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A sweet from Un je ne sais Quoi

15 Essential D.C. Bakeries

Where to find whole grain sourdough, giant cupcakes, Azerbaijani sweets, and Filipino cheese rolls

by Stephanie Carter Updated Dec 20, 2021, 4:09pm EST

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A sweet from Un je ne sais Quoi

| Un je ne sais Quoi/Facebook

by Stephanie Carter Updated Dec 20, 2021, 4:09pm EST

During the pandemic, solitary activities have made making sourdough a national hobby; a qualification for good food has become how well it travels as people turned to take-out; and everyone has needed something to brighten their day (like cake). It’s no surprise that some bakeries are thriving despite the shut downs and constant “pivoting.”

And for bakeries, D.C. has some of the very best. While this list is limited to 15, there are many more excellent bakeries in the D.C. area and beyond. Some excellent options, like Buttercream, are temporarily closed.

Here are 15 essential to D.C.’s bread and sweets scene.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Bayou Bakery

Bayou Bakery has cornered the market on sweets and other foods from Louisiana and across the American South, from sugar-topped beignets to satisfying muffulettas stuffed with briny olive salad, cured meats, and cheese. Chef and owner David Guas is a Louisiana native and his knowledge of the cuisine is immediately apparent on the menu. Beyond the bakery, there are boozy daiquiris; soul-warming gumbo with a dark, complex roux; deviled eggs, and market items like pepper jelly. Indoor dining and patio seating. Take-out and delivery available on ToastTab.

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1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

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powdered sugar topped beignets — Fluffy, powdered sugar-topped beignets are just one of the New Orleans foods Bayou Bakery expertly brings to the D.C. area.

MASTIHA | Artisan Greek Bakery

Kensington’s Mastiha specializes in Greek pastries like baklava (classic, pistachio, rosemary chocolate, and fig), fresh pita (with optional spreads such as house-made hummus, feta pesto, and fava dip), and phyllo with fillings like lamb. There’s no traditional storefront here, so plan to take orders home. Online ordering is also available.

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10560 Metropolitan Ave REAR UNIT, Kensington, MD 20895

Visit Website

baklava — Baklava at Mastiha comes in flavors like rosemary chocolate.

Fresh Baguette

Fresh baguettes are obviously a point of pride at this mini-chain bakery by the same name. Bakers use a cold-dough process, house-made “levain,” and French baking equipment. There’s also a solid line-up of sandwiches, topped ciabatta, cake, and quiche, and flaky croissants. Online ordering here.

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1737 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

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cinnamon roll dusted in pearl sugar — The cinnamon roll at Fresh Baguette is dusted in pearl sugar.

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Bread Furst

This James Beard Award-winning bakery in Van Ness serves up fluffy, dimpled foccacia; breakfast items like pain au chocolate; brunch frittatas and bagels with gravlax; and quick French lunch staples like a baguette stuffed with ham, butter, and a tiny zing of Dijon. Call for curbside pick-up, and order online for pick-up and delivery.

4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Visit Website

Ham and butter on baguette — Ham and butter on baguette is a classic French offering at Bread Furst.

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Bakeshop

With a massive list of rotating macaron flavors, lovely cakes, and a cupcake menu that runs the gamut from butter white to flavors like 7up and Nerds, it’s easy to see why this bakery has gained a following. There are also plenty of vegan options. Online ordering and delivery available.

3210 Grace St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

confetti cake with a slice out of it — Bakeshop has a full list of cakes.

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Baked & Wired

Georgetown’s locals-favorite coffee shop and bakery dishes out colossal cupcakes, among other baked goods. Widely known as one of the very best cupcake spots in the city, the bakers at Baked & Wired swirl fresh strawberries into the strawberry cupcake and top the cinnamon-laced, Texas sheetcake cupcake with rich chocolate pecan frosting while it is still warm. The lines can get long, but kind service and the view of the glass dome-covered confections lined up on the Carrera marble bar help.

1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

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A swirl of red cherry buttercream on top of a chocolate cupcake sitting on a marble countertop — Cherry buttercream tops a chocolate cupcake at Baked & Wired.

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Un je ne sais Quoi...

Opened by French expats, this petite bakery near Dupont Circle specializes in the merveilleux, a meringue cake that originated in Belgium and is common in the north of France. The pistachio Paris-Brest shines just as bright though. Limited indoor seating and outdoor seating. Call for take-out and delivery.

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1361 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

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Macaron, chocolate ganache, semi-candied cherries in Kirsch brandy — Macaron, chocolate ganache, semi-candied cherries in Kirsch brandy.

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Sharbat

The most popular item at this Azerbaijani bakery in Adams Morgan is the honey cake with thin layers of light cream whipped on the stove. Compared to the heavy, dense desserts that are common in the U.S., Azerbaijani pastries are light and airy and rely on nuts to enhance flavors. Detailed handiwork is on display on the shekerbura, a crescent moon-shaped, hazelnut-stuffed pastry that features on intricate design on its shell.

Open in Google Maps

2473 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

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Honey cake

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19 Places to Eat and Drink in Adams Morgan

Ellē

Eater D.C.’s 2018 Restaurant of the Year energizes sleepy Mount Pleasant with rustic baguettes, breakfast sandwiches, guava turnovers, dimly lit dinners, and an undeniable devotion to fermentation. Served on a sweet potato roll, the hit breakfast sandwich includes brisket pastrami that’s brined for two weeks, smoked for eight to 10 hours, crusted with peppercorns and coriander, and steamed until tender. On top of that, tender farm eggs, white cheddar cheese, and fermented chile hot sauce complete the sandwich. No indoor seating during the day. Reservations for indoor seating during dinner are available on Resy. Online ordering here.

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3221 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010

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Rose Ave Bakery

Baker and daughter of Vietnamese refugees Rosie Nguyen whips up Filipino cheese rolls, mochi crullers popping with purple ube icing, Vietnamese coffee cream-filled doughnuts, and green matcha chocolate chunk cookies sprinkled with flakes of sea salt at her lauded bakery in The Block food hall. The bakery allows advance ordering for weekends.

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1110 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005

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A post shared by Rose Ave (@roseavebakery)

Sticky Fingers Bakery

All-vegan bakery Sticky Fingers, a Columbia Heights staple run by Food Network competitor Doron Petersan, went through a major shift this year when it went national, shipping its baked goods and cake and cookie mixes all over the country. There is even a three-month cookie subscription. Sweets are still available for local pick-up though through Sticky Fingers and Fare Well.

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Visit Website

piping cupcake icing — Sticky Fingers specializes in vegan baked goods.

Also featured in:

Seylou Bakery

Unique among D.C.’s bakeries, Seylou is the first and only D.C. bakery to operate an in-house mill. The Blagden Alley bakery is committed to the traditional ways of baking as owner Jonathan Bethony mills whole grains and ferments his loaves before popping them into an imported, wood-fired oven. The result is some of the post impressive loaves of pain au levain, einkorn, and others. Plus, the bakery’s whole grain sourdough becomes the base for pizzas each Friday night. Pre-orders and delivery available through the website.

Open in Google Maps

926 N St NW Suite A, Washington, DC 20001

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cross-section of a whole grain croissant — A whole grain croissant made with freshly milled local and organic flour at Seylou

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Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery

This sleek, NYC import arrived in D.C. in 2020 with plenty of celebrity endorsements from tastemakers like Oprah Winfrey and Tom Colicchio. Raised in Michigan by Pakistani parents, owner and baker Umber Ahmad worked as a financial consultant who helped others build their brands before she opened Mah-Ze-Dahr. Don’t sleep on the brioche doughnut filled with vanilla pastry cream and dipped in sugar mixed with ground vanilla beans. Online ordering and delivery available.

Open in Google Maps

1205 Half St SE Suite #105, Washington, DC 20003

Visit Website

choux filled with vanilla cream — Vanilla cream spills out of choux

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Pluma by Bluebird Bakery

Super-fresh pastries, like pistachio croissants, ham and cheese croissants, and monkey bread come from dream team proprietors Camila Arango and Tom Wellings, who provided D.C. restaurants with wholesale baked goods for years. Call ahead for in-store pick-up. Delivery available through UberEats, GrubHub, and Postmates.

Open in Google Maps

391 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002

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sugar-dusted morning buns — Pluma by Bluebird’s morning buns run $4.50 each.

Also featured in:

Souk

From the folks behind macaron hub The Sweet Lobby, this globally inspired bakery and cafe on Barracks Row is a source for bread, baked goods, pastries, and Vigilante coffee. The biscuits come in several flavors: aged cheddar scallion, caramelized onion with currant and mustard seed, and fresh rosemary.

705 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Visit Website

Souk’s offers global sweets.

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Bayou Bakery

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

Bayou Bakery has cornered the market on sweets and other foods from Louisiana and across the American South, from sugar-topped beignets to satisfying muffulettas stuffed with briny olive salad, cured meats, and cheese. Chef and owner David Guas is a Louisiana native and his knowledge of the cuisine is immediately apparent on the menu. Beyond the bakery, there are boozy daiquiris; soul-warming gumbo with a dark, complex roux; deviled eggs, and market items like pepper jelly. Indoor dining and patio seating. Take-out and delivery available on ToastTab.

Open in Google Maps

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

Visit Website

powdered sugar topped beignets — Fluffy, powdered sugar-topped beignets are just one of the New Orleans foods Bayou Bakery expertly brings to the D.C. area.

MASTIHA | Artisan Greek Bakery

10560 Metropolitan Ave REAR UNIT, Kensington, MD 20895

Kensington’s Mastiha specializes in Greek pastries like baklava (classic, pistachio, rosemary chocolate, and fig), fresh pita (with optional spreads such as house-made hummus, feta pesto, and fava dip), and phyllo with fillings like lamb. There’s no traditional storefront here, so plan to take orders home. Online ordering is also available.

Open in Google Maps

10560 Metropolitan Ave REAR UNIT, Kensington, MD 20895

Visit Website

baklava — Baklava at Mastiha comes in flavors like rosemary chocolate.

Fresh Baguette

1737 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

Fresh baguettes are obviously a point of pride at this mini-chain bakery by the same name. Bakers use a cold-dough process, house-made “levain,” and French baking equipment. There’s also a solid line-up of sandwiches, topped ciabatta, cake, and quiche, and flaky croissants. Online ordering here.

Open in Google Maps

1737 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

cinnamon roll dusted in pearl sugar — The cinnamon roll at Fresh Baguette is dusted in pearl sugar.

Bread Furst

4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

This James Beard Award-winning bakery in Van Ness serves up fluffy, dimpled foccacia; breakfast items like pain au chocolate; brunch frittatas and bagels with gravlax; and quick French lunch staples like a baguette stuffed with ham, butter, and a tiny zing of Dijon. Call for curbside pick-up, and order online for pick-up and delivery.

4434 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008

Visit Website

Ham and butter on baguette — Ham and butter on baguette is a classic French offering at Bread Furst.

Bakeshop

3210 Grace St NW, Washington, DC 20007

With a massive list of rotating macaron flavors, lovely cakes, and a cupcake menu that runs the gamut from butter white to flavors like 7up and Nerds, it’s easy to see why this bakery has gained a following. There are also plenty of vegan options. Online ordering and delivery available.

3210 Grace St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

confetti cake with a slice out of it — Bakeshop has a full list of cakes.

Baked & Wired

1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Georgetown’s locals-favorite coffee shop and bakery dishes out colossal cupcakes, among other baked goods. Widely known as one of the very best cupcake spots in the city, the bakers at Baked & Wired swirl fresh strawberries into the strawberry cupcake and top the cinnamon-laced, Texas sheetcake cupcake with rich chocolate pecan frosting while it is still warm. The lines can get long, but kind service and the view of the glass dome-covered confections lined up on the Carrera marble bar help.

1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

A swirl of red cherry buttercream on top of a chocolate cupcake sitting on a marble countertop — Cherry buttercream tops a chocolate cupcake at Baked & Wired.

Un je ne sais Quoi...

1361 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

Opened by French expats, this petite bakery near Dupont Circle specializes in the merveilleux, a meringue cake that originated in Belgium and is common in the north of France. The pistachio Paris-Brest shines just as bright though. Limited indoor seating and outdoor seating. Call for take-out and delivery.

Open in Google Maps

1361 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

Visit Website

Macaron, chocolate ganache, semi-candied cherries in Kirsch brandy — Macaron, chocolate ganache, semi-candied cherries in Kirsch brandy.

Sharbat

2473 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

The most popular item at this Azerbaijani bakery in Adams Morgan is the honey cake with thin layers of light cream whipped on the stove. Compared to the heavy, dense desserts that are common in the U.S., Azerbaijani pastries are light and airy and rely on nuts to enhance flavors. Detailed handiwork is on display on the shekerbura, a crescent moon-shaped, hazelnut-stuffed pastry that features on intricate design on its shell.

Open in Google Maps

2473 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Honey cake

Ellē

3221 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010

Eater D.C.’s 2018 Restaurant of the Year energizes sleepy Mount Pleasant with rustic baguettes, breakfast sandwiches, guava turnovers, dimly lit dinners, and an undeniable devotion to fermentation. Served on a sweet potato roll, the hit breakfast sandwich includes brisket pastrami that’s brined for two weeks, smoked for eight to 10 hours, crusted with peppercorns and coriander, and steamed until tender. On top of that, tender farm eggs, white cheddar cheese, and fermented chile hot sauce complete the sandwich. No indoor seating during the day. Reservations for indoor seating during dinner are available on Resy. Online ordering here.

Open in Google Maps

3221 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010

Visit Website

Rose Ave Bakery

1110 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005

Baker and daughter of Vietnamese refugees Rosie Nguyen whips up Filipino cheese rolls, mochi crullers popping with purple ube icing, Vietnamese coffee cream-filled doughnuts, and green matcha chocolate chunk cookies sprinkled with flakes of sea salt at her lauded bakery in The Block food hall. The bakery allows advance ordering for weekends.

Open in Google Maps

1110 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rose Ave (@roseavebakery)

Sticky Fingers Bakery

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

All-vegan bakery Sticky Fingers, a Columbia Heights staple run by Food Network competitor Doron Petersan, went through a major shift this year when it went national, shipping its baked goods and cake and cookie mixes all over the country. There is even a three-month cookie subscription. Sweets are still available for local pick-up though through Sticky Fingers and Fare Well.

1370 Park Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Visit Website

piping cupcake icing — Sticky Fingers specializes in vegan baked goods.

Seylou Bakery

926 N St NW Suite A, Washington, DC 20001

Unique among D.C.’s bakeries, Seylou is the first and only D.C. bakery to operate an in-house mill. The Blagden Alley bakery is committed to the traditional ways of baking as owner Jonathan Bethony mills whole grains and ferments his loaves before popping them into an imported, wood-fired oven. The result is some of the post impressive loaves of pain au levain, einkorn, and others. Plus, the bakery’s whole grain sourdough becomes the base for pizzas each Friday night. Pre-orders and delivery available through the website.

Open in Google Maps

926 N St NW Suite A, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

cross-section of a whole grain croissant — A whole grain croissant made with freshly milled local and organic flour at Seylou

Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery

1205 Half St SE Suite #105, Washington, DC 20003

This sleek, NYC import arrived in D.C. in 2020 with plenty of celebrity endorsements from tastemakers like Oprah Winfrey and Tom Colicchio. Raised in Michigan by Pakistani parents, owner and baker Umber Ahmad worked as a financial consultant who helped others build their brands before she opened Mah-Ze-Dahr. Don’t sleep on the brioche doughnut filled with vanilla pastry cream and dipped in sugar mixed with ground vanilla beans. Online ordering and delivery available.

Open in Google Maps

1205 Half St SE Suite #105, Washington, DC 20003

Visit Website

choux filled with vanilla cream — Vanilla cream spills out of choux

Pluma by Bluebird Bakery

391 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Super-fresh pastries, like pistachio croissants, ham and cheese croissants, and monkey bread come from dream team proprietors Camila Arango and Tom Wellings, who provided D.C. restaurants with wholesale baked goods for years. Call ahead for in-store pick-up. Delivery available through UberEats, GrubHub, and Postmates.

Open in Google Maps

391 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

sugar-dusted morning buns — Pluma by Bluebird’s morning buns run $4.50 each.

Souk

705 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

From the folks behind macaron hub The Sweet Lobby, this globally inspired bakery and cafe on Barracks Row is a source for bread, baked goods, pastries, and Vigilante coffee. The biscuits come in several flavors: aged cheddar scallion, caramelized onion with currant and mustard seed, and fresh rosemary.

705 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Visit Website

Souk’s offers global sweets.

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