New York candy shops are numerous and unique. Each having their own storied past and candy specialization! Over the years, big businesses and small businesses alike have set up these shops in an attempt to bring the universal joys of sugar.
Many small businesses have suffered during the pandemic and some New York mainstays have closed their doors for good. So this is an up-to-date list. I hope you strongly consider visiting one of these establishments to give yourself, and them, a treat.
Looking for some lunch and dinner to pair with these sweets? Checkout our Ultimate Guide to Comfort Food in NYC!
Top Candy Stores in Manhattan
Dylan’s Candy Bar: Candy Shop in NY with Whimsical Treats
Hours: Mon – Sun 11 am – 5 pm
Address: 1011 Third Ave, New York, NY 10065
With a whimsical name that plays off the concept of a bar you go to dine or drink at with the classic candy bar you eat, Dylan’s Candy Bar sustains that feeling of whimsy as you enter it’s doors. Though it’s gained much success nationwide, its original home will always be New York. Right now they’re boasting a fantastic spring sale with lots of brightly colored candies.
Economy Candy: Best Candy Store in NY Offering Curbside Pickup Services
Hours: For curbside shopping Sat – Sun 12 pm – 5 pm
Address: 108 Rivington Street NY, NY 10002
Economy Candy in New York is one of the best candy stores in NY, where you can find every type of sweet treat and enjoy safe curbside pickup. They’re quite an innovative store in how they organize and present their candy. According to their website, they are currently only doing curbside shopping or curbside pickup. This is an understandable precaution, but hopefully in the near future families can roam their halls once again.
Sour Patch Kids Store: Candy Shop in New York Offering Unique Sour Flavors
Hours: Mon – Sun 12 pm – 8 pm
Address: 665 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
If your child loves tangy treats, the Sour Patch Kids Store is a candy store in New York that offers sour candies you won’t find anywhere else, making it a fun stop for candy fans. A well-known company providing lots of variations of their classic candy. It’s a little more big-name than the local New York candy shops populating this list, but if you or your child has a sweet tooth for one kind of sour patch that you cannot find in stores, this is the place you will find it. And even if you don’t have that niche sour patch flavor in mind, this is the place to find one.
Ray’s Candy Store: Famous Candy Store in NYC with Snacks
Hours: Open 24/7
Address: 113 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Ray’s Candy Store’s claim to fame is that whenever the urge for sweets hits, you can come to them. Though dining-in is currently unavailable, they are still dedicated to providing you their signature round-the-clock sweet service. And despite the word ‘candy’ in their name, they offer lots of other foods like fries and hot dogs.
The Sweet Shop of NYC Candy Store in NY with One-of-a-Kind Candies
Hours: Fri – Sun 1 pm – 11 pm; Mon – Thurs 2 pm – 10 pm
Address: 404 E 73rd St, New York, NY 10021
They’re a shop whose passion for candy really shines through, even in such steep competition that this list provides. If you want to try a candy you’ve never heard of before, and likely will never hear of again, then this is the place for you to venture to.
M&M’S New York: Best Candy Store in NY with Customizable M&M’s Option
Hours: Mon – Fri: 10am – 10pm; Sat – Sun: 9am – 10pm
Address: 1600 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
Planning a visit to Times Square? M&M’s is a candy shop in New York where you can design your own M&M’s and enjoy every imaginable color and flavor. Take a trip to Times Square with less tourists around and visit this amazing M&M haven! They have all the M&M’s imaginable and guests can even create their own customizable M&M’s right in the store.
Top Candy Stores in Brooklyn
Williams Candy: Candy Store in NY Serving Classic Carnival Treats
Hours: Mon – Thurs 10 am – 7 pm; Fri – Sun 10 am – 8 pm
Address: 1318 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224
These are the uncontested masters of old-school candy. Serving up caramel apples and cotton candy, Williams provides the treats that make you fondly remember carnivals and amusement parks.
Fferins: Candy Shop in NY with a Wide Range of Candies
Hours: Tues – Sun 12 pm – 7 pm
Address: 438 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Fferins caters to a wide assortment of tastes – both with their variety of candy and their ambiance. They are quaint while still being fun. So they balance the charm of a candy store without being too overwhelming or heavy handed.
Top Candy Stores in Queens
Aigner Chocolates: Candy Store in NY with 90 Years of Chocolate Craft Experience
Hour: Mon – Sun 10 am – 6 pm
Address: 103-02 Metropolitan Ave, Forest Hills, NY 11375
Aigner Chocolates in Forest Hills is one of the best candy stores in NYC, where 90 years of chocolate-making experience come together in every handcrafted treat. This chocolate shop has been open for over 90 years. In that time they have not dawdled or wavered, but have honed their craft to continually bring Queens residents delicious chocolate. When you look at their website you can see how chocolate is not just a food but an art. Like many businesses on this list, they are understandably not doing indoor dining at the moment.
Eddie’s Sweet Shop: Candy Store in NY with Soda Fountain Treats
Address: 105-29 Metropolitan Ave #1, Queens, NY 11375
If you enjoy nostalgic sweets, then Eddie’s Sweet Shop in New York is the best candy store for you, where ice cream and old-fashioned soda fountains come together in a fun, family-friendly way. The old fashioned soda fountain comes to Queens with new life. Though primarily specializing in ice cream, you can still find a savory treat and a hint of nostalgia and this local business.
Top Candy Stores in Staten Island
Phillip’s Candy: Best Candy Store in Staten Island with Handmade Classics
Hours: Tue – Thurs 10:30 am – 5 pm; Fri – Sat 10:30 am – 6pm; Sun 12 pm – 5 pm
Address: 8 Barrett Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10302
Renowned as the best candy store in NY, Phillip’s Candy offers handmade chocolates and candy with a touch of vintage charm. This store prides themselves on three things: they’re mid 20th century aesthetic, their Staten Island heritage, and of course their handmade candy. Because they make everything themselves, there is a bit of a bump in price. But it is absolutely worth it for this shop that is the epitome of the word classic.
Several Locations
Sugarfina: Candy Store in NYC Offering Sophisticated and Fun Confections
Hours: Vary by Location
In an industry that capitalizes off of bright colors and child-like fixations, Sugarfina adds some class to the candy selling business. They can make the most mature adult feel delighted at eating candy and that is an accomplishment that should not go unaddressed.
IT’SUGAR: Candy Shop in New York with Name Brands and Unique Finds
Hours: Varies by location
IT’SUGAR is an interesting case on this list. They are a collector of the best-of-the-best. Specializing in name brands while also promoting what is unique about these candies we’ve walked by in the grocery store everyday. They seize what is great about sweets and are very straightforward about that – even in their name. And for that they earn a spot on this list.
Jacques Torres Chocolate: Candy Shop in NYC with Gourmet French Chocolate
Hours: Varies by location
With a wide selection of gourmet chocolates, Jacques Torres is a candy shop in NYC where French chocolate techniques are used to create rich and handmade treats. This shop’s namesake and creator unsurprisingly rears from France and brings their gourmet Chocolate techniques here to New York City. With such pristine ability and presentation, there is a high price to pay. But even with that they still sell out because these treats remain in high demand. In addition to their chocolate, when visiting their locations around the city, make sure to try their famous, rich hot chocolate!
And thus concludes the list of perhaps the greatest New York candy shops. While trying to include all the local stores, there are sure to be candy shops missed. Hidden gems or hole-in-the-wall shops that serve up the delicacies worthy of being included in this article remain relatively unknown. And to that I say, go find them and let us know at editorial@newyorkfamily.com
