West Side Story: A Tale of Two Magnolias
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 
Magnolia Bakery, a landmark in NYC’s West Village, is the veritable shot that started the cupcake revolution. And now, they’ve opened a second location on NYC’s Upper West Side.Though in actuality these two locations are only about three miles away, in many ways they are worlds apart; the culture, clientele and location are distinctly different. But what does this all mean for those famous cupcakes? We did a side by side comparision to find out who really does take the cake. For ease of reading, we will refer to them as "Magnolia Downtown" for the original Bleecker Street location and "Magnolia Uptown" for the new Upper West Side location.
A little background...
Location: Both bakeries are in Manhattan; Magnolia Downtown is located at the corner of West 11th Street and Bleecker Street in the West Village; Magnolia Uptown is located on 69th Street at Columbus Avenue, on the Upper West Side.
Culture: While both are neighborhoods of privilege (in our humble eyes, neighborhoods where apartments regularly rent for upwards of $3,000 a month would classify as neighborhoods of privilege), they both have a distinctly different feel; whereas Greenwich Village has a more eclectic feel, with cozy brownstones, zigzagging streets and quaint boutiques and boasts celebrity residents like Julianne Moore and Sarah Jessica Parker, the Upper West Side boasts the grand old apartment buildings of yesteryear, and you just might find yourself brushing elbows with with residents like Bono and Mia Farrow.
Some details about our visits and impressions...
Crowd: We went to the locations one after the other to get the truest read. When we went to Magnolia downtown at 11.30 am, there were about 5 people in line; Uptown 30 minutes later, there were about 16 people in line. However, we feel it would be unfair to say this means that Uptown is more popular; it's newer, so part of this is probably novelty; also, we do understand that as lunchtime draws closer, sometimes you need a little sweetness, so perhaps that 30 minute window does make a difference.
Service: (photo above: the crowd at Magnolia Downtown) To us, Magnolia Downtown has never been about the attentive service; the staff is largely made up of bored-looking hipsters (albeit, bored-looking hipsters who always give you great ideas for new haircuts). Nonetheless, there is sort of a charm to this type of service, and it seemed no different at the new location--same cool haircuts, same slightly-bored attitude. We'd call this one a draw.
Interior: They’ve done the new location with similarly checkered floors and retro décor; so although it is not a different look per se, we are going to give this point to Magnolia Uptown, which seems more spacious, airy and less cramped than its downtown cousin.
Maybe we're shallow but we think about these things...
Presentation: (photos above, Magic Bars at the Downtown and Uptown locations, respectively) While both locations had similar elements of presentation: glass cases and cake plates, cupcakes on cute doilies, etc., Magnolia Uptown emerges slightly ahead in this category due to (in our opinion) their better choice of typestyle for the store signage; the simple typeface allows the baked goods themselves to shine, whereas Magnolia Downtown's more whimsical typestyle is ultimately distracting and hard to read.
Cuteness: (photos above, cupcakes at the Downtown and Uptown locations, respectively) While cuteness can be an open-ended category, it cannot be ignored. In evaluating the baked goods at both locations, the cuteness factor was high all around; however, if pressed we would have to say that the Downtown location's cupcakes seemed to have a jauntiness to their swirl that the Uptown location simply couldn't match.
Places to eat your cupcake: Magnolia Downtown has only one tiny table; however, there is a park directly across the street which, weather permitting, is a good place to eat your cupcake and full of great people-watching. While they are working on an added seating room Uptown, it was not yet ready at the time of our visit, leaving noplace to sit in the uptown location. Though Central Park is a short walk away, who’s going to make it that far with their cupcake? Ours was gone by the time we were halfway down the block. So while things may change when the seating area is available, in this case, Downtown wins.
But most importantly, the sweets themselves:
Selection: The selection was nearly identical at both locations, with some variations in frosting choices and layer cakes available that day, but mostly the same; overall a tie.
Freshness / Quality: Everything we tasted at both locations tasted extremely fresh, which provides a happy tie (yay for fresh pastries!).
The Baked Goods Themselves: (above: photos of banana pudding Downtown and Uptown, respectively) Each bakery has its own kitchen, so we wanted to see for ourselves how the tastes stacked up. In evaluating the cupcakes, we noticed that the frosting was a bit heavier-handed downtown (this is not necessarily a bad thing!); on the banana pudding, the Uptown version was a little more "whipped" than the slightly creamier version Downtown. The "Magic bars" (quite similar to the Bakedbar we featured a while back) looked slightly crisper on the bottom downtown. But really, all of this is subject to the day and baker who made them, and are natural variations; small differences aside, the taste was very similar between both locations. And yes, we liked what we tasted.
So, if you were halfway between locations and had to choose one or the other, which one would Cakespy suggest?
Well, certainly the new location has a few things going for it. For one, it's bigger; with more space, perhaps they won't even need a cupcake bouncer. But have they won us over with better typestyle choices and more seating? While on the one hand they seem to have answered a need, there was something that we realized while standing on the line Uptown to pay; we sort of...well, missed that Cupcake Bouncer and cramped space that we've cursed so many times Downtown. So while we're excited to see the Uptown addition and to monitor its growth, our hearts are still in that cramped, inefficient, sweet little spot on Bleecker Street.
Magnolia Bakery, two locations; Downtown, 401 Bleecker Street (at W. 11th St); Uptown, 200 Columbus Avenue (b/t W. 69th & W. 70th Sts); online at magnoliabakery.com.
Reader Comments (42)
Great information! I've been wondering about the uptown location. And congratulations on having cupcakes for lunch - good choice! Let's hope the uptown crew gets the swirl on the top of the cupcakes just right.
I used to live right where the uptown location is! I am going to New York next week and I will HAVE to check it out.
Great post. I think we both had Magnolia on our minds. I haven't been in a few years but can't wait to try new location the next time I'm in NY! :)
This is when I miss living in NYC's West Village. Who doesn't want to be able to do this kind of 'research'??
*sigh*
Nice review. I think my (currnet) town needs a cupcakerie.
Awesome post! I love the frosting swirls on the cupcakes.
Forget Magnolia, Sugar Sweet Sunshine in the LES is the place to get cupcakes in New York. Best cupcakes, variety of flavors, places to sit, no lines. Perfection.
I don't know if I should visit this site anymore - I always leave craving cupcakes...
yum! wish i had had the job of reviewing those places ;)
I have got to check out the infamous Magnolia Bakery once of these days during my next NYC trip! These cupcakes look good!
Oh, I dream of going to Magnolia Bakery and eating one of their cupcakes. In a park.
I've never been! So I can't really compare either of them.
I remember Sex and the City episodes where the gals are eating Magnolia cupcakes.
Those cupcakes look so good! I love the swirls and I love your new notecards too. : )
The line, the bouncer, and of course the cupcakes in a cramped corner - they all make up to why I still love the original Magnolia's in the west village.
Can I jump in one of those cupcakes? Because I really, really want to.
You should start charging for your Cakespy confection consulting, your reviews are always spot-on! The Downtown cupcakes are infinitely cuter, but you are absolutely correct about the font they use. Fun read!
I love the comparison between the two locations of Magnolia Bakery - sounds like the Bleecker Street location "takes the (cup)cake!" (sorry, lame humor, haha)
Nice post good that i am not living there other wise you woudn't get me out of the place ;)))
How did I live BCS? ( Before Cakespy) My nephew raves about Magnolia ( downtown I am sure). What a great vicarious visit ! All best, Jan
I love Magnolia cupcakes...but I must admit that I have fallen harder for the cupcakes at Amy's Bread. You should definitely stop by her shop while you are in town!
Great post! Love the pictures and I agree cuteness is very important!
Sarah -- YES! I agree about the cupcakes (and, really, everything) at Amy's Bread! They are the best. I lived about 5 blocks from the West Village Magnolia Bakery for two years in law school and it was never my favorite -- on the other hand, I was at Amy's at least twice a week!
We so need little cupcake bakeries like that in Houston. I need to NYC to see them (**and please tell me they have vegan cupcakes, please please**). Can't wait to hear more about your trip!
This is one awesome post! I'd dearly love to visit Magnolia Bakery this being one of my dreams! I have their books and baked the Magnolia cupcakes which are amazing with lush butter cream - yum! Thanks for sharing this post really enjoyed the read!
Rosie x
I don't even live anywhere near this, but this whole post was so interesting! I was totally hooked with the cute pink and blue cupcakes. Cute wins all the time with me.
TW: Thanks! I hope you get to go soon!
Anticiplate: Yea! I look forward to hearing what you think!
Tres Poshe: Yes, it's a very magnolia week I guess! Your post is so yummy!
EB: Yup, it is tough, but we soldier ahead with it. :-)
Chou: I think every town needs one!
Gigi: Thanks! Nice swirl indeed, isn't it?
Cristina: We went there too, I am sure you'll read about it soon! I liked Sugar Sweet Sunshine, it is like hanging out in someone's living room. I have pics on my flickr account of our visit there: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cakespy -- if you search for sugar sweet sunshine you'll find quite a few!
ALF: That's not such a bad thing...
Mrs Presley: yeah it is fun!
Ms. Cupcake: Oh you should go! it's a great experience.
Emiline: You need to go!!
Anali: Thanks! Glad you like the cards too!
Cakewardrobe: We're with you!
BleedingEspresso: OK, you first and then we'll do it. ;-)
Rural Vegan: what kind words, thank you so much! And yes, cuteness does count, doesn't it??
Veggiegirl: We love that humor, bring it on!
Happy Cook: There could be worse places to spend the rest of your days...
Janice: Yes, the Uptown one is brand-spanking new! I would be curious to hear his thoughts on the new one!
Sarah: We adore Amy's bread. Their yellow cake with pink frosting is probably some of the best I've ever had! You might like our love-note to them on our "Cakewalk in the Chelsea Market"!
Katy: Yes, Amy's is great! I love the fact that there are so many places to choose from in NYC.
Annie: Yes, cutness IS important, isn't it?
Vegan Noodle: Alas, Magnolia doesn't have vegan cupcakes. However, there are plenty of great places in nyc that do--Babycakes for one, which is an adorable new spot. They also have good vegan cupcakes at a place on Avenue A that used to be Alt.Coffee but I think they changed their name.
Rosie: Hopefully you'll get to go soon! Love that you're so into the culture! :-)
Pam: Cuteness wins with us too ;-) Glad you enjoyed it!