Librae Bakery
Librae Bakery Photos
Business Info
LIBRAE BAKERY ATMOSPHERE
What's the vibe?
You might also consider
More like Librae Bakery
Recommended Reviews - Librae Bakery
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
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.
1 year ago
Another bakery that comes highly recommended when asking around, so it was quickly added to my list. It's a cute little shop with indoor seating, outlets to charge your phone, AND WATER! This was one of the few places I visited that had free water cups for paying customers. That seems like a taboo option these days in ny. The case had ample options from both laminated to non laminated options. I went with a pistachio croissant and the sticky toffee date oat cookie situation. The croissant was maybe 3.5 stars. Nothing super remarkable but a decent croissant nonetheless. For me the showing the star was that damn cookie. The perfect texture, chewy, well seasoned, good balance. I mean my god was it a home run. I saved it and ate it when I arrived back at the airport and regret doing so because k couldn't get another one. I was absolutely go back here to first and foremost get more sticky little cookies but also to try some of the other offerings. Highly recommend a stop in if you have time. And when I arrived while still early there was no line!! read more
1 year ago
The rose pistachio croissant here was so good! Some places have good pistachio filling but the croissant is a little lackluster, or vice versa. However, this place was perfect. The croissant itself was crispy and flaky and with so many good layers and the pistachio filling was nutty and dense and so good. The crispy part on the top was probably my favorite part. I would definitely recommend! read more
I was so excited to try this place. When I got there I was stunned there was no line but also stunned that they barely had any bakery items to buy. I asked if any croissants were coming out soon and luckily the nice gentleman said in 15 mins the rose pistachio croissants batch was coming out. I asked if I could pay for one now and he said no but he would be sure to find me when they came out. The sweet guy gave me the first one that came out - so very appreciative. Now the crossiant had the most amazing crunch I have ever experienced 10/10. I probably could do with out the pistachio filling as the buttery flakiness is good enough for me. I am all for a women owned bakery. Go girls! My one sour point was the barista seemed miserable and sort of ruined my experience when I asked for light milk. I want to try a bunch of their stuff so I will be back hopefully when they have more goods! read more
8 months ago
I stalked this place on instagram for years and finally got to visit this month. The sights smells sounds and most importantly taste lived up to all my expectations and more. The breakfast sandwich options were so yummy and we could not stop with the pastries. If I were a local I'd be there daily. read more
Esquisite, pretty tasty but extremely, and I mean extremely overpriced. I've never imagine paying $8.5 for a croissant. Even though it was loaded with pistachios and rose petals and probably used decadent ingredients, I feel like we are rewarding bad behavior on allowing businesses price gouge like this... I'm looking at you too, Radio Bakery! This place will be a once in a while visit. for me, la cabra all the way! Pistachio Rose Croissant: decadent, personally I could go with less pistachio jam because at times this croissant felt a little too rich in its flavors Babka with lime marmalade - it was alright. I liked the bun it was buttery but the lime didn't really add anything to it. read more
The coffee is good, the pastries are fabulous. Service isn't the fastest. There's a few breakfast items available in addition to the French/Danish/Lebanese inspired pastries. I like it here but it's expensive and there's very few seats so it can be hard to find a spot. They do have a no laptop policy that helps but I with they'd put a few more tables inside. read more
1 year ago
I'd heard a lot of hype about Librae and was walking by on a Tuesday around 2pm when I noticed there was no line so I quickly hopped in and grabbed a couple of treats to try. Maybe I hyped it up too much in my head or maybe it wasn't fresh since it was later in the day but the pastries were stale and dry. I got 2 rose pistachio croissants, a dirty chai sticky bun and a za'atar labneh morning bun. The croissants were dry and hard and the morning bun tasted a bit stale. The dirty chai sticky bun wasn't bad. Not going to be rushing back but maybe I'll have to give it another try (this time in the morning) when I'll have a better chance of getting it fresh. read more
1 year ago
Great bakery spot for when you're craving something sweet! Ordered the rose pistachio croissant and it was extremely flavorful! If you don't like pistachio then you definitely won't like this as there is a pistachio sodas on the inside of the croissant. I came at around 2PM on a Sunday and it was packed! Definitely want to go earlier in the day next time to try some more treats! read more
Librae is trendy but for good reason. Haven't had the pleasure of trying one of their glorious sandwiches but I can safely say that their pastries are worth the hype. Service is fast, accommodating, and to the point so don't expect a lot of patience for when you order - they typically have a long line to get thru. The pistachio rose croissant is ridiculously good. It's both aromatic and just the right amount of sweetness. My friend and I got a regular pastry and danish as well but the pistachio was where it's at. read more
Stopped in spontaneously because my friend and heard of this spot and was curious. The interior decor was soothing and artistic, from the lettering to plants to the stools. I could see myself reading, writing, or catching up with a friend in any of their seating. There was a line when we entered but it moved rather quickly. We were super excited to try the pistachio rose croissant. My first bite was delectable and I enjoyed the filling quite a bit. However, I experienced diminishing returns with subsequent bites and felt slightly nauseated by the end, probably due to the sweetness. I'm sure someone with a bigger sweet tooth would have enjoyed it immensely! My friend thought it was overall underwhelming in taste but aesthetic for photos. I would return to try their other pastries. read more
Line reached up to their door when I arrived on a Sat afternoon, but it moved quickly. I had this place bookmarked and I was in the neighborhood so I decided to grab some of their pastries. They have unique flavors and the quality of their pastries is good. But it isn't something I would go out of my way to try again. Especially with their prices. read more
1 year ago
love love this place! As a bakery/cafe connoisseur, Librae truly has my heart with their stunning pastries! The staff were super friendly and patient with us! Def rec their espresso pain au chocolat and their cookie and their iconic pistachio croissant! read more
4 months ago
5 months ago
2 years ago
Well worth the hype bakery! Here are the highlights: 1. Line can get long. Go early if you see your favorites 2. The laminated pastries are really the star of the show. The croissants are what my dreams are made of 3. The seasonal sticky bun is exceptional. 4. The staff is always so nice! read more
Very popular bakery, stopped in to try their breakfast challah sandwich (fri-sun only), and also picked up a corn blueberry shortbread cookie The sandwich was great - very big, cheesy with a parmesan crisp as well, some mushrooms on there that get lost, soft egg and a tomato based dip. Mine was overheated to where the bun was hard but I still had no trouble finishing it, I'm sure it's awesome when they get it right. Cookie was good, a bit pricey for 5.50 but expected read more
I stumbled upon this bakery when I was wondering around in east village and it was the best decision ever to try their pastries. LOVE their rose pistachio croissant. All my favorite things combined into one pastry. I wish I could try more items and bring back their pistachio croissants home after my new york trip. read more
1 year ago
A friend recommended this spot during a recent trip to NYC. I went early to make sure I could get the full selection. The interior is very cute and felt cozy on a cold and rainy day. Service was quick despite the long line, and very friendly as well. I had the pistachio and rose croissant, as well as a za'atar morning bun. The pastry was divine. The pistachio rose croissant had a perfect balance of pistachio and not too much rose, but the za'atar morning bun might be one of my new favorite treats. So savory and buttery and delicious. Would highly recommended! read more
This popular bakery is busy, but the line goes by quickly. There's also a couple tables and seating for a quick dine-in. You can see all the baked good coming out from the kitchen as the turnover rate goes quickly, so you're getting something fresh. We ordered the famous Rose Pistachio Croissant ($8.50) and a Za'atar Labneh Morning Bun ($8.00). The croissant is huge with a lot of pistachio filling and rose petals sprinkled on top for a nice aroma. This was delicious, but also better to share as it can be overwhelming for one. The morning bun was smaller, but had a crispy layer outside and soft fluffy inside. The za'atar made this a nice savory item, but it's petite. I'd come back for that rose pistachio croissant though. read more
2 years ago
This bakery has such unique flavors and pastries! My friends and I were on a bakery crawl and shared 4 pastries. Although all were delicious, the standout was definitely the pistachio rose croissant. I also had a delicious tahini coffee with oatmilk. My only complaint is that there is not a lot of space to sit and also the coffee was rather small for the price. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Oh man this place is dangerous...it's hard to choose what to get! The pastries are amazing. Buttery, flaky, sweet and savory options, plus full bread loaves to go. Last week I tried their loomi babka $7.50 and tahini date latte $7.50 with oatmilk (+$0.75). The babka was lovely, buttery, not too sweet, with specks of black lime swirled with just the right tinge of lemon curd. Subtle and bright! I had not known what to expect and this really blew me away. I hear so many good things about the pistachio rose croissant which I plan to get next time. The latte had a smooth, light toasted sesame taste without the grainy paste that sits at the bottom of the drink that I see in some other places. That being said the flavor of the dates was very light, almost barely perceptible. If you go on a weekend morning the lines are long and most everything sells out by early-mid afternoon. During peak times the wait for a coffee drink after ordering can be up to 15-17 minutes, on top of the line at the front door for another 15-20 minutes. Be sure get there early! They also have seating for about 20 people at small tables seating 2-3 people each. Staff is friendly and helpful. Inflation is tough for sure, the total for two items with tax was $17.50. So prob not a place to go every morning, though nice for an occasional treat. read more
Popped by on a Saturday late morning and it was busy but the line moved fast. We got the tahini chocolate cookie, pistachio rose croissant and the feta dill scone. Objectively all were very well done. Super flaky croissant, soft yet crispy cookie, super buttery scone. I will say the scone was more of a biscuit but only in the best way like I loved that thing. The other two were just not my personal flavour profiles so I will get something else next time. But again, scone was banging and I wish I got the carrot one on special too- next time. Good amount of seating actually, likely to get a spot even when its busy if you just are patient! read more
Librae Bakery is an inventive bakery located in Cooper Square that is Bahrani inspired but uses baking techniques from Denmark! My first time , I tried the Pistachio Rose Croissant and the Za'atar Labneh Morning Bun. Both were great and I particularly recommend the pistachio croissant. Today, I tried the Shakshuka Focaccia. - Shakshuka Focaccia (8.3/10): Focaccia was good. I don't know how but the bites of plain bread were still flavorful! This didn't really taste like shakshuka since there wasn't much tomato/tomato flavorings but the egg yolk was jammy and egg whites were well seasoned. I do wish that it could be served warm read more
Cute bakery with very good quality pastries! The plain croissant was very good, your standard good laminated buttery croissant. The egg sandwich with mushrooms alright, the egg was a steamed egg variety which isn't my favorite but the flavors of the mushroom were great with it, just wish there was more mushroom. It was a bit pricey at $15, so not sure if I'd get it again. Also got the feta and dill scone, which I wouldn't recommend as the feta flavor didn't really come through too well. Additionally, I also got the elderberry hibiscus iced tea, which was very bland and lacking in flavor. Giving 4 stars since the quality of each pastry was good, well baked. But the flavors didn't fully hit. read more
Librae Bakery is one of the hottest bakeries in New York City. I happened to hit it at the right time and was able to order with a small line in front of me. First the smell is intoxicating! Freshly baked breads are to the left and so many different pastries are to the right side of the bakery. First time here and I'm here for one item, the rose pistachio croissant. Now this is a different spin on the typical croissant. Librae Bakery touts as a bakery with "Middle Eastern roots and Danish technique". Trust me, this combination invades my dreams. I also read online the coffee being served is managed by Dona Murad, a Bahraini coffee roaster. Coffee and outrageous baked goods? I ordered a latte, the rose pistachio croissant as well as a loaf of bread with cherries. I pay and run outside with my freshly baked goods. First bite, its very subtle but I taste the rose. Biting deeper, the pistachio filling kicks in and puts the croissant on another level. The Rose Croissant from Librae Bakery is a game changer for sure. Perfection being served. My wife and I DEVOURED the loaf of bread over the weekend. If you're here for a croissant, buy a load of bread as well. It really is amazing. The next time I come, I'll try the Jerusalem bagel with labneh! read more
OH LORD Literally everything I tried was AMAZING. Espresso pain au chocolate had the slightly hint of espresso flavor, a deep dark rich chocolatey center, and the flakiest almost syrupy exterior to the croissant itself. Total win. Feta dill scone was laminated and both soft and pillowy with a bit of crunch and chew. Beautiful. Might've been my favorite of the savory. Shakshuka focaccia was packed with flavor and still had a jammy SLIGHTLY RUNNY YOLK???? HOW!!!! It really captured the flavors of a shakshuka very very well compared to another other place I've had shakshuka focaccia (side eye) French onion focaccia was the winter flavor special and had a very strong cheese flavor, not at all mild and flavorless as I had worried. The morning zaatar bun surprised me because I was totally nervous I wouldn't like it but it was very much a savory cruffin with labneh and the herby zing of zaatar atop. Fantastic. I wish the dirty chai sticky bun had been gooey and softer but I think that's just my preference! It was my least favorite of everything (and funnily enough my most anticipated of the lot) This ones around for a limited time too. I got there just before ten and while tables were packed as always there was no one else on line for treats. Fortunately there's a park with plenty of seating across the street. I will absolutely be back and give the sea salt mocha a go next time with their next selection of baked goods. read more
3 years ago
I went around the afternoon and unfortunately, most of the pastries were gone, but I was luckily still able to secure their Pear Almond Toffee Scone (~$8) and a 10oz Latte ($6). While the pastries are on the pricier end, I have to admit - the scone was DELICIOUS. The toffee paired so well with the almonds, and the pear gave it a nice sweetness. There's a good amount of seating for a cafe, but they fill up quick, as this bakery is popular. My friend and I ended up sharing a table with other people. I couldn't commit to their infamous $8.50 Pistachio Rose Croissant on this visit, but overall would come back when I'm in the neighborhood, to eventually try it, as well as their other pastries! read more
1 year ago
Danish style pastries and European style breads, with middle eastern spice palatte. A small space with a big selection. World class pastries and delicious lacquered doughs. Unusual and addictive flavors. read more
Okay I wanted to think it wasn't worth the hype but it is. This croissant is life changing. Just look at how golden and buttery and crispy it looks. It's actually one of the best croissants I've ever had! The inside is really nice. There's a good amount of seating at marbled tables. Great aesthetic. The focaccia here looks delicious too! I would love to come back and try it! Staff are also super friendly! read more
3 years ago
I've been coming here a handful of times and I have mixed feelings about this place. I love the location, decor/space, and selection of pastries to choose from. This is a popular spot that deserves high praise but sadly there are small issues that should be taken into account. The reason why I rated it at 3 stars are as followed. Table and seating is limited which isn't the issue, but the customers who only buy one item and take the large table that seats 2-4 people, bring theirs laptop and stays there for long periods of time. Other cafes I've been to have this rule of 30 min seating limit and no laptops, and people follow it with no complaints/issues. And music was a bit loud and possibly set at shuffle mode, it went from chill/calm music to loud pop music. Aside from those two minor issues, I do want to share my personal favorite items/pairings to end on a positive note. My favorites are the espresso pain au chocolat croissant with hot coco and pretzel bun with cappuccino. I still would recommend to come and try their array of pastries, sandwiches, and drinks. Just be attentive in finding a seat if you wish to sit inside and capture that picturesque shot read more
More info about Librae Bakery
Librae Bakery Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Librae Bakery
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
14 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
2 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
9 months ago
