Levain Bakery is a beloved cookie chain, originally established thirty years ago in New York City and now with 15 locations nationwide. This review is based on their Back Bay location in Boston.
Levain Bakery (Back Bay)
Overall Rating: ★★★★★ out of 5 stars
Address: 180 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Perfect For: Thick indulgent cookies and amazing scones
Hours: Daily 8am – 10pm
Reservations: No
Parking: Street
Links: Website
Cost: $5 per cookie
Levain Bakery started in New York in 1995, named for the French word for the natural leavening agent levain, more commonly known as a sourdough starter. The founders started their business making artisanal breads for NYC restaurants, and later became known for their massive 6-ounce cookies. Their cookies are so popular that they even have a Levain Cookie Club, where members receive an 8-pack box of cookies every month delivered to their home.
I visited their Boston location, which is in Back Bay on Newbury St near the beautiful Boston Public Library and Copley Square. The bakery is small but cozy, and has some seating for those dining in. Service is very fast, but if you want to skip the line, you can order online for pickup or delivery.
There are cookies, loaf cakes, breads, pastries, and brioche to select from. The cookies incorporate various flavors such as chocolate, walnut, oatmeal, raisin, and peanut butter. Pastries options include blueberry muffin, oatmeal cranberry scone, and sticky buns (weekends only).
I ordered the oatmeal raisin cookie, dark chocolate chocolate chip cookie, two chip chocolate chip cookie, and an oatmeal cranberry scone for takeout. The cookies looked very enticing and were artfully packaged in a box.
Levain’s cookies are large cookies, about 6 ounces each or 800 kcal. Very filling. They’re perfect if you’re looking for thick and indulgent cookies. They’re intentionally crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside, with an almost brownie-like texture. My favorite was the two chip chocolate chip cookie.
The oatmeal cranberry scone was very well executed — buttery, fluffy, airy, and moist without being too poofy (almost as good as my cranberry orange scones recipe!). This scone is a Boston exclusive and not available at other locations. Made from local dried cranberries, it pays homage to Massachusetts’ most famous export.
If I returned again, I would be interested in trying the caramel coconut chocolate chip cookie, which combines gooey caramel chips with shredded coconut. My only hesitation is that the cookies are rather dense and heavy. I’d also be interested in their lemon slice, which is traditional pound cake with a lemony twist.
