Lined up next to the multitude of shops and cafés that form the two bustling sides of Newbury Street, Levain Bakery isn’t exactly hidden. Whether you recognize it by the distinctive smell of its signature bake or the crowd of people waiting outside for a taste, it’s the kind of store that immediately catches your eye.
Known for its origins in New York City, Levain Bakery’s cookies are famous for their uniquely larger portions and irresistibly chewy texture. It’s no surprise, then, that the branch of the famous delicacy shop in downtown Boston lives up to the reputation that precedes it. The cozy store located on Newbury Street captures a warmth and crispness in its cookies and aesthetic that is almost too fitting for the Fall Season. In its doughy charm and cozy appeal, Levain is a must-visit for all cookie lovers.
Levain’s selection offers a wide range of tastes — some available year-round, some specific to the season — but as a first-time visitor, I gravitated to the classics. I specifically chose the Dark Chocolate Chip Cookie, priced at a little under six dollars, for my love of the bittersweet fragrance of cocoa.
It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Levain is all about perfection, even in the details — their choice of delicate, clean packaging left a first impression of professionalism and thoughtfulness. The cookie came in a neat paper bag with a cute sticker attached to it, and the staff had also taken care to wrap my chosen baked good with baking paper for eating convenience. Right away, I also noticed that the cookie itself was as large as advertised, reaching almost about the size of a fist — and the first bite was simply phenomenal. The satisfying crunch of an exterior baked to perfection quickly gave way to the soft crumble and pooling chocolate of the cookie’s interior. Truly the best of both worlds. Frankly, the cookie's richness might have done better paired with a good drink, but I didn’t have the foresight to purchase one alongside it at the time. (A future revisit might prove this hypothesis, though.)
But Levain’s highlights didn’t stop with the food itself — the store’s decor is also not to be overlooked. Upon a first glance at the shop interior, customers are first greeted with a beautifully simplistic mural of downtown Boston, colored by vibrant blue (the store’s signature color) and a complementary beige. Directly to the right is a view of the kitchen, where visitors gaze at the racks of cookies and other delicacies ready for baking. Despite the abundance of blue streaking across the walls, the store is surprisingly warm — you feel it in the smell of fresh pastries, the friendliness of the staff, and in your first bite of whatever good you choose to buy.
To me, Levain is also, more than anything, a seasonal recommendation. While cookies are the kind of snack to be enjoyed regardless of the time of year, Levain’s delicacies specifically embody the spirit of fall: a crunch and crisp like that of browning leaves and chilly autumn winds, and a soft warmth that feels like cozy knitwear or sunshine on a cold, overcast day. The specificity of the season is really just for establishing the proper atmosphere — sometimes, these small details really help make the holistic experience that much better.
Though Levain might range on the more expensive side for a cookie, their delicacies are definitely worth every cent and calorie. Combined with the bakery’s comfortably cohesive aesthetic and the store’s fulfillment of my desire to romanticize the autumn, Levain easily scores 5/5 stars. Take it from a harsh-ish critic — this bakery is as good as it gets.
About Jackie Li
Jackie Li is a member of the class of `23 at Phillips Academy.
