It’s been 30 years since The New York Times ran the headline, “From a Small Bakery, a Virtual Mountain of a Cookie” — and customers have been having peak experiences ever since.

Levain’s founders had trained for triathlons; their outsized cookies were the ultimate post-race treat.

Today, the bakery offers artisan breads, savory sandwiches, muffins, pastries and full barista service as well as the storied crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside 6-ounce cookies. 

With its recent opening at Fashion Island, Levain boasts 20 locations from Manhattan, NY, to Newport Beach. Highlights: the original chocolate chip walnut cookie; baked goods including ciabatta and cinnamon butter brioche; and a tomato, arugula and burrata sandwich on an everything baguette. New for fall: cacio e pepe scone.

A mural of surfing and cookies is the cheery backdrop for cappuccinos, cold-foam drinks, matcha and lattes that include the popular Iced Cookie Milk version.

Why Fashion Island?

“We’d been looking in Orange County for a few years,” says co-CEO Taya Stenson. “We immediately noticed the kids, dogs, families, friends. … I saw two people running toward each other across this exact storefront and hugging!

“We saw the community gathering, having coffee, chatting, catching up at the tables. … Community is very important to us. It was perfect.”