New York City’s first ever “cake picnic” was a lovely, sweet affair that came to NYC from San Francisco for the first time in 2024. Fans of the series (myself included) were quick to call Cake Picnic NYC “Cake-chella”– and when we arrived to gather at a cozy event space in the lower West Village that year, we instantly knew we were a part of something special.
@cakepicnictour, moreover, is exactly what it sounds like— some of the city’s best bakers, home cooks, and cake lovers get together and essentially do a giant cake swap where you bring a cake and then get to sample a million other cakes.
In addition to purchasing a ticket, you need to bring a cake to enter– thus the cheeky tagline, “no cake, no entry”. (Ideally, each guest makes their own cake to showcase their personal thoughtfulness and creativity, but you can also bring a store-bought cake, too. As long as you come with a cake, you’re good!)
The idea was conceived and executed by Cake Picnic founder and home baker Elisa Sunga, a former Google employee who started the Cake Picnic series as a form of endearing social experimentation– to gather in celebration of friends, baking, and (of course) her sheer love of cake.
New York City’s first-ever cake picnic drew about 400 people (and cakes!), and the second year brought in around 1000 people (and cakes!), solidifying the event as the official cake lover’s paradise in the city. Some have even gone so far as to call it the “Super Bowl” or “Met Gala” of the cake world.
Today, the Cake Picnic Tour has taken Sunga across the globe to cities like London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Melbourne, and New York City– and she recently launched a Cookie Tour (also trademarked) that just had its inaugural gathering in Oakland, California.
Today, cake picnic NYC continues to evolve, with the second annual iteration of the event taking place on the rooftop of a warehouse in Brooklyn. There, guests enjoyed gorgeous, picturesque views of the New York City skyline while collecting slices of some of the most beautiful cakes the city’s resident culinary tastemakers had to offer.
Here, as at all official Cake Picnics, the pro bakers can get flavor and design inspiration, while us laypeople delight in the Wonka-esque whimsy of it all.
I have never seen so many cakes in one place, but in hindsight this was all very on-brand for me and other wonderful food critics in the city.
Gathering in celebration of food and whimsy is, especially now, a basic human need. We love that cake picnic– to paraphrase the founder’s own words– is both absurd and delightful. Why cake? Why not??!
Ultimately, the experience here really is all about creativity and community– cakes are just the means to those ends.
At each Cake Picnic, you get a fun cake slice box in which to stash all your samples to take home. Guests can eat them on site, or bring them elsewhere like to a picnic in the park, or to share with your friends– no matter how chaste or gluttonously you treat your samples, it’s always a fun the experience.
No two cakes at Cake Picnic are alike, and all of them are amazing. Traditional piping technique meets avante-guarde floral design; Asian-fusion flavors enhance coquettish cake silhouettes. Hobby bakers with delicious flavors line their cakes edge to edge with treats created by the Internet’s most popular bakers– and everyone leaves feelings inspired and a little bit giddy, like children who snuck away with an extra slice of cake from the party.
To maintain order, guests take turns filling their boxes according to a color-coded sticker system. This way, the event stays orderly, even as it draws increasingly large crowds. They also give guests time to peruse the tables and take pictures prior to the bustle of everyone collecting their cake slices. Go to Cake Picnic, and you’ll instantly become a cake connoisseur– I promise!
Ultimately, as Cake Picnic NYC grows in popularity, it’s bound to draw increasingly large crowds– so the venue and season are subject to change, as is the ease of purchasing tickets. (As of this writing, it’s a “Fall” event; those who secure tickets learn the event location over email in the lead-up to the big day, and it does sell out.)
I love this event, and look forward to it every year on the calendar of great NYC food events. New York is home to some of the most creative food artists in America. If you’re a baker or food lover in the city, it’s not to be missed!
For more information about Cake Picnic NYC, visit the Cake Picnic Tour website and sign up for the newsletter to be notified about future events in the city. We’re hoping Sunga decides to bring her “Cookie Picnic” tour to the city next– we’ll be ready.
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Related: Here’s our guide to The Best Places to Get Beautiful, Delicious Birthday Cakes in NYC.
Read our guide to The Best, Most Famous Cookies in NYC.
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