[Photo: Kathy YL Chan]

As far as sweets are concerned, Bloomingdales is best known for the amazing frozen yogurt at Forty Carrots, tucked away in the seventh floor of the department store. Those looking for something a little different, perhaps a little more serene, should head to the newly updated B Cafe on the sixth floor. Here there are doughnuts (both yeast and cake) from the Doughnut Plant, brownies and blondies from Hot Blondies Bakery, cupcakes from Buttercup Bake Shop, and pastries by Ceci-Cela and Sullivan Street Bakery.

My favorite? The Banana-Caramel Cupcake from the little-known Cupcake Express. A super-moist banana cake base laced in caramel is topped off with a buttery, smooth cream cheese frosting. Sweet? Yes, but not toothachingly so. The cupcake runs $4.50 and is appropriately sized for two people. And there's plenty of seating, right smack between the eye candy of Kitchenaid mixers and shiny espresso machines.

B Cafe at Bloomingdales

6th Floor of Bloomingdales
1000 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022 (map)
212-705-2000
bloomingdales.com