Lee Lee's Baked Goods

Authored by the same woman who started Lee Lee's Baked Goods, this bakery offers indulgent pastries, plus the coffee to wash them down—think flaky croissants and layered cakes beside a hot cup of joe. The cash register is only a few blocks south of City College on the same stretch where Harlem’s bakeries trade century-old recipes for a modern edge; the full address is 283 W 118th St, New York, NY 10026. Neighbors stop at 118th not just for a sugar fix, but for an establishment that nods to its founders’ identities—Black-owned and women-owned—without making the signage a lecture.

A quick call seals the deal when you’re deciding which morning treat to grab; dial (917) 493-6633 while walking up from the 1 train exit. Patrons usually start with the coffee, black or doctored, then eye the case for whatever just came out of the oven. The adjoining counter space is tight, as it is in most Harlem storefronts, so buying a single pastry and a small brew cuts the small-space choreography down to one trip.

Even if you’re just passing on W 118th between Morningside Heights and the Audubon, keep the map link below for when your sweet tooth wakes up later: directions land you right outside the door.