Top 10 Best Donut Shops in New York

The Upper East Side location brings Dough's acclaimed donuts to a neighborhood that skews more residential and less tourist-heavy. As the newest outpost with fewer reviews, it offers the same quality brioche donuts as its siblings but with shorter lines and a more relaxed atmosphere. The Passion Fruit donut shines here with its tart, tropical glaze that cuts through the richness of the brioche base. It's perfect for locals seeking a weekend breakfast treat or visitors exploring the museum mile who want a substantial snack between cultural stops.

The Rockefeller Center outpost of the popular Dough chain offers the same oversized brioche donuts in the heart of Manhattan's tourist corridor. Being located steps from Radio City Music Hall and the Today Show plaza makes it ideal for grabbing breakfast before a show or sightseeing marathon. The Chocolate Sea Salt donut provides that perfect sweet-savory balance that keeps you coming back for another bite, and the location offers outdoor seating with prime people-watching opportunities. While slightly more crowded than other Dough locations, the central location can't be beaten for convenience.

Don't let the French name fool you—this Greenwich Village café serves Japanese-style mochi donuts that have developed a fiercely loyal following. The unique ring structure of eight connected balls creates more surface area for glazing and a distinctively chewy texture that's lighter than American cake donuts. The Matcha glaze offers genuine, quality green tea flavor without excessive sweetness, while the seasonal specials often incorporate Asian ingredients like black sesame and yuzu. With the highest rating on this list at 4.8 stars, it's clearly resonating with New Yorkers tired of the same old donut options.

Specializing in miniature donuts smaller than your palm, Doughnuttery lets you sample multiple flavors without the commitment (or calorie load) of full-sized versions. The rotating flavor selection includes inventive options like Maple Tahini and Coconut Lemongrass alongside classics, and the tiny size makes them perfect for sharing or building your own custom assortment. The Chelsea Market location draws a steady stream of tourists, but the concept works brilliantly for indecisive snackers or groups wanting variety. Hot tip: the donuts are served warm, which elevates the experience significantly beyond room-temperature alternatives elsewhere.

This midtown bakery brings Israeli-Italian fusion to the donut scene, with filled bomboloni that rival anything in Rome. The Nutella-filled variety remains the bestseller, with generous filling that doesn't skimp, while seasonal offerings like pistachio cream showcase premium ingredients. Located near Times Square yet maintaining reasonable prices, it serves as an oasis for both tourists seeking quality and locals grabbing breakfast before work. The café seating makes it suitable for quick business meetings or solo work sessions, and the babka selection provides excellent alternatives for those with your group who aren't donut devotees.

While Dominique Ansel became internationally famous for inventing the Cronut, this SoHo bakery offers far more than its viral hybrid pastry. The DKA (Dominique's Kouign Amann) demonstrates the chef's French pastry mastery with its caramelized, flaky layers, and shouldn't be overshadowed by the Cronut hype. The space itself is elegant yet approachable, with a café section perfect for lingering over coffee while watching the meticulous pastry team work. Expect tourist crowds and plan to arrive early for the best selection, though the experience of tasting genuine pastry innovation from a James Beard Award winner justifies the pilgrimage.

Brooklyn's premier all-vegan donut shop proves that plant-based treats can rival their traditional counterparts in both flavor and texture. The owners have perfected recipes that non-vegans genuinely can't distinguish from conventional donuts—the Crème Brûlée variety features a crispy caramelized top that shatters satisfyingly with each bite. Beyond donuts, they offer vegan soft-serve and seasonal specials that showcase the kitchen's creativity, like apple cider donuts in fall. The Williamsburg location attracts a young, conscious crowd, but donut purists of all dietary preferences make pilgrimages here for legitimately exceptional pastries.

Operating 24/7 since 1964, this Greenwich Village legend has fueled countless late-night cravings and early-morning coffee runs for generations of New Yorkers. The no-frills setup and fluorescent lighting might not win design awards, but the constant stream of fresh donuts emerging from the kitchen certainly wins hearts. Their classic cake donuts and Boston Cream are textbook examples of American donut perfection, and the round-the-clock hours make it a lifesaver for night shift workers, insomniacs, and party-goers looking for a 3am sugar fix. Cash-friendly prices and zero pretension make this a true democratic donut destination.

Located in the heart of Flatiron, this flagship Dough location has built a cult following for its brioche-style donuts that clock in at nearly a pound each. The Hibiscus donut is a revelation—floral, subtly sweet, and visually stunning with its pink glaze—while the Café au Lait variety satisfies coffee lovers who want their caffeine baked right in. The space offers counter seating perfect for people-watching on Fifth Avenue, and the doughnuts are substantial enough that one can easily serve as brunch. Expect lines during weekend mornings, but the wait moves quickly and the payoff is worth it.

This Greenpoint institution has been serving Brooklyn since 1953, and stepping inside feels like time-traveling to mid-century New York. The old-school bakery counter displays rows of perfectly golden donuts that locals swear taste exactly like childhood memories—simple, honest, and made fresh daily. Their cake donuts have a tender crumb that sets them apart from commercial chains, and the prices remain refreshingly stuck in a bygone era. Perfect for families, early-morning solo visits, or anyone seeking an authentic neighborhood bakery experience without the Instagram crowd.