Magnolia Bakery - Central Park South

This place is a fantastic dessert spot! 🍰 Magnolia Bakery 🥧 has a phenomenal selection of desserts 🧁 with their crown 👑 jewel 💎 being the world-famous 🌎 Banana 🍌 Bread 🍞 Pudding! 🍮 Definitely try their Caramel Pecan 🌰 Cheesecake too! I wish I came here more often!

MAGNOLIA BAKERY shines with its friendly staff and efficient service. Their banana pudding is simply divine. With outdoor seating available, it's the perfect place to savor your treats in a pleasant atmosphere. Despite being a Friday night, the store wasn't overly bustling, offering a relaxed setting for indulging in delicious desserts.

Good location albeit small. We got the regular banana pudding and the seasonal special which was cookies and cream. Both pretty good but the classic is the king for a reason

The banana pudding taste like Great Value's instant pudding. It tastes different from other Magnolia Bakeries. The texture is thicker, yellower and the pudding has artificial flavor and scent. Suspicious😒

I noticed that the staff seemed a bit rushed, which might explain the lack of attention to detail. The banana Pudding was too sweet for my taste. If you’re craving dessert near Central Park, it’s not a bad choice, but manage your expectations.

our desserts were so sweet, they were unenjoyable. the caramel pecan cheese cake was so rich and sweet that there was no cream cheese flavor — but the crust was good. the banana pudding was nothing special, it had little flavor and just tasted like melted creamy sugar. i don’t understand the hype around this place and i think you’re better off spending your money elsewhere

Banana pudding was delicious! The small size was perfect for 1 person. The only complaint is that out of 2 small cups, one of them didn’t have any cookies and the other one didn’t have any banana. Understandable that it’s hard to portion such mass quantities but would be nice to know that you’re getting to try a bit of everything.

The banana pudding it’s ok. They need to ad Gluten-free options in all the locations!! Because off that My friend that she is celiac couldn’t had the opportunity to try the pudding.

First timer here...I ordered a slice of carrot cake. It looked as if there wasn't enough cream cheese frosting, but it worked out. Every bite of cake was accompanied by frosting. I loved it. Moist cake. Raisins, walnuts. It's not overly sweet. $8 seems reasonably.

My review is solely based on a quick take out order of 2 things . I came in for the banana pudding that many seem to love, and I am a carrot cake fan so I wanted to try that. When we arrived in the late evening, there was a short line but it went relatively quickly. You can see some of their fresh cake selections within the dome-covered cake plates, and I quickly noticed that there didn't seem to be carrot cake but there was a similar cake on hand, hummingbird cake, so that is what I ordered. The banana pudding was packed and ready to go in a refrigerator just behind the cashier and they packed my sizeable sliced cake to go. In sum, the hummingbird cake was the star of the show. It had a nice cream cheese frosting and the cake was moist and dense with just the right amount of sweetness (not too much as the cream cheese frosting adds more. The banana pudding for us was really just okay - we didn't even finish it. It had more of an airy texture vs. thick pudding texture, and for me it was too sweet. If I had one near me, I'd be willing to go back for the hummingbird cake and would try some of the other selections as well.

Small shop seems like it's hit its peak years ago... are famous for their "banana pudding" I wish it tasted better. I was looking forward to it! We also tried the banana cake and it was basically banana bread. Lacking flavor. The store was clean and the staff was attentive. That was a plus.

Finally tried their banana bread pudding and LOVED it!! So creamy, sweet, and delicious! It's a great treat if you're walking around Central Park and it's hot, just get this pudding and grab the outdoor seating, you'll enjoy it! Plus even though the line was long, the service was pretty quick!

When you have a husband who likes sweets, it's handy to have a place like Magnolia close by. Sometimes it's overrun with tourists and the line can be out the door, but they always have a good selection and the staff is fairly efficient. There is a dedicated refrigerator for the banana pudding and it is updated regularly. If you need something sweet, albeit a little pricey, this is a great place to stop.

Magnolia Bakery's banana pudding is one of my favorite desserts ever. It's the perfect combination of light whipped cream, really creamy and rich pudding, fresh bananas, and the almost cakey nilla wafers. I'm a big fan of crunch though, so I think I'd love it even more if the nilla wafers were still crunchy! This place was pretty crowded when we went and the line was very long. The workers seemed a bit tired but I don't blame them because they must run through a ton of tourists every day. The place is super cramped so we took the pudding to central park which is conveniently close by and ate outside, and the vibe was immaculate. PSA banana pudding is also incredibly easy to make (they've posted their recipe online and they just use instant pudding mix!) I've made it once before and it tastes pretty much the same. Tbh now that I know the secret I don't think I'd come back here to pay for a cup, but it was definitely worth coming here once.

I have been wanting to try this ever since I watched the commercials as well as videos of people talking about it. This banana pudding was sooooo good that we ended up getting another large one 5 minutes after devouring the first one. Once in a while, it's worth it to treat yourself to a little amazingness of a banana pudding from Magnolia. Do it!!! With every bite, the creaminess of the pudding was just melt on your tongue, also the cake in it was so fluffy that it crumbled with every bite. Will definitely be back.

So good, every time! I love their red velvet cheesecake and of course the banana bread pudding. Small store but such an easy check out. They always have a lot in stock so I never feel like they run out if I get there in the afternoon. Great, friendly staff!

I tried Magnolia Bakery for the first time and it was pretty good. I got a magic bar and 2 vanilla cupcakes. I did have higher expectations for the cupcakes but it was still pretty good. I felt it was a tad dry, I went at night so it may have been stale. I also had the magic bar and it was delicious! I really enjoyed that.

I don't know why people are so crazy about this bakery ! It looks nice , the place is small & cute . The cakes are ok , nothing to go crazy about . The prices is very high rather then the taste. Only reason I even come to this place is it's on Columbus circle & when I visit my son's campus it's on my way . And I try to surprise my kid & his friends with cupcakes! The service is good , could be better tho.

I exclusively come to Magnolia for the banana pudding. I find all their other baked goods very overwhelmingly sweet and while the banana pudding is also a tad too sweet, it was still good and creamy enough that the sweetness was not overpowering. The pudding texture was perfect and it's a great dessert that feels decadent. They have more flavors online but this location only had 2 kinds currently: the original and peanut butter. They previously had red velvet instead of peanut butter but not anymore. Service was quick. They have a few tables for sitting outside but it was too cold to do so in New York winter so would recommend doing takeaway. These seats would come in handy when the weather is nicer.

A bit overhyped IMO, but not a bad choice if you're craving dessert. We tried the apple crisp fall special. I liked the crunchy pieces that added texture to the soft pudding, but it was a tad sweet and pricey for what it was.

I've heard about Magnolia Bakery here and there so decided it's time to give it a try. The place is small inside with some outdoor seating. Everything is cute, and everything is on display. I wanted to try lemon raspberry cupcake but they were out of them. I decided to go with banana pudding and it wasn't disappointing. My husband got red velvet cheesecake and it was sooo good! It was quite busy on Saturday afternoon. This spot is convenient if you want to grab something to go and enjoy is in Central Park. I'd be coming back!

This space is smaller than the other magnolias in the city but always busy and still carries a lot of favorites. The pumpkin spice bread pudding should be available year round because of how good it is! I think the prices are reasonable. This spot has some outdoor seating and is right across Central Park which makes it the perfect place to get some dessert to take out

Tried their banana pudding! It was okay- only complaint was it was TOO sweet. Still delicious! Must try once!

Their banana bread pudding is to die for!! Walk in, and the pudding is in the refridgerator. Definitely grab a large or a medium, I made the mistake of getting a small and it definitely wasn't enough. The pudding is not overly sweet, has real bananas inside and the bread was fluffy but not dense. Really really good. Get a medium or a large! We also got a blueberry cheesecake and that was not overly sweet either and very delicious.

Maybe they were having an off day. We stopped by here one morning to try the famous banana pudding that everyone raves about and they were sold out. The only option they had was the seasonal flavor of the banana pudding, so we opted for that instead of the OG. Also bought a slice of red velvet cake and a cookie. The gal that helped us was nice and the place was small and quaint. We weren't terribly impressed with the items we bought though, unfortunately.

One of the less crowded branch during the holiday season is probably this one. Was initially going to go to the one by Rockefeller but the line looked so exhausting lol and so we stumbled upon this one by Central Park instead. No line! Perfect! Lol Its a pretty small shop with grab-and-go options. If youre only here for the puddings you just take some from the fridge and pay but the cakes you will have to wait for staff assistance. Banana pudding is what it usually is being its Magnolia - nice and delicious. Dont put it too long in the freezer though (if youre taking them home) and dont let it get too hard as it obviously changes the texture and consistency. You dont want that. We'd like our pudding nice and fluffy dont we? I also gave their chocolate cake a go as it looked quite delicious. And surprisingly it was! I had avoided their cakes, well cupcakes, due to a not-so-satisfying experience in the past but the chocolate cake made up for that. Service here is quick too and there are seating outside. I bet it guess so much busy during the summer months!

This Magnolia is a good location to keep in your back pocket if you don't want to wait in line at their other more famous locations (ie Soho, Rockefeller, UWS). It's in a primo Central Park South location right next to a gelato and pizza place, and right across the street from a Nordstrom's Milk Bar and Columbus Circle, giving the area plenty of dessert options. The line moves quick and while there is some space for seating outside, this isn't a location to linger at (ie, take your dessert with you for a walk in the park). What to get? The banana pudding is an absolute standout, and I'm always happy to see their seasonal pudding variations. I've only tried their vanilla cupcake once and it was ... fine? I'm not sure what the mid-aughts obsession was with their cupcakes. In short: get the banana pudding, and don't skimp on the size. Take it with you into the park, and contemplate the small delight of eating this dessert in a beautiful location.

This was my first time visiting Magnolia Bakery. I thought it was a fun little store with cute cafe vibes that would be fun to enjoy a pastry with friends on the weekend. A friend told me that the banana pudding from Magnolia is incredible, and when I stopped by, I learned that in addition to plain banana pudding, they also offer a rotating monthly flavor. I'm a sucker for cookies and cream, so when I learned that's what March's banana pudding specialty flavor is, I jumped on it. It was delicious and deserving of all the hype I'd heard! This location is in a great location close to Central Park, so you can pick up some pastries or pudding for a picnic at the park, or enjoy some of the outdoor seating next to Magnolia. I can't wait to return and try other specialty pudding flavors!

Stopped by on our way to Central Park to grab the infamous banana pudding. We were surprised at how there wasn't really a line. Inside, we realized the employees were being super quick and efficient and that most people were buying banana puddings. My sisters and I decided to get the medium size. We were in and out within minutes even though the inside was pretty crowded. We walked the short distance to Central Park and found a bench to sit at by the "pond". The banana pudding filled the container to the brim. It was extremely fluffy and creamy and wasn't too sweet or banana-y. We definitely immediately understood why it was so famous.

I've been wanting to try Magnolia Bakery for the longest time for their banana pudding. While I wanted to go to the Rockefeller location, I ended up trying the banana pudding here. You just grab a banana pudding from the fridge and pay for it at the cash register. I got the smallest size. The banana pudding was amazing. The consistency was pretty smooth, and the banana flavor didn't taste artificial. There were even banana chunks inside. The Nilla wafers do get too soft because the puddings are premade and just sit the fridge. It does get a bit too sweet at the end too. They also fill the cups to the brim. You can easily get a small treat and walk to Central Park to enjoy it or have it at the seating area in front of the shop.

The Blueberry Jamboree is to die for. The banana pudding was also delicious. Staff was super friendly.

Magnolias are all over NYC and the great thing about them is they are usually consistent. This one was slightly southwest of Central Park which is an easy spot to find. The Red Velvet Cheesecake is delicious and easy to eat and shareable. It is rich so you may want to consider sharing it with others. The cream and crumble was well made and recommended. The store is small and more of a takeout unless you are lucky to get seating in patio area but seating is limited. Lucky that Central Park is across the street so simple to find a spot to relax.

Was excited to stop in for some pudding from the famous magnolia bakery but was underwhelmed by my choice. Was originally going to get the OG banana pudding but saw carrot cake option, which I love carrot cake way more than banana, but maybe it was the wrong choice. It was very light but just seemed to lack flavor and sweetness. Maybe I didn't have the right expectation, given I do t typically get banana pudding, but not as good as I though. Great spot next to Central Park to take with you and enjoy in the park though.

My husband and I visited Magnolia Bakery this past week and it is WORTH THE HYPE. This location was less busy when we went. I recommend this location over the Rockefeller location due to the foot traffic from the tree. This location was in between a pizza restaurant and gelato/cafe. I loved the ambiance and decor and everything looked delicious. The star and THE reason we waited in line was for the banana pudding. OMG it is the most delicious banana pudding I have ever had. They had a "seasonal" red velvet pudding that was equally delicious and my husband was a huge fan of this one. They have limited seating outside but it is SO close to Central Park you can take your dessert and eat it there.

Magnolia is a very famous brand in NYC. While the cupcake I had was tasty, I can't say it was the freshest. I think over the years they've greatly commercialized the product into it being mediocre. The mocha coffee I got was outstanding. Checkout was fast. There was no indoor spots to enjoy the cupcake or coffee. Service was friendly and efficient. Ambiance casual, bland.

Wow, just wow! Magnolia bakery lives up to all of the hype. I hear about it in the media. Anytime I am in NYC I make sure to stop by.

Yum! Small but might location! Conveniently close to the park w some outdoor seating. Famous for their cupcakes and banana pudding but I prefer the cheesecakes- especially the seasonal ones. Chocolate peanut butter w caramel sauce and pumpkin!

Came all the way from San Francisco and must say their banana pudding 5/5 did not disappoint. We stayed across from Central Park so was walking distance from hotel great outdoor seating. We had it with coffee for breakfast, the small serving was more than enough for one person. We also tried strawberry pudding was 4/5 for me but my daughter liked it more than banana. Carrot cake 3/5 Blueberry cheesecake 3/5

Love the banana pudding! The pumpkin cookie butter was delicious 4/5 because the puddings can be a little inconsistent. I had it a few times and the last time I had it, it was not as thick I'd skip the carrot cake unless you really like the taste of pineapples, because that's what it tastes like and not much frosting

Honestly, skip the cupcakes and the banana pudding. Get the chocolate caramel cookie! Yum!

My go to spot for when the banana pudding craving hits (which is a lot). I love that they have a new flavor every month so there's always something unique to try, although the classic banana pudding is always deliciously reliable. This location is conveniently placed by Central Park so perfect for a quick pickup before a picnic in the park or a snack while shopping at Columbus Circle. I live around the block so I'm a little biased but this location although small, moves customers along quickly so don't worry if you see a line out the door. I usually just grab and go from the banana pudding fridge so it never takes too long for me. My favorite out of all the monthly banana puddings thus far is the strawberry shortcake. I can't wait for it to return but I'm the meanwhile, I'll just enjoy the classic and the other rotating flavors.

*HIGHLY RECOMMEND* Magnolia is best known for their banana bread pudding and I can confirm that it's the BEST banana bread pudding I've ever had in my life. This particular bakery I went to have bread pudding in to-go containers in a fridge specifically for bread pudding. During this time, they also had a fall pumpkin one with cookie butter which was pretty good too, but cannot he compared to the original banana bread pudding. They also have other baked good and drinks if you're craving something else but the banana bread pudding is a must! You can see banana pieces in it and it definitely is heavily banana flavored. I love how creamy yet light and fluffy it is. I can honestly eat a whole pint by myself if I didn't have self control. *VERDICT* Definitely would get it again

Always worth dropping in for their terrific banana pudding! Had to grab a cup after a run in Central Park during an unusually warm NYC fall evening. Hey, gotta refuel back up after a ten mile run!

It was simply delicious! I cannot wait to return to NYC! I tried the shop on The Avenues of America! There was no line and the staff was so nice and professional.

One of the less crowded one we saw in comparison to the one located by the RockerFeller that we went to view on Saturday morning, but at this location no line! Which was absolutely perfect and in Central park! It's a pretty small shop with grab and go options. If your going in for puddings they all in the fridge with different flavors but if your there for cakes and pudding you will need an assistance. It was too cold but I got a cappuccino and a confetti cookie but I also got a vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream which was delicious! Their service is quick and there seating is outside. I'm sure it gets more busy durning summer!

Finally got to try the famed banana pudding from Magnolia bakery & it did not disappoint! The creaminess paired with the banana and the slight texture of the cookies. They offer 3 different sizes depending on your appetite and love for banana pudding. The smallest size was enough for me to feel satisfied but not sugared out. The shop was bustling, but we were able to find some space outside to sit and enjoy our dessert. I do wish they offered water cups.

Zero stars. Abysmal tourist trap in mid town Manhattan. Undrinkable coffee and chai. Baked goods are fine but nothing special. Jumped the shark ages ago. Jumped the whale, really. Was looking for a simple mediocre treat and coffee to take to Central Park for a break after a long long day walking around. Stay away. Seemed like the banana pudding was flying out out the fridge fast. Maybe that's the good thing they sell. Won't be back. Ever.

I just love that this bakery is open right in Central Park south near the entrance of the park. It is perfect for some dessert on a park kinda picnic day or just to grab something if you're in the area! They have a little seating area outside with a few tables. You walk in and the place is small but they have all the offerings of a larger location. My favorites are the banana pudding, especially the flavor of the month, the red velvet cupcake, and the key lime pie square. I mean, everything is good, but those are my favorites. They have coffee as well, or you can take it to go and hit the coffee spot right around the corner.

Magnolia bakery banana pudding is always a must. Even though I can make the recipe, it's nice to go and support the original people who created such a great banana pudding! The service was quick and east and the ambiance was clean and quiet when I went.

I am such a sucker for Magnolia's banana pudding! Seriously canNOT get enough. I've also had their Chai Latte which was pretty tasty. This particular location is small so a line tends to build pretty easily but it moves quick. They're pretty good at keeping their pudding stocked and offer a pumpkin spice variation during the fall.

I stopped in there just before close, they are open late. As you can imagine the selection at the end of the day was slim pickings, but they had my favorite, carrot cake. It was wonderful. Generous slices, cream cheese frosting, it was the perfect dessert to round out my day.

i came here for the banana pudding after hearing about it on social media and it did not disappoint! since this location is near central park, it was pretty busy to the point where there was not a lot of seating options available which is unfortunate. the bakery is not very big but they have seating options in front of it which is pretty nice. it's a very cute shop and i love how innovative their cookies are! their banana pudding is a must try!

Magnolia Bakery Central Park South is just as full of delicious pastries the same as all their other locations. It's all about being at the right place and time when I decide to stop inside for one of my favorite treats. The cupcakes are extra special. They vary the flavors each day and week. The cake slices are huge and I love the Magic Cookies. Customer Service is always on target. The employees are professional and stick to business. Just learn the drill and the line moves quickly. On a nice day you can take your treat to Central Park and relax. I'm recommending this location when you are nearby.

Time for an afternoon respite. Sitting outside in the spring air enjoying a blueberry topped NY style cheesecake and a latte. This little bakery is tucked in with several other shops near Columbus Circle. I happened upon it and thought it would be a good stop. The items in the case all looked delicious. I feel I chose wisely though. My cheesecake was not overly sweet and was complimented by the blueberries on top. The latte was piping hot and paired famously with the dessert. The staff was welcoming and the service was swift and efficient.

Banana Pudding On Point The Carrot Cake Is Very Tasty I Have No Complaints On My Variois Visits

Worst cappuccino I've ever had in my life, the staff was inexperienced. The banana pudding was too sweet, I wouldn't ever come back here.

I'm not local but was in the area looking for a non-Starbucks latte. This was the first place I saw, and so I decided to give it a shot. I asked the cashier for her recommendations for what would go well with a latte and she gave me a few ideas. I went with a classic: chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and I don't regret it. One of the best slices of cake I have eaten, and I'm a prominent cake-eater. It's moist, the sweetness is balanced and does indeed complement a latte beautifully. I only wish I could try 3 or 4 more of their desserts. Oh, and for a mid-town eatery, I was pleased by the prices. My two things totaled about $11. Could be worse.

The best. Love love love the banana pudding. Cant go wrong with a cupcake. Love this location, not as busy as the others it seems like. Easy in and out.