BonBon NYC Review: Is the Viral Candy Store Worth It?

The BonBon NYC Story

BonBon was founded in 2017 by Swedish immigrants who missed the candy from home. Their first location on Allen Street in the Lower East Side was a small, pink-walled shop selling pick-and-mix Swedish candy — a concept most New Yorkers had never seen. For the first couple of years, it was a neighborhood gem with a loyal but small following.

Then TikTok happened.

A wave of creators filming the candy scooping experience turned BonBon into a viral phenomenon. The signature pale pink paper bags, gold scoops, and colorful candy bins were catnip for the algorithm. Seemingly overnight, BonBon went from shipping 50 orders a day to over 1,000. They expanded to four locations across Manhattan and Brooklyn, and their online store exploded.

350+ Yelp reviews and a 4.5-star rating later, BonBon is the most recognizable Swedish candy brand in America. But does the actual candy experience live up to the social media spectacle? We went to find out.

The In-Store Experience

Walking into BonBon's Lower East Side flagship feels like entering a Wes Anderson version of a Swedish candy shop. The walls are soft pink, the bins are labeled in a clean sans-serif font, and the gold scoops catch the light in a way that makes everything feel special. It's calculated, sure — but it works.

The Tour

If it's your first visit, staff will ask and then offer a guided tour of the candy selection. This isn't a hard sell — it's genuinely helpful. They'll walk you through the bins, explain flavor profiles, and let you sample a few pieces. The staff are young, enthusiastic, and clearly know their product. They'll ask what kind of candy you usually like and point you toward Swedish equivalents.

The tour takes about 5–10 minutes and is one of the best parts of the experience. Unlike American candy stores where you're left to figure it out yourself, BonBon's approach feels more like a guided tasting at a wine shop. Except instead of Pinot Noir, you're learning about salmiak licorice and why BUBS watermelon skulls are shaped like skulls.

The Selection

BonBon stocks over 140 varieties, and 100% of the candy is imported from Sweden. The lineup includes:

• Gummies: BUBS watermelon, raspberry, strawberry, banana — plus seasonal flavors that rotate
• Sour candy: Sour skulls, sour worms, sour belts, S-Märke Supersurt
• Licorice: Sweet licorice, salt licorice, salmiak, licorice boats, licorice pipes
• Marshmallow: Swedish marshmallow foam candy in various flavors and shapes
• Chocolate: Marabou, Daim, Plopp, and Kexchoklad bars
• Hard candy & lozenges: Läkerol, polka mints, and various fruit drops

The depth is impressive. This isn't just "Swedish gummies in different colors" — there are genuinely different textures, flavor profiles, and candy-making traditions represented. The foam candy is unlike anything American stores carry, the sour candy uses different acid coatings than US brands, and the licorice goes from mild-sweet to "your Scandinavian grandmother would approve" salty.

What to Skip

Let's be real: not everything in the bins is a revelation. The basic fruit gummies (plain strawberry, plain orange) are good but not dramatically different from quality American gummies. If you're paying BonBon prices, prioritize the items you can't find elsewhere: the foam candies, the sour skulls, the salmiak licorice, and the textured gummies that are uniquely Swedish.

Pricing: The Honest Truth

BonBon charges $4.50 per quarter pound for pick-and-mix candy. That works out to about $18 per pound, which is firmly in the "premium candy store" category. For context:

• A typical 10-piece selection runs about $8–10
• A "full experience" bag (15–20 pieces) runs $15–25
• Pre-packaged items range from $4–25
• Gift boxes start around $20

Is it expensive? Compared to grabbing a $1.50 bag of Haribo at CVS, absolutely. Compared to other specialty candy stores — especially NYC ones — it's in line. The candy is imported from Sweden, which adds real cost, and the quality difference from mass-market American candy is noticeable.

Here's the trap: you'll always spend more than you planned. You go in thinking "I'll just get five pieces," and you leave with a bag that weighs half a pound because the staff sample got you hooked on three things you didn't know existed. Budget $15–20 for your first visit and accept it. Consider it tuition for your Swedish candy education.

Online Store Review

Can't make it to NYC? BonBon's online store (bonbonnyc.com) ships nationwide. The website is well-designed — you can browse by candy type, flavor profile, or dietary restriction (vegan, gluten-free, gelatin-free). Product photography is excellent, which matters when you're buying candy you've never seen before.

Online Pros

• 2–3 day express shipping continental US
• Local delivery in Manhattan and Brooklyn
• Clear dietary labels on every product
• Beautiful gift packaging options
• Tracking on all orders

Online Cons

• You lose the in-store sampling experience
• No pick-and-mix online — you're choosing pre-set bags or individual products
• Candy availability fluctuates (popular items sell out)
• Shipping adds to the already-premium pricing

The online experience is good — 8/10 in our store rankings. But the in-store experience is a 9.5. If you're in NYC, go in person.

BonBon's Four Locations Compared

• Lower East Side (130 Allen St): The flagship and biggest location. Best selection, most staff, longest hours (open daily 10am–midnight). This is where most TikTok content is filmed. Can get crowded on weekends.
• Williamsburg (705 Driggs Ave): Great location if you're in Brooklyn. Slightly smaller than LES but the same quality and selection. Less crowded than the flagship.
• Upper East Side (1220 Lexington Ave): Convenient uptown location. Smaller footprint but full pick-and-mix selection. Good for quick visits.
• Red Hook (66 Degraw St): Weekends only. The smallest and most intimate location, with a different vibe — less tourist, more neighborhood. Worth visiting if you're in the area on a Saturday or Sunday.

Our recommendation: LES for the full experience, Williamsburg for a relaxed visit, UES for convenience.

The Dietary Edge

One of BonBon's strongest selling points — and something that often gets lost in the TikTok hype — is the ingredient quality. Over 40% of their candy is gelatin-free and gluten-free. Everything is free from GMOs, trans fat, and high-fructose corn syrup. For Americans used to candy loaded with Red 40 and HFCS, this is a genuine upgrade.

BonBon staff are trained on dietary restrictions and can quickly guide you to options that work for vegan, halal, gluten-free, or allergen-sensitive diets. This is where Swedish candy in general shines — the EU regulations that govern these products are stricter than US FDA standards, resulting in cleaner ingredient lists across the board.

Our Rating

Who BonBon Is (and Isn't) For

BonBon is perfect for:

• First-time Swedish candy explorers who want guidance and sampling
• Gift buyers looking for something unique and beautifully packaged
• Health-conscious candy lovers who want cleaner ingredients
• TikTok fans who want to experience the real thing (it's even better in person)
• Tourists looking for a memorable NYC food experience

BonBon might not be for:

• Bulk buyers — the per-gram pricing adds up fast for large orders
• People who already know exactly what Swedish candy they want (order online from a cheaper store)
• Anyone who hates crowds — the LES store gets packed on weekends

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much should I budget for a BonBon visit?

$15–20 is a realistic first-visit budget. You'll get 10–15 pieces of candy, which is enough to try a good range. If you're buying gifts or getting really into it, $30–40 isn't unusual. The staff won't pressure you — you can absolutely buy just 5 pieces for under $10.

Q: Is the candy actually from Sweden, or is it made in the US?

100% imported from Sweden. BonBon is very clear about this, and it's easy to verify — the candy packaging has Swedish text, EU ingredient labels, and Swedish brand names. They don't carry any American-made candy.

Q: What's the best time to visit to avoid crowds?

Weekday mornings and early afternoons are ideal. You'll get the best selection (popular items sell out by evening) and shorter wait times. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest, with occasional lines outside the LES location.

Q: Can I order BonBon candy for delivery in NYC?

Yes — BonBon offers local delivery in Manhattan and Brooklyn through their website. It's a great option for parties or if you just don't feel like leaving your apartment. (No judgment. We've all been there.)

Q: What's the one candy I absolutely must try?

Ask the staff for their personal favorite — you'll get a genuine answer, not a sales pitch. If we had to pick one: the sour skulls. They're the candy that converts American candy skeptics. Sour, fruity, and a texture that's completely different from anything Sour Patch Kids ever attempted.