Best Bakeries in Seattle: 21 Top Picks

There is something magical about going to a bakery. It could be the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked bread, the drool-worthy display of pastries, or the childlike excitement you feel when taking that first bite. Fortunately, there is an overwhelming number of bakeries to choose from in Seattle.

This is a city that takes their baked goods very seriously, and having a bakery just around every corner feels like part of the Northwest culture. Whether you’re into croissants, cake, or sourdough, our guide to the best bakeries in Seattle is packed with incredible treats for you to taste.

21. Fresh Flours

Fresh Flours feels like a familiar, friendly neighborhood bakery. We love it here because they’re always stocked with all the traditional bakery crowd-pleasers, plus they have four locations around the city to choose from, so you’re never too far away. Their twice-baked chocolate almond croissant is our go-to order here, and often sells out by mid-morning. It has a scrumptious almond paste layer through the center of the laminated dough, and a generous dusting of powdered sugar.

20. Crumble & Flake Patisserie

Though this bakery may be small, Crumble & Flake is baking with big, bold flavors. Fun fact: the Crumble & Flake pastry chef is actually the mastermind behind the famous Dahlia Bakery donuts, featured on our guide to the best donuts in Seattle. Her creations at Crumble & Flake continue to impress us, particularly the kouign amann. If you haven’t experienced a French kouign amann, otherwise known as “butter cake”, head to this to-go-only bakery on Capitol Hill immediately.

19. Three Girls Bakery

As Female Foodies, we love that this was the first bakery licensed to women (three sisters) in the city of Seattle and has remained a local favorite for over a century. It’s difficult to walk past the large window display of bread, cookies, and pastries without stopping at their over-the-counter window for a treat. Pike Place has several bakeries to choose from, but Three Girls Bakery is where you go when in the mood for a cookie. Their chocolate crinkle cookie is chocolatey, gooey, and rich with a satisfyingly crisp exterior.

SEE ALSO: 10 Best Donuts in Seattle

18. Celine Patisserie

Celine Patisserie is a quaint shop near Green Lake offering plenty of enticing treats. Everything is beautifully designed here and it’s enjoyable to spend time just looking over all of your options (the two main display cases are organized with desserts on one side and pastries on the other).  The standout menu items at Celine Patisserie are their galettes, both sweet and savory. We recommend their classic egg and bacon galette and the berry cream cheese galette. Both are generously filled with superb ingredients, and the pastry itself is buttery perfection.

17. Byen Bakeri

Byen Bakeri is one of a kind and sells authentic Scandinavian pastries. The bright colors and Northwestern art on the walls are sure to make you feel like you have entered your happy place. You will be charmed by their unique assortment of Nordic-inspired cookies, all less than a dollar, which includes butter balls and thumbprint cookies. The best thing on the menu? The almond frangipane tart that is twice baked with an almond and raspberry filling. Serving sizes at Byen Bakeri are generous, making this delicious tart a great treat to share with a friend.

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16. Le Panier

Le Panier is a French bakery located in Pike Place Market that specializes in macarons. Next time you are tasting your way through the Market, pop in and check out one of the best bakeries in Seattle. The inside of this bakery is large and meant to accommodate a lot of hungry tourists, but the line moves quickly and the staff is always happy to give recommendations. A must-try is their chocolate macaron, but we also love their fruity flavors like passion fruit and raspberry. The variety of French baguette sandwiches here, including Jambon Buerre (ham and butter) and Brie, are worth trying if you appreciate the simplicity of a European sandwich with high-quality ingredients.

15. Sea Wolf Bakers

Our guide to the best bakeries in Seattle would not be complete without this Fremont favorite. Sea Wolf Bakers is a great choice if you’re looking for a sourdough loaf, but what you really come here for is the chocolate croissant. Truly, few things in life are more satisfying than a Theo dark chocolate cross-section, nestled between buttery-soft layers of a croissant. There are several tables located inside this clean, industrial-style shop for those wanting to stay and eat.

14. La Parisienne French Bakery

La Parisienne lives up to its name as one of the best bakeries in Seattle for a French patisserie. This bakery prides themselves on being genuinely French in their selection of croissants, macarons, éclairs, and so much more. A friendly staff that is passionate about their work will answer any questions you have and make recommendations. We love walking into this bakery where everything is meticulously decorated and displayed, and feeling like we have just stepped off the streets of Paris. With so many wonderful creations in their shop, this is the perfect place to branch out and try something new.

13. Temple Pastries

Temple Pastries has recently made the transition from local pop-ups to a storefront location and has emerged as one of the best bakeries in Seattle. We love that unique ingredients are used in many of their creations, including buckwheat, rye, and spelt, but what truly sets this bakery apart is their cruffin. A cruffin is a hybrid between a croissant and a muffin that tastes like a match made in foodie heaven, and the one from Temple Pastries is hard to beat. Available flavors vary depending on the day, but any flavor you order is sure to satisfy.

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12. Coyle’s Bakeshop

The pastry chef behind Coyle’s Bakeshop has been in the Seattle pastry world for years. She has worked at some of our favorite foodie spots like the Columbia City Bakery included in this guide. Her bakery offers a wide variety of sweets and the shop is absolutely darling. The vibe inside is down-to-earth and somewhat eclectic, with several tables to relax at as you enjoy your pastry. We can’t resist their cake slices, especially the carrot cake with walnuts and mascarpone cream cheese frosting. If carrot cake isn’t your thing, go for the chocolate cake. It is everything a moist, dark chocolate cake should be.

11. Fuji Bakery

This Japanese bakery has unique pastries that pack incredible flavors. You can visit Fuji at a couple of different locations, and find out what makes them one of the best bakeries in Seattle. There are plenty of options for anyone hoping to get a taste of Japan, with flavors like sesame, curry, and ube. Their best-selling menu item, which is also our favorite, is the crunchy cream donut. It is a lightly fried donut hole, crusted in sugar and corn flakes and filled with a not-too-sweet custard. One word: WOW.

10. Deep Sea Sugar and Salt

Our experiences at Deep Sea Sugar and Salt have proven, time and time again, that there is no such thing as too much cake. Recognized as one of the best bakeries in Seattle, this place is a cake enthusiast’s dream come true. Certain cake flavors are only available as monthly specials, but the staples at Deep Sea Sugar and Salt are tried, true, and always tempting. Make sure to order a slice of their popular 9lb porter chocolate cake. Instead of washing that down with a glass of milk, go for a slice of their vanilla bean cake. The vanilla milk-soak makes this incredibly moist, and the vanilla pastry cream will have you licking your plate clean.

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9. Dahlia Bakery

Anything from a Tom Douglas restaurant is a beloved Seattle experience, and the triple coconut cream pie from Dahlia Bakery is no exception. This pie is for the die-hard coconut lovers out there. The crust, the shaved toppings, and everything in between is all about that coconut flavor. Dahlia Bakery is a tiny shop with limited standing room, so plan to take your treats to go. If coconut isn’t your thing, go for the cinnamon sugar beignets. They are made fresh when you order and served with a side of vanilla mascarpone and seasonal jam.

8. Columbia City Bakery

While eating our way through the best bakeries in Seattle, we knew that Columbia City Bakery would be a favorite. It definitely did not disappoint, and has us constantly dreaming about our next visit. The pastries are divine, but you are here for the bread. Specifically, their campagne sourdough that is made with a mixture of white, whole wheat, and rye flours. This loaf goes through a 22-hour fermentation process that results in a spongy texture and subtle, sour flavor. It’s truly incredible.

7. Simply Desserts

This cake shop in Fremont is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Inside the cozy bakery, you will find a case of full-sized cakes in a variety of flavors. We always love an over-the-top chocolate dessert, which their chocolate truffle cake is perfect for. However, the slices that have us going back for more are their white chocolate strawberry cake and their lemon blueberry cake—both beautifully moist, sweet, and packed with fresh fruit. Cake slices are $5 and are sold on a first-come-first-served basis. Simply Desserts only accepts cash or check for payment.

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6. Piroshky Piroshky

Piroshky Piroshky is located in the heart of Pike Place Market and usually has a line out the door of excited tourists. Don’t worry though, the line moves quickly and it is worth the wait every time. While you wait, you can watch these baked goods being made from scratch through their shop window. Traditionally, piroshkies are served in Eastern European markets. The options are both sweet and savory, formed as handheld pies with unique design and flavor. Our favorite menu items, and what we recommend to any first-timer visitors, are the beef and cheese or the smoked salmon pate piroshkies. Local tip: if you can’t wait in line with the masses but you’re dying to have your own piroshky, visit their Columbia Tower location on 5th avenue.

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5. Macrina Bakery

Macrina Bakery has a few locations in the greater Seattle area, and the Aloha Cafe on Capitol Hill is the largest with the most room for indoor/outdoor seating. They have an extensive menu selection that feels like a crossover between a bakery and a restaurant. While typical bakery items like croissants, quiche, and cakes are available, they also offer more substantial plated menu items such as French toast, sandwiches, and salads. And everything is worthwhile. With such a large and tempting selection, you will be planning your next trip back before even taking your second bite. Not sure what to order? We are most impressed by the creamy and flavorful carne quiche, as well as the brioche bialy fried egg sandwich.

4. The Confectional

These mini cheesecakes are beyond addicting! The Confectional is a storefront in Pike Place Market serving up cheesecake that secures it a spot on our guide to the best bakeries in Seattle. Our favorite flavors are raspberry and lemon, and they typically have seasonal flavors available that are always worth a try. You can order your cheesecake to go, in which case they will box it up for you to take home. If you simply can’t wait that long to indulge in the creamy, rich goodness, we recommend the salted caramel cheesecake dip. Served on a popsicle stick and guaranteed to be the most exquisite bite of your day.

3. Rosellini’s Fine Cakes & Baked Goods

One of the best bakeries in Seattle is Rosellini’s, a little French bakery that has perfected every item they are selling. The staff is welcoming and helpful, and more than willing to give recommendations to their customers. We are obsessed with their leek and gruyere quiche for the creamy custard interior and incredible flavor. Their kouign amann has beautifully intricate layers and is crusted in a caramelized sugar. If you are looking for something decadent to complete your experience, we recommend their dark chocolate mousse.

2. Cafe Besalu (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

The telltale sign of any good bakery is a line out the door, so get to Cafe Besalu early if you want to beat the crowds. Seating inside is minimal, but curbside parking is usually available in front of their shop and you can take your order to go. When going to a bakery, we appreciate a balance between sweet and savory selections, and Cafe Besalu absolutely delivers, but the savory croissants here are a must-try. We love the classic ham and swiss or the onion, gruyere, and thyme. The croissants are buttery, flaky, and melt-in-your-mouth good.

1. Bakery Nouveau

Our love affair with Bakery Nouveau is no secret. No matter how many times you go, there will always be something new to try. They rotate some items seasonally and have a different selection of sandwich and breakfast items depending on the day. We’ve raved about their twice-baked chocolate croissant, but let’s give proper credit to some of our other favorites. The Caramello slice has layers of chocolate cake, ganache, bavaroise, on a peanut crunch base. The Kringler is a pretzel-shaped croissant, filled with seasonal jam and almond butter. Our favorite breakfast sandwich is the Junction croissant, with scrambled eggs, ham, bacon, white cheddar, and béchamel. Honestly, the list could go on. We love it all and know that you will too.