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Updating the Eater Pastry Map, Summer 2013

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eaterla2008_10_hasmaps.jpgLos Angeles has plenty of sweet shops and bakeries around the city, many adopting styles and flavors from around the world. But some of the best are as American as apple pie, putting slight twists on familiar classics. This list is a reliable collection of pastry purveyors around town that offer a good range of delectables that would please any sugar maven. Below, Eater presents L.A.'s Best Pastry Shops and Bakeries.


Added 8/13: Red Bread, Valerie Confections

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Proof Bakery

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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 offerings by Cognoscenti is also impressive.

Short Cake

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Hourie Sahakian does American baked goods with a twist, such as the iconic blondie that's made with pine nuts and thyme, which Nancy Silverton declared perfect on the first bite. The stunning array of whimsical and creative pastries at this Farmers Market mainstay makes a special trip worth it. Also, don't miss the twice-baked hazelnut croissant.

Huckleberry

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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.

Farm Shop

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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.

The Sycamore Kitchen

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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.

Bouchon Bakery

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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 worth trying.

Bread Lounge

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Baker Ran Zimon was trained and 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.

Chaumont Café and Bakery

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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.

Maison Giraud

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Chef Alain Giraud's classy French bakery and cafe in Pacific Palisades makes everything one would want from a Parisian-style eatery. There's warm croissants, caneles, cookies, and baguettes to go along with European-style coffee service (if you're not into the whole hipster coffee thing). There's also a full menu of items like croque monsieur and eggs benedict.

Milo And Olive

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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.

Maison Richard

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Celebrated chef Michel Richard's imprint is still on this city despite not having a full restaurant left in L.A. Relocated to Melrose after spending years on Robertson, this cafe and bakery touts very good pastries, tarts, eclairs, cakes and more.

Copenhagen Pastry

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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.

Sqirl Kitchen

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Reborn into a larger space, 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 coffee program hasn't lost a step either, with roasts from Ritual and Heart Coffee.

Valerie Echo Park

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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 four, 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.

Bittersweet Treats

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Chef Danielle Keane does a slew of modern dessert creations like cookies, specialty cakes, ice cream, and more at this Pasadena sweets shop. Think cranberry currant oatmeal cookies or carrot cupcakes.

Ramekin

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This dessert and ice cream shop from Chef Jason Park in Los Feliz makes everything from mango panna cottas and lemon meringue tarts to house-made ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. A nice place to get an after-dinner dessert in the area.

Red Bread

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This Culver City entrant was a farmers market staple until it went brick & mortar in this small spot that opens early until it sells out in the mid afternoon. There's daily bread, cookies, toast & jam, biscuits with raw butter, and quiches for lunch, along with fantastic tea service.

3 Square Café + Bakery

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This Rockenwagner-owned cafe on Abbot Kinney serves German-style baked goods like pretzel bread, pretzel croissants, and more. There's even cronut-like pastries, and a full menu of breakfast items like muesli, German apple pancakes, and bagel with cream cheese.

Amandine Patisserie

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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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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 offerings by Cognoscenti is also impressive.

Short Cake

Hourie Sahakian does American baked goods with a twist, such as the iconic blondie that's made with pine nuts and thyme, which Nancy Silverton declared perfect on the first bite. The stunning array of whimsical and creative pastries at this Farmers Market mainstay makes a special trip worth it. Also, don't miss the twice-baked hazelnut croissant.

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.

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.

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.

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 worth trying.

Bread Lounge

Baker Ran Zimon was trained and 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.

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.

Maison Giraud

Chef Alain Giraud's classy French bakery and cafe in Pacific Palisades makes everything one would want from a Parisian-style eatery. There's warm croissants, caneles, cookies, and baguettes to go along with European-style coffee service (if you're not into the whole hipster coffee thing). There's also a full menu of items like croque monsieur and eggs benedict.

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.

Maison Richard

Celebrated chef Michel Richard's imprint is still on this city despite not having a full restaurant left in L.A. Relocated to Melrose after spending years on Robertson, this cafe and bakery touts very good pastries, tarts, eclairs, cakes and more.

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.

Sqirl Kitchen

Reborn into a larger space, 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 coffee program hasn't lost a step either, with roasts from Ritual and Heart Coffee.

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 four, 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.

Bittersweet Treats

Chef Danielle Keane does a slew of modern dessert creations like cookies, specialty cakes, ice cream, and more at this Pasadena sweets shop. Think cranberry currant oatmeal cookies or carrot cupcakes.

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Ramekin

This dessert and ice cream shop from Chef Jason Park in Los Feliz makes everything from mango panna cottas and lemon meringue tarts to house-made ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. A nice place to get an after-dinner dessert in the area.

Red Bread

This Culver City entrant was a farmers market staple until it went brick & mortar in this small spot that opens early until it sells out in the mid afternoon. There's daily bread, cookies, toast & jam, biscuits with raw butter, and quiches for lunch, along with fantastic tea service.

3 Square Café + Bakery

This Rockenwagner-owned cafe on Abbot Kinney serves German-style baked goods like pretzel bread, pretzel croissants, and more. There's even cronut-like pastries, and a full menu of breakfast items like muesli, German apple pancakes, and bagel with cream cheese.

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.