For those seeking an authentic taste of Paris in the heart of New York City, look no further than Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery, nestled on Lafayette Street in NY. My long-awaited visit to this exquisite establishment proved to be every bit the upscale, French-inspired dessert haven I had imagined, and more. From the moment I arrived, the expansive outdoor seating area, generously shaded by large blue umbrellas, offered a welcoming and sophisticated ambiance, a rarity in the bustling city.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Outdoor Seating Area
Stepping inside Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery, I was immediately struck by the bright and airy atmosphere. A grand window, stretching from floor to ceiling along the entrance wall, floods the space with natural light. The interior design, featuring a classic black and white tiled floor and a warm wood ceiling, evokes a distinct Provençal charm, instantly transporting you to the French countryside.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Interior with Tiled Floor and Wood Ceiling
Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery thoughtfully divides its space into two distinct areas: a bustling bakery and a more formal café-style restaurant. For those looking to grab pastries, bread, or desserts to go, or simply seeking a sweet treat and coffee, the bakery section at the front right is perfectly positioned. The remaining area is dedicated to the café. My visit was solely focused on indulging in their renowned desserts, so I settled comfortably in the bakery section. Here, a few charming tables and chairs are available, along with counter seating overlooking the vibrant street scene through the large window.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Bakery Section with Dessert Display
The aroma within the bakery was intoxicating. A symphony of sugary perfumes, the comforting scent of baking flour, rich cream, and a general air of sweet, fluffy goodness enveloped me. It was a truly delightful sensory experience, setting the stage for the treats to come at Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Bakery Counter Filled with Pastries
My eyes were immediately drawn to the croissants displayed on a silver three-tiered stand. They looked incredibly fresh, boasting a soft and fluffy appearance. As a devoted croissant enthusiast, and knowing Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery‘s reputation for their daily croissants, I eagerly anticipated trying one later.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Croissants on Display
Then there were the pastries – vibrant, colorful, and meticulously crafted. The display case was a feast for the eyes, showcasing only a fraction of their extensive offerings. Each pastry looked like a miniature work of art, vibrant, fresh, and flawlessly executed. The level of craftsmanship was truly impressive. Choosing just a few was a challenge; I truly wished I could sample everything at Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Pastry Display Case with Colorful Desserts
Ultimately, I decided on a selection to enjoy in-house and a few more to take home. For my immediate indulgence at Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery, I chose the Petit Choux ($6), Cascara Slice ($7.50), and a Cappuccino ($6). These “little shiny treats,” as I thought of them, resembled edible jewels.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Selection of Petit Choux and Cascara Slice
The cappuccino was expertly made, featuring a luxuriously creamy foam – more creamy than airy – and a robust, authentic coffee bean flavor. Enjoyed without added sugar, it provided the perfect counterpoint to the sweetness of the desserts from Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery.
The Petit Choux, essentially miniature versions of their eclairs, offered a brilliant way to sample multiple eclair flavors without committing to full-sized portions. The assortment included Chocolat, Vanilla Malted, and Butterscotch Coffee. They were indeed like precious gems, especially the Vanilla Malted, adorned with delicate gold flakes.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Petit Choux Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Butterscotch
Upon cutting into the Petit Choux, I was delighted by the generous amount of filling in each one. The Butterscotch Coffee flavor was particularly impressive, delivering a genuine, strong flavor of both butterscotch and coffee. Unlike some pastries that rely on artificial flavorings, these tasted authentically of their namesake ingredients. The puff pastry was thin, light, fluffy, and delicious, perfectly complementing the creamy, intensely butterscotch-y, and surprisingly coffee-infused filling. The combination was a revelation.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Butterscotch Coffee Petit Choux with Creamy Filling
The Chocolat Petit Choux was topped with a perfectly square piece of rich chocolate and filled with an intensely creamy, velvety chocolate center. It was decadent and satisfying, ideal for any chocolate lover. I appreciated that Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery didn’t overwhelm the pastry with chocolate, maintaining a perfect balance of flavor. The Vanilla Malted was equally delightful, with visible vanilla beans speckling the creamy filling. The milky coating added another layer of flavor, and the gold flakes enhanced the dessert’s elegance. Choosing a favorite among the Petit Choux was impossible; they were all exceptional.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Assortment of Petit Choux Eclairs
Next, I sampled the Cascara Slice. Visually stunning, it was a perfectly constructed, almost artistic creation. Composed of hazelnut dacquoise, chocolate ganache, and cascara-coffee mousse, it offered a harmonious blend of hazelnut and coffee flavors, with a soft, velvety texture. Each bite was heavenly, melting effortlessly in my mouth. My only regret was that it disappeared far too quickly.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Cascara Slice Dessert
For my takeaway treats from Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery, I selected some Macarons ($2.50 each) and a Croissant du Jour ($4). The vibrant, colorful macarons in the window display were irresistible. I chose six flavors: Créme de Cassis, Lafayette, Matcha, Raspberry Rose, Chocolate, and Birthday Cake. I found it charming that they were slightly different sizes, suggesting they were handcrafted rather than mass-produced.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Colorful Macarons Display
The Créme de Cassis macaron had a delicate purple hue. The shell was airy and delicate, while the filling was smooth, creamy, and bursting with black currant flavor. As a black currant enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The Lafayette macaron stood out with its two-toned shell, reminiscent of the French flag, albeit missing the third color. The flavor combination of chocolate and bergamot in the Lafayette macaron was intriguing, evoking memories of Earl Grey tea. It delivered a delightful Earl Grey flavor perfectly balanced with chocolate.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Creme de Cassis and Lafayette Macarons
The Matcha macaron was excellent, capturing the characteristic bitterness of matcha tea beautifully complemented by sweetness. It possessed a classic, high-quality taste, indicating the use of authentic matcha rather than artificial flavorings. The Raspberry Rose macaron was vividly colored, and the filling had a pronounced, natural raspberry flavor.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Matcha and Raspberry Rose Macarons
The Chocolate macaron was elegantly understated, not overly chocolatey but perfectly balanced. Again, I appreciated Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery‘s restraint in flavor intensity, allowing the quality of ingredients to shine. The Birthday Cake macaron was visually playful, adorned with colorful confetti, which I found more appealing than confetti baked into the shells – perhaps more refined? Regardless, it was a fun and flavorful macaron, with a distinct birthday cake flavor and chocolate filling. All the macarons were truly delightful.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Chocolate and Birthday Cake Macarons
Finally, the Croissant du Jour was a Banana Coconut Chocolate Croissant. Upon learning this, I was ecstatic, as this was the very croissant I had been hoping to try. Serendipitously, on the day of my visit to Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery, the special croissant was the one I had dreamt of! I had first seen this creation featured on the Food Network as the #1 breakfast item in the country, described as “a French answer to a banana cream pie.” Combining my love for French pastry and banana cream pie, this sounded like a perfect culinary marriage.
Lafayette Grand Cafe Banana Coconut Chocolate Croissant Du Jour
This Croissant du Jour’s preparation is elaborate and decadent. It begins with a chocolate croissant, halved open-face. The inside is sprayed with rum simple syrup, then a generous layer of their special coconut Frangipane is piped onto the bottom half. Sliced bananas are arranged over the frangipane, and the top half of the croissant is replaced. Another spray of rum simple syrup, more frangipane, banana slices, and shaved coconut are added. Finally, it is baked in the oven and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. The result is extraordinarily decadent, flavorful, and simply amazing – a true paradise in every bite!
Lafayette Grand Cafe Detailed View of Banana Coconut Chocolate Croissant
My experience at Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery left me longing to return daily. I envisioned trying a different dessert, croissant, baguette, or any other tempting offering each day, confident in finding happiness with every choice. While daily visits might be a stretch for my waistline, Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery will undoubtedly remain a frequent destination in my dreams, and hopefully, in my near future.
Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery is located at 380 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10003.
