Best Cheesecake in NYC: 10 Iconic Slices to Try (2026)
The best cheesecake in NYC isn’t a single slice — it’s an argument, and we’re here to settle it. The default answer is still Junior’s, whose dense, tall, water-bathed slices have defined New York-style cheesecake since 1950. But the city does cheesecake in a dozen directions: Eileen’s torched salted-caramel tarts in Nolita for around $6, S&S baking the same Bronx recipe that supplies Peter Luger, Ernesto’s gooey basque tarta de queso on the Lower East Side, and a jiggly Japanese version in Chinatown. These are the 10 best cheesecakes in NYC right now — classic New York-style, Italian ricotta, basque burnt, and Japanese bouncy — with where to find each, what it costs, and which slice is worth the trip.
10 cheesecakes across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Prices run from about $6 for a personal-sized tart or slice to $40+ for a whole cake. Styles covered: classic New York-style, Italian ricotta, basque burnt, and Japanese “bouncy.” Most are takeout counters open daily; the basque picks (Ernesto’s, El Quijote) are sit-down restaurants. Standout: Junior’s is still the benchmark — but Ernesto’s wins for basque.
The Best Cheesecake in NYC, Ranked
Here’s where to get the best cheesecake in NYC right now, ranked by what we’d actually go back for.
Junior’s
The NYC cheesecake benchmark · 386 Flatbush Ave Ext, Downtown Brooklyn (+ Times Square)
If there’s one answer to “where’s the best cheesecake in NYC,” it’s still Junior’s. The original opened on the corner of Flatbush and DeKalb in 1950, and the recipe — five ingredients, baked in a water bath until it jiggles right — hasn’t changed since. The result is dense, tangy, and tall, on a thin sponge-cake base instead of graham crust. A slice runs a few bucks at the counter; a whole cake feeds a party. Skip the out-of-state locations — get it in Brooklyn, or grab a slice at the Times Square spot on Broadway and 49th after a show. Chuck Schumer calls it his guilty pleasure; he’s not wrong.
Eileen’s Special Cheesecake
Light, airy, torched salted caramel · 17 Cleveland Pl, Nolita
Eileen Avezzano has been making cheesecake on this Nolita corner since the mid-’70s, and her version is the anti-Junior’s: lighter, creamier, less dense, on a graham crust. The move is the personal-sized tart — palm-sized, around $6, in 20-plus flavors. Classic blueberry and cherry are here, but the salted caramel is the bestseller for a reason: it’s torched on top for a crackly, slightly bitter finish. There’s no seating beyond a counter and a bench outside, and the line moves fast. A few blocks from the 6 at Spring St.
S&S Cheesecake
Old-school Bronx, one thing done right · 222 W 238th St, Kingsbridge, the Bronx
S&S is a wholesale cheesecake operation in Kingsbridge that’s supplied Peter Luger, The Palm, and Zabar’s for decades — and the motto is “doing one thing well.” Founder Fred Schuster bought the bakery in 1960 and never changed the formula: fresh eggs, cream cheese, butter, no shortcuts. It’s a no-frills counter, cash, weekday daytime hours only (closed weekends), near the 238th St stop on the 1 train. The plain is the one to get. If the gate’s down, the bodega a couple doors down often has the cakes. Worth the trip uptown if you take cheesecake seriously.
Veniero’s
Italian ricotta, East Village landmark · 342 E 11th St, East Village
Veniero’s has been on East 11th St since 1894, which makes it one of the last real old-world Italian bakeries left in the city. Order two things: the classic New York-style cheesecake, and the Italian ricotta version — made with ricotta instead of cream cheese, lighter and not too sweet, with vanilla, honey, and a hint of orange. The room itself, stained glass and pressed tin, is half the reason to sit down with a slice and an espresso. A short walk from the L at First Ave. More nearby on our East Village guide.
Ferrara Bakery & Café
Little Italy’s 1892 original · 195 Grand St, Little Italy
Ferrara opened on Grand Street in 1892 and claims to be America’s first espresso bar. The cannoli and lobster tails get the headlines, but the New York cheesecake holds its own — creamy, classic, the kind of slice you order with a cappuccino at one of the marble café tables. It’s open late (until 10–11pm), which makes it one of the few spots here where you can get a proper cheesecake fix after dinner. Closest trains are the 6 at Canal or the B/D at Grand St.
Ernesto’s
The city’s best basque cheesecake · 259 E Broadway, Lower East Side
Ernesto’s is a Basque taverna on East Broadway, and its tarta de queso is widely called the best basque cheesecake in NYC — gooey center, burnt top, creamy and tangy at once. It’s a sit-down restaurant, dinner only, so come for pintxos and funky Spanish wine, order the flan too, then close with the cheesecake. Reservations are smart on weekends. About a seven-minute walk from the East Broadway F stop. More of the neighborhood on our Lower East Side guide.
Let’s Bounce (Powered by Keki)
Jiggly Japanese-style cheesecake · 79 Mott St, Chinatown
This is the Chinatown shop that brought the bouncy Japanese cheesecake to NYC — the team behind Keki Modern Cakes, now running as Let’s Bounce on Mott St. The “bouncy” is light, airy, and soufflé-like, made with about half the sugar of a classic cheesecake; their “fancy” version is a denser, New York-style take. Both are good. It’s a small takeout-focused counter, open daily. Note the brand moved on from its old 5th Ave location — Mott St is the one that’s open.
Little Grace Bakery
Burnt basque, baked daily · 17 W 32nd St, Herald Square
Little Grace specializes in basque burnt cheesecake — caramelized, almost-charred top, custardy center, somewhere between a New York cheesecake and a Japanese soufflé. They bake fresh daily near Herald Square and Koreatown, with a 4-inch personal size and larger cakes, plus rotating flavors like Dutch chocolate and matcha. An easy add-on after a K-town meal; steps from the trains at 34th St–Herald Sq.
Magnolia Bakery
Classic slice, easy to find · 401 Bleecker St, West Village (+ multiple)
Magnolia is best known for banana pudding and cupcakes, but the cheesecakes are quietly some of the most reliable in the city — and the easiest to grab on the fly, with locations all over Manhattan. The vanilla bean on a graham crust is the classic; the chocolate (chocolate-cookie crust) and caramel pecan are the picks if you want something richer. The original Bleecker St shop is open late daily. A solid default when you want a good slice without a trek. More of the area on our West Village guide.
El Quijote
Basque cheesecake in the Hotel Chelsea · 226 W 23rd St, Chelsea
El Quijote, the Spanish restaurant inside the Hotel Chelsea since 1930 and reborn in 2022, turns out another of the city’s standout basque cheesecakes — creamy, tangy, burnished on top, served with a boozy seasonal fruit compote. It’s a full restaurant, so make it the finish to paella and sangria rather than a quick grab. The room alone is worth the visit. On 23rd between 7th and 8th.
Best Classic New York-Style Cheesecake
For the textbook version — dense, tall, tangy — start with Junior’s, the Downtown Brooklyn original that set the standard (more borough picks on our Brooklyn guide). S&S in the Bronx is the purist’s pick, baking the same recipe since 1960. Want it lighter? Eileen’s airy tarts in Nolita and Magnolia’s vanilla-bean slices are the move. Veniero’s bridges both worlds with a classic New York slice and an Italian ricotta one side by side. New York-style cheesecake is the city’s signature dessert — right up there with a good bagel; see our best bagels in NYC guide for the other one.
Best Basque Cheesecake in NYC
The basque burnt style — caramelized top, custardy, crustless center — is the fastest-growing cheesecake in the city. Ernesto’s tarta de queso on the Lower East Side is the one to beat: gooey, tangy, perfectly burnt. El Quijote in the Hotel Chelsea runs it close, served with a boozy fruit compote. For a takeout slice rather than a sit-down dinner, Little Grace near Herald Square bakes basque burnt cheesecakes fresh daily. Both Ernesto’s and El Quijote double as restaurants, which makes either a strong dessert finish to a night out — see more on our best date-night restaurants guide.
Best Japanese & Italian Cheesecake in NYC
Not every great NYC cheesecake is New York-style. Let’s Bounce in Chinatown does the jiggly Japanese version — light, airy, half the sugar — alongside a denser “fancy” NY-style cake. On the Italian side, Veniero’s ricotta cheesecake (vanilla, honey, orange) and Ferrara’s classic slice in Little Italy both trace back to the 1890s. If you’ve only ever had the dense graham-crust version, these are worth seeking out for contrast.
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Best Cheesecake in NYC: FAQ
What is the most famous cheesecake in NYC?
Junior’s, hands down. The Downtown Brooklyn restaurant has been making New York-style cheesecake since 1950, and its dense, tall slice on a sponge-cake base is the dessert most people picture when they think “New York cheesecake.” There’s a second location in Times Square on Broadway at 49th St.
What’s the difference between New York-style and basque cheesecake?
New York-style is dense, smooth, and tangy, baked on a graham or sponge crust (think Junior’s or S&S). Basque cheesecake is crustless and baked at high heat so the top caramelizes — almost burnt — with a soft, custardy center (think Ernesto’s or El Quijote). One is rich and structured; the other is gooey and rustic.
Where can I get the best cheesecake in NYC by the slice?
Eileen’s in Nolita sells personal-sized tarts for around $6, Junior’s serves slices at both its Brooklyn and Times Square counters, and Magnolia has cheesecake slices at locations all over Manhattan. Ferrara in Little Italy is your best bet for a slice late at night.
Is S&S Cheesecake worth the trip to the Bronx?
If you take cheesecake seriously, yes. S&S has been baking the same recipe in Kingsbridge since 1960 and supplies steakhouses like Peter Luger and The Palm. It’s cash-only with weekday daytime hours, near the 238th St stop on the 1 train. Get the plain.
Last updated: June 2026. Deals, hours, and menu items are subject to change. Confirm with the venue before visiting.
Related guides: Manhattan happy hours · Brooklyn happy hours · East Village · Lower East Side · Best Bagels in NYC · Best Date-Night Restaurants
See the full best desserts in NYC and best cakes in NYC guides.
