Empire Cake

Empire Cake is a little spot in Chelsea that makes sophisticated little cupcakes. The space is a bit spartan, but it’s quiet and they have plenty of seating if you need a little refuge to eat your cupcake in peace. Expect flavors with more of a gourmet spin, with options like pistachio praline, mocha latte, and bananas foster. The classic red velvet is also great, because the cream cheese frosting is perfectly tangy and creamy. We like to think of this as a spot where you can just pop in and have a cupcake in the middle of a hectic day. Empire Cake also makes delicious black & white cookies, though we’d argue they’re more like flat cakes, and fun riffs on classic snack cakes.