What does it take to stand out in a city of sourdough savants? One, and only one, thing: a croissant that’s simultaneously so preposterously flaky it leaves you covered in crumbs, so impossibly tender and buttery on the inside that it tastes like brioche, and so deeply golden that the underside is nearly caramelized.
I love Forno il Magnifico in Siena - Tuscany. Locals love this historic bakery for their pan co’ santi - a rich bread studded with raisins, walnuts, and spiced with red wine and black pepper - and special Easter schiacciata - a raised bread with aniseeds and mint liqueur -, said to be one of the best in the city. You’ll know when the schiacciata season has arrived by the long line outside. At Christmastime their pan co santi is available fresh daily, along with a focaccia made from the same dough, while throughout the rest of the year it’s typically available Fridays only.
Together with classic Sienese Christmas desserts, you’ll also find everyday breads, ciambelloni (donuts), cantucci cookies, and cakes like pinolata, panettone and colombe.
In my part of the UK, Woosters Bakery and Pump St Bakery (the former make incredible Scottish batch loaves, croissants and malt loaf, and the latter, Gibassiers flavoured with candied orange peel, anise and orange flower water). I love Bywater Bakery in New Orleans for its colour and exuberance too.
This is tough because access to good bakeries can reduce the incentive to actually bake! That said, in NYC we are lucky to have a lot of them, including She Wolf (the sprouted rye is amazing, as is their gingerbread) and Bien Cuit. I had to pandemic-move to another part of the country for a while, and after I came back, I was interested to see a couple of new (and, as it turns out, very good) ones in my neighborhood (Stuytown-adjacent): Bread Story, started by a veteran of NYC's Maison Kayser outposts, and Le Fournil in the East Village. Maybe my favorite right now though is Lost Bread Co, which I think is based in Philly but sells at the Union Sq Greenmarket (where I also enjoy Runner and Stone baked goods). Lost Bread does a fantastic job with different flours in their breads and cookies, and their sourdough table bread is my go-to when I don't have time to bake. All of these constantly inspire me to try new things with my own bread.
During my pandemic move, I would sometimes drive 40+ miles (I despise driving) to get the spelt loaf and croissants from Field & Fire in Grand Rapids, MI.
Aw, Bagelsaurus may be the cutest bakery name ever! And I'm drooling over the egg tart photos from Breadboard Bakery's Instagram feed.
Like Claire, I'm located in the SF Bay Area, so there are so many I haven't had the opportunity to visit. But some well-known faves in SF proper: b.patisserie, Jane the Bakery, Golden Gate Bakery (if they're open), Napoleon Super Bakery. From elsewhere in the Bay Area: The Sunday Bakeshop, L'epi D'or, Third Culture Bakery, The Cheese Board, Manresa Bread. As you can see, lots of Asian or Asian-influenced bakeries here.
+1 to Fournee! Let me also add Rosalind, in an unassuming strip mall in Pacifica (amazing pimiento cheese breakfast sandwiches); and Rolling Out, in the avenues (Asian-influenced and super underrated; try the superb pasteis de nata)
We are lucky to have a fabulous spot just a 3 block walk from home! 1748 Bakehouse is owned by neighbors, they use top notch ingredients and have a number of vegan items too. If you’re ever in Jacksonville, FL you need to go!
I'm extremely fortunate to access She Wolf Bakery every Friday when they post up at my local farmer's market. Wholeheartedly agree, their sprouted rye is incredible. I will trek to Brooklyn for a thick slab of focaccia from Apt. 2 Bread from She Wolf alum/general bread brainiac Carla Finley. I think no trip back to my family in Kansas City is complete without getting a box of flaky kouign amann and almond croissants from Ibis Bakery.
Lost Larson, Middlebrow/Bungalow, Masa Madre, all in Chicago! (& if any Chicagoans have tips for your favorite bagels within the city limits, as a Philly transplant, I would love to know...I am just far away enough from Skokie sans car that I don't get out there much)
and speaking of Philly, if I still lived in the area, I'd be at Korshak's Bagels every day I could. I finally got to try their bagels when I was home over Thanksgiving and they're beyond better than I expected.
Hey hey! Fellow Chicagoan here! I bet you're thinking of NY Bagel & Bialy in Skokie, but you can get their bagels at JB's Deli on Clark in Andersonville! Those are my fave bagels in the city--I have a car and am happy to get some fresh bagels to you sometime.
Also chiming in from Chicago! I'll upvote Lost Larson - I don't get up to Andersonville too often, but when I am in the area I just HAVE TO stop for a loaf of limpa bread!
My favorite baked treats in Chicago come from Anne at Sauce and Bread Kitchen in Edgewater. They're only open Thursday-Sunday and aside from also being HQ for the amazing Co-op Sauces, their baked treats, breads, and Friday pizza are absolutely phenomenal. They also have an expertly curated little shop, great menu options for dining in/takeout, and the kindest staff on the planet.
In Madison, Wisconsin, I love Origin Breads! They use regionally-grown grains, and their croissants are very special: naturally leavened with sourdough and made with wheat flour.
Arsicault on Arguello - my neighborhood spot!!
From Bon Appetit:
Bakery of the Year: Arsicault
San Francisco
What does it take to stand out in a city of sourdough savants? One, and only one, thing: a croissant that’s simultaneously so preposterously flaky it leaves you covered in crumbs, so impossibly tender and buttery on the inside that it tastes like brioche, and so deeply golden that the underside is nearly caramelized.
Hungry Ghost bread bakery in Northampton MA for sure. And Seven Stars in Providence.
I love Forno il Magnifico in Siena - Tuscany. Locals love this historic bakery for their pan co’ santi - a rich bread studded with raisins, walnuts, and spiced with red wine and black pepper - and special Easter schiacciata - a raised bread with aniseeds and mint liqueur -, said to be one of the best in the city. You’ll know when the schiacciata season has arrived by the long line outside. At Christmastime their pan co santi is available fresh daily, along with a focaccia made from the same dough, while throughout the rest of the year it’s typically available Fridays only.
Together with classic Sienese Christmas desserts, you’ll also find everyday breads, ciambelloni (donuts), cantucci cookies, and cakes like pinolata, panettone and colombe.
I am drooling! Wow.
Philadelphia, PA:
Mighty Bread Co - an amazing sourdough bakery with great sandwiches
Essen Bakery - another wonderful bakery focusing on Jewish baked goods like babka, bagels, & rugelach
Korshak Bagels - awesome sourdough bagels & schmears
9 Bean Rows Suttons Bay, MI http://www.9beanrows.com/
In my part of the UK, Woosters Bakery and Pump St Bakery (the former make incredible Scottish batch loaves, croissants and malt loaf, and the latter, Gibassiers flavoured with candied orange peel, anise and orange flower water). I love Bywater Bakery in New Orleans for its colour and exuberance too.
Still on my list to talk to Woosters about their batch bread! And I love gibassiers. I need to post my recipe here.
i was talking about your site to Will the baker at Woosters, the other day!
Tell him I will be in touch!!
I will
This is tough because access to good bakeries can reduce the incentive to actually bake! That said, in NYC we are lucky to have a lot of them, including She Wolf (the sprouted rye is amazing, as is their gingerbread) and Bien Cuit. I had to pandemic-move to another part of the country for a while, and after I came back, I was interested to see a couple of new (and, as it turns out, very good) ones in my neighborhood (Stuytown-adjacent): Bread Story, started by a veteran of NYC's Maison Kayser outposts, and Le Fournil in the East Village. Maybe my favorite right now though is Lost Bread Co, which I think is based in Philly but sells at the Union Sq Greenmarket (where I also enjoy Runner and Stone baked goods). Lost Bread does a fantastic job with different flours in their breads and cookies, and their sourdough table bread is my go-to when I don't have time to bake. All of these constantly inspire me to try new things with my own bread.
During my pandemic move, I would sometimes drive 40+ miles (I despise driving) to get the spelt loaf and croissants from Field & Fire in Grand Rapids, MI.
Aw, Bagelsaurus may be the cutest bakery name ever! And I'm drooling over the egg tart photos from Breadboard Bakery's Instagram feed.
Like Claire, I'm located in the SF Bay Area, so there are so many I haven't had the opportunity to visit. But some well-known faves in SF proper: b.patisserie, Jane the Bakery, Golden Gate Bakery (if they're open), Napoleon Super Bakery. From elsewhere in the Bay Area: The Sunday Bakeshop, L'epi D'or, Third Culture Bakery, The Cheese Board, Manresa Bread. As you can see, lots of Asian or Asian-influenced bakeries here.
Great Bay Area list. I'd add Fournee in Berkeley. My favorite.
Ooh I've heard good things about Fournee but haven't had a chance to try it yet.
+1 to Fournee! Let me also add Rosalind, in an unassuming strip mall in Pacifica (amazing pimiento cheese breakfast sandwiches); and Rolling Out, in the avenues (Asian-influenced and super underrated; try the superb pasteis de nata)
Yes, Rolling Out is one I still need to try!
I'm a big fan of Arizmendi, especially their pizzas and the City Sour loaf
We are lucky to have a fabulous spot just a 3 block walk from home! 1748 Bakehouse is owned by neighbors, they use top notch ingredients and have a number of vegan items too. If you’re ever in Jacksonville, FL you need to go!
https://1748bakehouse.com/
Winner here in Brooklyn makes some amazing bread.
I'm extremely fortunate to access She Wolf Bakery every Friday when they post up at my local farmer's market. Wholeheartedly agree, their sprouted rye is incredible. I will trek to Brooklyn for a thick slab of focaccia from Apt. 2 Bread from She Wolf alum/general bread brainiac Carla Finley. I think no trip back to my family in Kansas City is complete without getting a box of flaky kouign amann and almond croissants from Ibis Bakery.
As a fellow Boston-ite, Bagelsaurus is definitely a fave! Exodus Bagels over in Roslindale is a close second though!
Love exodus too! We so rarely cross the river, alas.
Ah yeah, I'm in JP so I have the opposite situation. I'd love to get over to Bagelsaurus more, but Exodus is much closer!
Lost Larson, Middlebrow/Bungalow, Masa Madre, all in Chicago! (& if any Chicagoans have tips for your favorite bagels within the city limits, as a Philly transplant, I would love to know...I am just far away enough from Skokie sans car that I don't get out there much)
and speaking of Philly, if I still lived in the area, I'd be at Korshak's Bagels every day I could. I finally got to try their bagels when I was home over Thanksgiving and they're beyond better than I expected.
https://www.lostlarson.com
https://www.middlebrowbeer.com/bungalow
https://hellomasamadre.com
https://korshakbagels.com
Hey hey! Fellow Chicagoan here! I bet you're thinking of NY Bagel & Bialy in Skokie, but you can get their bagels at JB's Deli on Clark in Andersonville! Those are my fave bagels in the city--I have a car and am happy to get some fresh bagels to you sometime.
Oh, this is a good tip. My kids are obsessed with bagels right now. The coffeeshop at my work gets theirs from The Bagelers which are also fantastic.
Also chiming in from Chicago! I'll upvote Lost Larson - I don't get up to Andersonville too often, but when I am in the area I just HAVE TO stop for a loaf of limpa bread!
Adding Floriole (http://www.floriole.com/) in Lincoln Park.
My favorite bakery is Hewn in Evanston! Amazing bread, pastries, sandwiches. Bought some frozen, bake-at-home croissants for Christmas-WOW!
https://hewnbread.com
Second hungry ghost bakery; rise above bakery in greenfield MA is also great and I love how different it is from
ghost while also so excellent. I appreciate places with strong points of view in addition to good bread.
Rise above, yes! Terrific pretzels!
My favorite baked treats in Chicago come from Anne at Sauce and Bread Kitchen in Edgewater. They're only open Thursday-Sunday and aside from also being HQ for the amazing Co-op Sauces, their baked treats, breads, and Friday pizza are absolutely phenomenal. They also have an expertly curated little shop, great menu options for dining in/takeout, and the kindest staff on the planet.
SBK pastries are, hands down, the best I've had anywhere in the city. I live on the opposite side of the city but trek up there just to indulge.
In Madison, Wisconsin, I love Origin Breads! They use regionally-grown grains, and their croissants are very special: naturally leavened with sourdough and made with wheat flour.
http://www.originbreads.com/