Savor every bite of this delicious voyage through the culinary wonderland that is the Best Bakeries in America. These edible treasures, which are available from coast to coast, redefine baking and each one tantalizes the senses with a symphony of tastes. Whether you’re in the need for the chewy indulgence of a chocolate babka, the crispy perfection of a croissant, or the comforting nostalgia of a classic apple pie, these bakeries are culinary havens that turn the mundane act of breaking bread into an exquisite experience. Come celebrate the passion, artistry, and inventiveness that set these businesses apart as the pinnacles of baking excellence throughout the vast United States.
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Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero St, San Francisco, CA 94110
415-487-2600
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Tartine Bakery has locations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Seoul, South Korea. Do not worry if you are not near any of their brick-and-mortar stores-you can get their bread and other baked goods shipped to you anywhere in the United States. You must be near the bakery’s brick-and-mortar locations to get certain treats, such as quiche and coffee. I love being able to get their bread, no matter where I am in the country.This bakery is known for its fresh loaves of bread, pastries, cakes, and other treats. Tartine is known in particular for its bread. It has been operating since 2002 since it opened its first bakery at 600 Guerrero Street. The founders also have a few cookbooks.
Arsicault Bakery
397 Arguello Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118
415-750-9460
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Arsicault Bakery is a French bakery in San Francisco, California, known for its cozy store and delicious pastries. This bakery has two locations and a simple menu. It offers delicious French pastries such as croissants, kouign amann, buns, scones, cookies, and other pastries.If you are in the San Francisco area, you can make large orders a day in advance. However, if you order a large flan you will need to provide 48 hours’ notice. Ariscault Bakery does not deliver within the San Francisco area or throughout other areas of the country.
Bakery Lorraine
306 Pearl Pkwy #110, San Antonio, TX 78215
210-862-5582
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Bakery Lorraine has five locations throughout San Antonio, Texas, and Austin, Texas. The bakery is known for its French pastries and baked goods with an innovative flair. It is known for its macarons in particular. You can also enjoy dishes including quiche, Turkish eggs, sandwiches, Croque madame, and other delicious offerings at the bakeries or via deliveries. While Bakery Lorraine does not ship its entire menu across the United States, it does ship Macarons and coffee. The bakery started at a farmers market in 2011, and rapidly expanded from there.
Ken’s Artisan Bakery
338 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-2202
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Ken’s Artisan Bakery is a Portland, Oregon bakery known for its fresh baked goods and French bistro items. Specialties include loaves of bread, cookies, and croissants. The celebrated bakery opened its doors in 2001. Ken Forkish retired in 2022 and sold his business to his employees. Besides finding the loaves of bread, and other baked goods at the bakery, you can pick up a loaf of bread at several stores and restaurants around Portland. Forkish, the creator of the bakery, also has several books, including the James Beard Award-winning “Flour Water Salt Yeast.” He also wrote “The Elements of Pizza” and “Evolutions In Bread.”
Standard Baking Co.
75 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
207-773-2112
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Standard Baking Co. is a family-owned and operated bakery in Portland, Maine. It was founded in 1995 to make delicious artisanal baked goods. At the bakery, you can find a range of rolls, varieties of bread, breakfast pastries, and several other treats.This bakery does not ship its goods nationally. You can, however, get delivery to you if you live in the Casco Bay Islands. If you want a fresh loaf of bread or some remarkable breakfast pastries, you can order them in advance for pick-up. I love every kind of bread I tried from this bakery and I also love their morning buns.
Flour Bakery + Cafe in Boston, MA
131 Clarendon St, Boston, MA 02116
617-437-7700
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Flour Bakery + Cafe has ten locations throughout the Boston, Massachusets, and Cambridge, Massachusetts areas. It was founded by Joanne Chang and her husband, Christopher Myers in 2000. The bakery offers several loaves of bread, cakes, cookies, tarts, and breakfast pastries.If you live in the Boston area, the bakery allows you to schedule your items for pickup. However, if you do not live locally, do not worry! You can order baked goods and merchandise throughout the United States. If you want to give a unique and fun gift, consider Flour’s cookie kits and cookie dough subscriptions.
Muddy’s Bake Shop
2497 Broad Ave, Memphis, TN 38112
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Muddy’s Bake Shop is a Memphis, Tennessee bakery that strives to evoke a cozy, neighborhood feel. The bakery offers cakes, cupcakes, seasonal specials, and other sweets with a focus on southern classics.If you are passing the shop, they have plenty of baked goods that you can grab. Make sure to get to the shop early, since they are known for selling out before the end of the day.You can also reserve baked goods in advance for pickup. If you want to know about the bakery’s specific offerings, that menu goes live on Saturdays. Some of the bakery’s offerings include take-and-bake options such as pies and quiches.
Proof Bakery in Los Angeles, CA
3156 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
323-664-8633
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Proof Bakery is a Los Angeles, California bakery that opened in 2010. The bakery offers croissants, sandwiches, cakes, scones, cookies, tarts, coffee, and other offerings. The exact menu is driven by the season and ingredient availability. Aside from the day-to-day bakery offerings, Proof also offers whole cakes, tarts, and granola.If you would like to place a preorder for pickup for a cake or tart, you can email the bakery with your order information. Advance orders need three days of advance notice and a $20 minimum purchase.
Sugar Bakeshop
59 1/2 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
843-579-2891
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Sugar Bakeshop is a bakery in Charleston, South Carolina that specializes in cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. The cakes, cupcakes, and cookies come in year-round flavors and special seasonally available flavors. This place is another bakeshop that is so popular that it often runs out of favorite items. So, get there early! While Sugar Bakeshop does not deliver nationwide, it does offer delivery within the Charleston area. You can also order your baked goods for pickup. My favorite item here is the pumpkin pie with ginger meringue.
Levain Bakery
167 W 74th St, New York, NY 10023
917-464-3769
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Levain Bakery has several locations throughout New York, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Boston. A new Levain is coming to Chicago soon. This bakery focuses on one thing, and they focus on it very well: cookies. It offers several cookie varieties, including dark chocolate, peanut butter, oatmeal, rocky road, and more.This bakery offers delivery and pickup from its several locations. No matter where you live in the country, you can access Levain Bakery’s delicious cookies. They offer nationwide delivery from their website. The bakery also offers merchandise, including totes.
Sister Pie
8066 Kercheval Ave, Detroit, MI 48214
313-447-5550
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While Sister Pie is known primarily for its decadent pies made in Detroit, Michigan, this bakery also offers amazing cookies, breakfast, and lunch offerings. This bakery loves trying unexpected flavor combinations and making Michigan’s seasonal ingredients the star of the show. They always have intriguing pies. My recent favorite is the rhubarb rosemary streusel pie.Sister Pie was founded in 2013 and opened its doors in 2015. The founder, Lisa Ludwinski, also wrote a cookbook in 2018. You can pre-order the bakery’s pies and cookies online, as well as groceries such as dairy, meat, pantry items, and produce. If you want to learn how to make your pies, dough, scones, and galettes, Sister Pie offers several great classes.
The Buttery
702 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-458-3020
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Janet Platin opened Buttery Bakery in Santa Cruz, California in 1984. The bakery is known for its cakes, pastries, and cookies. It also caters for events, including weddings. Buttery Bakery offers custom cakes, as well as standard cakes in a brochure that you can choose from. My go-to breakfast here is the tomato pesto croissant or a marionberry puff.You can order from Buttery Bakery in advance, or you can stop by for freshly made pastry, cookies, and pies. If you order a custom cake in advance, you will need to allow three weeks between ordering and cake creation. Buttery Cafe offers breakfast and lunch for pickup, delivery, and dine-in.
As a seasoned enthusiast in the world of bakeries and culinary delights, my extensive knowledge stems from a genuine passion for exploring and savoring the finest baked goods across the United States. I've personally visited and experienced the offerings of renowned establishments, allowing me to provide insights that go beyond the superficial. My love for the artistry of baking and the diverse range of flavors and textures has led me on a culinary journey, and I'm thrilled to share my expertise with you.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about the "Best Bakeries in America":
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Tartine Bakery:
- Locations: Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Seoul, South Korea.
- Specialties: Fresh loaves of bread, pastries, cakes, and treats, particularly known for its bread.
- Shipping: Offers nationwide shipping for bread and other baked goods.
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Arsicault Bakery:
- Location: San Francisco, California.
- Specialties: French pastries, including croissants, kouign amann, buns, scones, and cookies.
- Ordering: Large orders can be made a day in advance, with 48 hours' notice for large flans.
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Bakery Lorraine:
- Locations: San Antonio, Texas, and Austin, Texas.
- Specialties: French pastries, innovative baked goods, and renowned macarons.
- Shipping: Ships macarons and coffee across the United States.
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Ken’s Artisan Bakery:
- Location: Portland, Oregon.
- Specialties: Fresh baked goods, French bistro items, including bread, cookies, and croissants.
- Note: Ken Forkish, the creator, retired in 2022, and the business was sold to employees.
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Standard Baking Co.:
- Location: Portland, Maine.
- Specialties: Family-owned bakery offering artisanal baked goods, rolls, bread, and breakfast pastries.
- Ordering: Does not ship nationally but offers delivery to Casco Bay Islands.
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Flour Bakery + Cafe:
- Locations: Boston, Massachusetts, and Cambridge.
- Founded by Joanne Chang in 2000, known for various baked goods including bread, cakes, cookies, and tarts.
- Ordering: Locals can schedule items for pickup, and nationwide delivery is available.
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Muddy’s Bake Shop:
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee.
- Atmosphere: Aims for a cozy, neighborhood feel.
- Specialties: Cakes, cupcakes, seasonal specials, and southern classics.
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Proof Bakery:
- Location: Los Angeles, California.
- Menu: Offers croissants, sandwiches, cakes, scones, cookies, and more, driven by season and ingredient availability.
- Preorders: Three days advance notice required for preorders.
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Sugar Bakeshop:
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina.
- Specialties: Cakes, cupcakes, and cookies in year-round and seasonal flavors.
- Delivery: Available within the Charleston area.
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Levain Bakery:
- Locations: New York, Maryland, Washington D.C., Boston (with a new location coming to Chicago).
- Focus: Known for its exceptional cookies with varieties like dark chocolate, peanut butter, oatmeal, and rocky road.
- Delivery: Nationwide delivery available from the website.
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Sister Pie:
- Location: Detroit, Michigan.
- Specialties: Decadent pies, cookies, breakfast, and lunch offerings with a focus on seasonal ingredients.
- Ordering: Pies, cookies, and groceries can be pre-ordered online.
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The Buttery:
- Location: Santa Cruz, California.
- Established in 1984, known for cakes, pastries, and cookies, with custom cake options.
- Ordering: Custom cakes require three weeks' notice, and breakfast and lunch options are available for pickup, delivery, and dine-in.
This comprehensive overview showcases the diverse and delectable offerings of these bakeries, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the American baking scene.
