In France, the distinction is made between a bread bakery (boulangerie) and a pastry shop (pâtisserie), and a similar dichotomy holds true in other places. In America, however, we tend to meld the two together with Yankee practicality, and our bakeries usually sell a wide range of flour-based (and/or gluten-free) baked goods, including breads, rolls, pastries, cakes and pies, and doughnuts, among other items. And if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that every town needs a good bakery. (There are also specialists, of course. For instance, this is the best donut shop in every state.)
If you’ve ever made a pie from scratch, rolled out your own sticky buns, or baked a fresh loaf of bread, you already know that baking can be a lot harder than it looks. Your adherence to quantities in your recipe has to be perfect, yeast needs to be given time to do its thing (if it’s involved), and it all needs to be baked at the correct temperature, for just the right amount of time. Now imagine scaling up production to serve up to hundreds of customers every day, all while making a profit, and you’ll understand just how hard it can be to run a bakery. Luckily for us, there are hardy souls everywhere around the country who have both the skill and the determination to do it.
To determine the best bakery in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed articles and rankings on a variety of sites including Eater, Taste of Home, Mashed, Mental Floss, Love Food, and Business Insider, as well as local and regional sources, basing our final choices on editorial discretion.
Click here to see the best bakery in every state
There are lots of different kinds of bakeries out there. In some, fresh-baked breads are front and center, while some are known for their cupcakes, pies, or croissants. Some follow recipes that have been passed down over generations, while others develop their own. Certain examples feature baked goods native to Latin America or Central Europe, while others offer specialties popular in their corners of the country – like kolaches in Texas or mochi donuts in Hawaii. (This is the most iconic dessert in every state.)
Whatever they serve, a great bakery can be more than just a place to grab a macaron or a Parker House roll or a loaf of rye: It can be the cornerstone of a community.
Source: Courtesy of Caitlin P. via Yelp
Alabama: The Continental Bakery
> Location: Birmingham
> Sample specialty: Wild yeast sourdough bread
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Source: Courtesy of JaNat D. via Yelp
Alaska: Marlo’s Bakery
> Location: Fairbanks
> Sample specialty: Pecan sticky bun
Source: Courtesy of Squarz Bakery & Café via Yelp
Arizona: Squarz Bakery & Café
> Location: Tempe & Scottsdale
> Sample specialty: Kouign amann
Source: Courtesy of Ann N. via Yelp
Arkansas: Dempsey Bakery
> Location: Little Rock
> Sample specialty: Jacob’s banana chocolate chip cookie
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Source: Courtesy of Michael W. via Yelp
California: Acme Bread Company
> Location: Berkeley & San Francisco
> Sample specialty: Buckwheat meteil bread
Source: Courtesy of Anna G. via Yelp
Colorado: Babette’s Bakery
> Location: Longmont
> Sample specialty: Oatmeal porridge loaf
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Source: Courtesy of Michael U. via Yelp
Connecticut: Nana’s Bakery & Pizza
> Location: Mystic
> Sample specialty: Cacio e pepe sourdoughnut (made to order)
Source: Courtesy of Sweet Somethings Dessert Shoppe
Delaware: Sweet Somethings
> Location: Wilmington
> Sample specialty: Chocolate espresso cake
Source: Courtesy of Ba C. via Yelp
Florida: Yalaha Bakery
> Location: Yalaha
> Sample specialty: Pretzel roll with cheese
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Source: Courtesy of Tatiana H. via Yelp
Georgia: Proof Bakeshop
> Location: Atlanta
> Sample specialty: Lemon cream cake
Source: Courtesy of Joel D. via Yelp
Hawaii: Liliha Bakery
> Location: Honolulu
> Sample specialty: Pot mochi donut
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Source: Courtesy of Daniel S. via Yelp
Idaho: Flight of Fancy Bakery
> Location: Donnelly
> Sample specialty: Huckleberry cream cheese danish
Source: Courtesy of Nizel A. via Yelp
Illinois: Weber’s Bakery
> Location: Chicago
> Sample specialty: Buttermilk pound cake
Source: Courtesy of Iona B. via Yelp
Indiana: Amelia’s Bread
> Location: Indianapolis
> Sample specialty: Pullman sandwich loaf
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Source: Courtesy of Bjorn O. via Yelp
Iowa: Deluxe Cakes and Pastries
> Location: Iowa City
> Sample specialty: Parker House roll
Source: Courtesy of Marli V. via Yelp
Kansas: Augustine’s Bakery
> Location: Hays
> Sample specialty: Black Forest cheesecake
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Source: Courtesy of P K. via Yelp
Kentucky: Bluegrass Baking Company
> Location: Lexington
> Sample specialty: Bohemian beer bread
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Source: Courtesy of Mattie W. via Yelp
Louisiana: La Boulangerie
> Location: New Orleans
> Sample specialty: Cinnamon walnut churro
Source: Courtesy of Jason M. via Yelp
Maine: Standard Baking Co.
> Location: Portland
> Sample specialty: Pistachio shortbread
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Source: Courtesy of Brian R. via Yelp
Maryland: The Breadery
> Location: Catonsville
> Sample specialty: Baguette
Source: Courtesy of Dan R. via Yelp
Massachusetts: Berkshire Mountain Bakery
> Location: Housatonic & Pittsfield
> Sample specialty: Jalapeño and cheese mini ciabatta
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Source: Courtesy of Lena J. via Yelp
Michigan: Zingerman’s Bakehouse
> Location: Ann Arbor
> Sample specialty: Jewish rye bread
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Source: Courtesy of Angel K. via Yelp
Minnesota: Marc Heu Pâtisserie Paris
> Location: St. Paul
> Sample specialty: Paris Brest
Source: Courtesy of Nathan H. via Yelp
Mississippi: The Bottletree Bakery
> Location: Oxford
> Sample specialty: Monkey bread
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Source: Courtesy of Angela C. via Yelp
Missouri: Nathaniel Reid Bakery
> Location: Kirkwood
> Sample specialty: Four cheese and honey focaccia
Source: Courtesy of Black Cat Bake Shop
Montana: Black Cat Bake Shop
> Location: Missoula
> Sample specialty: Cinnamon pecan rugelach
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Source: Courtesy of Ayawna M. via Yelp
Nevada: La Belle Terre Bakery & Café
> Location: Las Vegas
> Sample specialty: Opéra cake
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Source: Courtesy of Liz S. via Yelp
New Hampshire: Polish Princess
> Location: Lancaster
> Sample specialty: Vollkornbrot (sourdough rye bread with sunflower seeds)
Source: Courtesy of Tejune K. via Yelp
New Jersey: Balthazar Bakery
> Location: Englewood
> Sample specialty: Gruyère-chive bun
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Source: Courtesy of Vi N. via Yelp
New Mexico: Golden Crown Panaderia
> Location: Albuquerque
> Sample specialty: Original New Mexico green chile bread
Source: Courtesy of Joy J. via Yelp
New York: Sullivan Street Bakery
> Location: New York City
> Sample specialty: Pizza bianca (flatbread)
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Source: Courtesy of Ola K. via Yelp
North Carolina: Amélie’s French Bakery and Café
> Location: Charlotte
> Sample specialty: Salted caramel brownie macaron
Source: Photo by Michael U. via Yelp
North Dakota: Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café
> Location: Fargo
> Sample specialty: Pecan sticky roll
Source: Courtesy of Vincent L. via Yelp
Ohio: Blackbird Baking Company
> Location: Lakewood
> Sample specialty: Cherry almond scone
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Source: Courtesy of Alex G. via Yelp
Oklahoma: Front Porch Bakery
> Location: Claremore
> Sample specialty: Lemon poppy seed muffin
Source: Courtesy of Megan L. via Yelp
Oregon: Ken’s Artisan Bakery
> Location: Portland
> Sample specialty: Hazelnut butter cookie
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Source: bgwalker / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Pennsylvania: La Gourmandine
> Location: Pittsburgh
> Sample specialty: Madeleines au chocolat
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Source: Courtesy of JS C. via Yelp
Rhode Island: Pastiche Fine Desserts
> Location: Providence
> Sample specialty: Chocolate éclaire
Source: Courtesy of Sugar Bakeshop
South Carolina: Sugar Bake Shop
> Location: Charleston
> Sample specialty: Red velvet cupcake
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Source: Courtesy of Franny S. via Yelp
South Dakota: CH Pâtisserie
> Location: Sioux Falls
> Sample specialty: Classic croissant
Source: Courtesy of Muddy's Bake Shop via Yelp
Tennessee: Muddy’s Bake Shop
> Location: Memphis
> Sample specialty: Chocolate peanut butter bar
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Source: Courtesy of Kolache Haven via Yelp
Texas: Kolache Haven
> Location: Denton
> Sample specialty: Jumbo cheese kolache
Source: Courtesy of Xinmiao L. via Yelp
Utah: Eva’s Bakery
> Location: Salt Lake City
> Sample specialty: Date cake with butter cream
Source: Courtesy of King Arthur Café, Bakery & Store via Yelp
Vermont: King Arthur Café, Bakery & Store
> Location: Norwich
> Sample specialty: Rye sea salt brownie
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Source: Courtesy of Karina M. via Yelp
Virginia: Sub Rosa Bakery
> Location: Richmond
> Sample specialty: Fig and cheese croissant
Source: Courtesy of Karlo G. via Yelp
Washington: Bakery Nouveau
> Location: Seattle
> Sample specialty: Olive fougasse
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Source: Courtesy of Kathleen M. via Yelp
West Virginia: Shepherdstown Sweet Shop
> Location: Shepherdstown
> Sample specialty: Pepperoni roll
Source: Courtesy of Erik R. via Yelp
Wisconsin: Peter Sciortino Bakery
> Location: Milwaukee
> Sample specialty: Cranberry scone
Source: Courtesy of Nazanin N. via Yelp
Wyoming: Persephone Bakery
> Location: Jackson Hole & Wilson
> Sample specialty: Chocolate bundt cake
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