The best cheesecake in NYC

Peter Luger is famous for its steaks (naturally), its creamed spinach and its luscious, meal-ending cheesecake. While you might think you feel too full after a gigantic meal at this Brooklyn steakhouse, you’ll get a second wind when confronted with a slice. Made by Ferrara bakery in Manhattan's Little Italy, each slice is ever-so-slightly sweet, smooth and served with some of Luger’s famous schlag. 

Known for its stunning mille crêpes cakes—in which 20 layers of crêpes and cream are stacked to create a truly impressive dessert—Lady M also offers a pumpkin Nuage cake. “Nuage” means cloud in French, and this cheesecake lives up to its name: here, a spiced pumpkin purée is folded into airy cream cheese and set atop a buttery graham cracker base. It’s not a traditional cheesecake, but it’s one of the best in all of NYC. 

Now, this is a classic slice of New York cheesecake. Absolutely gigantic (it’s over three inches high, and a full cheesecake weighs 7.5 lbs) and more sour than sweet from the cream cheese filling, it’s exactly the dessert you want from one of NYC’s best Jewish delis. You can get it topped with strawberries or made with crushed Oreos, but why mess with sweet success? 

Since 1894, this East Village Italian bakery has been doling out biscotti, pastries, cannoli and, yes, deliciously creamy deep-dish cheesecake, enriched with fresh ricotta and whole eggs.

Eileen Avezzano started slinging her namesake cheesecakes in 1975, using a traditional New York recipe passed down from her mother. Now at her award-winning Nolita storefront, there are over 20 flavors ranging from classics like cherry to unique twists like salted caramel and cookies and cream.

The storied slice at Harry Rosen's Downtown Brooklyn mainstay has become synonymous with New York-style cheesecake itself. Made with humble Philadelphia cream cheese and a sponge cake base, each round is lovingly mixed and baked by hand to this day. 

Dig into the countless delicate layers of rich cream cheese and sweet blueberries of the mille crêpes cake at this Japanese cafe and bakery for a unique cheesecake experience. With locations in both Soho and Chelsea, Harbs is a great place to refuel after a day spent shopping or exhibit-hopping; in addition to sweet treats, the menu offers light lunch bites like BLTs and avocado toast.

This 30-seat, blue-hued café is lined with gray banquettes and round tables facing the glass-encased treats on display, warmly lit by drop-down globe lights. While we love everything on the menu, including the flaky croissants and the heavenly chocolate cake, the cheesecake stands out, kissed with vanilla and lemon zest in a dark chocolate crust, with vanilla and lemon zest. 

This Japanese cheesecake spot arrived in New York back in 2017; today, it continues to churn out playful shapes (like a heart-shaped cheesecake for Valentine's Day), Halloween versions and a gorgeous purple sweet potato variety. 

Although not known primarily for cheesecake, K-Rico serves up one of the best slices in the city. Give yourself carte blanche to indulge when you visit this Hell’s Kitchen steakhouse—for a perfect meal, start with roasted oysters, then go for the skirt steak with chimichurri, and finish off the night with the strawberry cheesecake.