Pastry genius Maury Rubin’s loft-size City Bakery is jammed with Chelsea shoppers loading up on unusual salad-bar choices (grilled pineapple with ancho chili, bean sprouts with smoked tofu, excellent salmon salad). There’s also a small selection of soups, pizzas and hot dishes. But to heck with all that: The thick, incredibly rich hot chocolate with fat house-made marshmallows is heaven in a cup (replaced by fruit-infused lemonade in the summer), and the moist “melted” chocolate-chip cookies are better than a marked-down pair of Prada pumps.
Start your perfect Saturday or Sunday in leisurely fashion at one of Chelsea’s best brunch places. Sustainable-farming champion Cookshop serves variations on egg dishes and indulgent French toast, while Tipsy Parson gives brunch a Southern accent. Afterward, hit the neighborhood’s shops or attractions.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Chelsea, New York