you Magnolia. Try it twice, shame on me. Sigh. I have no excuse.
I got a slice of red velvet and coconut. Yes, I'm a pig. I got the two slices for myself. Red velvet was dry, although I did enjoy the frosting. The coconut cake was waaaay too sweet and not very moist either. $8.75 for two slices of cake. Sheesh.
I wonder when people will wake up and stop buying baked goods from this so called bakery. The only thing keeping this place alive is the banana pudding. Fortunately, I don't like bananas so you can't blame me for keeping this place in business.
If you are going to specialize in one thing (baked goods namely cupcakes and cakes) you better be… Read more »
All Magnolia needs is another three-star review, but that really explains my feelings about my experience. Obviously they're popular, so they've had to make some decisions about how people are served in the store. However, you can't help but feel like you're being churned out. In fact, you have to serve yourself, a process that isn't even obvious right away. (I spent five minutes in a line only to realize the people in front of me already had their cupcakes. Maybe I'm just not observant.) There are no labels on the self-serve cupcakes, though some have different color icing. It's a messy situation in the corner front of the store. $5 for two cupcakes?!
Okay, but all things considered, they are very, very moist cupcakes, even after a day in a tupperware container.
So, I'm glad I can say I've been there - 'cause that's "oh so New York" - but I think it's safe to say that, while they might have had a large hand in starting the trend, there are a lot of other contenders out there for taste and experience.
Dear Magnolias,
I had a hankering for sweets after dinner in the area and you were the first place that popped on my list. Strolling into your store with the sweet pleasant smell of cupcakes really made a chilly afternoon evening.
I was surprised at the buffet style of grab your own cupcake method, but I figured it worked. I waited for a fresh batch and leaped on it.
I quickly bite into your cupcake and was... very underwhelmed. The cupcake was a tad dry, icing not as soft and fluffy as I'd like either. In regards to some of the best competitors in the city, you have nothing on them. Not to mention costing about $1 more per cupcake then some.
I ended up scraping off most of the icing and nibbling on the cupcake. Bad sign! But if you were in a predicament like mine, then definitely stop by for a local sweet treat.. but definitely many other better places in the city.
Cheers,
Ed
what a disappointment! Lines out the door (was it my imagination or was there actually some kind of bouncer?), pushy people (the only time I actually experienced that in New York) and overpriced. The icing on my red velvet cupcake tasted like shortening and the cake was dry. My son got the lemon cupcake, which was slightly better but still not all it's been built up to be. Go to Crumbs, they're WAY better!
I came here to try their Red Velvet Cupcake but was quite disappointed. The cake was TOO dense and the frosting was not even cream cheese frosting! The audacity!!!
HOWEVER I'm giving it 4 stars because...
The banana bread pudding is to die for. It totally makes up for their bad cupcakes. I took one bite of the pudding and I practically threw away the rest of my cupcake. Yes, I'd throw away a Red Velvet Cupcake to make room for this pudding. I hear they use cake instead of bread but whatever the case, it is divine. The cake was so moist in the pudding and it was sweet but not too sweet. It is definitely the best banana bread pudding I have ever eaten in my life! So forget the cupcakes and go for the pudding!!!
I am munching on a vanilla cupcake from them with purple icing and colorful sprinkles as I write, so I might be biased or too detailed. Haha.
I went here for the first time last weekend with my friend. Upon walking several blocks from Christopher Street, we finally arrive. We went on a Saturday afternoon and I was surprised why there was a line. I heard the guy behind me say that this was featured in Sex in the City or something. Ah. Must be why.
While waiting in line, (around 10-15 minutes tops) I kept trying to get a glimpse of how it looked like inside, but no luck. The window where they display the cupcakes are being mobbed by people, actually elbowing each other! Can you believe that? You should. I saw it.
So it was finally our turn and my friend nudged me to go to the left side. The window where all the elbowing happened. I looked over and I just fell in love. Vanilla cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes topped with pastel-colored icings with different kinds and colors of sprinkles: assorted, brown, white pink. Cupcakes with cute little flowers. So effin cute.
I grabbed a pink, a purple, a blue and a red velvet cheesecake. Because to my friend's disappointment, their red velvet cupcake was finished. So we paid in the cashier and got out of the store a bit disappointed, but unharmed.
We headed to this dimly-lighted, but tolerable, mini park across the street, since, I forgot to mention, there's no seating area inside the shop. And there was just so much people in such a small space that the next thing you're mind is set to is 1) pay and 2) get outta there. So the park is very convenient.
Now we go to the cupcake. I'm not very fond of cupcakes since they all tasted blah (the ones I had anyway). But sweet tooth is a demon you can't fight so I gave in. My first bite was magical. Funny. The wind was blowing behind my back and my hair, but I didn't mind as I sunk my teeth on those things. Sweet, light, fluffy, buttery, soft. And very buttery. I liked the way the icing just melted in my mouth. Then I pushed it down with a nice cup of coffee. Perfect.
The red velvet cheesecake was also something. Just like a regular one but with a little surprise in the bottom. A chocolate crust or cookie or something. But it complements the whole thing. Good one.
Who's a new fan?
I raise my hand.
I think this was the original Magnolia. I even run into tourists who have a magazine cut out of the store. It's too hyped up for what it actually is. I still don't get the hype around cupcakes in NYC...
Sure, the bakery smells wonderful and there is a sweet selection. But cupcakes are the easiest thing to make in the world. Besides, their icing is too sweet.
But, if you are a tourist or have had a long day, it's a very cute place to stop for a hot drink and overpriced cake.
Getting cupcake!
My friends and I shared the most beautiful, red velvet cupcake from Magnolia bakery.
It was SCRUMPTIOUS!!!
There's a wide variety AND there's an assortment of mini cupcakes you buy. The minis were ADORABLE.
Wish I was closer to get another bite of heaven~
:)
There are three things in life I have encountered that I have not, for the life of me, been able to wrap my mind around:
First: Smoking. No positive benefits at all, and all signs point to harming yourself and getting cancer/dying. My boss says, "I'd never hire a smoker; it just screams, 'I'm not intelligent!'"
Second: Scientology. How the balls could anyone ever believe in that crap? At least the Bible has been around for thousands of years; this shit was made by a failed science-fiction author in the '50s. It just screams credibility.
Third: Magnolia cupcakes. Why does anyone buy them? Why do people stand in line around the block in the cold just to have these overly sweet, dry pastries? Vomit.
It's like a gateway drug to the other two: if you're dumb enough (or plateless enough) to enjoy these cupcakes, you're likely dumb enough to enjoy smoking and believe in Scientology.
Just sayin'.
"Magnolia ABCs (AKA Bakery Blues)"
A is for Agony: the lines in the cold.
B is for Bitter: the emotion…
Read more »
The cupcakes are overrated. The red velvet and chocolate buttermilk varieties were both a bit dry.
What did it for me was the banana pudding. Vanilla pudding combined with lots of chunks of banana and cake-like nilla wafers was the perfect combo. It was truly heaven in a spoon and got me coming back for round two the following day.
The cupcakes are adequate. But I REALLY disliked how they didn't have that many cupcakes to choose from on a Saturday morning. Like...really? They were stocked with cheesecakes and turnovers but only 2 types of cupcakes. It makes me think that they were waiting for their last night cupcakes to run out before bringing out a fresh batch. Also, where is the bustling business?! I always heard that there were lines upon lines when one travels to Magnolia Bakery. But when my friend and I came here there was no line nor many people walking around. It was 11am Saturday. Curious..
Disappointing..
Got the vanilla cupcake. It was all right. Moist, delicate, but slightly too sweet. Their frosting is also on the heavier side, which is fine, just not my favorite style. I like my frosting light, whipped, and creamy.
$3 bucks a pop for a sugar rush? Eh. It's a good after dinner snack to satisfy your sweet tooth. Be warned that you get more frosting than cake itself. Depending on the cupcake you may get dry cake or overly sweet frosting. However, the caramel cupcake has never failed me.
Betty Crocker box mix, meets Tiffany prices
Pros: Fresh
Cons: Long lines to say you ate here; before getting back on the Tour Bus ... hype is the only thing keeping this place alive; but hype clearly sells
Canines: Lots of wrappers and half eaten food all over the Streets ... this place produces litter at the rate of 10 McDonald's
Conclusion: Take a photo of the Exterior, and then go to Rite-Aid and buy some Entenmann's Cupcakes ... you will have the same experience, but a lot cheaper, and less wasted time standing in line
The cupcakes are good. And I'm a cupcake-lovin' man, that's for sure. The problem is the line, which is nearly always out the door. So, to reiterate, the cupcakes are good... but not THAT good.
As for their other baked goods, I have tasted great stuff all around. Orders tend to get jammed during the summer and holidays, but a random birthday order isn't anywhere near a problem.
FOOD: Good and decently priced.
SERVICE: Slow. VERY slow. And long lines.
I have to say that the UWS location has shorter lines but lesser foods. If you want to see this place because of its "Sex and the City" cameo, then nothing I can say for or against it will change your opinion. On the other hand, I feel that Buttercup Bakery is FAR superior.
Ehh... Magnolia is alright. I give them props for being one of the first - but as far as cupcakes go, they're just OK. I much prefer their other items. Tried the key lime cheesecake and that was delicious. Not going to go as far as to say it's better than Junior's but it had perfect sweetness/tartness, and it was just the right size.
Tried the red velvet, strawberry, vanilla, and double chocolate cupcakes. Vanilla was by far the best. You can assume from there that the shop is not particularly special.
One word.
OVERRATED.
Don't you hate when fame gets to their head and the product starts to suffer?
I've tasted way better red velvet cupcakes. Hell, I think my friend can bake better.
The cupcakes are self-serve. As in, there are trays of different kinds sitting around, and you pick your own. So while you wait in the long line outside, you get to look in the window and watch people touch cupcakes, put them back, others get smooshed, and my favorite....people's scarves and clothing dangling into the cupcakes. Seriously.
The cupcakes WERE good, but not worth it. There are plenty of cupcake places around the city where you don't have to wait in a long, tourist-filled line, average service, and your cupcake is not from a gross buffet.
its an experience before its a real cupcake store, with the mob and the hype. but when you are on a trip, who can refuse that? and with a cupcake to boot? count me in.
i got a chocolatey thing that was scrumpsh and also a glass of soymilk. my friend and i walked over to a park nearby and enjoyed our dessert.
these five stars are ONLY for their banana pudding! my friend had told me, "even if you don't like pudding and/or don't like bananas, there is NO excuse and you have to try it." she was right - that was only a couple of months ago and i've eaten it several times already...i don't even like pudding or soft desserts! it's not too sweet and it's a perfect balance of the smooth pudding with real banana slices and small cake pieces. i often go silent while i'm eating this because it's a delightful taste that increasingly gets better with each bite. there are two sizes in white containers in the refrigerated glass case next to the registers. $4.50 for the small and $5.50 for the larger one. the small one can feed 2 people (unless you don't want to share) so it's a great price for dessert! you should know they often run out later in the evenings so make sure you get it early enough!
if there wasn't banana pudding here then i would give Magnolia 3 yelp stars. cupcakes here aren't that good, and i find cookies and everything else just okay. it's a cute shop but i don't like how crowded it gets (this is when i'm trying to pay for the most delicious banana pudding ever made).and i don't find the staff here very friendly for a shop that's full of sweets!
Either we're crazy about cupcakes or obsessive but every time we're in NYC, a trip to Magnolia is a must. After a long walk, we finally reached Magnolia. We found nothing but a long line, really long line.
After our relatively fast 15 minute wait, we finally got in to the store. They do have an employee that mends the door to ensure that customers would wait in line and the store does not get over crowded. Also, he was really fast in replenishing fresh batch of cupcakes to their displays.
We were recommended their red velvet cupcake in the past, was not really a big fan of their chocolate cupcakes. 6 cupcakes later (vanilla), we were have campers. 2 cupcakes to bring home for my sisters, they were super psyched and can't get over the goodness of the cupcakes. 4 cupcakes later, surely we got sugar high and probably gained a pound or two.
Magnolia will you please come to Boston for me? Your biggest fan is eagerly waiting.
Banana Pudding! Don't order anything else, their banana pudding is the best :-)
This place started the cupcake revolution. We always enjoy cupcakes from Magnolia and they are fantastic. If you dont like frosting, get the cake which is the same experience with less frosting.
The employees are consistently RUDE and always act like t hey are bothered by your business.
Their cupcakes are overpriced and over-hyped - fine, everyone knows that. It's still a "go-to" place for cupcakes in Manhattan. However, be prepared to deal with rude and unhelpful service.
A coworker in our Midtown office likes these cupcakes, so I wanted to order half a dozen for her. They refused to take pre-payment (from Philly) on less than a dozen - even though I explained it was not a special order, it would be picked up, and that I could only pay with a CC as I was calling from over 100 miles away.
Needless to say, they won't be getting our business anymore. Too bad for them, bad reviews get spread a lot further than good.
Certainly worth the hassle if you're walking down Bleecker and can run in and grab a cupcake. The cupcakes taste very cakey - which I am told by cupcake experts is prestigious - with moist(ish) texture and a nice little spring. The frosting is sweet, not too tart, and washes down the throat deliciously. If they sold milk, this is all one would need pastry wise.
It is certainly NOT worth the hassle of standing outside, around the corner, down the block. There are way too many other cupcake joints that do as good if not better. Any place in Chelsea Market for example. I on the other hand just walked straight it, dodged a few people who were standing in some sort of line that led nowhere, went straight to the counter and paid. IN and OUT in under 3 minutes. Lovely.
3 Words:
Red Velvet Cupcake.
Thank you.
Uh....
I am over the whole Magnolia's craze. Yes, they were featured in the best TV show ever known to (wo)men - Sex and The City - and yes, their red velvet is good. But I have yet to sample an unsatisfying red velvet - I'm just obsessed with this Southern export.
And I am sick of going there and finding out that they have ran out of the red velvet cupcakes, only to observe trays and trays of them in the kitchen, sans icing. Are you guys keeping them for the next day or what?
So we had to settle for the vanilla and chocolate cupcakes which were thrown out after a few bites. Neither of us liked them, they were too dry and the saccharine-sweet icings were way too much - fiance thought it's no better than those $0.75-a-piece often found in schools' bake-a-thon. I thought the homemade cupcakes that my staff assistant made me for my birthday (using the instant icing from Sprinkles) was way better than this.
At least we got to feed the birds in the little park on Bleecker.
Too bad there is no Sprinkles in Manhattan - the New Yorkers don't know what they're missing out on.
I'm not sure if I like the cupcakes from Magnolia anymore... after sampling the homemade cupcake… Read more »
Went a couple of times and tried all varieties of cupcake Magnolia offers. I guess I just didn't want to believe a bakery this famous would have cupcakes this BAD. Dry cupcakes with chokingly sweet frosting.
Magnolia's cupcakes remind me of the ones sold by a grocery store bakery department, only without the Magnolia Experience, which is to wait in line with a hundred tourists. :)
I love this place!
I cant eat more than one cupcake because I am sure that I will get sick from the sugar but one will do it for me! Their cupcakes are soooo yummy. They are just super cute and flavorful. I love the cupcake it's self. I use to scoop off the cream on top and give my friend a sugar high while i eat the cake.
I also think a box of four is a great present for someone special on a rainy day. I have used these as a substitution of a birthday cake at one point also. So boys... take notes ;]
The only down side is that the bakery is always packed. It is quite annoying with high school kids standing inside the store without making any purchases... =S
but to get to those cupcakes... so worth it!
ugh I can go for one right now!
very sad because we truly wanted to love this place as we love nyc and the w. village!! if you like dry, dry cupcakes with rubber frosting knock yourself out!! we hit bleeker twice and columbus once, all in the span of a year and all 3 times it was the same sawdust!! hit melissa's in soho for the great stuff!!
I had no complaints, was completely delighted by the quality. Didn't even know this was a SATC pit stop until somebody told me.
We had cupcakes, a peanut butter heath bar, and shared banana pudding. I know. We're gluttons for punishment! But Saturday was a cheat day and it was well worth it.
The coconut cake is to die for...it truly is heavely. Go for the coconut cake and stay to get a vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting.
Only thing I didn't love was the guy who would take some cupcakes and put them into a box, lick his finger, and then put the cakes back and chose others...GROSS.
My chocolate/vanilla iced Mag's cupcake tasted like a devil dog style cake with buttercream. I would have investigated the other offerings in the bakery case, but I felt like I would have gotten jumped by the crowd waiting to get in.
Luckily, we spotted that Banana Pudding with Nilla wafers. It was so yum, but alas, not a baked good. I'd wait in line for "Magnolia's Puddin' Palace".
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Hoboken, NJ
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