Bleecker Street Candy Crawl: A Photo Tour of Sugar Row in the West Village
With Easter coming up, stocking up on candy is on our minds. Oh who are we kidding? Sweets are always on our minds, especially ours kids'.
While there are fabulous candy stores throughout the five boroughs, if you're looking for NYC's absolute sweetest spot, it's got to be Bleecker Street in the West Village. Within an eight-block span, you'll find four different high-end candy stores, each with its own unique flavor and look.
Recently, my family and I decided to sugar rush to all of them in one afternoon! (We're fearless like that.) Here's what we found on our Bleecker Street candy crawl:
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CuRious Candy
Unfortunately this shop's downtown location is now closed.
396 Bleecker Street between Perry Street and West 11th Street
Although the downtown outpost of fashion designer Cynthia Rowley's signature candy shop is smaller than the flagship location on the Upper East Side, it still delivers the same sensory overload. It's like a cross between Alice in Wonderland and Honeydukes from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. No Hershey's here. This magical little shop overflows with custom-made candies, chocolates and pastel-colored cotton candy. You'll also find fun gifts and party decorations. The per pound price is high, and there is no self-serve. But a visit here is as much about the experience as the treats.
Sockerbit
89 Christopher Street near Bleecker Street
I admit, we're slightly cheating here since this shop is technically on Christopher Street, but it's literally steps away from Bleecker Street. With colorful candies displayed against a pristine white interior, this sleek Swedish sweet shop looks like the Apple Store of treats. The name means sugar cube in Swedish and you'll find a smorgasbord of treats like sour gummies, hard candies, licorice chocolates, nougat and marshmallows, all with names like fruktstång, gelehallon and huggormar. They're yummier than they sound.
London Candy Co.
Unfortunately this shop is now closed.
Formerly located on the Upper East Side, this British confectionery moved to Bleecker Street in 2013. Gone are the old location's Beefeater statues but most everything else is the same. You'll still find the largest selection of English sweets this side of the pond, including Cadbury Dairy Milk, Thorntons and Mars, plus tins of biscuits by Fox's. Complete your virtual visit to London by ordering a spot of tea from the Bowler-hatted baristas.
Sugar and Plumm
257 Bleecker Street at Cornelia Street
One-stop shopping for whatever sweet you've craving! This satellite of the Upper West Side flagship opened in 2013 and it feels like a Parisian soda fountain. You'll find a wide variety of French-themed sweets, like chocolate Eiffel Towers and colorful macarons, all made in-house. There are shelves stocked from floor to ceiling with chocolates and candies. In the back of the store you'll find the parlor, where you can indulge in ice cream sundaes, smoothies and milk shakes.
Need more sweet stuff? The original Magnolia Bakery is also located on Bleecker Street at 11th Street, and later this year, a fifth candy store, Stieber’s Sweet Shoppe, is set to open at 195 Bleecker Street.
Find more cool candy stores in our Restaurant Guide.