CANDY
Candy Land comes to life at these immersive candy stores and pop-ups. The goods may be overpriced, but the memories for out-of-town-visitors and special occasions are priceless.
Also see our guide to chocolate shops and dessert destinations.
STORES
M&M’s World
Midtown-40sFill up on favorite flavors, colors and unique sizes of M&Ms at a two-story color wall packed with Milk, Peanut and Specialty M&M’S Candies like Caramel Popcorn and Mint Brownie (be careful, bags are $17/pound and get expensive quickly).
Lots of fun photo-ops with a Statue of Liberty Green, disco Blue and other oversized M&Ms and vintage illustrations plus shop for rainbow colored merchandise throughout the three-story, 25,000 square feet emporium. Find out which color M&M you are with a very scientific scanner and create M&Ms with customized messages.
Daily 10am – 10 pm
Max Brenner
Union SquareSelect from nine hot chocolates – Italian Thick, Oreo, Peanut Butter and more – at this huge cafe and store that feels like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, with tubes of liquid chocolate criss crossing the space. Choose from a variety of creative, high-quality chocolate concoctions to fo, gift or to eat on site.
Salads, paninis, pizza, cocoa spiced waffle fries etc. available on the extensive menu, but the real draw is the over-the-top desserts from marshmallow chocolate pizza to three types of chocolate fondue to a melting s’mores sundae to a syringe full of chocolate goodness. Lots of cocktails, including a chocolate peppermint martini, available for grown-ups.
Advance reservations recommended.
Mon-Fri 12 pm-11 pm
Thu-Sat 11 am – midnight
Sun 10 am–11 pm
Pick up chocolates & hot cocoa to go at the Times Square outpost (720 7th Ave at West 48th St).
Economy Candy
Lower East SideAt this legendary family-owned LES sweets emporium, founded in 1937, shop over 2,000+ items, including international gummies, unique candy bars, a color-sorted jelly belly bar, chocolate covered graham crackers (with and without jelly), bacon and kale lollipops and so much more. Also find unique toys, Pez, gifts and vintage trading cards featuring fan favorites from Garbage Pail Kids to Super Mario to Growing Pains to Stranger Things.
Small and gets crowded on weekends but lots to discover while waiting in line. You can also browse their extensive offerings online and order for delivery or curbside pick up.
Lots of cool street art to explore in the neighborhood.
Also at Chelsea Market.
Hershey’s Chocolate World: REESE’S Stuff Your Cup
Midtown-40sLovers of Hershey’s Kisses, Kit-Kats and other classic candy faves can shop Hershey’ merch (including giant candy bars), try giant s’mores served from an authentic camper and get more sweets from Hershey’s Kitchens Bakery treats featuring candy-filled milkshakes, cookies, cookie dough cups, and seasonal cupcakes.
Create a one-pound REESE’S Peanut Butter Cup stuffed with favorite mix-ins and fresh peanut butter ($19.95).
Monday – Thursday 10 am – 10 pm
Friday – Saturday 9 am- 11 pm
Sunday 10 am – 9 pm
Sour Patch Kids NYC
Noho/NolitaCreate-your-own candy mix, pose with oversized Sour Patch Kids in fun NYC-themed photo ops and shop limited-edition merchandise in this spacious colorful celebration of the classic candy.
A special Sweets Bar menu serves with waffles, cake shakes and more crazy desserts featuring Sour Patch Kids.
Sunday-Thursday 11 am – 8 pm
Friday-Saturday 11 am – 10 pm
Experiences
Museum of I-Scream
For Halloween, the Museum of Ice Cream gets spooky with skeleton, pink pumpkin and spiders throughout the 13 colorful, interactive installations across 3 floors. Collect unlimited candy and fun candy facts. Sample five different ice cream treats throughout the experience. Each station offers different flavors, from pumpkin spice to passionfruit mochi to lemon meringue; not all are palatable to picky eaters but there are a few basics like chocolate and rainbow sherbert.
Play in a game room with swings and jungle gyms, splash in a rainbow sprinkle pool, ride down a three-story slide, learn fun ice cream tidbits, pose in pink & rainbow photo-ops and more interactive fun.
You can spend as long as you like in each room (we played in the sprinkle pool for over an hour), but you can only move forward and can’t go back once you leave a room.
Thursday-Monday 11 am – 5 pm
Sweet & Spooky Halloween Harvest at Cricket’s Candy Creation
Craft Halloween-themed edible candy art including Candy Corn Slime, Boo-licious Bling, Marshmallow Ghosts, Crazy Candy Apples, Chocolate Broomstick Painting throughout several spacious rooms.
Choose and paint pumpkins from a Pumpkin Patch ($20) and enjoy apple cider and apple cider donuts.
Wednesday-Sunday 11 am–6 pm
Halloween at Candytopia
Candy Land comes to life in a 24,000 square feet interactive art installation made of candy. Find favorite sugarcoated delights throughout over 17 colorful environments including a confetti room with candy-farting pigs, a zipline, New York-inspired candy artwork, an infinity mirror room, Sugar High Theater and a marshmallow pit. Remind your kids the marshmallows are not edible, but lots of samples throughout the experience.
Costumes are encouraged during the month of October. Look for spooky surprises. Find a hidden candy corn in the marshmallow pit and receive a prize.Friday-Saturday 10 am–9:30 pm
Sunday 11 am-8pm
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 10 am–8 pm