Note: This article contains affiliate links, and I make a commission if you choose to purchase directly with my link. Affiliate links are denoted with an asterisk.
I have a giant sweet tooth, so while living in NYC during college, I was constantly looking for new bakeries to try! As someone with allergies to gluten, dairy, and eggs, I would obviously look for dedicated gluten free bakeries, but I also found plenty of vegan bakeries that had gluten free options! For this list, I have included bakeries that are not necessarily dedicated gluten free, but I have never personally gotten sick from eating at them. If you only prefer dedicated gluten free bakeries, read my other article here talking about my favorite dedicated gluten free bakeries around the country!
By Chloe (Multiple locations around NYC):
By Chloe has both a fast-casual restaurant and bakery locations that are in various locations around Manhattan. It is a completely vegan restaurant/bakery with some gluten free options. While they have limited gluten free options (a chocolate cupcake and a chocolate chip cookie), the options taste really good. In fact, the gluten free chocolate chip cookie tasted so much better than the regular one, they simply eliminated the "regular" option last year. Every time I have asked for them to change gloves or wipe a surface down, they have been very respectful. The great thing about their bakery products is that they are much more affordable than other bakery options in the city, plus you can get a meal with your baked goods if you are hungry!
Cinnamon Snail (The Pennsy Food Hall at Penn Station):
Cinnamon Snail is also both a fast-causal restaurant and bakery located in The Pennsy Food Hall at Penn Station. It is a completely vegan restaurant/bakery with some gluten free options. They have brownies and donuts that are gluten free and delicious. Prices at this bakery are a little expensive (and the donuts are fairly small), but it is in a great location if you need something before you catch a train out of NYC (because let's be frank, outside NYC it is much harder to find gluten free, vegan baked goods).
I will warn that this is probably the bakery I have had to be most proactive about regarding cross contamination.
Erin McKenna (Lower East Side):
Erin McKenna's Bakery is located in LES and is completely gluten free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO. They have tons of different products including donuts, cookies, cupcakes, loaves (lemon, carrot, etc.), bagels, and other rotating specialties. When I lived in NYC, I would visit this bakery pretty much every week (and sometimes more often), so I have tried almost all of their menu. While they are a bit pricey, it is worth it. All of my friends I've brought (maybe dragged) to the bakery have been shocked to find out it is completely gluten free and vegan, saying they wouldn't have been able to tell if I hadn't let them know.
Why is it the best in all of NYC? Most other dedicated gluten free bakeries in the boroughs have one or two options for those with additional allergies (such as dairy, egg, soy, etc.) whereas all of their products cater to multiple food allergy needs.
Buy her cookbook here*.
Clementine Bakery (Brooklyn):
Clementine Bakery is a vegan bakery in Clinton Hill that has some gluten free options. I will be honest that I only have been here once because it wasn't very easy to get to from where I lived. However, the one time I went, everything was delicious! Plus they were very honest and accommodating about my questions regarding cross contamination. I had a gluten free cupcake, but they also have breads and brownies (and I believe you can even get a sandwich during lunch time). According to their website, the pastries aren't the cheapest you'll find, but they taste great and support a local business!
If you are newly diagnosed or a food allergy expert worried about traveling to NYC, fear not. There are fantastic options all around the city that are safe for those with allergies! When in doubt, research ahead of time, and you should be able to find a great bakery.