Dominique Ansel

Dominique Ansel is a one of the most famous bakeries in Soho, New York. They are known for inventing the cronut! A cronut is a croissant-donut hybrid pastry that was invented by the famous pastry chef – Mr. Dominique Ansel himself. The pastry itself looks like a donut and is made from croissant-like dough in layers, and filled with flavoured cream. The flavours change every month and we were lucky enough to try key lime dulce de leche in August.

I’ve heard that the line can be super long so your best bet is going during the week or on a rainy day. We waited around one hour starting at noon on a rainy Sunday but it definitely didn’t feel that long. Sometimes the bakery also runs out of cronuts so be prepared! Once you’ve ordered, there is a bit of seating in the back either inside the café, in the enclosed garden or outside in the backyard terrace. All options are great and make a great background for a photo shoot!  

For those of us who are impatient – you can always skip the long cronut line and head straight inside to the bakery to order any of their other delectable goodies. We’ve tried their mini madeleines, chocolate croissants, ham & cheese croissants and the signature item – the DKA. This stands for Dominique’s Kouign Amann and is a small version of the traditional Breton pastry with is similar to a caramelized croissant. The DKA is crispy with a caramelized crust on the outside with a tender flaky inside. 

This bakery has made its way across the country to LA, and even across the ocean to London and Tokyo. They also have Dominique Ansel’s Kitchen and UP (Unlimited Possibilities) in the West Village where you can try dessert and wine pairings. The hype is definitely worth it because it’s so unique. As someone without much of a sweet tooth – this was definitely a treat I enjoyed although I’m sure this is highly dependent on what the flavor of the month is. If you’re visiting NYC and find yourself walking around SoHo, try to spot by and wait out the lines for this unique experience! Your taste buds will thank you!

PS Their coffee is really good too!