Magnolia Bakery is a better choice for those seeking a wide variety of cakes and cupcakes with a vintage bakery atmosphere, while Levain Bakery excels in fresh, warm cookies and breads with friendly customer service. However, customers should be aware of potential freshness issues and higher delivery fees with Magnolia Bakery.
| Attribute | Magnolia Bakery | Levain Bakery |
|---|---|---|
| Cake Variety | Confetti Cake, Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Cake, Hummingbird Cake, Red Velvet Cake, and Flourless Chocolate Cake. Cakes are made from scratch with buttercream frosting. | Banana chocolate chip slices and loaves, lemon slices and loaves, and sour cream coffee cake slices and loaves (available at the PMQ branch). |
| Cookie Selection | Chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin, and banana pudding cookies. Seasonal and holiday cookies like spritz cookies, cutout sugar cookies, gingersnaps, and jammy thumbprints. Also offers packaged cookies. | Chocolate Chip Walnut, Two Chip Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Walnut, Rocky Road, Lemon Cookie, and Caramel Coconut Chocolate Chip. Assorted cookie boxes are also available. |
| Cupcake Flavors | Classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate with vanilla or chocolate buttercream. Also offers red velvet cupcakes. Cupcake decorations, coloring and styling may vary. | Not available |
| Bread Options | Not available | French and Italian breads, organic sourdough, pan breads, and soft breads. Savory bread options include whole wheat walnut raisin loaf and country baguette. |
| Pastry Selection | Brownies, blondies, lemon bars, and banana pudding. | Muffins (blueberry, apple cinnamon, and carrot cake), scones, brioche, and bomboloncini. |
| Vegan/Gluten-Free Options | Does not currently offer gluten- or dairy-free options. | Vegan & Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Walnut cookie (baked alongside regular cookies, so cross-contamination is possible). |
| Price Range | Cakes: 6" cakes range from $54 to $60. Cupcakes: Shippable cupcakes range from $40 to $69. Brownies & Bars: Brownie & Blondie Combo (4 of each) is $31. Banana Pudding: Single-serve to multi-packs range from $5.75 to $84. Cookies: Prices range from $18 to $77. Sampler Packs: Range from $46 to $139. | Cookies: $5.00 to $7.25 each; Gift box of 4 cookies: $29, 8 cookies: $49, 12 cookies: $69; Shipping rates for cookie gift boxes: $12 to $49. |
| Store Ambiance | Vintage decor and inviting atmosphere. Described as a quaint, old-fashioned bakery. | Small and cramped, with a cozy atmosphere and the aroma of freshly baked goods. |
| Customer Service | Some reviews mention customer service issues. Email is the primary method of contact for online order issues. | Generally considered friendly and helpful. |
| Location and Accessibility | Originated in the West Village of NYC. Now with multiple locations, including Los Angeles and Chicago. They ship nationwide. | Multiple locations, including in New York City, Los Angeles, and Georgetown. The original location is on 74th Street in NYC. |
| Freshness of Products | Some reviews note the freshness of the banana pudding and cookies. However, some cake delivery reviews mention freezer-burnt taste. | Baked fresh daily, often served warm. Recommended to eat within a few hours of purchase. |
| Online Ordering/Delivery | Offers nationwide shipping. Online ordering is available with options to shop by delivery date or treat. Delivery fees can be high. | Nationwide shipping for cookie gift boxes. Local delivery and pickup are available through their website, DoorDash, Caviar, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Seamless. Delivery date can be requested. |