Manhattan is where NYC's cinnamon roll scene gets theatrical. Three dedicated roll shops — Benji's Buns, Sunday Morning, and Spirals — all operate within a mile of each other in the West Village and East Village, each staking out a different interpretation of what a great roll should be.
The West Village is the most concentrated roll destination in the city. L'Appartement 4F's laminated croissant-dough swirl is unlike anything else in the five boroughs. Barachou, a French cream puff shop, makes a $5 cinnamon roll that Carboholic scored 9.7 — one of its highest ratings ever.
In the East Village, Sunday Morning proofs its dough three times and limits production — ten rotating flavors, out the door by 11:30am most weekends.
Spirals, also in the East Village, finishes every roll with a signature shortbread crumble. It's a small detail that's become the shop's identity — nobody else in the city does it.
