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Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, Highland Park

Breads, Cakes, and Pastries in Los Angeles: Where to Find the Best

Oh sweet, sweet carbs

by Eater Staff Updated Oct 24, 2016, 1:40pm PDT

26 comments / new

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Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, Highland Park

| Wonho Frank Lee

by Eater Staff Updated Oct 24, 2016, 1:40pm PDT

26 comments / new

Los Angeles has plenty of sweet shops, cake spots, and bakeries around the city, many adopting styles and flavors from around the world. It's perhaps the best trademark of LA's approach to baking: it's not tied to any particular style, such as classic European. Instead, you get a wonderful amalgam of Asian influence in pastries (which is welcome, because they tend not to be as sweet) to glorious Mexican panaderias, which offer the perfect starters to every morning.

But some of the best are as American as apple pie, favoring classic preparations or perhaps adding in their own twist. These spots aren't afraid to make the perfect chocolate chip cookie or ham and cheese croissant. Here now, the essential places to find breads, cakes, and pastries in Los Angeles, listed in alphabetical order.

Removed: Lady M, Amelia, Beverly Hills Beignets, Ammo To Go

Added October 2016: Mr. Holmes Bakehouse, 85 C Bakery

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Amandine Patisserie

This classic Brentwood bakery still has reliably good croissants, especially of the almond variety. There's also plenty in the way of danishes, cakes, cream pies and a number of savory dishes at this Wilshire Blvd cafe.

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12225 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

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B Sweet Dessert Bar

This popular dessert bar B Sweet is a convenient way to satisfy sweet cravings after meal on Sawtelle. Outrageous sweets include such hybrids as the halo, a hot doughnut ice cream sandwich; halo halo, Filipino shaved ice; and, of course, its signature bread pudding with flavors like ube, salted caramel, and banana chocolate. —CC

2005 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

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Bo Nuage

Though it hasn't necessarily become the hottest dessert trend in LA, these fancy meringue cakes are an ideal gift or mid afternoon snack for the office. Light cakes are covered in a meringue, then studded with various confections and flavors, from coffee and caramel to raspberry and red velvet.

8010 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

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Bouchon Bakery

Beverly Hills denizens rejoiced when Thomas Keller's 90210 outpost landed a small bakery touting macarons, kouign amanns, and more on the bottom floor of the restaurant. The selection might not be as wide as the New York, Vegas, and Yountville locations, but the quality is still mostly there. The custardy canele are also worth trying.

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235 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

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Bread Lounge

Baker Ran Zimon trained in Tel Aviv and never planned to open a bakery here. But he eventually started wholesale bread distribution and the rest is history. The classic European-style pastries and baked goods are strictly prepared in house and with the utmost care. It's a nice place to relax and enjoy some carbs in the Arts District.

700 S Santa Fe Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90021

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Chaumont Café and Bakery

This classic European-style bakery in the heart of Beverly Hills has some of the most elegantly styled desserts and pastries in the city, with beautiful tarts, cakes, and more in an airy space on Beverly Drive. There's also fresh baked bread, croissants, and danishes, all great for a breakfast or a light afternoon snack.

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143 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

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Clementine

This bustling bakery and cafe doesn't really try and re-write the rules of baking, but that's fine, because everything from their cookies and scones to sweet breads and butter cakes are excellent.

1751 Ensley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024

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Copenhagen Pastry

This authentic Danish-style bakery has some of the best sweet treats in the city, with things like almondy kringles, raspberry danishes, nougat crowns, braided cinnamon lines, and more, all for very fair prices. Everything is just sweet enough, and plenty addictive. It's a great thing to bring to the office when everyone's tired of donuts.

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11113 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

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Creme Caramel La

A nice find in Sherman Oaks, Creme Caramel brings creative sweets in the form of bread puddings, marshmallow brulees, and of course, creme caramels. Don't miss out on the ube flavor.

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14849 Burbank Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 91411

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Farm Shop

Jeffrey Cerciello's food emporium in Brentwood has everything from a larder to prepared goods to a full service restaurant. The bakery up front also has a terrific array of pastries that would make anyone swoon, from the chocolate croissant to the classic coffee cake. They can all be serviced with breakfast or brunch there as well.

225 26th St, Santa Monica, CA 90402

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Gjusta

It seems the Gjusta team can do no wrong. It would be remiss not to finish an exceptional meal of cured fish or porchetta sandwiches with the counter-service eatery’s outstanding pastries. The pies are fantastic, but don’t skip the much raved about baklava croissant. —CC

320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291

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Huckleberry

Zoe Nathan's a natural baker, and the results of her perfectionism is this Santa Monica bakery that's almost always busy. The pastries, bread, and baked goods are great, as are the sandwiches, like the now-famous fried egg sandwich topped with arugula and a slab of bacon.[Photo: Yelp]

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1014 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401

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Joan's on Third

The pastry section at this enduring West Third Bakery isn't going to innovate, but it'll definitely be a solid option when you're walking nearby. Consider the cookies, cupcakes, and cakes when you need a sweet fix.

8350 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

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La Monarca Bakery & Cafe

Homegrown bakery chain La Monarca serves up a wide variety of Mexican pastries and coffee at prices that make it an affordable stop for a sweet treat. Pair your pan dulce with the cold-brewed café de olla, prepared with cinnamon and panela, for an unbeatable pick-me-up on a hot summer day. —CC [Photo: Yelp]

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6091 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Milo And Olive

Zoe Nathan and Josh Loeb's pizza and pasta-centric bakery serves up some of the best bread and pastries in town. The bagel with smoked salmon is great, along with collection of sweet treats that changes up daily. [Photo: Yelp]

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2723 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90403

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Pitchoun

This Downtown bakery really ups the pastry game in Financial District/Pershing Square, with a massive array of croissants, breads, sweets, and more that are about as good as you can expect for the area. With plenty of seating inside and out, they also have full menus if you want to go beyond the sugary stuff.

545 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

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Porto's Bakery & Cafe

This bakery that dates back to the ‘60s with locations in Burbank, Glendale, and Downey has been wildly popular for its Cuban specialties like guava cheese rolls, potato balls, and tres leches cake. Just be prepared to wait in some serious lines, and grab a few Cuban sandwiches while you’re there.

315 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203

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Proof Bakery

Na Young Ma's ideal meld between the best of classic European and American sensibilities reflect at this charming bakery in Atwater Village. The croissants are as good as they get, but the seasonal, daily offerings aren't worth missing either. The expansive coffee program by Cognoscenti is also impressive.[Photo: Yelp]

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3156 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

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Republique

Margarita Manzke oversees this complete baking and pastry operation at the former La Brea Bakery space, resulting in near-perfect renditions of French and American staples, from croissants and cookies to house-baked baguettes. It's hard to go wrong with anything here. [Photo: Yelp]

624 S LA Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Sqirl Kitchen

Jessica Koslow's bakery and cafe serves things like brioche toast with her famous jam, lard biscuits, brown rice porridge, and granola with house-made yogurt. The real treat here is the buttery malvah pudding cake, though the blueberry corn cakes are spectacular as well.[Photo: Yelp]

720 N Virgil Ave, #4, Los Angeles, CA 90029

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The Sycamore Kitchen

Karen Hatfield's ode to the classic American bakery has its ideal form at this lovely bakery along La Brea Avenue. The salted caramel pecan babka roll is more than addictive, as are the rest of the baked goods, but the sandwiches are truly special. The turkey sandwich might be one of the best in town, and the tuna sandwich is made from fresh tuna instead of the canned sort.[Photo:

143 S LA Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Valerie Echo Park

Echo Park has a new elegant place to have breakfast or brunch, or even tea time. Valerie Gordon's beautiful American-style goods like muffins, petit fours, chocolates, preserves, and confections. There's also a great lineup of sandwiches, tartines, and other savory bites to go along with a strong tea program.[Photo:

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1665 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA

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Lodge Bread Co

This great new bakery in Culver City has a strong focus on house-baked breads, but a small menu of cakes, rolls, and hand pies makes it a destination for those wanting a sweeter bite. Sip on De La Paz coffee and kill any morning hunger pangs with a hearty country toast with nut butter and date-molasses syrup.

11918 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

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The Rose

This all day eatery in Venice has one of the most ambitious, and spot-on, pastry programs in the area. Indulge in some chocolate croissants and cookies, or take home a loaf of crusty bread.

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220 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291

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Superba Food + Bread

The newest outpost of Superba Food + Bread is now open in El Segundo, with a refined set of pastries and breads from chef Carlos Enriquez, who's compiled everything from croissants and turnovers to bombolini, coffee cake muffins, and kouign amanns.

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830 S Sepulveda, El Segundo, CA, 90245

Bottega Louie

Known mainly for its colorful macarons, Bottega Louie's overall pastry section might be one of the more impressive ones in town thanks to proper technique and a variety of sweets that sugar fiends will go crazy for. A proper place for post-lunch dessert session if you work in the area.

700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017

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Cake Monkey Bakery

With creative takes on classic American pastries, Cake Monkey, a long time wholesaler, finally has its own retail space in the heart of Beverly Blvd.

7807 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Lincoln

A glorious addition to Pasadena's dining scene, the daytime specialist offers everything from house baked baguettes to well-crafted sweets.

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1992 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103

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Sweet Lady Jane

With some of the best cakes in Los Angeles, this tiny shop on Melrose is the place for pastry fans to congregate. The desserts to be on the sweeter, over the top range versus a more restrained European or Asian part of the pastry spectrum.

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8360 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90069

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Euro Pane Bakery

A long time Pasadena bakery destination, Europane still serves some of the best breads, pastries, and macarons in town. If you're still around for lunch, don't skip the excellent egg salad sandwich.

950 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106

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La Mascota Bakery

Boyle Heights legend La Mascota continues to push the envelope after all these years, innovating their coffee program and updating their pastries for a rapidly changing neighborhood. Luckily the backbone of the place, from their conch shell cookies to their holiday tamales, remains as intact as ever.

2715 Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023

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Ledlow

Some LA's best croissants come from this Downtown restaurant, which opens at 9 a.m. most mornings. Try an avocado toast or maple coconut donut, or if you're ready to dive deep, have one of the signature "croissinnamon" rolls to go along with your morning coffee.

400 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

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Twenty 40

Relative newcomer Twenty 40 acts as an offshoot of McCall's in Los Feliz, expanding on the pastry program there to provide ambitious options filled with seasonal fruits and other delicacies. Don't skip on the well-curated coffee, either.

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2040 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

La Brea Bakery

The classic LA bakery, perhaps the originator of LA's artisanal bread movement, is back just a block away from its first location. Touting some of the best breads in town, plus a complement of sweet baked goods, La Brea's flagship still manages to impress pastry nerds.

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468 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

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Claudine Kitchen and Bakeshop

This expansive bakery in Encino brings a colorful array of American-style pastries and sweets, from cakes to cookies.

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16350 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91436

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Mr. Holmes Bakehouse

Highland Park has a sweet new destination bakery, with just a small selection of pastries that includes both sweet and savory croissants, cookies, creme-filled doughnuts, and of course, the all-popular cruffin that sells out virtually every day after it comes out at 9 a.m.

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111 South Avenue 59, Los Angeles, CA 90042

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85C Bakery Cafe

This burgeonining Taiwanese chain makes some of the most addictve breads, buns, and sweets in the game, though perhaps with its increasing presence in LA, it's becoming less unique. Still, with prime locations in Old Town Pasadena, Torrance, and especially Downtown Los Angeles, it's hard to deny this bakery is pretty great. Try the sea salt iced coffee if you need something to drink.

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700 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90017

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