Special Report

Best Bakery in Every State

Courtesy of Michael W. via Yelp

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.

Courtesy of Caitlin P. via Yelp

Alabama: The Continental Bakery
> Location: Birmingham
> Sample specialty: Wild yeast sourdough bread

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Courtesy of JaNat D. via Yelp

Alaska: Marlo’s Bakery
> Location: Fairbanks
> Sample specialty: Pecan sticky bun

Courtesy of Squarz Bakery & Café via Yelp

Arizona: Squarz Bakery & Café
> Location: Tempe & Scottsdale
> Sample specialty: Kouign amann

Courtesy of Ann N. via Yelp

Arkansas: Dempsey Bakery
> Location: Little Rock
> Sample specialty: Jacob’s banana chocolate chip cookie

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Courtesy of Michael W. via Yelp

California: Acme Bread Company
> Location: Berkeley & San Francisco
> Sample specialty: Buckwheat meteil bread

Courtesy of Anna G. via Yelp

Colorado: Babette’s Bakery
> Location: Longmont
> Sample specialty: Oatmeal porridge loaf

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Courtesy of Michael U. via Yelp

Connecticut: Nana’s Bakery & Pizza
> Location: Mystic
> Sample specialty: Cacio e pepe sourdoughnut (made to order)

Courtesy of Sweet Somethings Dessert Shoppe

Delaware: Sweet Somethings
> Location: Wilmington
> Sample specialty: Chocolate espresso cake

Courtesy of Ba C. via Yelp

Florida: Yalaha Bakery
> Location: Yalaha
> Sample specialty: Pretzel roll with cheese

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Courtesy of Tatiana H. via Yelp

Georgia: Proof Bakeshop
> Location: Atlanta
> Sample specialty: Lemon cream cake

Courtesy of Joel D. via Yelp

Hawaii: Liliha Bakery
> Location: Honolulu
> Sample specialty: Pot mochi donut

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Courtesy of Daniel S. via Yelp

Idaho: Flight of Fancy Bakery
> Location: Donnelly
> Sample specialty: Huckleberry cream cheese danish

Courtesy of Nizel A. via Yelp

Illinois: Weber’s Bakery
> Location: Chicago
> Sample specialty: Buttermilk pound cake

Courtesy of Iona B. via Yelp

Indiana: Amelia’s Bread
> Location: Indianapolis
> Sample specialty: Pullman sandwich loaf

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Courtesy of Bjorn O. via Yelp

Iowa: Deluxe Cakes and Pastries
> Location: Iowa City
> Sample specialty: Parker House roll

Courtesy of Marli V. via Yelp

Kansas: Augustine’s Bakery
> Location: Hays
> Sample specialty: Black Forest cheesecake

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Courtesy of P K. via Yelp

Kentucky: Bluegrass Baking Company
> Location: Lexington
> Sample specialty: Bohemian beer bread

Courtesy of Mattie W. via Yelp

Louisiana: La Boulangerie
> Location: New Orleans
> Sample specialty: Cinnamon walnut churro

Courtesy of Jason M. via Yelp

Maine: Standard Baking Co.
> Location: Portland
> Sample specialty: Pistachio shortbread

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Courtesy of Brian R. via Yelp

Maryland: The Breadery
> Location: Catonsville
> Sample specialty: Baguette

Courtesy of Dan R. via Yelp

Massachusetts: Berkshire Mountain Bakery
> Location: Housatonic & Pittsfield
> Sample specialty: Jalapeño and cheese mini ciabatta

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Courtesy of Lena J. via Yelp

Michigan: Zingerman’s Bakehouse
> Location: Ann Arbor
> Sample specialty: Jewish rye bread

Courtesy of Angel K. via Yelp

Minnesota: Marc Heu Pâtisserie Paris
> Location: St. Paul
> Sample specialty: Paris Brest

Courtesy of Nathan H. via Yelp

Mississippi: The Bottletree Bakery
> Location: Oxford
> Sample specialty: Monkey bread

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Courtesy of Angela C. via Yelp

Missouri: Nathaniel Reid Bakery
> Location: Kirkwood
> Sample specialty: Four cheese and honey focaccia

Courtesy of Black Cat Bake Shop

Montana: Black Cat Bake Shop
> Location: Missoula
> Sample specialty: Cinnamon pecan rugelach

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Courtesy of Ayawna M. via Yelp

Nevada: La Belle Terre Bakery & Café
> Location: Las Vegas
> Sample specialty: Opéra cake

Courtesy of Liz S. via Yelp

New Hampshire: Polish Princess
> Location: Lancaster
> Sample specialty: Vollkornbrot (sourdough rye bread with sunflower seeds)

Courtesy of Tejune K. via Yelp

New Jersey: Balthazar Bakery
> Location: Englewood
> Sample specialty: Gruyère-chive bun

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Courtesy of Vi N. via Yelp

New Mexico: Golden Crown Panaderia
> Location: Albuquerque
> Sample specialty: Original New Mexico green chile bread

Courtesy of Joy J. via Yelp

New York: Sullivan Street Bakery
> Location: New York City
> Sample specialty: Pizza bianca (flatbread)

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Courtesy of Ola K. via Yelp

North Carolina: Amélie’s French Bakery and Café
> Location: Charlotte
> Sample specialty: Salted caramel brownie macaron

Photo by Michael U. via Yelp

North Dakota: Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café
> Location: Fargo
> Sample specialty: Pecan sticky roll

Courtesy of Vincent L. via Yelp

Ohio: Blackbird Baking Company
> Location: Lakewood
> Sample specialty: Cherry almond scone

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Courtesy of Alex G. via Yelp

Oklahoma: Front Porch Bakery
> Location: Claremore
> Sample specialty: Lemon poppy seed muffin

Courtesy of Megan L. via Yelp

Oregon: Ken’s Artisan Bakery
> Location: Portland
> Sample specialty: Hazelnut butter cookie

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bgwalker / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Pennsylvania: La Gourmandine
> Location: Pittsburgh
> Sample specialty: Madeleines au chocolat

Courtesy of JS C. via Yelp

Rhode Island: Pastiche Fine Desserts
> Location: Providence
> Sample specialty: Chocolate éclaire

Courtesy of Sugar Bakeshop

South Carolina: Sugar Bake Shop
> Location: Charleston
> Sample specialty: Red velvet cupcake

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Courtesy of Franny S. via Yelp

South Dakota: CH Pâtisserie
> Location: Sioux Falls
> Sample specialty: Classic croissant

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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Courtesy of Kolache Haven via Yelp

Texas: Kolache Haven
> Location: Denton
> Sample specialty: Jumbo cheese kolache

Courtesy of Xinmiao L. via Yelp

Utah: Eva’s Bakery
> Location: Salt Lake City
> Sample specialty: Date cake with butter cream

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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Courtesy of Karina M. via Yelp

Virginia: Sub Rosa Bakery
> Location: Richmond
> Sample specialty: Fig and cheese croissant

Courtesy of Karlo G. via Yelp

Washington: Bakery Nouveau
> Location: Seattle
> Sample specialty: Olive fougasse

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Courtesy of Kathleen M. via Yelp

West Virginia: Shepherdstown Sweet Shop
> Location: Shepherdstown
> Sample specialty: Pepperoni roll

Courtesy of Erik R. via Yelp

Wisconsin: Peter Sciortino Bakery
> Location: Milwaukee
> Sample specialty: Cranberry scone

Courtesy of Nazanin N. via Yelp

Wyoming: Persephone Bakery
> Location: Jackson Hole & Wilson
> Sample specialty: Chocolate bundt cake

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