4.6 stars -- Definitely come for the Gâteau Tropézienne! Such a great French bakery find on the Upper East Side. The absolute standout for us was the Gâteau Tropézienne, the famous cream-filled brioche cake from Saint-Tropez. Following that closely is also the croissant! Best croissant in all of NYC and passed the pull test with flying colors. My partner is French and has actually been to Saint-Tropez for vacation, and he said this was the closest version he's had to the real thing outside of Saint-Tropez. That alone makes Burly Café worth a visit! The chocolate éclair was also delicious, and we really enjoyed the quiche. We tried the jambon-beurre as well--the baguette has more of a chewy texture, so if that's your preference, you'll probably really enjoy it. They also have a macaron and chocolate section toward the back. The fruit-flavored macarons were particularly well executed and honestly on par with Ladurée for me. My favorite was the blueberry--it was beautifully perfumed and actually tasted distinctly like blueberry rather than just generic sweetness. My only small piece of feedback is that a couple of the macarons seemed a tad dry. I'm not sure whether it was a freshness issue or simply dependent on the flavor--we noticed it more with something like the yuzu--but the fruit flavors overall were excellent. The ambiance is lovely, the bakery selection is great, and considering the quality, the prices weren't too crazy either. Overall, 9.5/10 experience and somewhere we would absolutely come back to. Definitely get the Gâteau Tropézienne, a croissant the éclairs, macarons, and chocolates. They also make a raspberry version of the Tropézienne, although I believe that one needs to be ordered as a whole cake. A little taste of Saint-Tropez on the Upper East Side! read more

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Adorable bakery in the proximity of the Central Park. Cute and small but super clean. Good choice of sandwiches, pastries and coffees!!! Interior looks like it came out of the movie set!!! Friendly staff! Interesting and clean restroom. Coffees are good and they have matcha as well read more

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I've been by quite a few times now as it's conveniently located by the Frick, galleries, and Central Park - what a great cafe! Coffee is surprisingly affordable for the area, as are the generously sized sandwiches. Always get your items heated up! A couple seats and tables outside under umbrellas. An import from the UK, though you'd hardly know it. Great selection of pastries, cakes, and to-go salads, as well as gorgeous boxes of chocolates and macarons for gifting or splurging. Some items are of course "expensive" but overall pretty standard. Their cookies and croissants are not on my best of NYC list but they certainly do the trick for a midday snack. The tea room upstairs typically has a wait, but the aesthetic and fun ladies of the UES gossip you may be able to overhear are worth it. +they were decorated beautifully for the Christmas holiday and I imagine will do so every year! read more

Absolutely loved the atmosphere. Beautiful art and seating area upstairs. Wish they could've had table service. Both turkey and cheese and chocolate croissants were absolutely delicious. read more

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My husband and I stopped by soon after this bakery's grand opening only to be discouraged by the massive line that trailed outside the door. We left, thinking we were better off returning when the hype died down. Return I did, and this time with my best friend in the city. I had come determined to get their hotdog pastry, the very pastry featured on their Yelp account, but found that it was not available. Or at least, not when I came. So, after some hand-wringing, I settled for the glazed bacon croissant swirl, and just in the nick of time when it was finally my turn to order. I liked my pastry! It was warmed up. The bacon flavors came through and I enjoyed nibbling at the bacon bits baked within its layers. The glaze added a sweetness that cut through the salty bacon. The place is charming, with an upstairs seating area decorated with a variety of art, including framed matador jackets, Japanese-style wallpaper cranes, posters, and paintings of different styles and eras. I would definitely come here again - maybe they'll have the hotdog pastry this time. read more

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An update to this review ! I had their plain croissant recently -- DELICIOUS my goodness the buttery flavor is SO GOOD. I love croissants as much as the next guy but I to be honest they were all the same within their price brackets but this was top tier. I would say this is currently my favorite plain croissant. The staff are very sweet and took time to explain the different things in store. I love the vibe of the cafe itself since it feels like you've transported to outside of the city. Definitely make a stop by for the croissant and sandwiches read more

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Half of the store with selection of pastries and half with chocolate. Visited twice, very happy with the items i picked. Love the bacon croissant twist and the salmon quiche Is you are savory fan, must try the bacon croissant twist! Flaky , bacon still juicy finish with honey glazed topping. Not a fan of their Tarte Tropézienne/Tropezienn, too sweet if you have an Asian sweet standard. Their chocolate tasted extremely smooth and melt in your mouth. Not to mention all packagings are so cute, perfect for gifts. Dinning area are so cute and Instagrammable. read more

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Birley Bakery @birleybakery 20 E 69th St, New York, NY 10021 Absolutely amazing bread selection, traditional flavor macaroon, and chocolate. The traditional pastries, which, though at one time, were ubiquitous in every city, town, and village of France. The decor and setting provide an ambiance, calm with comfort, not loud like most places. Service is very present, no wrong wait. read more

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This is a cute coffee shop with a dine in part upstairs. I hear it is nice up there but I did not see it for myself. The downstairs part is small and can be/feel a bit disorganized with where to order and then where to wait for your order. The pastries/food/ chocolates here looked good but it is on the pricey side. I had an iced cappuccino which was actually pretty good and had taste to it. If you go here I recommend going as soon as they open to try and avoid the lines. read more

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When in Central Park East, Birley is a must try. The star ratings are not reflective of how good the food, service, and ambiance was. Most negative reviews deal with dine in orders upstairs during peak hours. If you can, visit on a weekday afternoon around 4pm like we did and grab some stuff to go and have a nice picnic at the park. We stumbled upon this gem of a bakery after an afternoon at Billy Johnson playground (not too far from the Central Park Zoo). We grabbed a bunch of things to go to enjoy on the way to the airport. The cafe itself is beautifully decorated (especially for the holidays). We grabbed a couple of paninis, pastries, and a hot chocolate. Everything was phenomenal! A nice worker recommended the Paris Brest and that thing was unforgettably delicious. Think of the best hazelnut gelato you have ever had in a pastry form. Yes, our bill was a bit pricey, but that is to be expected in this part of town and for the quality of ingredients. read more

Birley Bakery - Paris Brest - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Idk why the rating at this place is kinda bad I personally liked it a lot but perhaps because I only ordered apple tart and double espresso. Really really nice decor but I admit its on the pricey side :( All their utensils, napkins, and little post card along with receipt were detail-oriented which I appreciated and I did really enjoy the dessert (at a high price lol) read more

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British import in a posh 'hood with posh prices. It's pretty gorgeous and baked goods are pretty and pretty exorbitant.the small brownie was $9.50. Saving grace is they do sell haves of loaves. Bought: Olive roll Stick of 80% chocolate Total $7.86 I must admit im spoiled for bakeries by Brooklyn Granary but this spot landed in the right hood. read more

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Nice ambiance and cute sitting area. Good for first dates and quick coffees. Liked their pastries. A lil over priced for what is offered. But a good hangout spot. read more

Birley Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

We came here to enjoy a sweet treat. My friend and I both ordered a hot chocolate and a cream brownie to share. Really decadent and rich hot chocolate. Leaned less sweet which I can really appreciate. Tight quarters upstairs with the seating but I saw a lot of people enjoying their meals. Whole spot is very chic and you can grab items to go downstairs. read more

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Beautiful store and great customer service. Really enjoyed the brownie that I got (perfect hazelnut and brownie combo). Crispy exterior and soft inside. A great place to buy gifts for people from. read more

Birley Bakery - Brownie - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

We were walking to Central Park and stumbled across this place and I'm so glad we did. Almond croissant was crisp and buttery and turkey croissant had the most delicious cheesy and saucy filling. On the pricey side but worth it. It took me a while to track this place down and I'm not sure why it doesn't have better reviews. Will be back! read more

Birley Bakery - Almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Love this spot. Jambon is always delicious and everyone that works here is really sweet. I tend to find myself here weekly! Great bakery.

I have been to this fancy French bakery twice since it opened, with the first time being a day or so after the grand opening, and the other time being more recent. Their initial location is in Britain, with two locations in London, with this being the first location outside of the UK. The design inside is chic, with a fancy space upstairs for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, as well as a selection of pastries, viennoiseries, chocolates, breads, ice cream, and other goodies. The prices range from moderate to overpriced, with most of the general pastries and viennoiseries ranging from $6 to $12, and the chocolates being much more than that, with the fancy packaging matching the prices. The staff was pretty friendly both times I was here. The first time, they were pretty empty, and as I wanted a small snack. I got their summer berry brioche for $7.50, which included hazelnuts as one of their ingredients, which was a bit surprising (perhaps it was the slight crumble on top, though I couldn't taste said filberts,) which was alright. The top, consisting of blueberries and raspberries, was fresh tasting with a bit of sourness, but not too much. There were also some sugar crystals, which helped with the general sourness of the berries. However, even for a brioche base, the bread was a tad too dry for my liking, and it likely needed to be dipped in coffee or tea. It may be because it was dry or a bit old, as I was there in the late afternoon, but if this is the usual case, I would not recommend this pastry. For the second time, they were much more crowded with many people inside on multiple lines, including some people trying to go upstairs, as well as a line for takeout, which converged with someone behind the pastry counter taking my order eventually. I asked the person working there his preference between my usual favorite French pastry, the Paris Brest, which was $11 there, and their Tarte Tropézienne, which was $10. He said that he liked both, but their signature is the latter and slightly better, so I went with that. Said Tarte Tropezienne consisted of a brioche soaked with orange blossom, filled with crème madame (or in other words, a lighter French pastry cream,) and topped with pearl sugar, with them selling it by the slice or the whole tart. The slice was pretty large for the price, with the brioche in this case being much better, which I presume was at least partially since it was soaked in the pastry cream. The orange flavor was subtle, which is good, as orange blossom can be somewhat overpowering if overused. The pearl sugar added a bit more sweetness as well as some crunch. This was a very tasty version of this cake, and I would go back and get that again. The first pastry probably got a low three at most, with the brioche's price point and texture subpar. However, the tart I got was delicious. Mid/upper 3. read more

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This is a beautifully decorated small cafe that recently opened. The upstairs seating area is very popular on weekends and is very pretty. Downstairs, you can grab something to go and take it to Central Park nearby or along for your day. While the desserts are very tasty, the downside is that the prices are quite high, even for the Upper East Side. Maybe don't look at the receipt for your croissant and slice of pie! read more

On this rain soaked day and going by bus to the Armory for a show, I stopped at Birley Bakery for a quick croissant. Do you know that the bakery was packed with eager shoppers? I was able to squeeze my way to the front and get a croissant. I started devouring it right away as I was hungry. It was flaky, buttery and delish that I was tempted to get the cinnamon croissant that was created for New York and which to date I still haven't eaten. I will have to fix that soon. A winding line of customers to sit in the small cafe upstairs was also noticeable. Rain or no rain, Birley Bakery has become popular with neighborhood residents. I heard one young man say that he comes every day. If I lived in that area, that could easily be me! read more

Birley Bakery - Plain croissants - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

They sell a lot of quick bites (French pastries, cookies, chocolates, maybe some breakfast items? I don't remember). They definitely tend to the more wealthier residents, passerby's, and tourists, because you could tell the staff and customers felt different towards outsiders. Very beautiful, ornate and brightly colored interior, although it is a bit small and could crowd easily with 10+ people inside. The staff (all in chef coats) look alive and operate efficiently. All of their pastries and chocolates looked very fresh on display. Would give a 5 star if the price were lower. $7 for a chocolate croissant full of air is outrageous, but it was guaranteed fullest quality possible, regardless if this is New York. Would recommend for the curious passerby willing to take a chance of trying a pastry in its truest form. read more

Beautiful store that immediately smells delicious when you walk in. Got a cappuccino which was delicious and a cinnamon croissant which I wouldn't get again. It was dry and the filling to over baked crust proportions were a bit off. We also got the chocolate covered butter cookies which were yummy and easy to share. Also a beautiful little gift to being over to someone's house. The lines moves fast and given how beautiful the store is I would go back to try lunch upstairs. read more

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We decided to try out this new upper east side spot for morning cappuccinos and pastries. This is a British bakery that just opened up in New York City. On the 1st floor they have a bakery and upstairs there is a sit down area. The interior is stunning and very well decorated down to the smallest details. I enjoyed the cappuccino and the raspberry and chocolate cake. My friends tried the croissants which they also enjoyed. It was definitely on the pricier side but is fun for a special treat! read more

Birley Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

I just went in to take a look. Everything looks beautiful. The croissants looks fab. They sell fantastic looking chocolate that would make a great gift. Can't wait to meet a friend here for lunch. read more

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I heard this place was great. It was a Cute bakery off Madison Ave on 69th St with beautiful-looking food and croissants, I couldn't decide what to buy. (Everything looked incredible!) read more

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Beautiful space with delicious pastries. Love the wallpaper upstairs. I had a vanilla cappuccino and chocolate croissant.

Best brownies I think I've ever had in my entire life. Recently had the passionfruit cheesecake which I will continue to dream and drool about until the end of time. read more

Where to order felt unorganized. I ordered a sandwich and a tea. Overall wait time was under 2 minutes but I was sadly disappointed that my sandwich was not warmed up or served on a plate. When I asked the staff looked at me and snuffed. Rude staff overall! Sandwich was very good though even if it was not warmed up. Overall ambience top notch! Thus the 3 stars. read more

Good pastry. Mediocre vibe. Good pastry. Mediocre vibe. Good pastry. Mediocre vibe. read more

Yes, yes and one more time yes! I live the food and fast service. Fresh baked goods are epic!

I'm assuming this is where people come if they can't get into Sant Ambroeus? I like the pastries, I don't like the crowds some people obnoxiously rush upstairs like it's a hookah lounge waiting for them. The chocolate selection makes the esthetic look grand. Feels like a Harry Potter cafe very woody and European. The staff are militant they seriously want to process orders and keep the crowds moving. I'll come back but not on a weekend. read more

this business is too expensive and the lady chef Hemrietta is rude and condosending to the staff and is arrogant and she appears to be rude to customers as well as well as using her hands on the food without wearing gloves and does the staff. I will not eat their food and no gloves and its unsafety. read more

These pastries are to die for! The decor is quirky and old-fashioned. The servers were great at explaining what each pastry was. I left with a chocolate bar to eat later! read more

Really not a fan of this new bakery. Everything is supremely overpriced, and their baked goods aren't that good. Perhaps there's not that many bakeries in the area, but I'd rather travel a little more to indulge in solid pastries. read more

Came here & got a croissant and an iced matcha. Both very mid and not worth $17. Service is amazing.

It's like walking into Paris! Absolutely enchanting atmosphere and great baked good to boot.

Most beautiful Bakery and cafe in NYC serving delicious freshly baked European pastries and more . Stunning dining room upstairs, wonderful experience, great service! read more

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I was disappointed the pain aux raisins was not cooked through and through so too much uncooked dough the salad was not fresh and the chocolate too sweet for dark chocolate. not a repeat read more

Yeah. Save your time and money please. 1) Horrible experience waiting in line for food, the main entry away is way too small. 2) Pretentious and arrogant customer service, person at the register rushing with horrible attitude. If you can provide same quality as a French cafe, then I will accept rude service. Otherwise don't do that. 3) OVERPRICED and MEDIOCRE. The most average latte and matcha latte I've ever gotten. $10 average croissants. The salads were good for a quick bite if in the area. 4) Overall experience - based on the hype I was expecting a high quality cafe experience. Instead, it felt like a crowded, overprice cafeteria experience, just with veneer of cafe design/aesthetic to lure you in. read more

Their croissants are incredible for a pre-Central Park stroll. Very friendly staff and great ambience