Seattle's best bakeries offer far more than the classic coffee-pairing pastries you'd expect in a city known for its java. Craving croissants and creative treats, I spent a week bakery-hopping across Seattle to find the best.
This spring tour reveals Seattle's standout bakeries, from Bakery Nouveau's award-winning sweets to Hood Famous Cafe + Bar's Filipino-inspired pastries. Here's where to indulge, and why each delicious spot made my list.
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Seattle Bakeries
Bakery Nouveau
Our virtual bakery crawl begins on the eastern edge of Seattle's Capitol Hill district at Bakery Nouveau. Pastry chef William Leaman opened his first Seattle bakery with his wife in 2006, after he captained Bread Bakers Guild Team USA to a gold medal in the 2005 Coupe du Monde de Boulangerie (World Cup of Baking). The host nation, France, placed second.
It was 8 a.m. on a Thursday when I walked in the front door to an overwhelming display of chocolate truffles and pastries. There were three-inch pear, cherry, almond tarts, raspberry spring cake slices, and chocolate mocha cheesecake.
Baguettes, challah, and artisanal loaves of bread awaited buyers behind the counter. Thick slices of quiche Lorraine glistened under the lights.
After much hemming and hawing, I settled on an order of the seasonal sakura cake. This beautifully constructed dessert features vanilla and cherry blossom bavarois (Bavarian cream) layered between lemon chiffon cake soaked in lemon simple syrup. The cost was $11.25.
I also bought a giant, twice-baked chocolate almond croissant dusted with powdered sugar for $6. Unfortunately, Bakery Nouveau has no seating, so I took my haul across the street and sat on a park bench.
I first unboxed the sakura cake and took a few bites of the sumptuous cake and cream. Then, I turned my attention to the heavy, dense, twice-baked croissant.
As I took a bite of the massive pastry, powdered sugar rained down around me. It was my first experience with a twice-baked croissant, and I loved the crunchiness of the exterior. 137 15th Ave E, Seattle, bakerynouveau.com
Dahlia Bakery
Dahlia Bakery, opened by chef Tom Douglas in 2011, is renowned for its artisan breads, breakfast sandwiches, and Triple Coconut Cream Pie. Douglas is a multiple James Beard Award winner (1994 Best Chef Northwest; 2012 Outstanding Restaurateur) and author of "The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook."
I learned of Dahlia Bakery from Kel on my first trip to Seattle, when we ate at the adjacent Serious Pie pizza shop next door (also owned by Douglas). Upon my return a few years later, it was at the top of my list of places to try.
When I arrived at 8:30 a.m. on a Wednesday, there was a 10-minute line inside the bakery. I was there to try the Triple Coconut Cream Pie, a coconut crust filled with coconut cream and whipped cream, and topped with toasted coconut and white chocolate shavings. The slices were too large (and expensive at $15), so I settled on the $6 bite-size version.
Other treats I had my eye on included the pain au chocolate with sea salt, tiramisu cheesecake, and chocolate butter pecan cookie. But the half-dozen mochi donuts in flavors like strawberry hibiscus, orange tamarind, and chocolate Bailey's called out to me the loudest. I picked the Earl Grey blackberry mochi donut.
After settling up at the register, I parked myself on a stool looking out on the street and devoured the carefully constructed pie bite. The glazed mochi donut was delicious as well. 2001 4th Ave, Seattle, dahliabakery.com
Saint Bread
Saint Bread, opened in 2021 by chef-owner Yasuaki Saito in Portage Bay, blends French, Japanese, and Scandinavian influences in its pastries.
Located at the former Jenson Motor Boat Company shop, it earned James Beard Award semifinalist status for Outstanding Bakery in 2025 and was named one of the 22 best U.S. bakeries by The New York Times.
The line here was the longest of the Seattle bakeries I visited, perhaps owing to its location on the University of Washington campus. It took about 20 minutes to order a cardamom knot, miso walnut toffee cookie, and a Proud Mary iced coffee.
Customers wishing to dine on the premises can choose from outdoor patios on either side of the bakery. I opted for the larger one, which affords a sliver of a waterfront view.
The miso walnut and toffee cookie was fabulous; however, the cardamom knot didn't WOW me. After biting into it, I realized I prefer the softer cardamom buns to knots. 1421 NE Boat St, Seattle, saintbread.com
Hood Famous Cafe + Bar
Next, we're heading south to Seattle's Chinatown-International District. Hood Famous Cafe + Bar, co-owned by Chera Amlag and Geo Quibuyen, is known for its Filipino-inspired treats: ube cheesecake, pandan lattes, and calamansi bars. It garnered national acclaim when Amlag was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef Northwest in 2020.
As I entered the cafe, a display case filled with $9 mini cheesecakes in five flavors caught my eye:
- Ube (purple yam)
- White chocolate guava
- Calamansi mango
- Vietnamese coffee
- Buko pandan
An ube pianono (Swiss cake roll), ube cookie, champorado cream puff, and cassava cake were also available. I paired the bakeshop's signature ube cheesecake with an iced decaf ube latte served in a glass.
The cheesecake was larger than it seemed, and could easily serve two people. The crust is made with coconut, and the ube adds a sweet, earthy, vanilla flavor to the cream cheese filling. 504 5th Ave S #107a, Seattle, hoodfamousbakeshop.com
Fuji Bakery
If I've inspired you to drop in Hood Famous, do yourself a favor and walk one block east to Fuji Bakery. The Japanese-French bakery was opened in 2009 by Akihiro Nakamura with pastry chef Takahito Hirai.
In 2017, Susien Lee took over, preserving its signature Japanese‑style pastries at locations in the International District and Queen Anne. Highlights include malasadas, mochi doughnuts, and curry buns.
The malasada flavors include ube, like the one I got at Leonard's in Waikiki, lilikoi (passion fruit), strawberry, and matcha. I picked their signature "crunchy cream," a cornflake-coated brioche donut with vanilla custard. The subtle crunch, soft brioche, and smooth filling were heavenly. 526 S King St #2834, Seattle, fujibakeryinc.com
Sea Wolf Bakers
Sea Wolf Bakers, founded in 2014 by brothers Jesse and Kit Schumann, is celebrated for its rustic sourdough. What began as a wholesale business evolved into a Fremont bakery open to the public a few years later.
Their commitment to craftsmanship—including sourcing all their grains from the Pacific Northwest—earned them a semifinalist spot for the 2019 James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker. Sea Wolf was also featured in Food & Wine's "100 Best Bakeries in America."
I dropped by in the early afternoon after a walk through nearby Gas Works Park on Lake Union. I chose a Tillamook cheddar lye roll for something savory, and I had a double chocolate cookie with sea salt for something sweet.
Sea Wolf Bakers has a no-tipping policy, so its prices may seem slightly higher than your average bakery. This is to ensure their staff earns a living wage. I prefer this approach and didn't feel I was paying more than usual. 3617 Stone Way N Suite 101, Seattle, seawolfbakers.com
La Parisienne French Bakery
At La Parisienne, you're temporarily transported from Seattle's Belltown neighborhood to a fine French bakery in Paris. The well-lit interior has dozens of pastries on display, plus breads of the day like rustic garlic and Kalamata olive. The owners, Patrick and Christine Morin, have been serving classic French pastries—croissants, baguettes, and macarons—since 2015.
I limited myself to two pastries, though I could've spent a small fortune here. The buttery pain au chocolate was stellar. But I'll remember the Mont-Raignier pastry most. It was a multi-layered mountain of cherry, vanilla mousse, and crème brulee. 2507 4th Ave, Seattle, laparisienneseattle.com
The French Guys Bakery
Stop by The French Guys Bakery in Capitol Hill for excellent laminated pastries. French friends Thibault Beaugendre and Renaud Lacipiere opened their first brick-and-mortar bakery in May 2023. Before launching the business, Lacipiere worked at La Parisienne.
The display case overflows with croissants, including chocolate, raspberry, hazelnut, and almond. Premium ingredients, including butter and chocolate, are imported from France, while heavy cream and milk products are sourced from Washington state.
There's a little seating inside, but as it was a beautiful spring day, I took my flaky hazelnut croissant and sumptuous canele outside to dine al fresco. Both were fantastic. 810 E Roy St, Seattle, thefrenchguys.com
Byen Bakeri
Byen Bakeri, in the North Queen Anne neighborhood, brings authentic Scandinavian pastries, breads, cakes, and smørrebrød to Seattle. They promise, "Everything from scratch, by hand with heart."
On my last day of the trip, I stopped by early Saturday morning for a fika. Browsing the display cases full of oversized Danishes, morning pastries, lingonberry tarts, and marzipan cake slices reminded me of the bakeries I encountered in Stockholm and Copenhagen.
In the mood to try new items, I began with a softball-sized skolebrod (a soft cardamom roll filled with vanilla custard and topped with vanilla icing and coconut shavings). The soft cardamom-flavored bun was terrific, and there was copious custard.
I sipped a hot cardamom latte before sinking my fork into a princess cake. According to the bakery's website, it's "Light sponge cake, layered with raspberry jam, vanilla custard, and freshly whipped cream. Covered with green marzipan." I like that each slice shows you all the layers up front.
Since Kel couldn't join me that morning, I brought a slice of lemon lavender cake back to the hotel. This sweet lemon cake is made with blackberry brandy, lemon curd, and lavender bergamot buttercream. 15 Nickerson St, Seattle, byenbakeri.com
Le Panier
Le Panier, a beloved French bakery at Pike Place Market since 1983, is known for its croissants, macarons, and seasonal pastries. It has been hailed as one of America's top artisan bakeries, with its croissants frequently named the best in Washington.
My pick here was a few macarons and a pretty apricot croissant. The cookies were consumed within a minute of exiting the bakery, while I brought the croissant back to the hotel to enjoy it fully. 1902 Pike Pl, Seattle, lepanier.com
Three Girls Bakery
A few blocks south of Le Panier is Three Girls Bakery, which opened in 1912 and became the city's first female‑licensed business. It also holds the distinction of being the longest continuously operating business at Pike Place Market. Owner Jacob Levy has been working at the market for over 50 years.
Three Girls is known for its pastries, which are made fresh daily at its production facility in Ballard. It also sources top-quality loaves of bread from bakeries around Seattle. Soups and sandwiches are available, including its famous meatloaf sandwich, which has been served for 40 years. 1514 Pike Pl, Seattle, threegirlsbakery.com
Freya Bakery & Cafe
The final Seattle bakery on my list is Freya Bakery & Cafe in Pike Place Market. I stumbled upon this small Scandinavian-inspired bakery while walking around the market with Kel.
The giant chocolate rum balls filled with raspberry jam immediately caught my eye—and they were worth every penny. Each one offers three or four indulgent bites. I also picked up a raspberry slice for later and sipped a delicious Dubai chocolate latte.
The mocha, matcha, and pink domes looked tempting, as did a Dutch chocolate cake layered with chocolate raspberry mousse. 1426 Western Ave, Seattle, freyabakery.com
Tips for Visiting Seattle's Best Bakeries
Here are some helpful tips for organizing a bakery crawl (or two) in Seattle.
1. Go Early for the Best Selection: Many of Seattle's most popular bakeries—like Sea Wolf, Bakery Nouveau, and Le Panier—sell out of signature items early in the day. Arriving right when they open gives you the first pick.
2. Check Hours and Days Closed: Some bakeries are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays, and hours vary by location. Double-check before heading out to avoid disappointment.
3. Plan by Neighborhood: To save time and reduce parking hassles or transportation costs, group visits by area.
For example:
- Pike Place Market: Le Panier, Three Girls Bakery, Freya Bakery
- Capitol Hill: The French Guys, Bakery Nouveau
- Ballard/Fremont: Sea Wolf, Byen Bakeri, Saint Bread
4. Mind the Parking: Some neighborhoods, like Capitol Hill and Fremont, can be tricky for street parking. If you visit multiple bakeries in one outing, opt for walking, the bus/light rail, or ridesharing.
Given the number of neighborhoods I wanted to cover for this story and their distances from our hotel, I relied on public buses, which were cheap and (relatively) easy to navigate.
5. Go Light on Breakfast: If you're bakery-hopping, pace yourself. Share items or take extras to go so you can sample more places without getting too full too fast.
Final Thoughts
Seattle’s best bakeries offer a delicious window into the city’s diverse neighborhoods and culinary creativity. From Pike Place Market classics to modern takes on global traditions, each stop on my weeklong bakery crawl revealed something memorable. Whether you’re after a flaky croissant, a mochi donut, or a slice of princess cake, there’s something here worth an early wake-up call. I hope this guide helps you map out your own pastry-filled adventure in Seattle.
