Librae Bakery
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Croissant is quite greasy Line goes quickly, they have a variety of pastries that are fun to try
I was intrigued by the concept of a Bahraini American bakery, so librae was a must visit on a recent nyc trip. Located around copper square the bakery has lots of light and a few tables (that fill up quickly). The menu options are very unique. I got the rose pistachios croissant which was delicious and perfect in its baked execution, the saffron cookie a very interesting chewy cookie with sesame and saffron, and a coffee. Service is quick. I'd like to come back to try more options!
One of my bakeries to hit on my list because what stood out was the pistachio rose croissant. That was my main reason for coming here.. I was dreaming of eating one lol Pistachio and rose combo, why not ? Two of my faves. The croissant was large, and we shared it amongst the two of us. It was halved and contained a generous amount of pistachio filling. The top had a drizzle of pistachio frosting and a few hints of rose petals. That's as far as the rose flavor went, very minimal. Also, decided to try their carrot cake scone. It was very dense, dry, and had an odd spice flavor. I didn't care for this one too much unfortunately. Friendly service, plenty of indoor seating, interesting unique bakery, little pricey.
The pistachio flavor was so good, and the croissant was super soft and flaky. The bread pudding was also amazing. No seats available inside or outside at 1ish on Sunday, so we just ate quickly near the bar area, but even that place was crowded with people waiting to pick up coffee.
I like to judge how good a place is based on their most basic item. In this case, it is the classic croissant. So I've been to Paris, I've tried the croissants over there. I have tried many croissants in my lifetime. However, this comes right next to the croissants I had in Paris. This was probably the second best croissant I ever had in my entire life. Maybe it was the time of day that I had it, maybe I just got lucky. I like a good, flaky, buttery croissant, a croissant where you can taste the butter. This croissant slapped. It was so buttery that the bottom part of the croissant caramelized a little and it was crunchy. It was also gigantic. I could not finish it in one sitting. When I bit into it, the top layer of the croissant flaked off and kept its shape as it lifted off the body. I was able to peel it off like it was a sheet of paper and continued to eat the croissant like that until I got to the delicious buttery core. It's been weeks since I had this croissant and I'm still thinking about it.
I came to this bakery pretty late in the day, so maybe my review is not a fair evaluation of what the experience could be. When I got there, the options were extremely limited. They did have the famous pistachio rose croissant. The presentation was beautiful! But I found the pistachio taste to be fairly bland and the croissant was bleeding butter/oil everywhere, which overshadowed the experience. I personally love rose flavor, and I did not feel like it came through strongly in the dessert. Lots of space and seating on the inside!
Another trendy bakery, another place that doesn't necessarily live up to the hype. Librae does have quite an eclectic assortment of pastries, think halva croissants, tahini chocolate chip cookies, savory breads and sandwiches amongst their assortment. Surprisingly when I went, there was barely a line, and figured a pistachio rose croissant was in order. Service was quick and efficient and walked out there fast. The croissant itself is quite huge. Plenty of sugary pistachios filled inside and on top. Not a lot of rose flavor sadly. But pistachio lovers will get a kick out of it. The croissant itself was almost candied, it had a very crisp, sugar lacquered exterior. But my gosh, it was so oily. Like I don't know if it was the nuts or the croissant, but a thin sheen of oil was prevalent on my hands while eating. Overall, I do think it's worth a visit if you don't wait in line. But just remember to bring napkins. And sanitizer. Because you'll be wiping your hands a bit!
Blending middle eastern tastes with French pastry, Librae Bakery serves up some creative baked goods! They have a lot of savory options as well with baked goods as well as sandwiches. But after two visits, I can say I'm happy I tried their goodies but I probably won't be returning unless a friend wants to go (or for the halva croissant on the weekends!). While expecting strong flavors based on the descriptions, I feel like the flavors are on the subtle side. - tahini chocolate chip cookie (4/5): a good cookie, with a little chew and lots of puddles of chocolate. I'd probably like it more chilled for a better chew but the flavor was nice-- not super nutty or pronounced on the tahini but the chocolate was nice. - pistachio rose chocolate croissant (3/5): their most viral bake was beautiful on presentation but surprisingly muted in flavor in comparison with how much syrup/oil was dripping off of it. Glad that it didn't taste like rose, but the pistachio part wasn't sweet. Probably great with a drink, but not a very indulgent treat by itself. - halva croissant (5/5): super sweet, creamy, and nutty! Only available on the weekends, and it's a hefty one. Might be a little sweet for most but it was a neat twist on an almond croissant. - espresso pain au chocolate (3/5): tempted by the allure of espresso, this one fell flat since I was expecting a stronger coffee flavor, and it was actually really subtle... had to imagine it, but it was an solid chocolate croissant. - honey cardamom bun (3/5): beautiful and large, but the bread was quite dry. It is plain and simple with cream inside, one to share with friends. I couldn't discern any cardamom :( Haven't tried the savory offerings, but this could be a spot that caters to the whole group easily with such a varied menu. The service was super friendly despite it being so busy both times I visited. There is a self serve water station + seating inside but it's usually full, so there's extra tables + a bench outside.
I'd had this spot on my list for a little while now and it was nice to finally check it out - it was great! The Pistachio Rose Croissant is one of their signature items and I can see why - a perfect croissant with very good servings of pistachios in every bite, while also tasting the subtle flavor of rose. The Tahini Chocolate Chip was a nice surprise with its soft texture, deep dark chocolate chips and the earthy tahini on top that actually works. They had a special Malted Hot Chocolate, which was phenomenal - so good, with very rich, thick and creamy chocolate accented with malt, which added some unique depth. The place is cute and slightly small, so expect take your baked goods elsewhere during popular times.
I have been craving an amazing viennoiserie so if anyone has recs in the city (not BK) plz lmk. I only got the chocolate espresso croissant bc I didn't wanna be obese and because the options didn't really look all that enticing. Normally when I walk into a bakery I walk out w like 3-5 pastries but here, none of them really inspired me. As far as the chocolate croissant I did really enjoy the flavor and the flakiness of the pastry. It was also chocolate heavy but not too sweet. Idk if I will go back but probs not. Still on the hunt for smthing like the Fondry in LA
With a line out the door, this definitely warrants a try. The smell exuding from this place is tremendous. The atmosphere is inviting and the line out the door sealed my fate. That's where the glazing stops. I ordered the Rose Pistachio Croissant and Dirty Chai Sticky Bun, which looked wonderful. The prices for each item are definitely not cheap. At almost $10 a piece, this had better knock my socks off. It is definitely overrated. Pause. It is definitely good, but for the wait and price I endured, it wasn't mind-blowing. The texture of the croissant is average. It is crunchy outside but not as fluffy as I'd imagined inside. Perhaps that is intentional? The sticky buns were sticky, but the bun was too much. The uneven balance left me desiring more of the glazing per bite, which ruined the experience. At least it's not overly sweet. Just ok for me.
Confounded by how bland the tahini chocolate chip cookie is. That's kinda all I have to say. I kept eating it, desperately searching for flavor, and literally scratching my head trying to understand how this is what such a hyped bakery is presenting us with...texture=cakey, flavor=unroasted sesame, depth=none to be found, heart + soul=empty.
Oh my GOD the Smoked Salmon Sandwich is to die for. That's it. That's the review. Go here. Get it. Enjoy it. And go back for more. Also - the pastries are insane and the croissants and Babkas are WOAH. 10/10.
I loved visiting Librae for a quick snack / pastry. The staff was very friendly and there are some indoor seats. It was cool being able to see the kitchen while I waited for my chai. I enjoyed the scone and especially the chai latte. Although Librae is located in the East Village if I'm ever in the area I would certainly stop by again. read more
1 year ago
This bakery is known for their pistachio rose croissant but that was my least favorite item. The croissant itself was delicious and buttery but the rose and pistachio was too sweet for me. I highly recommend the feta drill scone though! It was incredibly moist and unlike any other scone I've ever tried. I recommended it to my friend and she enjoyed it so much she went back the next day to get another. Line can seem pretty long even on weekdays but it moves quick! There are a few tables inside to enjoy your food but they tend to be taken pretty quick! read more
10 months ago
A new (to me) favorite bakery in nyc! Great to pick up treats to bring to the park OR hang out in the bakery with a friend. Great flavor combinations and tasty treats! read more
5 months ago
Nice people, great atmosphere, phenomenal pastries. My daughter enjoyed a tuna salad sandwich, I had the pistachio croissant, husband had the Jerusalem bagel with labne, and other daughter had a chocolate croissant--all phenomenal. Excellent coffee to go with. I'll go back! read more
10 months ago
Librae Bakery is located in East Village and their pretty popular item is Pistachio Rose Croissant, I had to check it out. The first bite had a good crunch and great pistachio flavor filling with the hint of rose on top. However, the croissant is heavy in butter, as the croissant itself is pretty dense. I could only eat half of it, and I saved the other half the next day for breakfast. There's seating inside and outside, and it's a great place to meet up with friends and catch up. read more
11 months ago
By far one of my favorite bakeries in NY! I'm a sucker for a good croissant and this place definitely had one of the best ones. The service was quick and the cafe was crowded. Probably not a good place to sit and work but great to sit and catch up with friends! read more
It's kind of ridiculous that a croissant in the city is $9+ (after taxes) now. But the Pistachio rose croissant was absolutely captivating so I made my way here to give it a try. I enjoyed the crispy and flaky layers but the pistachio flavor was not too pronounced. Could barely taste the rose flavor either. The whole thing just tasted very heavy because of the amount of butter they put in it, as evidenced by the grease that permeated through the bag. My stomach felt a bit queasy after finishing the croissant. Service was very nice and quick though. A few tables to sit at both inside and outside. Overall, not my favorite croissant and not worth the $$. read more
I tried their popular pistachio rose croissant at the beginning of this year and I was not disappointed!! There was so much pistachio filling inside and the croissant itself was crispy and buttery. I will say though that this pastry is kind of heavy, so either share with a friend or save the second half for later. I had to drink lots of water afterwards. read more
11 months ago
Loomi Babka ($7.75) - I love babka but wasn't expecting and didn't prefer the lemon filling. The bread was great though! read more
1 year ago
We loved Librae Bakery, and the line was worth the wait! We got their green onion pain suisse and chocolate chip cookie. Both pastries were absolutely delicious. My husband said their chocolate chip cookie was the best on this NYC visit. The staff was friendly. There are some seats inside but they were all occupied on this visit. Would absolutely recommend! read more
Overall: Came around the end of the day so most of the croissants were sold out however the chocolate and the pistachio are always my favorite! Service: sometimes can get pretty busy inside however the bakery always try's to help Inside: easy to see what to order with the glass showcasing everything. Music, can see everything, just NYC! Food: On the weekends the Chocolate croissant is always top tier. Not as flaky as La Cabra croissant but that does not mean it is bad. The texture is just different and tastes amazing. The chocolate cookie was top tier however wish there was more of a crust and bite rather than just soft. The salt on top is just enough. read more
((4.75 stars)) been to Librae Bakery a number of time and it's still superbusy and still baking superb pastries. it's a modern bakery. there's a good amount of seating, but on weekend and primetime hours on weekdays -- getting seats will likely be tough unless you get there on the earlier. the vibe and ambiance is friendly even when the lines lengthen and get a bit frenzied. it's also good top get there on the earlier side because different baked items will run out as they are freshly baked each day (you can look into the baking area through the clear glass windows that give you a peek into the baking sorcery, but that area is obviously sectioned off.) when i was last here a couple of weeks ago, picked up a bunch of stuff as a "gift" of sorts for out-of-towners who haven't enjoyed eats from this Bahraini-inspired bakery (yes, pastries can be "gift"! lol). there are definitely Middle Eastern influences on some of the classic pastries. from the variety of things i gifted -- the bread pudding, the espresso pain au chocolate, and the tahini chocolate chip cookie were the standouts and praised accordingly. snagged a feta dill scone because was In the mood for a less sweet bite. the scone was very good-- buttery soft biscuit-like texture with touches of dill and feta. the insides were light and fluffy while firm on the outside. sometimes. the service is friendly and doesn't rush you. definitely worthwhile visit whether you can get a seat or not. read more
Smoked salmon sandwich was yummy but not the best. The feta grape pastry was super unique and yummy. The grapes were super juicy and I liked all the flavors. We got there on an off period because thirty minutes later there was a constant line out the door on Saturday afternoon. read more
Went closer to 2pm so I guess beat whatever line I'd expected to see. I like these new bakeries where you can see all the action going on in the kitchen . Service was friendly and quick. The pastry I really wanted was not in the showcase but I was told they were baking and I could wait for a fresh batch. Zaátar Labneh Morning Bun Unfortunately I was already running behind for an appointment but I will be back. I got the Rocky Road Bread Pudding for me and Feta Dill Scone for a friend ( she loved it) . My bread pudding was super delicious, perfect moisture level,not soggy. Outside was caramelized and crunchy , oh so good. Not overly sweet and the slivered almonds inside gave the perfect texture variation. I'd return to sit and indulge a bit with some coffee . I didn't see a bathroom...hmmm. read more
5 months ago
Went to try the Mother's Day Danish and it was so flaky and good!! Blueberry Danish with butterfly pea cream read more
The rose pistachio croissant had so many layers and was super flaky, with lots of pistachio filling and the perfect hint of rose flavor. It was super delicious and a great blend of flavors. The ambiance and service were average and the croissant itself was $8.50 so even though the croissant was really good, I don't know if I would go back. read more
By far one of my fav bakery in NY I've tried ! Oh their pistachio rose croissant was so good I had to bring some home to Sacramento I'm usually not a big fan of rose infused flavor but Librae actually paired it perfectly ! Everything we order was also delicious ! A must everytime I'm in NY read more
Wow!! The tomato corn danish will live rent-free in my mind for a loooong time. Idk why I got a mocha - I never do that & probably wouldn't do that again here haha, but would try a latte or something. Excited to come back and try more things read more
Best croissant I ever had and possibly best cookie, the date and toffee. Iced coffee was reasonably good too. I stopped by late afternoon on the weekend. I wasn't a fan of the ambience or the service but they definitely have incredible baked goods. read more
They have a lot of innovative pastries and I tried their regular croissant, famous rose pistachio croissant, deli scone, espresso chocolate croissant and tahini chocolate cookie. I found all of them to have more butter than average and as a result, very heavy. Service is quick and they have tables for people to enjoy their drinks and pastries. It's a casual atmosphere. I will go back to try their babka one day but otherwise, too heavy in general. read more
While a bit packed (and the line was out the door) Librae was worth the hype, and our coffees and pastries were marvelous! Service was quick and easy, and there was more space inside than other conventional bakeries/cafes. Highly recommend to visit, their pistachio croissant had me knees wobbling read more
What wasn't perfect about the place except it needed more seating ! Been wanting to check this place out and a very good friend was in town so we both hit the spot and give it our critique (my friend was already here many times and their Bahrain locations so was just there for support) I really wanted to buy one of everything because it looked too damn good. The bakery could be seen in the back diligently at work and overall the vibe and service was top level. As you can see i bought whatever I can eat for today and I can't say that anyone of them was meh. They all had flavor, flakiness, soft goodness, flavors popping and subtle undertones you can pick up on if you have an idea of Middle Eastern flavors . It earned all 5 stars, service , ambiance, and of course the food earned it all and my compliments to the pastry chef and her team. They made it all happen ! No brainer, just go here read more
1 year ago
The pistachio croissant was sooo delicious. Not to mention it was huge. There was no line on a Tuesday morning but all the tables inside were taken. read more
I'm on the hunt to find the best tuna sandwich in NYC! Librae came up at the top of the list. Their tuna sandwich is olive oil based instead of mayo based. The sandwich was very filling. The scone was delicious too. I'd come back to try other yummy treats. read more
Came here later in the day so a lot of the pastries were sold out but I definitely had to try the pistachio rose and it was to die for it was definitely worth the money. I wish I lived in New York so I could come here more often. there's quite a few tables inside and outside, but a lot of people were meeting with friends so there were no tables available for me to sit down at. It was pretty warm outside so I didn't want to sit outside. read more
2 years ago
Delicious Loomi Babka! I came here right when they opened on a Monday morning and there was no one there but the pastries were nice and fresh. I highly recommend the Loomi Babka. I loved the lemon flavoring in it and it was a great way to start my morning. I would absolutely return to try their Pistachio Rose Croissant! Service was quick as I was the only one there and I sat inside to eat. They have a few tables available to enjoy your pastries! read more
Ambiance (5/5): There are some seats outdoors and indoors. Laptops are not allowed inside, which makes sense to allow occupation by dining patrons! It was cool being able to see into the kitchen where the baking was taking place. There's the public park with benches across the restaurant where you can eat outside. Service (5/5): It's a well oiled machine to get you in and out. I asked for a recommendation and the person who helped me provided some good feedback. Halva Croissant (4/5) $8.50: Available only on the weekends! It is indeed a hefty one with some chocolate and halva melted on the inside. The outside of the top part was almost too crunchy but it was good on the inside. Rich, oily, but I very much enjoyed it in two sittings, or perhaps one if shared with someone. Loomi Babka (1/5): While beautifully folded to create a lovely bun, there was almost no taste to it. The bread was soft but I only took 2 bite before I chucked the rest and wasted $7. read more
Librae is a really cozy high-end coffee shop and bakery. When I was there, it was super packed, but well worth the wait. The coffee was pretty solid. It needed a little sweetener for my taste, but it was a nice quality latte. The baked goods were the star of the show, though. Every item I tried was incredible. Particularly the banana pastry. Probably one of the most delicious pasties I've ever had. Definitely worth going out of your way to come to Librae. You won't be disappointed. read more
We came to try their croissant pastries. We definitely liked them. The coffee was okay. They have a few small tables to sit and enjoy your coffee. The baristas move the line fairly smoothly. We got our order very quickly and headed out. read more
A fancy bakery with delicious pastries, but on the pricey side--small space and quite crowded! I came across this bakery on an Instagram reel and was excited to give it a try on a Sunday morning. As you can see from my photos, there was a line outside. We slowly made our way in and eventually reached the counter. The ordering process was straightforward--you select your pastries, they bag them, you pay for everything (including coffee and sandwiches) at the counter, and then wait for your coffee and sandwich to be prepared. The downside? There was no seating, and the place was packed. We waited quite a while for the sandwich--long enough that we had nearly finished our coffee and eaten half of our pastries before it even arrived, making us wonder if ordering the sandwich was the right call. That said, the cappuccino and pistachio-rose croissant were tasty, though I did notice a slight eggy smell in the croissant. The highlight for me was the roasted beet sandwich--it was flavorful and well-made. The coffee was decent, nothing exceptional. Overall, this place is worth trying, but given the wait times and limited space, I'm not sure if I'd return. read more
1 year ago
definitely a flaky sweet crunchy good croissant- theyre known for the pistachio one so i obviously had to try it for myself. its a bit chewy with the pistachio filling but the croissant is stikk flaky and crunchy. i came at opening on a sunday so i had no problems getting a croissant or waiting. the servers are kind - seating is limited but people are nice about sharing a table. def recommend and would return read more
There was a line on a Thursday morning around 8:30am but moved fairly quickly. We shared a pistachio rose croissant and focaccia (the one with an egg in it). Pistachio rose croissant was pretty good! Pretty flaky and lots of different textures. Focaccia was ok for me, I think it would've been a lot better if it were warmed up. Overall not bad and I'd come again to try other pastries like the dirty chai morning bun and their sandwiches! read more
Long line on a Saturday morning but moved relatively quickly! Tried their pistachio rose croissant, tahini chocolate chip cookie, and sticky bun. Paired with tahini date coffee. the pistachio rose croissant was my favorite and the only one I would come back to get again! will have to come to try their babka! could not really taste the tahini in the cookie or coffee but both were very yum. staff was super nice and friendly! took the time to explain the baked goods and did not make us feel rushed despite the long line. read more
Visited around the end of the day, and the bakery was still very crowded with most items having sold out. There was just one Rose Pistachio Croissant left, and i made sure to order it before anyone else could. The croissant was very good. I tasted a lot more of the pistachio than the rose. It was also very, very flaky. Right before I left, the restaurant brought out a fresh batch of delicious chocolate cookies. read more
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