Every now and again, it’s okay to abandon yourself to a treat or two—and Midtown West is home to many wonderful emporiums that peddle tantalizing ice cream, high-end cakes, and delightful hot chocolates. Allow us to guide you to the sweet spots near your Hell’s Kitchen luxury no-fee rental apartment at ARO.
Grom | 1796 Broadway
Grom’s Italian gelato flavors cover a Wonka-esque spectrum, including candied chestnut, espresso coffee, Sicilian cake, and licorice. It’s the kind of menu that will ensure repeat visits so that you can tick all these off one by one (or indeed two by two). If gelato’s too icy for this time of the year, bide your time with one of Grom’s astonishing hot chocolates, featuring melted hot chocolate and creamy steamed milk.
Lady M Cake Boutique | 36 West 40th Street
Cakes are rarely more elegant than the ones at Lady M’s; the mere sight of one of their tiramisu mille crepes or green tea checker cakes will have you gazing longingly at the counter. And these sweet treats taste as good as they look, so take a seat in the minimalist cafe, order a slice and a cup of coffee, and envelope yourself in the sheer decadence of a Lady M cake. They deliver too—good news for the people you’ve invited to the next dinner party at your apartment.
La Maison du Chocolat | 10 Columbus Circle
Sometimes only chocolate will do—and when that’s the case, you might as well do it right. La Maison du Chocolat has been around the (chocolate) block a few times; it started in France in 1977, and its founder Robert Linxe has, accordingly, been dubbed “the Wizard of Ganache.” The small boutique here is piled high with high-quality cocoa-based goodies; take your time poring over champagne truffles, infused pralines, and chewy chocolate macarons before putting together the perfect selection of sweet treats.
Bibble & Sip | 253 West 51st Street
This delightfully playful bakery is so close to your ARO apartment that it’ll take some determination not to call in here most days of the week. When you’re treating yourself, though, take time to get well-acquainted with the kooky array of cakes, including match tea cream puffs, Earl Grey banana bread, raspberry lychee tart, and delicate mousse concoctions shaped into pigs and alpacas. Just be sure to get your Instagram snaps before you dive into these desserts.
Explore more of Midtown West, New York City’s vibrant nexus, by scheduling a tour with the team at ARO.