Our Favorite Pastries and Bakeries in LA

 

Los Angeles is a city known for good eats, from the finest fine dining to authentic street food. But what you might not know is that LA is home to a wonderfully diverse baking scene, with every bread and pastry under the sun. There’s trendy Asian influences, addictive Mexican panaderias, and fine French breads fresh from the oven. Plant-based, gluten free, and just like grandma used to make- find it all at the Best Bakeries in LA.

 

For specialty cakes and sweets, Angel Maid should be at the top of everyone’s list. The Culver City bakery has every variety of rich chocolate and fresh fruit cakes, and a top-notch cake decorating service that ensures your dessert looks just as sweet on camera.

 

This Venice mainstay is known for being a deli and cafe, but the fresh breads and bagels are the real star of the show, made fresh each day and available to be taken home. The delightfully spongy baguettes and olive loaves are a good place to start, but the decadent ham and gruyere croissant is an absolute must.

 

There is nothing in Los Angeles quite like this East Hollywood Thai bakery. High shelves are packed to the brim with imported snacks both sweet and savory, and the smell of fresh mango sticky rice wafts throughout the building. Be sure to poke around the menu for every varietal of taro cake, coconut pancake, and other hard-to-find Thai desserts.

 

Fresh juices, hot coffee, and authentic Cuban pastries make a strong case for Café Tropical being one of the best bakeries in LA. The Silverlake icon is known for buttery pastelitos bursting with housemade guava jam, mouthwatering ham croquettes, and a tres leches cake that elevates any celebration it attends.

 

Röckenwagner presents as a quaint and contemporary European cafe, and the pastries certainly deliver. The French breads are soft with a satisfying crunch, the croissants are fluffy and light, and the signature pretzel bread is some of the best around. You’ve probably seen their delicious breads available in stores, but they taste that much better straight from the source.

 

With a longtime Burbank location and a more recent outpost on Sawtelle in Santa Monica, Artelice serves up colorful macarons and other adorable sweets to all of LA. Their focus on quality and presentation are sure to elevate any Sunday brunch or afternoon tea session.

 

Believe it or not, it’s possible to make a delicious croissant without butter, and the phenomenal vegan pastries at Baker’s Bench are proof. Equal parts beautiful and flavorful, the baked goods at this Chinatown patisserie are a welcome addition to any event.

 

This Fairfax bakery has been baking with the best of them for over 75 years. Specializing in Jewish breads and pastries, the fresh bagels, challah bread, and cookies keep Angelinos coming back for more.