The best bakeries in Boston

Cambridge has been blessed with La Saison, a bakery that was originally opened and operating in Tehran, Iran. Its founder, Soheil Fathi, took his baking business with him when he moved to the United States with his family, setting up shop near Fresh Pond in 2020. Now, we all get to enjoy this spot’s stunning selection of loaves, which includes daily specials in addition to mainstays like its fig-walnut sourdough and a brioche so beautiful that it could make just about anyone cry. Not to be upstaged: classic French pastry offerings, like its pain au chocolat and palmier, an assortment of crunchy house-made crackers and feta-za'atar scones.

A little piece of Paris resides in Medford, thanks to Colette Bakery. This place channels the French affinity for bread, taking great pride in its freshly baked assortment of traditional loaves, including baguettes, pain de campagne and pain de mie. Bread aside, Colette is a prime spot to purchase refined works of patisserie and viennoiseries—from coffee eclairs and amandine tartes, to cinnamon brioche and chouquettes. Save room for the sandwiches, which feature customary French combos (like ham and butter, or tuna and eggs) piled onto house-made baguettes.

This small, European-style bakery on the Brighton-Brookline border specializes in authentic, fresh breads from France and Italy. Baked goods from the rest of Europe are equally impressive—the German rye, soft pretzels and challah all hold their own next to baguettes, miche and rustic olive rolls. Fruit tarts, scones and tea cakes are great options for a sweet treat. Morning buns and the renowned baked currant donut are extremely popular and often sell out.

Bova’s opened in the North End in 1932 and has remained a family-owned business ever since. Its customary Italian offerings include a wide range of breads—including seasonal varieties that are traditionally enjoyed around holidays like Easter—pastries, cookies, tarts, cakes and pies. For something more substantial, try a calzone or slice of Sicilian pizza coming straight from the oven. Best of all, Bova’s is open 24 hours a day, so you can get that bakery fix at any time, day or night. 

Boston brunchers and bakery connoisseurs know that the South End is the place to be every Sunday morning. The cafe offers fresh biscuits, muffins, scones, croissants and excellent coffee. For sweet treats, you'll find a tempting selection of cupcakes, cookies, sticky buns, and fudgy brownies. Signature cupcakes like the Dexter Salted Caramel are named after staff members' dogs and a portion of their sales are donated to animal rescue causes. So sweet!

A local success story, Tatte’s first location opened in Brookline in 2008 and has since expanded to include numerous locations around The Hub and beyond. Enjoy freshly baked, European-style pastries, cookies, pains au chocolat, kouign amanns, croissants and more. Each cafe has a warm, welcoming vibe that’s perfect for chatting with friends over coffee or enjoying a quiet morning with the paper. The Brookline location features an open kitchen where you can watch the bakers at work.

If you want to sink your teeth into some traditional Irish baked goods, all you have to do is head to this Dorchester joint. Here, you'll find a slew of customary breads, scones and sausage rolls, as well as pies, cakes and cookies—all baked fresh. The classic Irish raisin soda bread is top-notch, but don’t miss out on other loaf favorites like its treacle soda bread, barm brack and brown soda bread. There’s a whole cafe menu as well, so you can also grab any number of hearty soups, sandwiches and additional Irish provisions, such as rashers of bacon and black pudding.

Joanne Chang's popular Flour Bakery empire boasts multiple locations throughout the city, so you can satisfy those carb cravings just about wherever you may be. You’ll find cupcakes, tartlettes, pies, sticky buns, cookies and the decadent Belgian chocolate brownie. Sandwiches are made-to-order on fresh, delicious breads. For home bakers, keep an eye out for Flour’s calendar of classes, which cover everything from cake decorating to making the perfectly laminated croissant.

This family-owned bakery crafts high-quality breads and pastries from organic, hand-selected ingredients. Enjoy freshly baked loaves, macarons, doughnuts, pies, filled brioche and more. Watch all of these carb-heavy creations being made in the open kitchen at its original, Observatory Hill location. Both locations offer salads and sandwiches, as well as a selection of wine, liquor and beer. The Mass Ave location also has a full coffee bar.

When it comes to baked goods, Café Beatrice is a must—especially with local pastry talent Brian Mercury at its helm. This cafe, located at Cambridge Crossing, offers an array of delicious pastries, like salted hazelnut sticky buns, smoked salmon and everything danishes, kouign amann and carrot dukkah cake. If you’re there for lunch, be sure to grab a slice of sourdough pizza and finish your meal strong with a cookie. If you aren’t rushing home with your baked goods in hand, make use of this place’s beautiful patio and take your order al fresco.

The owners of Diesel Café and Bloc 11 wanted to serve their own baked goods, so they expanded upon their Somerville operations and opened Forge Baking Company. Stop by this old brick warehouse and choose from a full range of artisinal bagels and breads, as well as sweet treats like scones, pies and ice cream. It has a full coffee bar and also sells a number of provisions and products from fellow local businesses—from fresh pastas and spice blends, to even houseplants.

Cheryl Ann’s, founded by two sisters and their mother, has baked beloved Jewish pastries since 1985. Challah and other treats are sold in local grocery stores, but head straight to the source to get that real family feel (many of the staff are extended family). Try rugelach, turnovers, specialty cakes, breads, hamantaschen and more.

Oleana and Sarma’s casual sibling is a great spot to grab Mediterranean dishes and baked goods. In addition to gözleme, shawarma and börek, you’ll find a whole selection of baked Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese treats. Pita and za’atar breads are made fresh. Sweets run the gamut from sesame toffee blondies to dukkah macarons. Indulge in cakes and other treats like the tahini-brown butter donut (only available on weekends), almond rose cake and chocolate hazelnut baklava.

This Somerville spot gets rave reviews for its handmade baked goods featuring local flavors. Not to be missed are the fluffy, chewy English muffins available in multiple varities, including the classic plain, anadama, oat sesame and French toast. Get a hot one slathered in homemade jam or take a half-dozen home to enjoy later.

Out in leafy West Concord, Nashoba Brook Bakery offers one of the area's loveliest settings for enjoying gourmet sandwiches and other goodies. Outdoor picnic tables behind the bakery look out on to an old wooden footbridge framing the Nashoba Brook. Customers who want to see this place's 4,000-square-foot kitchen in action, they can spy through some large windows and watch as these artisan loaves get ready to enter the two massive French ovens onsite.

Modern Pastry has a loyal following amongst pastry lovers, who flock to this North End destination for sweet Italian specialties. American classics like cheesecake and brownies are popular, too. But if you're coming here, you definitely want to stick to the North End basics, like tiramisu, cannoli and sfogliatelle. Don't forget to grab a dozen biscotti, pignoli cookies or macaroons to take home or to dip into a frothy cappuccino made at this family-owned spot's espresso bar.

You’ll almost feel like you’re in Italy as you stroll down the winding alleyway to this below-ground bakery behind Bricco Restaurant in the North End. Pick up a crusty baguette or rustic ciabatta right as they come out of the oven. Once you've successfully secured your freshly baked loaves, stop in to the small market next door for cured meats, cheeses, olives and more.

This beloved North End institution, which always has a line down the block, is best known for its cannoli. With more than 19 flavors including Nutella, Oreo and limoncello, there’s truly a cannoli for everyone. But if you’re not into these crunchy, creamy sweets, you really can’t go wrong with any of the biscotti, lobster tails, cream puffs or macaroons that fill Mike's display cases. 

With sister stores throughout coastal Greece, Athan’s is a true authority when it comes to the European- and Mediterranean-inspired specialties that it serves. Come to this elegant cafe and find drool-worthy indulgences including delicate cakes, sticky sweet baklava, handmade chocolates, pastries, cookies and gelato. As a bonus, this place is open late, which means you can grab baked goods whenever the mood strikes you.