Levain Bakery – Original Location, 74th St, NYC

The cookie here is absolutely incredible—without a doubt, the best I’ve ever tasted. The shop itself is small, but it has a lovely balcony where you can either grab your treat to go or enjoy it outdoors. The atmosphere is cozy, and the overall experience is fantastic. If you’re in the area (or not) it’s definitely worth a visit just for that delicious cookie alone or with your family and friends. Whether you want to enjoy it there or take it to go, this place is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Absolutely loved the quaint little bakery! The service was exceptional! Thank you to the sweet individual behind the counter who helped us with our order (and the really amazingly large slice of delicious pumpkin ginger loaf!! ❤️❤️❤️) We ordered a few cookies to take back home to share with family, 2 brioche bars and a pumpkin ginger loaf slice! The loaf slice was the best pumpkin seasonal treat we’ve had in ages! Super moist and absolutely full of spice and flavor! Wow!!!

We stopped by Levain Bakery on the Upper West Side for a quick afternoon pick-me-up. The drinks were great — the latte was smooth, and the cappuccino had just the right amount of kick. Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying their famous cookies. We got the Chocolate Chip Walnut and the Dark Chocolate Chip, and wow — those things are huge. One cookie was more than enough for two people, rich and gooey in the best way. The place was busy but had a cozy vibe that made the wait worth it. Overall, a solid stop for a sweet treat and great coffee.

Absolutely the best cookies! I enjoyed every bite. I tried the dark chocolate peanut butter chip and the caramel coconut chocolate chip cookies, and they were incredible. Each flavor was rich and perfectly balanced. Highly recommend for any cookie lover!

Really delicious chocolate chip cookies, blueberyy muffin and oat milk flat white coffee ♥️🍪 I tried with full dark choloate one, it was heavy for me. Take away place or you can eat at the bar. I tried in this shop because it was the first Levain.

When I booked my tickets to New York, I knew that i wanted to taste the famous Levain Bakery cookies. Not only they are pleasing to the eyes but they are as delicious as I imagined. We tried the limited edition fall cookie with nutmeg as well as the classic chocolate chip and walnut cookie. Both of them were hot, gooey with the perfect balance of sweetness. Each bite was a dream honestly! I can't wait to come back to taste them again!

Overpriced cookies, not better tasting than from a decent bakery. Almost $7 per plus $49 for shipping. And you have to buy their packages, not just one type of what you really like. They are like 4” x 2” high and they crumble as you eat, mess everywhere. The website doesn’t show the order nor received email confirmation, tracking info, they said “ somebody else runs our website”…”you must have a problem with your email” . Maybe a $4 per is what they should be .

I tried a couple of trendy bakeries in NYC last week. This is by far the best one. I went for the dark chocolate chip cookie and the banana bread. My wife and daughter chose the walnut and raising rolls. We can't wait to go back to NYC to pay Levain Bakery another visit.

Best cookie I've ever had?? Insane cookies here. We need these across the US. Regular chocolate chip was unreal. I'd get that everyday if I could. Chocolate peanut butter was popular with our crew as well. Probably my #2, but the people love it. I wanna say we had one that was like cookies & crème, or a dark chocolate cookie? Can't remember for certain but I feel like we did, & I feel like I loved it. Might be making that up We came around lunch time so I think most of their other pastries were sold out. Wonder what else they have & how it is!

Levain Bakery is famous for their cookies. We had a chance to try their frozen ones that you bake yourself. Hmmm...nothing special. BUT, today, my wife's director gave them each a tin full of freshly baked and neatly wrapped in cellophane. We tried the following four flavors and my choices in order are...[Descriptions are from their website] 1) Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip: Sweet, savory and perfectly balanced, these cookies satisfy cravings for peanut butter and chocolate lovers. Dark chocolate cookie dough is packed with soft, smooth peanut butter chips to create the perfect cookie confection. My favorite. I like peanut butter which breaks up the chocolatey cookie. 2) Oatmeal Raisin: Weighing in at six ounces each, these rich and buttery cookies are golden brown on the outside, moist on the inside, and full of plump sweet raisins. Simple clean recipe clean and not too many oats as you would expect. 3) Chocolate Chip Walnut: The cookie that started it all! Signature Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie is crispy on the outside with a satisfyingly thick and gooey center. Every bite is packed with semi-sweet chocolate chips and chunks of walnuts. This was good but I am not really a Walnut person. But, this was good. 4) Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip The ultimate chocolate cookie: dense, chewy and dangerously rich. Crafted with extra dark French cocoa and semisweet chocolate chips, these cookies are sure to satisfy even the biggest chocoholic. I like chocolate but for me, this was too much chocolate. All were delicious and tasted pretty good heated up. Also they are thick in size like scones, so a BIG glass of milk is needed to enjoy these cookies.

The original Levain Bakery, located on a beautiful brownstone-lined street on NYC's Upper West Side. The sub-basement level shop is tiny, with no seating aside from a bench outside. Expect at least one group of European tourists to be huddled inside. The staff were friendly. I have tried Levain cookies before, at their LA location, and was not impressed; they tasted like flavorless scones. I wanted to try them again properly, in their place of origin, in the morning when they had likely been freshly baked. I opted for their iconic Chocolate Chip Walnut, and a seasonal Dark Chocolate Peppermint, and walked the few blocks to Central Park to enjoy them. Their texture and taste was far superior to the ones I had from the LA shop, but I still feel their recipes lack flavor. More salt and vanilla extract, please! I did love the amount of chocolate chips, and the unique texture, which is pleasantly crisp on the outside and slightly gooey on the inside. If you want to try Levain cookies, do it here, but know that there are better cookies in NYC.

I make the dupes of these when I bring a dessert to a friend's house or to a party. They are always a hit because they're unlike most cookies in their size and taste. So I was excited to visit the actual bakery where the real ones are made. It's a tiny little shop that's below street level, so the line serpents its way from the underground to the sidewalk. Only 5 people are allowed in at a time since that's all it can fit. The staff is super friendly and helpful and don't rush you, even thought they know there's a long line. They have all their cookies lined up, but also have other bakery treats that I didn't know about. One of those is a baguette with butter and jam. They also have loaf cakes and pastries. They also make delicious coffees and hot chocolate. I ordered the hot chocolate and it reminded me of the African style hot chocolate from Angelina's in Paris. It went perfectly with my chocolate chip and walnut cookie and butter and jam baguette. Pure heaven!

I have known about Levain for many years and first discovered my love for it at a location in D.C. right before my hometown of Los Angeles opened its own location. Fortunately I have the ability to obtain these delicious cookies whenever I'd like but I wanted to visit the original shop that started the fame of these cookies. If you've never tried these cookies before, just know they are to die for. They are very rich, dense and sometimes it's hard to finish even just one cookie in one sitting but they are oh so good. While I've tried many of their cookies - my favorite is the classic chocolate chip walnut. Levain is also currently offering their holiday flavor which is a dark chocolate peppermint and even offer GF and vegan options for those with dietary needs. Besides the cookies, I was surprised how absolutely tiny this shop was but it gave it a very cute, humble feel. If you wanted to eat here, you could eat at the window counter but you will be standing or there is one bench outside. Given the fame, I was surprised it wasn't busy but that may just be because it was a rainy day when I came. I think it was a great experience to visiting the shop that started it all, but I would highly recommend Levain no matter what location you visit. Staff here was also happy, friendly, and the service was great! Thank you for all the cookies my heart desires!

Always love the service and cookie from levain. My first time tried their cookie was in LA last year. We ordered: Peppermint Chocolate chip The place is small, but have some inside seating area. It's clean. No line

Visited this "original" location for Levain bakery while in town for work and I was blown away. The smell was amazing and I wanted to take multiples of all items. I was ordering 20 cookies and the people behind the counter were so helpful and not rushing me and not annoyed at all with my order. This location is small so if you come during a busy time you may need to wait out in the cold but it will be well worth it. To my surprise I received a reusable bag because my order was over 100 and that made the visit even sweeter. I will definitely be stopping by again on my next visit to the city.

By far the best cookie ever created! Haha. It never fails when friends find out I am going, the orders start pouring in for me to bring them some. It is a blend of perfect crunch on the outside to softness on the inside. Very rich but not overly sweet. I have ordered them to be shipped but there is nothing like walking into the shop and getting them while they are still warm. Yummmmmmmm. . I have yet to find a better cookie. If you are in NYC make it a point to go.

Got my Cookie Cartel flown all the way to San Diego, CA, thanks to my friend who visited New York. The staff packed it perfectly, and while I can't speak to the shop's ambiance--hopefully someday when I visit NY--the most important thing is that I got to taste this famous baked good! Shoutout to friends who bring you fresh versions of your favorite cookies and give you the chance to tell the world how delicious they are! I first discovered Levain through DoorDash, where I would order frozen batches. My friend brought me several cookie flavors that aren't available frozen, and I loved them all (Dark Chocolate, Oatmeal Raisin, Classic Chocolate Chip, and Chocolate Chip with Walnuts). My favorites will always be the Classic Chocolate Chip and the Chocolate Chip with Walnuts. Levain cookies are my fave. Forever a fan--please don't change a thing!

Levain Bakery is definitely worth the hype. I've tried their cookies shipped from NYC and baked from frozen, but experiencing them fresh at the store was something else. SERVICE - The line moved quickly, which was a plus, and the cashier was really helpful, suggesting we get milk in cups instead of buying the little cartons--it saved us some money and was much appreciated. FOOD - The cookies themselves were incredibly thick and rich, just as expected. I found them a bit too indulgent to finish in one sitting, but it was great to finally try one fresh. While I enjoyed the experience, I'm not sure I'd get them again since they're not really my type of cookie. If you're into gooey, thick cookies, though, this is the spot for you. Overall, a solid experience!

This place came highly recommended by a friend, and it was definitely on my to-do list. By chance, we walked past one on our way to dinner, and I knew I had to stop by to try the famous thick cookie. Let me tell you--these cookies did not disappoint! I tried the oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip, and they were hands-down some of the best cookies I've ever had. They were warm, gooey, and had that perfect chocolate ooze when you break them apart. Just the right amount of sweetness, and the texture was incredible! The service was great and the bakery had a few seats for you to enjoy. If you're ever in NY, do yourself a favor and check this place out. It's a must-visit for any cookie lover!

C'mon Now!!! If you haven't tried their cookies, you're missing out, dude! lol. Seriously, go grab yourself a cookie and a latte... Yes, they make yummy coffee, as well.... The staff are all friendly and efficient. A little chaotic when I went in, but, organized... This location is nestled in a basement accessible from the sidewalk. You bet, I'll be coming back for more!

Levain Bakery has and always will have some of the best cookies in NYC (and beyond) haha. I remember when there used to be only one location and am glad to see them burgeoning now. My favorite flavor hands down is their coconut caramel chocolate chip cookie- I know it sounds super busy/too much going on but it's fantastic. Their classic walnut chocolate chip is also great. All in all, you can't go wrong with anything here.

Went to the original store. Taste the same as all their other store which is a good sign! I missed the rush and was third in line. When I left, there were ten people behind me. Came at 2pm on a Monday. Small storefront. Couple of seats inside but too crammed to really stay there

I get cookies here every time I come to NYC cause they just hit every single time. Can't go wrong with the chocolate chip and walnut but the coconut caramel is becoming one of my faves too. The shop is tiny but no line when I went.

There is a reason that this cookie shop is one of the most popular in New York City! It's delicious flavorful and packed with chocolate chips! I love the double chocolate chip cookie! And my husband loves the peanut butter chocolate cookie. Honorable mention for the coconut chocolate chip cookie, that might be one of my new favorites! The line can get long, but it moves quickly and the service is wonderful. No place to eat inside so plan to enjoy as you walk the streets of New York City.

These classic cookies have changed over the years and they seem to be less baked than in the past. The lines are long but they move quickly. It's the kind of thing you have to taste for yourself and decide if it's your kind of cookie. For my palate there are better cookies at other bakeries.... that said I ate it before I could take a pic (so it was pretty good). NOTE: After I posted this review I reviewed a thoughtful response from Levain. That alone is a testament to their attention to detail and I will go back and EAT another cookie(s)!

You can't go wrong with these famous cookies. The only thing is you need someone or someones with you to because it's hard to eat more than one of these and you'll want to try the various varieties. Even just eating one cookie is a lot--they are so rich and dense. And sooo good. Service is routinely good and well-managed. Ambiance isn't much to speak of, but that's not why you're there... (And if you like milk, this is the time to have it)

So, I unfortunately cannot comment on ambiance or service BUT I can comment on what a delight to my taste buds! Holy Moses! Wow! First, each cookie can feed like 2 people! HUGE! And they are so buttery and rich with amazing chocolate. The chocolate chip is chocolate overload. A true sugar rush. I do love the large amount of walnuts in that cookie. It balances so well! I will be taking these back to Texas. Well not these but another order! Just fabulous!

Levain has the chunkiest cookies ever and I love that it's almost like a scone. I got their chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, and a cinnamon raison bun. The items here are too sweet for my taste. I think the first bite is great but it becomes difficult to eat more than that. Worth a try for the experience, but beware of the sweetness.

not to just for being the worlds most famous chocolate chip cookie ! prices were fairly priced, the service was quick & simple, & there was a fair few options. had to go for the work renowned chocolate chip cookie though ! wasn't able to have it super fresh, but despite that, it was HEAVEN ! super squishy, not over the top sugary: lives up to its name ! a definite MUST if you go to NYC !

Alysse was the absolute best! This was our first time and she was super patient. The shop is not big but there are numerous choices. We for the 2 chip chocolate chip, chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate pb and oatmeal raisin. All were delicious. We've already discussed taking some home. Alysse was kind enough to heat up 1 cookie for each of us which made the world of difference, I mean who doesn't enjoy a hot cookie. Delicious treats and YES, YES, YES... We would definitely return!

The cookies are melt-in-your-mouth, to die for! I ordered the chocolate chip and it was thick, warm, gooey and perfectly soft on the inside. The coffee was also good, and complemented the cookie. When you walk into Levain, the aroma of baked goods fills the air. There was no line when we went, so we were served quite quickly. There is seating outside - great for people watching.

You've gotta visit the original location at least once in NYC. It's quite a bit smaller in size and easy to miss as the marquee entrance is rather nondescript and the actual bakery is down a short flight of stairs. If you're a local, I'd highly recommend going to the Harlem location or the one a few blocks away from this one, as they tend to be less crowded, and larger. If you've never to been to Levains, you're in for a treat (literally). Their cookies are slightly expensive (and slightly overhyped at this point). Still, as an amateur baker myself, I can't seem to replicate their cookies no matter how hard or which copycat recipe I try. They're hard on the outside and gooey and soft on the inside and keep for nearly a week (better eaten fresh), or a month in the fridge/freezer. Highly recommend the dark chocolate peanut butter or dark chocolate chocolate chip! They do have specials during certain seasons or times of the year as well (e.g. Peppermint cookies for Christmas, or tin boxes for Pride month right now).

PLEASE NOTE: This was for nationwide shipping. I want to be honest: I don't really know anything about Levain. I know they're wildly popular; that people all over the world love them and rave about them and go out of their way in NYC to visit them... but I didn't know why. When I found out they had vegan cookies available for shipping I was excited to finally see what the hype was all about. And now I get it. They only have one vegan (and gluten-free) option: a Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie that "features chunks of crunchy walnuts and semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips. Baked with a rich and creamy butter made from cashews, it's a plant-based take on the classic Levain cookie - one that everyone can enjoy." Currently it's $33 for a four-pack, $57 for an eight-pack, and $91 for a 12-pack (free shipping on the last option, otherwise it's $12.50 for S&H - at least it was for me in Maine; not sure if it's different if you're farther away). I got emails EVERY step of the way: from ordering, to when my cookies were being baked (everything is baked to order, and you choose your arrival date for optimal freshness), to when my order was out for delivery, to the moment they were sitting at my door. The cookies themselves are ENORMOUS. They come beautifully packaged and with Cookie Care information ("may be stored in an airtight container for up to a week; for optimal freshness and flavor, freeze any cookies you don't plan on eating immediately; when ready to eat, heat your cookies in a 350°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes until warm and gooey"). They were perfect in every way (soft, flavorful, chocolatey and just a little salty and while I don't usually love nuts in my cookies - these might have changed my mind), though I will say they were one of the most crumbly cookies I've ever eaten. Make sure you eat it over a napkin! A thousand percent will order again, and a million percent will be ordering for friends who need a little care package in the form of cookies home baked with love when I can't do it for them!

First time trying Levain cookies and wow, these cookies are big, thick and decadent. Tried the original walnut chocolate chip and got a box to share. The cookie was crisp and buttery on the outside, and soft, gooey and doughy, but not raw, on the inside. Walking in you're greeted with the Fresh baked, sweet bakery smell. The shop is small and down a short flight of stairs, and line was out the door. Definitely worth a visit and will be returning when I'm in the area.

Levain Bakery (OG) might be a tiny hole in the ground, but don't let its size fool you - it's a hidden gem packed with flavor. Despite its small space, the aroma of freshly baked bread and cookies wafts through the air, drawing you in from blocks away. Once inside, you're greeted with an amazing selection of cookies that are as thick as a fist and breads that are equally delicious. With locations scattered across New York, Levain Bakery is a reliable go-to for indulgent treats that never disappoint. Whether you're craving a gooey chocolate chip cookie or a hearty loaf of bread, you can count on Levain to satisfy your cravings with quality and flavor. Just be prepared to wait in line - good things often come in small packages, and Levain Bakery is no exception. We got the OG c chocolate and walnut cookies and absolutely devoured them as soon as we got a nice scenic spot at the cebtral park

Not a huge fan of these cookies! They seem overrated. They're okay- they're hard and kinda bland. Maybe it's the new cookie shops opening up that are full of flavor but I'm not a levain bakery girly anymore

After a friend moved up to NYC, she introduced me to Levain Bakery's cookies and her favorite quickly became mine: the chunky, Walnut-Chocolate-Chip, which, especially when warm from the oven, is pretty much my ideal cookie. Service at the original location was friendly and quick and there is (minimal) room to stand to read the articles and look at some pictures of Levain Bakery's origin while beginning to nosh.

So, as a cop baking really helps me unwind and decompress from bad crap at work. I live in Hawaii and obviously Levain Bakery is all the way in NYC. I would stumble across their IG from time to time and see those amazing chocolate chip cookies and long lines etc. I would find copy-cat recipes and made quite a few that were pretty good, but I never had tried the actual Levain cookie. Fast forward to the 2023 Maui wild fires and all the chaos, fall out and trauma that followed. I told myself I would travel more and see things in person. My wife, daughter and I traveled to NYC and you already know Levain was on the list. Let me say this - IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!!!! Crunchy outer exterior with a melt in your mouth warm, chewy center...the decadent box was life changing!!! The copy-cat recipes could never replicate the real thing. Levain, thank you for getting me through some tough times. Your cookies are more than just cookies. Mahalo a million.

I get the hype about Levain's cookies now, and I can say that the hype is real! My friend and I stopped by the original location on a Saturday afternoon around 3 pm and there was only a short line. We only waited a couple minutes before ordering. The original location is very small and offers takeout only. There's a small bench outside but there's no seating otherwise. As soon as you walk in, you're hit with a delicious buttery smell. You already know it's going to be good based on that. All of their cookies and other baked goods are on display, so you can peruse the options and decide what to order. They also offer a variety of drink options, mostly different coffee drinks but also tea and hot chocolate as well. I've heard that they're most known for their chocolate chip walnut cookie, so we got that as well as the dark chocolate peanut butter chip cookie. Both cookies were $5.25 each, so they're definitely not cheap, but I think the price is acceptable given that the cookies are massive and probably 1.5-2x the size of regular cookies. We ate the chocolate chip walnut cookie soon afterwards after finding a bench in Central Park nearby. It was still warm and tasted buttery and rich. We weren't hungry but still finished a whole cookie between the two of us. I ate the dark chocolate peanut butter chip cookie later in the evening as post-dinner dessert. Even though it had cooled down by then, it was my favorite cookie of the two as they don't skimp on the peanut butter chips, and I love peanut butter! I'm so happy to have finally try a Levain cookie fresh from the source!

I've been meaning to purchase from this bakery to have it shipped, but I stopped myself a few times just because I can bake, too. I knew that I had to stop by here to get a cookie for myself and for the kids when in NYC simply because I wanted to see if the cookies are as good as it looks. We were at Gray's Papaya, so walking here was under 10 minutes. It was a bit hard to find for me because it's on the left side of the street and the sign is low because the bakery is on the ground level, basement-like. It's small, quaint, very cute and the smell of freshly baked goods fill the air while staff welcomes you w/ patience and a smile. I bought half a dozen cookies for my kids (two chip chocolate, dark chocolate chocolate chip, and chocolate chip walnut) and I bought a two chip chocolate chip for myself. It's dense, chewy, chocolatey, sweet... now I'm convinced that even though I can bake, I'm about to place an order to get these shipped because they were that good.

I love Levain and their cookies. At $5+ they are pricey but they are big and shareable. They hold up well if you're planning to bring some home to family, especially if you place them in a ziplock. All the flavors are delicious and the fresh made cookies beat the frozen version available at Whole Foods any day. I went on a Sunday and the line was out the door but moved fast. Went again on a Tuesday and there was no line.

Obssessed with Levain cookies. There is a time and place (and certain craving) required for them, in my opinion! I've ordered them countless times, although my first taste of them was their frozen version back in Denver. I usually get a variety box of 5 cookies because it's hard to decide on just a few. They last 3-4 days in the house easily -- to be fair, it's mostly me eating them! Favorites: Double Dark Chocolate Chip + Coconut Caramel So thick, sooo chocolately, not overly sweet, not underbaked. Huge fan of the super crispy edges pieces. Must try at least once if you're in Manhattan. I am glad they are a short delivery away!

I think Levain cookies are synonymous with the city at the point. You cannot plan a trip to NYC and not have one of their bakeries on your list to visit. We were in the Central Park and decided to walk down to the original location of this bakery. It's a small bakery which cannot house a lot of people at one time, but that doesn't discourage people from waiting for their turn. Even though it was cramped when we went, the servers behind the counter were super sweet and were not rushing us out the door. They answered any question anyone had with patience and a smile, which I really appreciated. We got a dark chocolate chocolate chip cookie and a classic chocolate chip walnut cookie. Both the cookies were very very tasty, and I would've loved to warm them and then dunk them in cold milk! But we enjoyed them throughout our day in the city and relished eating bite.

Another stop on our NYC itinerary, this Levain Bakery was a little hole in the wall... actually hole in the basement because you get to walk "downstairs" into the bakery where you get a waft of that wonderful bakery smell. It's also not easy to find since there's not a big sign outside. Levain is popular for a reason. Their cookies are famous and for a good reason. They are sold individually but each one is humongous and can easily feed 3 adults. We tried: Two chip chocolate chip Caramel coconut choc chip Chocolate chip walnut Dark chocolate chip Dark chocolate peanut butter chip All were outstanding, but my favorite was the dark chocolate peanut butter. If there was a Levain here in Birmingham, I would frequent it more than Crumbl Cookie.

I ordered then felt guilty because I just worked out. I took some small bites and threw the rest away (for self-discipline). Bloated bakes don't always equate to a great taste. But I saw a couple on YT who rated Levain's cookies the best so I had to try. They were good indeed, just not sweet enough for me.

We ordered for delivery the night before for an early morning delivery. Cookies arrived earlier in the time frame we were quoted. They followed directions and left at hotel desk as we noted. Cookies were still nice and warm! Cookies were very delicious and traveled well back to our home state. They are a bit rich so probably best to not eat a whole one in one sitting. Would love to visit the store next time we are in town.

I remembered hearing good things about this bakery, but didn't really get the chance to try anything from it until I was given one of their large chocolate chip cookies during a networking event. When I tried it, the cookie's flavor was sickening sweet. I'm normally a huge fan of sweets, but there is a limit to how much I can handle and this cookie contained twice of that. I had split it with two other people and somehow we were still unable to finish it. I suppose large cookies might not be my thing, but this was a terrible introduction to them. I'm glad I had gotten it for free, as any amount of money spent on it would've felt like a waste.

When I was in Chicago a few weeks ago for a Blackhawks home game I reviewed Levain's newest location (River North) an easy five stars since everything was magnificent. Since it was Chicago the nearby area was clean, as in no trash piled up and no deeply eldritch scent of the world using the streets as a toilet. Since I was in NYC for the Blackhawks games against the Rangers and Devils I was committed to visit at least one Levain location on this trip. Since this was NYC the surrounding streets had trash piled high and the dystopian NYC-use-the-streets-as-toilets odor (does Fat Joe have a tune about this? I know Big L did not), so it was a much less pleasant walk here. Like a normal person, I first learned of Levain through the incredibly-relatable eyes of Arthur James Seuss in Becky Albertalli's What If It's Us, since Arthur was so lovingly drawn as a three dimensional character, which was so nice to have a lovable character enter the zeitgeist rather than the weltschmerz. I have to assume as well as she did portraying the magick of Levain in the book (as well as at least mentioning, if not reviving, the old classics of Waffle House, ferris wheels, and Elliott Smith from the Simon-verse), since 2018 she gets some impressive kind of royalty from my (and others') $5 cookie purchases at a time from Levain. The store has a tiny footprint for customers once you come down the stairs so you can maybe get two average Americans deep, or three people deep if they are right sized like me or Connor Bedard. (Coming soon: fan-fiction of Foligno, Bedard, and me solving petty local crimes and other mysteries as private eyes out of a home office on the first floor of our shared cottage in Martha's Vineyard). I had the misfortune of bad timing since a big group of people came in right behind me. So I waited less than five minutes to get my cookie with what was in front of me (and I did not need to wait out of doors since I was already freezing my neep-nops off), but then there was no place to sit in the tiny seating alcove which was swallowed up by that group ringing the back edge of the shoppe. After snapping some quick photos on the blue bench in front of the shoppe (and confirming the double was regrettably not very warm at all since it was a cold day) I took the double with me on a walk straight to Belvedere Castle, which seemed like a very smart use of my time (and a very Arthurian thing to do) to take my breakfast cookie for a walk to see the sights. Even when it is not warm, the double (it may say two-chip on the menu, but if you read the book you know) is still lovely and moist. The edges of the double were so crisp they crumbled neatly off into the bag, allowing a real thug to just dig right into the heart of the cookie-meat with all of its chocolately moistness. Since this is the original location it is an interesting look at how the business surged in popularity to start covering the country's cool cities like NYC and Chicago. Obviously Houston is not on this list, but LA is, so there is hope for us yet. At this location there was no customer service at the till at all. This was surprising given the very warm reception I received in Chicago. I guess the young lady saw the crowd and just gave up on that. But in the book, people used to wait 20-30 minutes out of doors to get a cookie here. Surely this kind of crowd, even early in the morning, is not enough to throw your hands up? There is also no ambiance, it is just enough room for you to order and git out. If anything this location reminds me more of a prohibition-era speakeasy (clearly inspired from Who Framed Roger Rabbit) that they probably should just start asking you for the password before they allow you to order. The password would obviously be "Becky sent me" since how else would a normal person learn about a cookie shoppe. The phrase I am thinking of, how does it go - love the sin, hate the sinner? I love the double and I will always seek out a Levain in any city they are in that I am also in for work, hockey, or otherwise. But if I had not read the book and experienced the splendour of the River North location already, would a visit to this location have impressed me to the apogee of the feelings I had from the book and that visit to River North? No. So if anything, my visit to this location left me with a new entry for the Department of Mysteries. Was this location always like this and their meteoric rise still came about, or did standards slip over time here as they opened up more locations? They have other locations in NYC I will visit upon my return, including the newest-new location set to open in the Flatiron. And that future-cookie will be tucked into the tender crook of my elbow as I take it to the Times Square Dave & Busters. Three stars. You can do much better here for people who put on their second best pair of lu-lemon joggers and walk themselves into the gat dang store rather than sending the errand boys like ubereats.

Just here to say that even their cookies are so fresh when shipped!! Got a box from family for the holidays and it's still just as mouthwatering as they would be in-store.

Levain has so many new flavors now! I stuck with my usual chocolate chip walnut which was gooey and travelled well in my backpack for the next day. They had some issues with their payment system so it took a little longer than it should though.

Omg! Those cookies are to FREAKING die for! Been wanting to try this bakery for a while, finally got the chance to, had to grab their chocolate chip cookie and also tried their cinnamon roll with walnuts. The roll was pretty good but those cookies, those cookies are EVERYTHING. Nice chocolaty moist thick cookies, a dream.

I mean. I really can't find any faults with this. Used to be a regular haunt when I was in grad school up the road, and it hasn't changed a bit! Great, friendly staff, and though a small location, really loved all the news articles on the wall to give a snapshot of how the place came to be. As always, the cookies are to die for. I had the coconut chocolate one, and I wish I could've taken a bunch back on the plane ;) Would very highly recommend.

Pretty solid cookies. Nice crunch on the outside and soft moist inside. Definitely recommend if you're feeling in need of a sweet treat!

I can finally scratch off trying a Levain cookie off my foodie bucket list. Yayyy! The cookie was pretty awesome; it was soft and cakey and of course they are known for the MASS. I've made copycat cookies in the past knowing the work that goes into it so trying it at the OG place is part of the experience. The store front is very small. The day me and my bf came it was crowded cause there were people on the side eating their cookies. We didn't know where the line started due to the crowding but the service was quick and efficient. There's a bench outside to sit down and people watch and that's what we did. Thanks Levain :)

Came here on our last day in NYC and cookies did not disappoint! Warm, fairly large, and thick cookie. Highly recommend their cookies! There was a short line outside the space but it moved fast.

Bias review! Because I'm such a die hard Leavin fan. The amount and quality really shines through. Packaged some back home to Cali and even after a flight and reheating... these cookies are still melt in your mouth amazing. yes its pretty $$$$$ for 4 pieces of cookies, but thats why you dont share lol ! you wouldnt want to anyway service: okay, always a line ;) ambiance: grab and go thanks!

I one hundred percent recommend Levain Bakery. I came here for the chocolate chip cookies and they did not disappoint! They are baked to perfection with the right amount of crunch in the outside and softness on the inside. Our cookies were fresh out of the oven and the chocolate chip chunks melted once you bit into them. These cookies are as delicious as they are massive! My fiance is a chocolate chip cookie enthusiast and he too, highly recommends Levain's chocolate chip cookies! We'll be coming back next time we're in the city.