Where to get dessert in the Theatre District

Satisfy your sweet tooth before or after a Broadway show at one of these local bakeries, ice cream shops, or restaurants with decadent dessert offerings.

To take the most complete bite out of the Big Apple, you have to save room for dessert. New York City is home to hundreds of bakeries, ice cream shops, and restaurants that will draw you in from the delicious smell alone. Luckily, many of those are located in the Times Square area, perfect for those wanting to satisfy their sweet tooth before or after a show.

Check out these places in the Theatre District to get desserts and baked goods. From famed institutions to hidden-gem local favorites, these places will make your trip to Broadway even sweeter.

Still need to eat a meal first? Check out our guides on where to get fast food, sit-down lunch and dinner, and drinks, plus our roundup of the all-around top restaurants in the Theatre District.

Schmackary's

Schmackary's is the unofficially official cookie shop of Broadway. Located conveniently on 45th Street, this place always has a line around prime showtime — and one bite of one of their huge, decadent cookies will show you why.

Flavors range from the classics, like chocolate chip and Funfetti, to truly unique offerings, like the vegan hummingbird cookie or the "hangover," loaded with all kinds of sweet and salty snacks. The flavors rotate often, and you might catch a limited-time flavor inspired by a Broadway show.

Coffee and ice cream are also on offer if you're craving something sweet besides a cookie.

Address: 362 W 45th St. between Eighth and Ninth Avenues
Price: $
Nearby theatres: Lena Horne Theatre, Barrymore Theatre, Richard Rodgers Theatre, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Booth Theatre, Golden Theatre, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Imperial Theatre, Music Box Theatre, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Al Hirschfeld Theatre

Amy's Bread

A neighborhood favorite, Amy's Bread is a bakery that will satisfy your cravings for both sweet and savory baked goods. The handmade sourdough bread is the house special, but if you're going for dessert, you'll find no shortage of cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and other pastries stacked within its glass case.

Amy's Bread is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., so you won't be able to get your late-night sweet fix here. But before or after a matinee, or before an evening show, this homey cafe has you covered.

Address: 672 Ninth Ave. between 46th and 47th Streets
Price: $
Nearby theatres: Lena Horne Theatre, Barrymore Theatre, Richard Rodgers Theatre, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Booth Theatre, Golden Theatre, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Imperial Theatre, Music Box Theatre, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Longacre Theatre, Walter Kerr Theatre

Magnolia Bakery

People from all over the world flock to Magnolia for two things: its Southern-style banana pudding and its vanilla cupcake, since Carrie Bradshaw famously had one in an episode of Sex and the City. Those are delicious, but this bakery has so much more to offer. Red velvet cheesecakes, key lime bars, and various cake flavors with rich frosting (we recommend the Southern hummingbird cake) are just a few other unique options. The bakery is also certified kosher.

Magnolia has multiple locations around the city, but the closest one to Broadway theatres is on Sixth Avenue near Rockefeller Center. There's also one on Ninth Avenue and 69th Street, just a few blocks up from the Lincoln Center performing arts complex.

Address: 1240 6th Ave. on the corner of 49th Street (Rockefeller location)
Price: $
Nearby theatres: James Earl Jones Theatre, Walter Kerr Theatre, Longacre Theatre, Ambassador Theatre, Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Circle in the Square Theatre, Gershwin Theatre,

Little Pie Company

The name says it all. Well, mostly all: This place also sells cookies, cakes, muffins, and coffee. But its specialty is pies, which each come in personal 5" and shareable 10" sizes.

All the pies are handmade from scratch in-house, and the flavors range from a triple chocolate Mississippi mud pie to a tropical banana coconut cream pie to a savory chicken pot pie, and many more. This place is a 10-15-minute walk from most Broadway theatres, but it's worth the trek.

Address: 424 W 43rd St. between Ninth and Tenth Avenues
Price: $
Nearby theatres: Nederlander Theatre, New Amsterdam Theatre, Todd Haimes Theatre, Stephen Sondheim Theatre Lyric Theatre, Shubert Theatre, Broadhurst Theatre, Majestic Theatre, St. James Theatre

Amorino Gelato

Amorino Gelato is known for its photo-worthy cones scooped in the shape of a rose. Luckily, the gelato tastes as good as it looks. At its multiple NYC locations (the closest to Broadway is a block away from Times Square), Amorino offers 30 flavors, including multiple dairy-free, vegan sorbets.

If you want an extra sugar rush, you can get French macarons filled with gelato instead of the traditional ganache. Amorino also sells waffles and crepes if you want an excuse to eat dessert for breakfast.

Address: 721 Eighth Ave. between 45th and 46th Streets
Price: $
Nearby theatres: Lena Horne Theatre, Barrymore Theatre, Richard Rodgers Theatre, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Booth Theatre, Golden Theatre, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Imperial Theatre, Music Box Theatre, Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Al Hirschfeld Theatre

Carlo's Bake Shop

If there's too long a line of tourists who flock to this bakery made famous by Cake Boss, never fear: there's another location about a block away. Owned by celebrated pastry chef Buddy Valastro, Carlo's offers cakes, cookies, cannolis, lobster tails (the pastry, not the fish), and even pizza.

Can't get enough after getting a taste? Carlo's ships across the U.S. But there's nothing like getting a fresh pastry right at the source.

Address: 625 Eighth Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets; 1500 Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets
Price: $
Nearby theatres: Nederlander Theatre, New Amsterdam Theatre, Todd Haimes Theatre, Stephen Sondheim Theatre Lyric Theatre, Shubert Theatre, Broadhurst Theatre, Majestic Theatre, St. James Theatre

M&M's World

Where else in the world can you get custom M&Ms with any phrase you want printed on them? That's just one of the unique experiences at this massive store that immerses people in the world of the beloved chocolate candy. For dessert, beeline to the two-story "color wall," which dispenses every M&M flavor imaginable. Fill a bag with them (the store charges by the pound) and take them to your show.

Address: 1600 Broadway on the corner of 48th Street
Price: $
Nearby theatres: Palace Theatre, Walter Kerr Theatre, Longacre Theatre, Al Hirschfeld Theatre, James Earl Jones Theatre, Lena Horne Theatre, Barrymore Theatre, Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Richard Rodgers Theatre, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Photo credit: Taylor Heery via Unsplash