Mel The Bakery

"New York City bakery fanatics collectively mourned when Mel closed up shop on the Lower East Side. Thankfully, people who brag about having sourdough starters older than most kindergarteners can flock to Mel’s location on Warren Street, where you can get flaky laminated pastries and boules to pair with the fancy butter you can find in nearby shoppy shops. You can’t really go wrong here, but we especially love the cinnamon roll, which has a thick pat of frosting in the center rather than a pervasive sticky glaze. On Fridays starting at 11am, they also do Italian heroes on a sesame-covered spelt baguette." - chanize thorpe, anne cruz, keith hernandez

"Since opening on Ludlow Street in fall 2020, Mel the Bakery from Nora Allen has received accolades for emphasizing freshly milled flour, heirloom grain, and pastries like its sourdough croissants. The bakery, in a 370-square feet space, was by any account, tiny, which led to lines and quick sell-outs." - Emma Orlow

"In New York, Mel bakery founder Nora Allen has learned to make certain adjustments to manage the heat. "Sourdough is happiest between 74 and 83 degrees, and I have to manage all sorts of environmental factors," she says." - Deborah Reid

"Note: As of November 2023, Mel Bakery has closed their Ludlow Street location, and will be moving to a new space. Think of the naturally leavened sourdough breads and pastries at Mel like hard-to-get concert tickets. You better try to get them soon after they go on sale, or they’ll be gone. Get to this small takeout-only bakery in Dimes Square early for the best selection because if you miss out on a savory danish with gruyère, cremini, and leeks, you’ll kick yourself. We also love their things with unique twists: A crusty-on-the-outside, moist-on-the-inside marbled loaf has purplish swirls made with sweet potatoes, and one of their croissants is filled with smoky ham and bookended with crispy baked cheese. You can also pick up dry goods to go like roasted cornmeal and flour, and you should know Mel is only open Thursday to Sunday." - Kenny Yang

"Mel The Bakery, originating from Chinatown, now offers a larger variety of baked goods and sandwiches that change daily at its new Hudson location." - Coolstuff Team