Chicago has some of the best bakeries of any city in the country. I love exploring and trying new spots in neighborhoods throughout the city. Here you will find bakeries with a French, Portuguese, Filipino, American, Asian, Venezuelan and Mexican influence. My top recommendations include:
In the East Village neighborhood close to West Town, Noble Square and Ukrainian Village is Kasama at 1001 N. Winchester Ave. It is a casual spot offering wonderful pastries, coffee and Filipino specialties. I went on a Saturday for brunch and the line was out the door. So I recommend avoiding weekends if possible. I enjoyed the experience despite the crowds. They are open for breakfast and lunch Wednesday to Sunday from 9am until 2pm, and then for coffee and pastries only from 2pm to 4pm. They are then open for dinner with a tasting menu from Thursday through Sunday. In 2022, it was named a James Beard Foundation finalist for Best New Restaurant!
Lost Larson: I really enjoyed this excellent bakery and coffee shop. I didn’t know it was there until I read a review in the Sunday New York Times, the day I was heading up for brunch in the area. It was a great new find! I loved the latte and rye raisin cookie as my dessert. Bobby Schaffer, the chef and owner, has led the pastry programs for some of the world’s best restaurants including Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York and the former three star Michelin restaurant Grace, in Chicago. 5318 N. Clark St.
I also enjoyed finding Aya Pastry located down the street in West Town at 1332 W Grand Ave. It is known for its breads, cakes, tarts and pastries by pastry chef, Aya Fukai. She won Eater’s National Pastry Chef of the Year in 2016, was nominated in 2017 for James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef and won the Chicago Tribune’s Pastry Chef of the Year in 2018. I really enjoyed the almond and chocolate croissants that I purchased.
West of Aya Pastry at 1759 W. Grand Ave. is Publican Quality Bread. In June 2022, head baker Greg Wade and One Off Hospitality opened the doors of the Publican Quality Bread Bakery in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago. They wanted to provide baked goods to the neighborhood as well as to their wholesale accounts and their other restaurants. The James Beard Foundation nominated Wade for Outstanding Baker three times and he finally took home a win in 2019.
This is a small counter/cafe next to their bakery operations. There is outdoor seating. The menu includes breads, cookies, pastries as well as sandwiches, salads, tartines and tea and coffee drinks . They also offer pizzas on Thursday evenings. I purchased some great trail mix cookies! Their second location was recently opened in suburban Oak Park which I visited on my last trip.
Mindy’s Hot Chocolate is now Mindy’s Bakery. This was a great neighborhood spot from chef Mindy Segal, who received the 2012 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef in the country. Her focus is now on bagels, breads, quiche, croissants, cookies, bars, coffee cakes, donuts, cakes, tarts and pastries along with coffee and hot chocolate. Formerly at 1747 N. Damen, it relocated in the summer of 2022 to 1623 N. Milwaukee. I recently went for the first time and had a hard decision on what to buy as everything looked wonderful. I loved the loaded chocolate chip cookies that I bought for me and two local friends.
Since I went for the first time, Daisies moved in 2023 to a larger location at 2375 N. Milwaukee. The new space is really excellent and is a much better experience. Their pastas are excellent and easily shareable. Equally good was the strawberry panna cotta with strawberries, shortbread, toasted pepitas and strawberry-basil sorbet. It is very popular so make sure to book your reservation before. Also they are open for coffee and pastries in the morning. Their pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky was nominated as a Semifinalist by the James Beard Foundation in 2025 for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.
For bakery items in Chinatown, I like Chiu Quon Bakery & Dim Sum at 2253 S. Wentworth. They have moved across the street to a more contemporary space. I love their walnut bean paste cake, egg custard tart and their cookies. They also have a store at 1127 W. Argyle St.
Greater Great Crossing is the southside neighborhood where First Lady Michelle Obama was born in 1964. I went for the first time after reading some great reviews of the black owned Brown Sugar Bakery at 328 E 75th St.. Opened in 2004 by Stephanie Hart, this is a southern-style bakery featuring cakes, cake slices and jumbo cupcakes. I loved the red velvet and German chocolate cake cupcakes. Their caramel flavored cakes are also very popular. It was a James Beard Award nominee in 2019 and 2023 for their Outstanding Baker Award.
I highly recommend Loba Pastry + Coffee at 3600 N. Lincoln Ave. Opened in May, 2023, this is the new location of this Latina owned business. Owner Valeria Velazquez Lindsten had worked at Charlie Trotter’s and Blackbird and was able to raise enough money through crowdfunding to open her dream cafe. The focus is on her excellent pastries, bars, scones, muffins and biscuits. I had a very tasty buckwheat and honey scone and a latte. I enjoyed meeting Valeria in the kitchen and congratulated her on 2024 James Beard Nomination as a Semifinalist for Outstanding Bakery.
Loaf Lounge: At 2934 N. Milwaukee Ave., Loaf Lounge, a bakery and cafe, has been getting excellent reviews for its breakfast sandwiches, pastries and chocolate cake. I suggest going during the week as the lines can be very long on weekends. I went after reading the reviews and enjoyed a tasty almond bear claw for a snack while exploring the neighborhood during Open House Chicago 2022.
Not to be missed is Sweet Mandy B’s Old Fashioned Desserts at 1208 W Webster Ave., which has wonderful cookies, cupcakes, cakes, pies, puddings, brownies, breads and other desserts. I always buy their pies for Thanksgiving dinner if I am in town. They now have a second location in Streeterville at 254 E. Ontario. I stopped in and had to buy one of my favorite cookies, the oatmeal and chocolate chip! I highly recommend them.
Floriole Cafe & Bakery at 1220 W. Webster. This is a popular French bakery in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. After a full remodel, they have seating downstairs as well as upstairs in a bright, open dining room. It is great for lunch or a latte and a pastry! It was named a few years ago as one of the best bakeries in the US. I live nearby, so I love running down for a croissant or pastry and a latte. They also have sandwiches, quiches and soups as well as other lunch and breakfast items.
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits: At 2051 N. California, this is a great spot for pie, biscuits and coffee. Enjoy hanging out with the locals inside or outside on their large patio. I was just back and enjoyed a great key lime pie.
Located near the Apollo Theater and the Victory Gardens Theater is Verzênay at 2507 N. Lincoln. This is a traditional French boulangerie, pátisserie, chocolaterie and café. Initially, I went for some cookies and almond croissants. Then I went back and loved the macarons.
Down the street is Cafe Yaya at 2431 N. Lincoln. This is the newest venture of Michelin-starred, Middle Eastern restaurant Galit, next door. Opened by James Beard Award-winning chef Zach Engel and partner Andrés Clavero, Cafe Yaya, this is neighborhood restaurant that features pastries, coffee and other items during the day and a dinner menu at night. Their extensive pastry program is headed up by Mary Eder-McClure, Galit’s pastry chef. I went with local friends for brunch on a Saturday and enjoyed quiche plus and very tasty tres leches croissant.
A great new find is Cadinho Bakery & Café in McKinley Park. After reading about it, I made a point to visit with a local friend. It is a Portuguese-style cafe opened by Alejandra Rivera and her husband Eric Carlson, after they lived in Portugal for two years. They have coffee drinks and pastries. But the highlight is the famed Portuguese pastéis de nata or flaky egg custard tarts. I had my first ones in Portugal which are also known as Pastéis de Belém. I had them again in the Newark NJ Ironbound or Portuguese neighborhood. They were excellent at Cadinho. You must try them!! We also enjoyed meeting Eric and learning about his story. 3483 S. Archer Ave.
Another great coffee and patisserie is Bittersweet Pastry Shop & Cafe at 1114 W. Belmont. It has been a neighborhood favorite since 1993 and has wonderful pastries, cookies and more including sandwiches, soups and quiche. They recently underwent an extensive remodeling of the space. I just went back after many years and enjoyed an excellent grilled ham, fig and gruyere cheese sandwich and a pecan tart.
They then opened a second location in Pilsen at 2019 S. Laflin St. I stopped in for a latte and an almond croissant after my brunch. It is an attractive cafe in an industrial space, with a custom mural by local artist Rhiannon Sutter, that is popular with the neighborhood people. It has a more limited menu than the Lakeview location, but still has a great selection of sweet and savory items including croissants, pastries and quiche.
A short drive to the west is Roeser’s Bakery at 3216 W. North Ave. Started in 1911 by John C. Roeser Sr., Roeser’s Bakery is the oldest family owned-bakery in Chicago. It has a great atmosphere with many historic photos. They offer a large number of cakes, cupcakes, tortes, cookies, donuts, breads, pies, ice cream, pastries and coffee cakes. You can also order customized cakes for weddings and other events. I loved the caramel apple cupcake. It was well worth the calories!! It was recommended also by the New York Times in their 2016 article on 36 Hours in Chicago.
I recently had lunch at the Original Ferrara Bakery & Cafe. This is a classic Italian bakery and restaurant just west of Little Italy in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood. It is open daily at 2210 W. Taylor St. It has been family owned and operated since 1908!
The bakery features cakes, custom filled cakes, pastries and miniature pastries as well as cookies and their famous cannoli. They also have a food menu of sandwiches, hot sandwiches, salads, pasta, pizza and entrees. I loved the caprese sandwich with tomato, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and a pesto aioli on toasted French bread. For dessert, I enjoyed a cappuccino and an assortment of their butter cookies! I highly recommend the fun experience!
Scafuri Bakery: Located in Little Italy, this has been a neighborhood institution since 1904. It is a great spot for a coffee along with a pastry, cookie, pie or bread. I went back again and loved my oatmeal raisin cookie! All of their cakes, cookies and pastries are made in-house. 1337 W. Taylor St.
Kristoffer’s Cafe & Bakery:While exploring Pilsen and the nearby galleries, stop in at Kristoffer’s for a sandwich, coffee or a piece of their amazing tres leches cake. It is the best I have had in Chicago. 1733 S. Halsted.
A perfect spot for coffee and pastry in Lincoln Park is Vanille Patisserie at 2108 N. Clark. They have a second location at the Chicago French Market downtown. Their macarons are excellent! They also offer afternoon tea, so make sure to book your reservation.
Leonidas Chocolate Cafe. This is a small cafe featuring Belgian chocolates, French pastries and macarons, espresso and coffee drinks, sweet and savory crepes, Belgian waffles, croissants, croissant sandwiches, omelettes and quiches. I had been to the one in Evanston, but then went to their location at 59 E. Chicago Ave. It is a great location while you shop or visit the area.
Their newest Chicago location is located at 1964 N. Halsted St. in Lincoln Park. I really enjoyed the croissant sandwich with brie, prosciutto and fig jam along with a great latte and an almond tart.
Located at 901 W. Armitage is the third Maison Parisienne. They have a great selection of pastries, croissants, baguettes, macarons, sandwiches, quiche Lorraine or croque-Monsieur. You can dine in, take out as well as buy French products including jams, jellies and mustard. The tomato goat cheese quiche was excellent as was the almond and pear tart. It is a short walk from my house, so I have been several times since they opened in early 2023. I always have to have the pear tart!
Down the street is Klein’s Bakery & Cafe at 1134 W. Armitage. This is the third location of this cafe that offers custom cakes, a coffee and breakfast menu and pastries inspired from Venezuela. I went in May 2025, after I saw a newsletter showing that it recently opened. I walked down and bought a wonderful Nutella tart and some great dulce de leche cookies with coconut. I look forward to going back for breakfast/lunch. They also have coffee and tea drinks.
La Fournette, at 1547 N. Wells, is a traditional French bakery and café, with a rustic wood décor, selling fresh-baked breads, sandwiches, coffee, macarons and pastries. It has a long history.
After frequenting their stand at The Lincoln Park Farmers Market and loving their croissants I made a point of heading north to pHlour Bakery & Cafe at 1138 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. where I had a wonderful turkey sandwich with brie and a cranberry mustard along with a latte and almond croissant. I buy their almond croissants at the Farmers Market every Saturday, from May through November, when I am in town.
First Slice Pie Cafe, at 5357 N. Ashland, is another place you must visit when you are in the area. After my lunch nearby, I went to First Slice for dessert. This was my first time at this location. I had been many times to the First Slice location at the Lillstreet Arts Center but this is now closed. I have always loved their salads, sandwiches, soups, quiches, cookies and pies. This time I had to have my favorite key lime pie, which was so rich and tasty. They have two other locations in the Ravenswood neighborhood. I have also been to their W. Montrose Ave. location.
