If desserts are your reason for living, welcome home. This list spans the globe, dishing out everything from iconic macarons in Paris to magical mochi in Tokyo. Prepare for a sugary whirlwind as we take you to the world’s 30 most legendary dessert spots. Buckle up; the sugar rush starts now!
1) Ladurée (Paris, France)
Year Founded: 1862
Address: 75 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris, France
Desserts: Macarons, éclairs, mille-feuille
Most Iconic Dessert: The double-decker macaron
Instagram: @maisonladuree
Website: laduree.fr
Chef: Pierre Desfontaines
The pioneer of pastel macarons, Ladurée makes you feel chic even if you’re wearing sweatpants. Order a box, and you’ll suddenly have an urge to say, “Oui, oui!”
2) Dominique Ansel Bakery (New York City, USA)
Year Founded: 2011
Address: 189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012, USA
Desserts: Cronuts, cookie shots, frozen s’mores
Most Iconic Dessert: Cronut
Instagram: @dominiqueansel
Website: dominiqueansel.com
Chef: Dominique Ansel
This is where the world’s most innovative pastry—the cronut—was born. People still line up for hours just to try this flaky, doughnut-y masterpiece.
3) Pastéis de Belém (Lisbon, Portugal)
Year Founded: 1837
Address: Rua de Belém 84-92, 1300-085 Lisbon, Portugal
Desserts: Pastéis de nata (custard tarts)
Most Iconic Dessert: Pastéis de nata
Instagram: @pasteisdebelem
Website: pasteisdebelem.pt
These custard tarts are said to be life-changing. The secret recipe is guarded better than a royal crown.
4) Magnolia Bakery (New York City, USA)
Year Founded: 1996
Address: 401 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014, USA
Desserts: Banana pudding, cupcakes, cheesecakes
Most Iconic Dessert: Banana pudding
Instagram: @magnoliabakery
Website: magnoliabakery.com
Featured in Sex and the City, their banana pudding has become a cult favorite. Warning: It’s addictive.
5) Berthillon (Paris, France)
Year Founded: 1954
Address: 29-31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004 Paris, France
Desserts: Ice cream, sorbets
Most Iconic Dessert: Salted butter caramel ice cream
Instagram: Old-school—no Instagram!
Website: berthillon.fr
Berthillon’s ice cream is so decadent it feels like a hug from Paris itself.
6) Cova (Milan, Italy)
Year Founded: 1817
Address: Via Monte Napoleone, 8, 20121 Milano MI, Italy
Desserts: Panettone, tiramisu, cannoli
Most Iconic Dessert: Panettone
Instagram: @pasticceriacova
Website: cova-milano.com
This historic café in Milan is where fashion meets confection. Their panettone is fluffier than your holiday dreams.
7) Pierre Hermé (Paris, France)
Year Founded: 1996
Address: 72 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France
Desserts: Haute-couture macarons
Most Iconic Dessert: Ispahan (lychee, rose, and raspberry macaron)
Instagram: @pierrehermeofficial
Website: pierreherme.com
Macarons reimagined with sophistication and flair. Each bite is a little piece of Parisian art.
8) Milk Bar (New York City, USA)
Year Founded: 2008
Address: 251 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
Desserts: Crack pie, cereal milk soft serve
Most Iconic Dessert: Crack pie
Instagram: @milkbarstore
Website: milkbarstore.com
Chef: Christina Tosi
Inventive, nostalgic, and downright fun, Milk Bar is dessert with a twist of childhood magic.
9) Demel (Vienna, Austria)
Year Founded: 1786
Address: Kohlmarkt 14, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Desserts: Sachertorte, apple strudel
Most Iconic Dessert: Sachertorte
Instagram: @konditoreidemel
Website: demel.com
A legendary Viennese café known for its rich chocolate cake and imperial vibes.
10) Kith Treats (New York City, USA)
Year Founded: 2015
Address: 337 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012, USA
Desserts: Ice cream cereal combos
Most Iconic Dessert: Customizable cereal-infused ice cream
Instagram: @kithtreats
Website: kithtreats.com
Ice cream meets cereal in the coolest way possible. Even kids at heart will rejoice.
11) Bamn! (Tokyo, Japan)
Year Founded: 2016
Address: 5-1-8 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan
Desserts: Mochi, dorayaki, seasonal wagashi
Most Iconic Dessert: Matcha mochi
Instagram: @bamntokyo
Website: bamntokyo.com
Known for its minimalist aesthetics and irresistible mochi that melt in your mouth like sugary clouds.
12) Bäckerei Konditorei Café Buchwald (Berlin, Germany)
Year Founded: 1852
Address: Bartningallee 29, 10557 Berlin, Germany
Desserts: Baumkuchen (tree cake)
Most Iconic Dessert: Classic baumkuchen
Instagram: @cafe_buchwald
Website: cafe-buchwald.de
This family-owned bakery has mastered the art of the intricate, ring-layered baumkuchen.
13) Tichu (Marrakech, Morocco)
Year Founded: 1929
Address: Rue Dar El Bacha, Marrakech, Morocco
Desserts: Moroccan pastries, baklava
Most Iconic Dessert: Gazelle horns
Instagram: N/A
Website: N/A
Nestled in a riad, this spot serves delicate Moroccan sweets with a whisper of rosewater and pistachio.
14) Roxy’s Ice Cream Social (Oklahoma City, USA)
Year Founded: 2012
Address: 1732 NW 16th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73106, USA
Desserts: Ice cream, milkshakes
Most Iconic Dessert: Lavender ice cream
Instagram: @roxysicecream
Website: roxysicecream.com
A quirky gem offering unique ice cream flavors with a retro twist.
15) Godiva Chocolatier (Brussels, Belgium)
Year Founded: 1926
Address: Grand Place 22, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Desserts: Chocolate truffles, soft serve
Most Iconic Dessert: Dark chocolate truffles
Instagram: @godiva
Website: godiva.com
The Rolls-Royce of chocolate stores, where indulgence is taken to the next level.
16) Cakeland (Los Angeles, USA)
Year Founded: 2020
Address: 936 Mei Ling Way, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
Desserts: Cake art installations
Most Iconic Dessert: Edible cake sculptures
Instagram: @cakelandla
Website: cakeland.la
Part gallery, part sugar haven, where desserts are as much about visuals as flavor.
17) Peggy Porschen (London, UK)
Year Founded: 2003
Address: 116 Ebury St, London SW1W 9QQ, UK
Desserts: Cupcakes, cookies
Most Iconic Dessert: Lemon, raspberry, and rose cupcake
Instagram: @peggyporschenofficial
Website: peggyporschen.com
With pastel pink interiors and photogenic desserts, this is Instagram heaven.
18) Läderach Chocolatier Suisse (Zurich, Switzerland)
Year Founded: 1962
Address: Bahnhofstrasse 106, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
Desserts: Swiss chocolate slabs
Most Iconic Dessert: FrischSchoggi (fresh chocolate)
Instagram: @laederach_chocolate
Website: laederach.com
Pure Swiss chocolate magic in every bite.
19) Belle Époque Patisserie (Sydney, Australia)
Year Founded: 2013
Address: 60 Carrington St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Desserts: Éclairs, opera cakes
Most Iconic Dessert: Vanilla bean éclair
Instagram: @belleepoque_patisserie
Website: N/A
French patisserie perfection Down Under.
20) El Moro (Mexico City, Mexico)
Year Founded: 1935
Address: Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 42, Centro, 06000 Mexico City, Mexico
Desserts: Churros, hot chocolate
Most Iconic Dessert: Classic churros
Instagram: @elmorochurros
Website: elmoro.mx
Iconic churros and rich chocolate that transport you straight to dessert heaven.
21) Tai Cheong Bakery (Hong Kong, China)
Year Founded: 1954
Address: 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong
Desserts: Egg tarts, sponge cakes
Most Iconic Dessert: Cantonese egg tart
Instagram: @taicheong_bakery
Website: taicheongbakery.com
This local legend serves egg tarts so buttery, they’ll ruin every other tart for you forever.
22) Dominique Ansel Bakery (New York City, USA)
Year Founded: 2011
Address: 189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012, USA
Desserts: Cronuts, cookie shots
Most Iconic Dessert: The Cronut®
Instagram: @dominiqueansel
Website: dominiqueanselny.com
Dominique Ansel didn’t just make desserts; he invented a cultural phenomenon.
23) Max Brenner (Tel Aviv, Israel)
Year Founded: 1996
Address: Rothschild Blvd 45, Tel Aviv, Israel
Desserts: Chocolate pizza, fondue
Most Iconic Dessert: Chocolate pizza
Instagram: @maxbrenner
Website: maxbrenner.com
Think chocolate overload in the most delightful way possible.
24) Aida Café-Konditorei (Vienna, Austria)
Year Founded: 1913
Address: Tuchlauben 16, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Desserts: Sachertorte, strudel
Most Iconic Dessert: Sachertorte
Instagram: @aida.vienna
Website: aida.at
Pink décor meets Austrian pastry tradition in this century-old café.
25) Magnolia Bakery (New York City, USA)
Year Founded: 1996
Address: 401 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014, USA
Desserts: Banana pudding, cupcakes
Most Iconic Dessert: Classic banana pudding
Instagram: @magnoliabakery
Website: magnoliabakery.com
A NYC classic famous for its banana pudding and “Sex and the City” cameo.
26) Sadaharu Aoki (Paris, France)
Year Founded: 1991
Address: 56 Boulevard de Port-Royal, 75005 Paris, France
Desserts: Matcha éclairs, Japanese-inspired pastries
Most Iconic Dessert: Matcha opera cake
Instagram: @sadaharuaoki
Website: sadaharuaoki.com
A stunning fusion of Japanese flavors and French techniques.
27) Pasticceria Marchesi (Milan, Italy)
Year Founded: 1824
Address: Via Santa Maria alla Porta, 11/A, 20123 Milan, Italy
Desserts: Panettone, Italian pastries
Most Iconic Dessert: Classic panettone
Instagram: @pasticceriamarchesi
Website: marchesi.com
A Milanese gem exuding old-world charm and exquisite Italian desserts.
28) Glacier Berthillon (Paris, France)
Year Founded: 1954
Address: 31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004 Paris, France
Desserts: Sorbets, ice creams
Most Iconic Dessert: Salted butter caramel ice cream
Instagram: @berthillonparis
Website: berthillon.fr
The home of artisanal French ice cream, on a picturesque island in the Seine.
29) Pierre Hermé Paris (Paris, France)
Year Founded: 1997
Address: 72 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France
Desserts: Macarons, tarts
Most Iconic Dessert: Ispahan macaron
Instagram: @pierrehermeofficial
Website: pierreherme.com
The “Picasso of Pastry” delivers artistry in every bite.
30) Serendipity 3 (New York City, USA)
Year Founded: 1954
Address: 225 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022, USA
Desserts: Frozen hot chocolate, sundaes
Most Iconic Dessert: Frrrozen Hot Chocolate®
Instagram: @serendipity3nyc
Website: serendipity3.com
Home to whimsical desserts, and a favorite of celebs and tourists alike.
Bon voyage and bon appétit!
