Chocolate Babka and All-Day Cafe Bites at Lincoln Square
Famous for its chocolate babka, this Upper West Side bakery pairs artisan breads and pastries with outdoor seating.
Why this stop works ✨
Breads Bakery runs its Lincoln Square location on Broadway as a no-frills, all-day cafe, feeding the neighborhood between Lincoln Center and Columbus Circle. It works for a fast lunch as easily as a morning pastry, with savory options on the counter alongside the sweets.
The headliner is the chocolate babka, the item that built the name, backed by artisan breads and a full case of pastries. Outdoor seating gives you a place to actually sit with a coffee when the weather cooperates. The chocolate babka alone is worth a detour on the way to Lincoln Center.
At 4.5 stars across more than 1,200 reviews, this is one of the busier and better-loved bakeries on the Upper West Side. Come in for a babka and a savory lunch plate, grab a loaf of artisan bread, and take an outside table if one opens up.
